The ten unanswered questions about certain views (ditthi):
1 The world is eternal.
2 The world is not eternal.
3 The world is (spatially) infinite.
4 The world is not (spatially) infinite.
5 The being imbued with a life force is identical with the body.
6 The being imbued with a life force is not identical with the body.
7 The Tathagata (a perfectly enlightened being) exists after death.
8 The Tathagata does not exist after death.
9 The Tathagata both exists and does not exist after death.
10 The Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist after death.
1 The world is eternal.
2 The world is not eternal.
3 The world is (spatially) infinite.
4 The world is not (spatially) infinite.
5 The being imbued with a life force is identical with the body.
6 The being imbued with a life force is not identical with the body.
7 The Tathagata (a perfectly enlightened being) exists after death.
8 The Tathagata does not exist after death.
9 The Tathagata both exists and does not exist after death.
10 The Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist after death.
Forwarded from tomrum
“Whoever despises himself still respects himself as one who despises.”
—F. Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil, §78.
—F. Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil, §78.
Forwarded from Buddha Words
At one time the Buddha was staying near Benares, in the deer park at Isipatana. There the Buddha addressed the group of five mendicants:
“Mendicants, these two extremes should not be cultivated by one who has gone forth. What two? Indulgence in sensual pleasures, which is low, crude, ordinary, ignoble, and pointless. And indulgence in self-mortification, which is painful, ignoble, and pointless. Avoiding these two extremes, the Realized One woke up by understanding the middle way of practice, which gives vision and knowledge, and leads to peace, direct knowledge, awakening, and extinguishment.
And what is that middle way of practice? It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. This is that middle way of practice, which gives vision and knowledge, and leads to peace, direct knowledge, awakening, and extinguishment.
Now this is the noble truth of suffering. Rebirth is suffering; old age is suffering; illness is suffering; death is suffering; association with the disliked is suffering; separation from the liked is suffering; not getting what you wish for is suffering. In brief, the five grasping aggregates are suffering.
Now this is the noble truth of the origin of suffering. It’s the craving that leads to future rebirth, mixed up with relishing and greed, taking pleasure in various different realms. That is, craving for sensual pleasures, craving to continue existence, and craving to end existence.
Now this is the noble truth of the cessation of suffering. It’s the fading away and cessation of that very same craving with nothing left over; giving it away, letting it go, releasing it, and not adhering to it.
Now this is the noble truth of the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering. It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.
- SN 56.11
Dhammacakkappavattanasutta
https://suttacentral.net/sn56.11/en/sujato
“Mendicants, these two extremes should not be cultivated by one who has gone forth. What two? Indulgence in sensual pleasures, which is low, crude, ordinary, ignoble, and pointless. And indulgence in self-mortification, which is painful, ignoble, and pointless. Avoiding these two extremes, the Realized One woke up by understanding the middle way of practice, which gives vision and knowledge, and leads to peace, direct knowledge, awakening, and extinguishment.
And what is that middle way of practice? It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. This is that middle way of practice, which gives vision and knowledge, and leads to peace, direct knowledge, awakening, and extinguishment.
Now this is the noble truth of suffering. Rebirth is suffering; old age is suffering; illness is suffering; death is suffering; association with the disliked is suffering; separation from the liked is suffering; not getting what you wish for is suffering. In brief, the five grasping aggregates are suffering.
Now this is the noble truth of the origin of suffering. It’s the craving that leads to future rebirth, mixed up with relishing and greed, taking pleasure in various different realms. That is, craving for sensual pleasures, craving to continue existence, and craving to end existence.
Now this is the noble truth of the cessation of suffering. It’s the fading away and cessation of that very same craving with nothing left over; giving it away, letting it go, releasing it, and not adhering to it.
Now this is the noble truth of the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering. It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.
- SN 56.11
Dhammacakkappavattanasutta
https://suttacentral.net/sn56.11/en/sujato
Forwarded from wandering spΛrtan
"The nearer a man comes to a calm mind, the closer he is to strength.”
– Marcus Aurelius
– Marcus Aurelius
Such were the comments, then Lord Apollo, son of Zeus, said to Hermes: ‘Guide and Giver of Good Things, Hermes, Zeus’ son, would you not care to lie in bed beside golden Aphrodite, even though you were snared by unbreakable chains?’
The Messenger-God, Slayer of Argus, replied: ‘Lord Apollo, Far-Shooter, thrice as many inescapable links could hold me, and all you gods could be watching, and yes, all the goddesses too, if only I might sleep with golden Aphrodite.’
And at this, laughter rose from the deathless gods.
~ The Odyssey by Homer
The Messenger-God, Slayer of Argus, replied: ‘Lord Apollo, Far-Shooter, thrice as many inescapable links could hold me, and all you gods could be watching, and yes, all the goddesses too, if only I might sleep with golden Aphrodite.’
And at this, laughter rose from the deathless gods.
~ The Odyssey by Homer
Forwarded from Jackson Peterson - Dzogchen and Advaita 😃
You are already "awareness" with no further steps required, such as "resting" or "maintaining" or "integrating" or "stabilizing". You remain awareness permanently with no other option possible. All the enlightening wisdom insights possible don't improve it a bit. It just "is" as it is."
Properly understood, the insight of this post has the potential to put a lot of pop non-duality teachers, who thrive on an ever expanding market of “seekers,“ out of business.
The capacity of the mind to rationalize seeking is remarkable. One can realize the futility of trying to “stabilize“ one’s always-already nature, and then one can still think it makes sense to find ever better ways to achieve the “stabilization.“
Properly understood, the insight of this post has the potential to put a lot of pop non-duality teachers, who thrive on an ever expanding market of “seekers,“ out of business.
The capacity of the mind to rationalize seeking is remarkable. One can realize the futility of trying to “stabilize“ one’s always-already nature, and then one can still think it makes sense to find ever better ways to achieve the “stabilization.“
Initiation to the 5-diety Heruka Cakrasaṃvara tantra 2-9 July.
Today the 28th is the last day to sign up.
The lessons will occur 9 am Swedish time.
We have a group set-up for pre-initiates, so comment and I’ll catch you.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJlQzm2Ctk3kNuGbDdYg8dOb8fwhJ5XgblqIdZRTHP7GHk3g/viewform
Today the 28th is the last day to sign up.
The lessons will occur 9 am Swedish time.
We have a group set-up for pre-initiates, so comment and I’ll catch you.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJlQzm2Ctk3kNuGbDdYg8dOb8fwhJ5XgblqIdZRTHP7GHk3g/viewform
Chang means purified, or pure, clear and, limpid since the beginning, because there is nothing to purify. Chub means perfected, because even though one may think it is necessary to progress and to improve in order to achieve realization, the state of the individual has been perfect from the very beginning, there is nothing to perfect or to achieve that one does not already have. In general, sem means the mind, but in this case it refers to the state of consciousness, or "nature of mind." Distinguishing between the state of consciousness and the mind is like trying to separate a mirror from its reflection. [… ]
Thus, even though it is said that the mind is produced by dualism and its true condition, the state of consciousness, is beyond dualism, the nature of both is single and indivisible.
Thus, even though it is said that the mind is produced by dualism and its true condition, the state of consciousness, is beyond dualism, the nature of both is single and indivisible.
Forwarded from Esoteric Dixie Dharma
Having patience I should develop enthusiasm;
For Awakening will dwell only in those who exert themselves.
Just as there is no movement without wind,
So merit does not occur without enthusiasm.
What is enthusiasm? It is finding joy in what is wholesome.
It's opposing factors explained
As laziness, attraction to what is bad
And despising oneself out of despondency.
Because of attachment to the pleasureable taste of idleness.
Because of craving for sleep
And because of having no disillusion with the misery of cyclic existence,
Laziness grows very strong.
Enmeshed in the snare of disturbing conceptions,
I have entered the snare of birth.
Why am I still not aware
That I live in the mouth of the lord of death?
Do I not see
That he is systematically slaughtering my species?
Whoever remains soundly asleep
(Surely behaves) like a buffalo with a butcher.
- Acharya Shantideva, A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life
For Awakening will dwell only in those who exert themselves.
Just as there is no movement without wind,
So merit does not occur without enthusiasm.
What is enthusiasm? It is finding joy in what is wholesome.
It's opposing factors explained
As laziness, attraction to what is bad
And despising oneself out of despondency.
Because of attachment to the pleasureable taste of idleness.
Because of craving for sleep
And because of having no disillusion with the misery of cyclic existence,
Laziness grows very strong.
Enmeshed in the snare of disturbing conceptions,
I have entered the snare of birth.
Why am I still not aware
That I live in the mouth of the lord of death?
Do I not see
That he is systematically slaughtering my species?
Whoever remains soundly asleep
(Surely behaves) like a buffalo with a butcher.
- Acharya Shantideva, A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life
❤2
Forwarded from Skilful Memes
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Forwarded from Jackson Peterson - Dzogchen and Advaita 😃
The Host and its Guests
Imagine your awareness to be like an unchanging, borderless, crystal sphere of pure Awareness. That’s the “host”.
Thoughts, identities, images, colors, sounds, flavors, odors, sensations, emotions, perceptions and experiences of every kind appear and disappear within that crystal clear sphere of pure Awareness. Those appearances are the “guests”.
You could also consider the “host” to be a tv, in which ALL the tv shows are the “guests”.
The first human Dzogchen teacher, Garab Dorje taught:
“That which is changelessly present and aware, equally during the presence of thoughts (and all experiences) and during the absence of thoughts (and all experiences), is rigpa. Rigpa or pure Awareness remains equally unchanged during both conditions.”
The state and nature of the “host” is what’s being “introduced” in Dzogchen. The nature of the appearances (guests) have no special importance or significance in Dzogchen, as they are not more than being like the ever-changing, and ungraspable reflections that appear and disappear in a crystal clear mirror.
You are rigpa, the “host” and are never a “guest” (an appearance).
Gaudapada, the founder of Advaita Vedanta, expressed:
“The turiya (Awareness, rigpa) does not enter the daytime waking state, does not enter dream state, and does not enter deep, dreamless sleep; it remains “untouched” (asparsa) by the presence or absence of the three states.”
These two teachers gave away the whole secret of their traditions (Dzogchen and Advaita) in these few lines.
Your current, simple, ordinary awareness, is exactly the rigpa and turiya being pointed out.
Since it remains untouched and unchanged during any experience of every kind, it is beyond “cause and effect”. Because it’s beyond “cause and effect”, it hasn’t a cause and can’t be caused or produced.
And something which has no caused beginning, cannot have an end, since it never “began”.
No practice can transform some thing or state “other than this”, into this. The “sudden teaching”, is the only possibility, since nothing can become “gradually” what it already is. Awareness is already awareness.
It’s like a quantum leap from an imaginary state of consciousness, to what’s Real; just like waking from a dream. The dream character doesn’t “transition” into the waking state. The reflection never becomes the mirror.
The reflection and the mirror are never in actual contact.
Your ordinary awareness, the awareness that is cognizant of these little black letters, is exactly this rigpa and turiya being pointed to.
It’s very simple:
There are only two factors, the pure Awareness (which you always are) and the “thought constructs” and perceptions (the guests) which appear in your changeless Awareness.
Awareness has no thoughts or personal history or identity; just like a mirror doesn’t come with its own reflections.
Because Awareness is immaterial it can’t be affected by brain injury, drugs, Alzheimers or death. All those are conditions referring to “guests”. Mind, brain, body, intellect and concepts are all the “guests”.
Differentiating the hosting Awareness from its guests is the Way of Primordial Liberation called Dzogchen.
Garab Dorje also instructed that the teaching of Dzogchen begins with the “direct introduction to rigpa awareness”, with no preparatory stages, no initiations, no samaya and no guru yoga.
Dzogchen master, Longchenpa wrote:
“In this case what makes perfect sense in the Ati (Dzogchen) approach is the superior realization whereby one directly experiences the unobstructed state in its nakedness, without relying on anything whatsoever.”
“Since one does not experience separation from the essence of Awareness even for an instant, to say that it is realized or perceived is merely to use a conventional expression... “
“Awareness abides as the aspect which is aware under any and all circumstances, and so occurs naturally, without transition or change.”
Quotes from Longchenpa’s Choying Dzod.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ6nS-kkoyE&feature=youtu.be
Imagine your awareness to be like an unchanging, borderless, crystal sphere of pure Awareness. That’s the “host”.
Thoughts, identities, images, colors, sounds, flavors, odors, sensations, emotions, perceptions and experiences of every kind appear and disappear within that crystal clear sphere of pure Awareness. Those appearances are the “guests”.
You could also consider the “host” to be a tv, in which ALL the tv shows are the “guests”.
The first human Dzogchen teacher, Garab Dorje taught:
“That which is changelessly present and aware, equally during the presence of thoughts (and all experiences) and during the absence of thoughts (and all experiences), is rigpa. Rigpa or pure Awareness remains equally unchanged during both conditions.”
The state and nature of the “host” is what’s being “introduced” in Dzogchen. The nature of the appearances (guests) have no special importance or significance in Dzogchen, as they are not more than being like the ever-changing, and ungraspable reflections that appear and disappear in a crystal clear mirror.
You are rigpa, the “host” and are never a “guest” (an appearance).
Gaudapada, the founder of Advaita Vedanta, expressed:
“The turiya (Awareness, rigpa) does not enter the daytime waking state, does not enter dream state, and does not enter deep, dreamless sleep; it remains “untouched” (asparsa) by the presence or absence of the three states.”
These two teachers gave away the whole secret of their traditions (Dzogchen and Advaita) in these few lines.
Your current, simple, ordinary awareness, is exactly the rigpa and turiya being pointed out.
Since it remains untouched and unchanged during any experience of every kind, it is beyond “cause and effect”. Because it’s beyond “cause and effect”, it hasn’t a cause and can’t be caused or produced.
And something which has no caused beginning, cannot have an end, since it never “began”.
No practice can transform some thing or state “other than this”, into this. The “sudden teaching”, is the only possibility, since nothing can become “gradually” what it already is. Awareness is already awareness.
It’s like a quantum leap from an imaginary state of consciousness, to what’s Real; just like waking from a dream. The dream character doesn’t “transition” into the waking state. The reflection never becomes the mirror.
The reflection and the mirror are never in actual contact.
Your ordinary awareness, the awareness that is cognizant of these little black letters, is exactly this rigpa and turiya being pointed to.
It’s very simple:
There are only two factors, the pure Awareness (which you always are) and the “thought constructs” and perceptions (the guests) which appear in your changeless Awareness.
Awareness has no thoughts or personal history or identity; just like a mirror doesn’t come with its own reflections.
Because Awareness is immaterial it can’t be affected by brain injury, drugs, Alzheimers or death. All those are conditions referring to “guests”. Mind, brain, body, intellect and concepts are all the “guests”.
Differentiating the hosting Awareness from its guests is the Way of Primordial Liberation called Dzogchen.
Garab Dorje also instructed that the teaching of Dzogchen begins with the “direct introduction to rigpa awareness”, with no preparatory stages, no initiations, no samaya and no guru yoga.
Dzogchen master, Longchenpa wrote:
“In this case what makes perfect sense in the Ati (Dzogchen) approach is the superior realization whereby one directly experiences the unobstructed state in its nakedness, without relying on anything whatsoever.”
“Since one does not experience separation from the essence of Awareness even for an instant, to say that it is realized or perceived is merely to use a conventional expression... “
“Awareness abides as the aspect which is aware under any and all circumstances, and so occurs naturally, without transition or change.”
Quotes from Longchenpa’s Choying Dzod.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ6nS-kkoyE&feature=youtu.be
YouTube
Dzogchen Immediate Recognition
This short video is intended to be a direct "pointing out" of our already enlightened nature. It is the Direct Introduction to Rigpa in Dzogchen and the "Natural State" in Essence Mahamudra. No practices or meditation are needed for this immediate recognition.…