Tag Archives: tathata

Cultivating Śamatha and Vipaśyanā

Posted on November 24, 2019 by Vajragoni

The main emphasis in this chapter of the Saṃdhinirmocana Sūtra is the cultivation of Śamatha and Vipaśyanā. Śamatha is contemplative tranquility, or in Keenan’s translation, quietude (which we prefer since it establishes the very essence of quietude). Vipaśyanā is insight-meditation … Continue reading →

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Ghosts in the Machine

Posted on December 11, 2018 by Vajragoni

So the flood of the Alayavijnana is always stirred by the winds of objectivity (vishaya), and goes on dancing with the various Vijnana-waves. Familiar phraseology of the dancing waves of the Vijnanas, stirred into motion through both objective (vishaya) and … Continue reading →

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The Three Svabhāvas of the Tathagata-garbha

Posted on November 1, 2017 by Vajragoni

The Tathagata-garbha is three-fold in nature (Svabhāva): Dharma-kāya, Tathatā and Tathāgata-gotra. They are seen in correspondence with the nine sheathes reinforced with a purity aspect. Firstly, though, we would be remiss if neglecting to indicate the Concordance between the 9 … Continue reading →

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Technique #6: Spanda Ho

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Vajragoni

Question: I see that Shoden Session # 6 incorporates a Vedic-oriented term, Spanda…is this correct? Vajragoni: Yes. The term is rooted in the ancient scriptures of Kashmir Saivism and represents the primordial principle that constitutes the “vibratory” nature of the … Continue reading →

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Synonyms of the Absolute

Posted on April 11, 2017 by Vajragoni

Friedmann’s translation: A synonym makes clear that there are different names for the same-thing. Because it defines the meaning of [the word of which it is] a synonym, it is called synonym… Summarily the synonyms of the Absolute are: Tathatā: … Continue reading →

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(23) The Teacher

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Vajragoni

Although Life and all phenomena makes your present Mind believe there is something that is called life and thus teaches you the actuality of the four noble truths , the true nature of Mind is not to be found in … Continue reading →

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(20) The Valley of the Dead

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Vajragoni

It was not that long ago that your spirit decided to partake in a magical mystery tour through the land of the living dead… Hitching a ride on the dark samsaric midnight train, Peering through smeared skhandic windows on shattered … Continue reading →

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A Day in the Life

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Vajragoni

A day in the “apparent” life of a Lankavatarian is just that…it transcends all notions of apparency that usually dwarfs most people between the ironclad mountains of realism and nihilism. As such, a Lankavatarian is “marked with the mark of … Continue reading →

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