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Tibetan Buddhism
PremaSagar
Veteran
So how do people interested in Tibetan Buddhism go about starting to practice when a temple isn't in the area ?. I mean can empowerment somehow be transmitted through email ? (Sorry if this is a foolish question) or will I only have to visit a temple once for an empowerment ceremony ?. How much correspondence with a Guru is necessary in Tibetan Buddhism ?
Extra Questions:
Also wondering, what's the process for becoming a monk in Tibetan Buddhism ?
How is guilt and remorse treated in Tibetan Buddhism ?
What practices are prescribed for dealing with past misdeeds ?
What source(s) do Tibetan monasteries use for the monk's rules ?
Do lay practitioners have to purchase ritual items to practice Tibetan Buddhism ?
Is Medicine Buddha practice an exoteric teaching ?
What is the purpose of an empowerment ceremony ?
What are the bare essential books needed to practice within one of the traditions ?
Extra Questions:
Also wondering, what's the process for becoming a monk in Tibetan Buddhism ?
How is guilt and remorse treated in Tibetan Buddhism ?
What practices are prescribed for dealing with past misdeeds ?
What source(s) do Tibetan monasteries use for the monk's rules ?
Do lay practitioners have to purchase ritual items to practice Tibetan Buddhism ?
Is Medicine Buddha practice an exoteric teaching ?
What is the purpose of an empowerment ceremony ?
What are the bare essential books needed to practice within one of the traditions ?
0
Comments
Guilt and remorse according to the Jewel Ornament of Liberation can be remedied with:
1 seeing that you are entangled in samsara and need to escape
2 remorse
3 antidote of good practices such as meditating on emptiness or mindfulness
4 refuge in the triple gem
What is required to participate in an empowerment ceremony ?
The same as any other tradition. Go to a Monastery and talk to the abbot. As guilt and remorse. Vajrasattva practice is often performed as a means to purify one's karma. The Vinaya are the rules applied in all Buddhist monasteries although the abbot or most senior lineage holder may impose other rules. Nope. There are versions that can be poerformed by anyone. Empowerment for what? None that I'd consider essential. Tibetan Buddhism tends to focus on oral teaching. The essential books are those that cover the basics and those apply far more broadly than just Tibetan traditions.
Remorse in TB can be handled with a purification ceremony by a qualified teacher.
There are sadhanas for both of those practices as well as others that don`t require empowerment. You can seek empowerment if you want, but its not necessary.
"The FPMT is an organization devoted to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service. We provide integrated education through which people’s minds and hearts can be transformed into their highest potential for the benefit of others, inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility. We are committed to creating harmonious environments and helping all beings develop their full potential of infinite wisdom and compassion."
It's an organization run by Lama Zopa, and it ultimately follows the Dalai Lama (although he does not really run it, he's more of inspiration and kind of guides in the background). My understanding of it is that it's Tibetan Buddhism for the West (for the most part) and they offer several programs at their centers, and also correspondence courses.
Full disclosure: I've gone to some of the FPMT's events but I'm not really involved with the organization. Unfortunately, what is offered in the Burlington center is rather limited at the moment. I've been thinking about looking deeper into their correspondence courses, but am spending a lot of time researching other groups, centers, and so on as well. There is a convenience NKT center and although the teacher there is great, there seems to be a lot of controversy about the group (just google around, I do not want to reproduce that here)....and so, choosing a group to practice with can be difficult.
ANYWAYS, thanks for the info. You've given me another course/group to look into that I didn't know about.
You are correct as far as Green Tara, but I am pretty sure you need an empowerment to do Vajrasattva practice.
Also, empowerment may not be necessary for some practices, but then those sadhana's are being practiced at the level of Sutra only.
There is, of course, a sadhana that requires empowerment. This is not that practice. that levela
Of course, but in the case of our OPer that level of practice is appropriate
ref: http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?f=77&t=14227&sid=6c5b31d2ab0e32167d38bcff1e72b68a
Going to India or Nepal-- but you'll have visa problems, a high drop out rate and possibly culture-clash problems.
The western model seems to have monks that work outside jobs. The center over in Potomac, Maryland seems to do that too.
also considering that the far majority of buddhism in the western world is Tibetan, would it really be that hard to find a monastery that can take more monks? As a Theravadin I'm looking at ordaining 5 hours from me..
-develop merit and the causes for you to move towards a guru and lineage, which means cultivate the longing in your heart to end samsara because it sucks.
I mean can empowerment somehow be transmitted through email ? (Sorry if this is a foolish question) or will I only have to visit a temple once for an empowerment ceremony ?.
-Yes, but only because of previous connection with the guru and lineage. Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche does Dzogchen transmission three times a year via webcast and it has helped many individuals. Getting an empowerment is one thing but one needs to actively engage by practice and devotion to the guru.
How much correspondence with a Guru is necessary in Tibetan Buddhism ?
-There is no beginning, middle, nor end without a Guru in Tantra. Now Tibetan Buddhism also has the fundamental vehicle and the wide vehicle as the supporting basis as well. So one could practice a lot without actually encountering ones heart guru.
Extra Questions:
Also wondering, what's the process for becoming a monk in Tibetan Buddhism ?
-Merit and karma. The willingness to do it regardless of circumstance.
How is guilt and remorse treated in Tibetan Buddhism ?
-Usually through confessional practice, whereas one actively makes a voice for all the guilt and retreat in ones life. Then one takes a vow to actively end those processes.
What practices are prescribed for dealing with past misdeeds ?
-That depends on the individual and their capacity.
What source(s) do Tibetan monasteries use for the monk's rules ?
-Probably the original vinaya.
Do lay practitioners have to purchase ritual items to practice Tibetan Buddhism ?
-Depends on the guru and lineage.
Is Medicine Buddha practice an exoteric teaching ?
-I'd say all of Vajrayana is esoteric though its packaged to westerns and most people as exoteric knowledge.
What is the purpose of an empowerment ceremony ?
-Entering the mandala of the lineage.
What are the bare essential books needed to practice within one of the traditions ?
-No books, all heart to heart connection with an enlightened being.
I think it all has a lot to do with our merit actually.
Do you practice in the Aro lineage?
Investigate your mind and temperament and then look at what signs are out there. If there are no signs then of course go and chat to someone from a religious order if you feel aligned to it (I did and it worked) but look to yourself for guidance. When you feel comfortable guiding yourself - this is true empowerment… but don't get cocky - only use the wisdom it might bring on yourself.
Good luck on your quest - ! ! gate of tears - path of no path …. …….. nothing more required...
Vairocana and Avalokiteshvara. It is not frowned upon to my knowledge. I think Guru
yoga is superior and belonging to a personally real lineage is powerful. Aro gTer is an alternative. I'm not pushing it I was answering the question. Best
you have to enter the completion stage. Best
http://aromeditation.org/
The aro people do like to dress up and will try to engage with you. I just stuck with the course and did all but the last lesson, which I may save for Christmas.
I don't mean to start a controversy, but the actual lineage of that group is questionable at the very least. Having an authentic and unbroken lineage is what makes practising terma both powerful and effective.
Of course when one feels that they haven`t yet met with that special guru. It is not so much about finding a prestigious teacher to guide you, but rather more about having a connection with a teacher you trust, have great devotion for being able to (eventually try) to see them as a Buddha whose mind is inseparable from Vajradhara/Guru Rinpoche (depending on lineage) and ultimately your mind inseparable from theirs. Especially so when one is practicing Terma for numerous reasons. This is one big aspect of why having a guru is essential in Vajrayana in my opinion.
It is difficult when we don't seem to have any teachers close by, but then we need to travel a little perhaps. In my case that is what I need to do. Despite what people believe, we need a great amount of merit to meet with these kinds of teachings and special causes and conditions to meet with these great Masters who will teach it to us. It comes easier for some, but for others it takes a bit more work...or merit perhaps.
I just heard about it so I passed it on. Lobster seems to have more knowledge. I will defer to him. I appreciate your view and that makes sense to me. I know in Tantra and Vajra, dedication, commitment and creating the self in the Buddha's image is important.
I think this helps transcend normal appearances. Thank you. mtgby
I am usually careful to not get into too many discussions about groups which some see as being controversial, but at the same time I think it is always good to remind those a little newer or those who have interest should be aware of the importance of the Guru in Vajrayana. I think there are some misconceptions sometimes and it is good to clarify those.
An unbroken linage is just a 2600 year old version of that.
I think it would be safer to have folks discern the worth of a guru according to the fruit that their practice produces instead of hanging it on the claims of some ancient authenticity.
Would a youtube of how to sharpen woodcarving tools be better than a workshop?
Score!!!!
But as far as Vajrayana goes, a broken lineage or one with corrupted samaya, etc. will simply not bring the fruits practice. Lineage is a continuum of realization that is passed on from Guru to disciple, and on and on. It is not simply the "telephone game" as you might think.
However I also understand the difficulty of wading through delusion without a rudder.
For Vajrayana I am pretty sue you are right. mtgby
And yes, up until that point, we certainly need to engage is both study and meditation to help build a solid foundation to stand on.
So many methods do not require a Guru, but Vajrayana most certainly does.
As for the original question, I often wonder if people really do differentiate between Tibetan Buddhism and Vajrayana. There are many amazing practices that come down through the Tibetan lineages that are not Vajrayana practices. The various practices of mind training, for example. As well as Shinay/Vipashyana. These are all a great starting points that have been written about and are easy to get oral instructions on without committing to a teacher.
I am not prepared or interested in wine based meditation. I don't drink first thing in the morning, it is just not my thing. There are various reasons for providing such a befuddling technique. Symbolic. Actual meditation whatever the mind state. To provide questioning and interaction with the aro lineage. Taboo breaking, shock value etc.
The aro people do offer to answer any questions whilst they send you a weekly meditation technique to practice. They recommend their literature and reference their website.
I have no interest in their 'controversial' lineage. Their blankett wearing pictures and get togethers, look like clown conferences to me. However their website pages that they recommend during the course were all insightful, genuine, useful advice. I am sure they are nice, friendly and no weirdier than the average tantrika. Secret wine drinking and meat scoffing and even weirder stuff keeps the titillation component of our ego occupied . . .
So I have no interest in their gurus. None. The course is excellent. Apart from the wine drinking nothing controversial. It starts with five minutes of meditation. So I just did that and my usual meditation. As the times increased, I synchronised more with their suggested tryouts. The techniques and advice on posture is first rate. I tried to do the course a second time but sadly I think the weekly emails were being swallowed by my spam filter.
Is the course suitable for beginners? Is any course? Our own course for example?
Now let us talk (gossip if you will) about the other tantric lineages. Initially they were composed of the outsiders, the crazies, the ex-conventionals, the controversial, the ex Hindu sadhus, the hermits, the dharma misfits and the enlightened - not necessarily in that order.
Now they are mostly dharmically respectable, handing out admonishments. In many ways they are a fast and intense path for the genuine aspirant. Dangers. Sure. Must be time to sit soon, might have a drink beforehand and wrap myself in a blanket . . . :wave: