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Should Tantra be a secret?
NamelessRiver
Veteran
In Tibet it wasn't possible to read what you wanted to. Whenever you were to read a book you had to get a lung from someone who had received the transmission from someone who had read the transmission...all back to the author. All they did was read very quickly, otherwise you weren't supposed to read the book.
Among these books were sutrayana texts and commentaries that are openly disclosed for everybody these days. There are many tibetan books translated into English that you just pick up and read.
It was believed that such transmission, called Lung, conveyed subtle energy to the listener.
This type of textual secrecy is not only a Tibetan thing. The Bible was commonly printed in latin, and the unauthorized translations were actually banned by Pope Innocent III for a while. The common people were unable to read the Bible, it had to be read to them by the priests.
In Tantra there is also a Lung, and a Wang. They are empowerments require to practice Tantra.
)
Gently Whispered contains a complete sadhana of Chenrezig.
With all that being said, do you think the restrictions on Tantra are a cultural thing and the whole deal about "dangerous practice" without empowerment are out of place in the West?
Among these books were sutrayana texts and commentaries that are openly disclosed for everybody these days. There are many tibetan books translated into English that you just pick up and read.
It was believed that such transmission, called Lung, conveyed subtle energy to the listener.
This type of textual secrecy is not only a Tibetan thing. The Bible was commonly printed in latin, and the unauthorized translations were actually banned by Pope Innocent III for a while. The common people were unable to read the Bible, it had to be read to them by the priests.
In Tantra there is also a Lung, and a Wang. They are empowerments require to practice Tantra.
(This is from a book by Kalu Rinpoche, Gently Whispered [pun unintended]However, a few practices, those that were given publicly by Lord Buddha Shakyamuni, do not fall under such restrictions. [...] Such practices include those of the noble Chenrezig and of the mother of the buddhas, Green Tara.
)Gently Whispered contains a complete sadhana of Chenrezig.
With all that being said, do you think the restrictions on Tantra are a cultural thing and the whole deal about "dangerous practice" without empowerment are out of place in the West?
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Comments
True, there is a lot that is open now that wasn't in Tibet. A lot of the motivation for that is that it is all in great danger of being lost, so there is a feeling that as much should be given out as possible in the hope that it won't be completely lost. Whether that is a good idea or a bad one, only time will tell.
Palzang
M
Yes, Richard, pretty much. Although I'm not much of a practitioner, tantra does work with the winds and the channels of what is called the illusory body. They're real, but you can't dissect them out or anything. Sort of like the meridians in acupuncture - they work, but no one knows how exactly. And the winds and channels are a sort of energy I'd say. When you balance the winds and channels, then you are primed for enlightenment. But you really have to follow the teacher's guidance, or you get totally and hopelessly lost.
Palzang
@Palzang; nice
Palzang
Palzang has seen the same that my sister has seen:
My sister, who lives in Buddhist-rich Minneapolis, knows of three instances where people over-reached their Tantric practice and became seriously psychologically unbalanced and delusional. Were these people not sufficiently prepared or were there latent seeds for this that the practice brought out, or both? Whatever, this is a very good reason to find a good teacher and leave it up to your teacher to determine whether or not you are ready for more advanced practices.
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a : something kept hidden or unexplained
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secret
Is it possible for someone to see/realize the nature of other beings' mind, apart from his? If not, then it is something that only one person holds and knows, and it is kept hidden from everyone else and unexplained, because it is beyond any kind of imputation.
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I've gone to an enpowerment where I could barely hear the teacher. I sat there for several hours and then that was the end of it.
After months of practice, I still had no clue what I was doing. Tantra didn't hurt or help me, I just flat out didn't understand it.
That's the key to it. I think you should have investigated this kind of doubts before going to an empowerment... I don't see the point really on doing it if one has no idea of what is happening.
The most probable thing that happened was that you didn't get the empowerment...
I don't like too much the idea of speaking of tantra in forums more than historical topics. So I'd recommend you, as I do in the 99% of my posts, to go and talk with your teacher
Thanks Alfonso, good advice.
Like a lot of people here, I'm sure, there isn't a Tibetan temple anywhere nearby. At the moment, books and online sources are the only avenues available.
Luckily there's so much I can study and practice on my own, that I'll have my work cut out for me for a very long time.
It's just kind of a shame if tantra could help a lot of people but lack of information or access to a teacher is holding them back. So, I hope that the people who do practice tantra keep it up and share the wealth in time.
Hi Alfonso, warm welcome to the forum from me also.
My situation with my current teacher is similar to how you describe ( this year we have met a few times so far and have contact by skype etc ). I also visit a centre in the city I live in here in Australia - more often recently as my daughter is interested to go and also to have interaction with other practitioners.