Tag Archives: Red Pine

A Mystical Odyssey through the Sagathakam

Posted on December 1, 2018 by Vajragoni

As mentioned back in August, our winter series will be based on the concluding segment of The Lankavatara Sutra entitled Sagathakam. The title succinctly translates as Verse Anthology. Red Pine writes of the significance of this final section of the … Continue reading →

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Avīci Hell

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Vajragoni

Perhaps the best known hell-realm within Buddhism is Avīci Hell. It’s the most ferocious and unrelenting dominion that houses the most grievous perpetrators such as those who commit matricide and patricide, rapists, in particular one Ananda (not to be confused … Continue reading →

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No form, No appearance

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Vajragoni

Twenty: No form, No appearance “What do you think, Subhuti? Can the Tathagata be seen by means of his perfectly formed body?” Subhuti said, “No, Blessed One. As I understand it, the Tathagata is not to be seen by means … Continue reading →

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The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

Posted on April 15, 2012 by Vajragoni

The following is the first in a series studying “The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma”–as translated by Red Pine. 1. Outline of Practice MANY roads lead to the Path, but basically there are only two: reason and practice. To enter by … Continue reading →

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That’s a Wrap!

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Vajragoni

This past month studying and commentating on the new Red Pine edition of the Lankavatara Sutra has truly been an auspicious time for me; my hope is that this may prove of some benefit for present and future students of … Continue reading →

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The Long and Winding Road

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Vajragoni

As the Lanka winds-down, we are left with some very constructive impressions. Red Pine masterfully translates the great malady that affects all sentient beings—the diurnal wheel of samsara and its accompanying dependent origination: “Fools let their thoughts wander among the … Continue reading →

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The Other

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Vajragoni

Section LXXXII of the Lanka delineates the nature of the Tathagata-garbha and the Alaya vijnana (repository consciousness). This can be quite confusing because although apparently different—one pure, one defiled—they are also essentially synonymous in nature. A good analogy to break … Continue reading →

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Mind Games

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Vajragoni

Sections LXXX-XC entitled “Final Questions” by Red Pine actually combines the former Suzuki chapters 4-9 into one chapter, 4. At the beginning of this Lanka series mention was made concerning the various stages that comprise the Bodhisattva path, and that … Continue reading →

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Instant Karma

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Vajragoni

The Lanka once again makes reference to not equating words with meaning: “Mahamati, if one person points to something with their finger, and a foolish person looks at their finger, they won’t know what they really mean. In the same … Continue reading →

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Living in the Material World

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Vajragoni

Materialism is the great bane of all Lankavatarists. The Lanka pulls no punches in relaying the dangers of materialism: “Materialists employ all manner of expressions, arguments, metaphors, and embellishments to attract and deceive foolish people. They do not accept the … Continue reading →

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