Tag Archives: Ratnasambhava

The Four Wisdoms

28. Q: It’s stated that the eight consciousnesses are turned into the Four Wisdoms, and then the Four Wisdoms bind together forming the trikaya; which, then, of these eight states will pool together to form one Buddha-wisdom and then, which Wisdoms are then said to be the transformation into One Consciousness?
A: The five senses (smell, taste, etc.) relate to the five states of consciousness thereby forming the Perfecting Wisdom. Intellect (sixth state), or the mental consciousness, becomes the Wonderful Observing Wisdom. The seventh state with its discriminating awareness becomes the Universal Wisdom. Lastly, the eighth consciousness alone becomes the Mirror-Like Wisdom.
Q: Well, then, do the Four Wisdoms really differ from one another or are they the same?
A: In Substance they remain the same, only the names vary.
Q: Well if their Substance is identical, why do they bare different appellations? And if it is true that these designations are only used as expedients, what is it that is constitutive of one substance that is named “Great-Mirror Wisdom”?
A: That which is still and void—motionless—is the Great Mirror Wisdom. That which is capable of facing mind-defilements without attaching to them through love or aversion, is the Universal Wisdom. That which has the ability to discriminate and discern the wide-field of sensory impressions, while at the same time never experiencing unbridled and reactionary patterns of thought is Wonderful Observing Wisdom. That which can direct all the sense faculties into observing phenomena without being constrained by dualism is known as Perfecting Wisdom.
Q: When the Four Wisdoms combine to form the trikaya, which of them solely becomes one body, and which of them comes-together to form one Body?
A: The Great Mirror Wisdom solely makes up the Dharmakaya. Universal Wisdom exclusively constructs the Sambhogakaya. While both Wonderful Observing Wisdom and Perfecting Wisdom constitutes the Nirmanakaya. Of course, the three Bodies are only specified differently to expediently assist those worldlings who lack the necessary insight to comprehend their unifying nature. For those who are fruitfully endowed with Buddha-gnosis, their Absolute Nature is neither rooted in permanence nor non-permanence. read more

Posted in The Zen Teaching of Instantaneous Awakening | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Yoga of Ratnasambhava

1.0 Ratnasambhava is the Matrix of the Jewel

The Ratna-family houses the Jewel of the Tri-Ratna, wherein the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha are the Sacred Refuge whose three-fold character Awakens, Enlightens, and Sustains the Dharma-element in sentient beings. read more

Posted in Notes from the Iron Stupa | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ratnasambhava’s Vase Empowerment

In the past, we were mind-created spiritual beings, nourished by joy. We soared through space, self-luminous and in imperishable beauty. We thus remained for long periods of time…( Aggañña-Sutta) read more

Posted in Notes from the Iron Stupa | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ratnasambhava—the Magician of the Foundation

The two Nazis attempted to decipher the ancient text’s opening mantra: 

*A YAM RAM MAM KHAM DRUM DU  read more

Posted in Notes from the Iron Stupa | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ratnasambhava Rising

Today’s accompanying image reveals Ratnasambhava at the center of the action so to speak, where Vairocana or Akṣhobhya are usually depicted. They are still present here, yet in the background, as Ratnasambhava is now dominant and holding the ritual bell that is usually reserved for Akṣhobhya. He sits still, like a contented jewel; he is after all the bearer of the Trikayic Jewels of Buddhism. read more

Posted in Mystagogia | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Mandala of the Five Dhyanī Buddhas

THREE: THE MAṆḌALA OF THE FIVE DHYANĪ BUDDHAS 

Then the Lord discoursed upon the Five Skandhas.  read more

Posted in The Tathāgatagarbhatārā Tantra | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eremitical Dhyani Meditations

Over the course of living the Lankavatarian eremitical lifestyle, I have been discerning the value of developing a type of monastic-rhythm to the day. A good rule of thumb is to pay homage to the Five Dhyani Buddhas. Their transforming energies, in particular through counteracting the five skandhas, are most helpful in generating the Bodhi Recollective Resolve. This also strengthens one’s Sambodhic-link with the Tathagatas thus continually energizing bodhicitta. I’ve discovered that being mindful of their radiating “juice” over the course of the day helps to alleviate the toxic and ill-effects of samsara. It’s almost like transporting oneself to their serene and tranquil Buddha-fields. What follows is the regimen of my day: read more

Posted in Eremitical Dhyani Meditations, Spirituality | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

High Noon: Bardo 3, Ratnasambhava

It’s been said that “High Noon”, or mid-day, highlights the Mark of Equanimity. There are no shadows. Everything is emblazoned with the same homogeneous-light. As the good book says, “His Sun shineth on both good and bad alike.” Such is the radiance of the Southern Pure-Land Realm of the Buddha Ratnasambhava. His Yellowish-Golden Hue is often equated with that aspect of High Noon. He views all sentient reality and nature under the lens of Śūnyatā—all equally devoid of Self-Substance and hence all truly equal under the Sun of Wisdom. In this sense, Ratnasambhava is known as the “Jewel-Born One”; he truly possesses the beloved Bodhi-Pearl of Noble Wisdom. His Sacred Mudra is the Varada—the palm opening gesture that is indicative of Total Acceptance and Compassion. Nothing is condemned nor rejected here; there is no balancing scale of justice since there are no dichotomous associations. Through the Blessed-eyes of Ratnasambhava everything shines with the Sameness of the Dharmakaya. Pride itself is rendered ineffectual here; indeed all acrimonious attributes are dissolved-away in the Sweet Light of the Wisdom of Sameness. The skandha of sensation is whittled-down to just one characteristic: Transcendent Satisfaction in the One and Unborn. There is nothing outside this Oneness, never has been and never will be. Indeed, any semblance of “otherness” is just a bad mirage for Mind when entrapped in pluralized obstruction mode. Ratnasambhava’s Buddha-land brings home the moto: lay your burden down at the feet of the Tathagatas. Pure Transcendent Space. As our study of the Vimalakirti Sutra stated, “The foot of a Tathagata is neither on this shore or the other shore, neither within nor without, nor anywhere in-between.” They just rest on the imageless shore of deathlessness. Ratnasambhava’s Pure-Land is also reflective of the Sugata-garbha Chakra, that place of peaceful and restful repose in the very womb of the Sugata. Ratnasambhava also bestows a blessing of richness: to treasure and savor the joys of this Noble Self-Realization. Meditating thus on Ratnasambhava—with his radiating Golden-Hue—empowers one to express this Holy Treasure of Spiritual Expansiveness within one’s very core of innate Selfhood—i.e., celebrating the Real through the Real Itself. Pure gold. What Ratnasambhvava does for the Bardo sojourner is to shift one’s mentality away from the poverty of materialism and the fear of death, and directly into the lasting wealth of Spiritual Self-Realizations and the love of deathlessness. The Light of Spirit forever dawns in the heart of one who basks in the freedom of Noble Wisdom. Yes, in Ratnasambhava’s Realm it is always High Noon. read more

Posted in The Lankavatarian Book of the Dead | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment