The Double Dorje: Modern Vajrayana Buddhism.

Or are you a vajrayana practitioner? Is it a question of rites and rituals and pictures and mantras? Or is it something deeper? Empowerment card showing a vajra   Words or phrases you might want to look up: Vajrayana Samaya Dorje Sempa Tsog (or tsok) Guru Rinpoche Dakini   #Buddhism #Vajrayana #DoubleDorje #Samaya

Namo Buddha - the smallest, but perhaps most beautiful, of the three stupas of the Kathmandu valley: Where the Buddha is said to have sacrificed himself to a tigress: And where this temple, study and retreat centre now stands: Words you might like to look up: Namo Buddha Thrangu Rinpoche Bon (form of Buddhism, sort of) #Buddhism #Vajrayana #DoubleDorje #NamoBuddha #Tigress

Mahamudra and dzogchen are often spoken of as the “highest” practices of Tibetan Buddhism. How very exciting! Are they really? What does “highest” mean anyway? And what is the difference between mahamudra and dzogchen? Milarepa, who received Mahamudra teachings from Marpa the Translator Words or phrases you might want to look up: Dzogchen Mahamudra Chagchen Arhat Naropa Marpa the Translator Maitri...

Beside the best-known mantras used in popular Tibetan-style Buddhism – the famous “Mani”, Tara and Guru Rinpoche for example – there are a number of prayers which are also very widely known and used. The “Seven Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche” is one of these. Words or phrases you might want to look up: Guru Rinpoche Seven Line Prayer Mani mantra Tara Guru Chowang The link to the prayer at Lotsawa Ho...

Emptiness (shunyata, or tongpa in Tibetan) is an utterly core theme in Buddhist teaching. When we first hear about it, we usually don’t have much idea what it’s about at all. We may mistake it for some kind of void, or a teaching that nothing matters because “everything is empty”. Can we get a handle on it without years of study? Words or phrases you might want to look up: Perfection of Wisdom Shu...

When you start to get “serious” (whatever that is and however you try to define it) about your vajrayana practice you will face the question of the “preliminaries” or “foundation practices”. Best to be warned about what’s involved. And it would be good to have an idea of what this ngondro is good for. Prostrating - again and again!   Offering mandalas Words or phrases you might want to look up: “W...

A powerful Vajrayogini shrine, Guru Rinpoche caves, and much, much more. Pharping is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Kathmandu valley. A shorter episode, but with a nice bit of a flute tune!   The Vajrayogini Temple at Pharping and the fairy-cake stupa Words or phrases you might want to look up: Pharping Vajrayogini Asura cave Sheshnarayan Guru Rinpoche Kudung #Buddhism #Vajrayan...

What does the “Tibetan Book of the Dead” tell us about being dead? Will we see the Peaceful and Wrathful deities? Bardo Tibetan Book of the Dead Bardo Thodol The 42 Peaceful Deities of the Bardo The 58 Wrathful Deities of the Bardo #Buddhism #Vajrayana #Tibet #DoubleDorje #Bardo #TibetanBookOfTheDead

The fruit of our actions – our karma – is said to be unavoidable. Sooner or later, every action comes back to us. But that does not mean that everything that happens to us is predetermined. Bonus speculation on the fundamental nature of reality! Words or phrases you might want to look up: Karma Jewel Ornament of Liberation Words of my Perfect Teacher A Lamp Illuminating the Path to Liberation / Kh...

She was a new bride, but for the help she gave I call her a princess! The pilgrimage trip to the Vajrayogini shrine at Sankhu could have been a LOT, LOT worse. The Welcome Gate at Sankhu town   The damaged main temple at the top Words or phrases you might want to look up: Vajrayogini Vajravarahi Boudha Swyambhu Sankhu Kathmandu #Buddhism #Vajrayana #Tibet #DoubleDorje #Boudha #Sankhu #Kathmandu #V...

In dreams, in the wild, dark woods where reality starts to break apart and become entangled in vision, where fear and ecstasy dance and sing, you may meet the dakini. Is she your mother, your lover, your friend? Will she cast you out or invite you to join the dance? Yeshe Tsogyal Words or phrases you might want to look up: Dakini Daka Khandroma Phawo Chenrezi Amitabha Samantabhadra / Samantabhadri...

From monster practice cycles that need a whole Dharma Centre to work through in a year to the handful of practices an individual carries out daily. What are practice cycles for? Is 550 pages enough?   Words or phrases you might want to look up: Dudjom Lingpa Dudjom Rinpoche Terma, terton Vajrayogini Yamantaka Hevajra Cakrasamvara Shiné #Buddhism #Vajrayana #Tibet #DoubleDorje #terma #Dudjom

The two certain things in life are, famously, death and taxes. If you are rich enough, you may be able to mitigate your tax liability, but death cannot be bought off. How do Buddhists handle it? Episode includes the Prayer for Rebirth in Dewachen. Words or phrases you might want to look up: Pashupatinath Naropa Tilopa Dewachen Amitabha Dzogchen Link to that file: Link to the Dewachen Prayer (pdf)...

Tsok pujas are a big feature of Tibetan-style Buddhism as it is actually practiced, but newcomers often don't have a blind clue what's going on - explanations are hard to find. So here is a rundown with a bit of background and a few tips. Now there's a fancy torma!   Words or phrases you might want to look up: Tsok, tsogs, tshog etc. Ganacakra, ganapuja, tsok puja ཚོགས (transliterated tshogs) Sang...

When secret teachings are spoken of in Tibetan Buddhism, the word "secret" is much closer in meaning to "sacred" or "holy" than it is to the meaning of "unknown to outsiders". When the 15th Karmapa, Khakhyab Dorje, refers to the Mani, the most famous mantra of all, as a "secret" mantra, we know the word has meanings quite different from what we might expect.   A dorje and bell with an unusual desi...

How does pilgrimage fit into the Buddhist way of doing things? Plus the Guru Rinpoche mantra sung to a tune you might not have expected. Words or phrases you might want to look up: Walsingham Hajj Kumbh Mela Lumbini Bodh Gaya Sarnath Kuśinagara Vajrayana Dorje Sempa (Vajrasattva) Kailash Jokhang Guru Rinpoche #Buddhism #Vajrayana #Tibet #DoubleDorje #pilgrimage #mantra #meditation #nyingma #kagyu...

Chöd - a vast stream of Buddhist practice! Here is a taste.   Chöd Chödpa - (images of) Jamgön Kongtrül Treasury of Knowledge Rimé Sakya Kadampa Kagyu (Marpa and Shangpa) Nyingma Kalachakra Machig Labdrön - Machik’s Complete Explanation Phadampa Sangye Dakini Damaru Karma Kagyu Dudjom Tersar Yeshe Dorje (Rainmaker) #Buddhism #Vajrayana #Tibet #DoubleDorje #chöd #mantra #meditation #nyingma #kagyu...

A traveller's tale from eastern Tibet three decades ago! The great prayer wheel at Mani Dunkhor. Some words you might like to look up: Sakya Mala Vajra Yushu Jyekundo Mani-Dunkhor Trisong Detsen Śāntarakṣita #Buddhism #Vajrayana #Tibet #DoubleDorje #Yushu #Jyekundo #lama #mantra #meditation #nyingma #kagyu #Refuge #Bodhicitta Transcript, with possible errors, can be read at the blog In the early w...

Refuge, the Three Jewels and the Bodhisattva vow... Words or phrases you might want to look up: Refuge (Buddhist) Dharma Sangha Three Jewels Bodhisattva Bodhicitta Perfect Conduct – Ascertaining the Three Vows (by Dudjom Rinpoche) Jewel Ornament of Liberation Words of My Perfect Teacher Three kayas Sutras Bodhicaryāvatāra And the verse: Sang gya cho dang tshog kyi chog nam la Jang chub bar du dag...

A heavy criticism of the whole "Shambhala" cult, describing the behaviour of Chogyam Trungpa and his chief defender, Pema Chodron, recently went viral on the net. I had intended to express some thoughts about these issues sometime, so it seemed like the time had come. I reveal nothing new here - this is just stuff to think about. Trungpa's "wedding" to his Nth wife Words or phrases you might want...

More often called the "Four Thoughts to Turn the Mind": precious human birth, impermanence, karma and suffering. Something to think about Approximate text at the Blue Sky blog Words or phrases you might want to look up: Gampopa Milarepa Rechungpa Kagyu Vajrayana Tsong Khapa Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen Herbert v. Guenther Jewel Ornament of Liberation Lam Rim In the early weeks of this podcast I include...

The Guru Rinpoche (or "Vajra Guru") mantra. Includes four tunes for singing! Approximate script at my blog #Buddhism #Vajrayana #Tibet #DoubleDorje #tantra #mahamudra #dzogchen #lama #mantra #meditation #nyingma #kagyu #GuruRinpoche #mantra #tune In the early weeks of this podcast I included an approximate script, not particularly well edited, on a blog page. For the episode dropped on 4 September...

To what degree does sex have anything to do with Buddhist tantra? Terms you might want to look up: Tantra Guru Rinpoche Milarepa Niguma Vajrayogini Lobsang Rampa Tummo Vajrayana Dakini Sangyum Approximate script available at my blog #Buddhism #Vajrayana #Tibet #DoubleDorje #tantra #mahamudra #dzogchen #lama #mantra #meditation #nyingma #kagyu In the early weeks of this podcast I included an approx...

What do Buddhist practitioners and students mean when they go to "take teachings"? What to expect, how to feel comfortable. Picture irrelevant - but charming! Approximate script may be found at  this blog post #Buddhism #Tibet #vajrayana #DoubleDorje #Nyingma In the early weeks of this podcast I included an approximate script, not particularly well edited, on a blog page. For the episode dropped o...

Another look at the mani (OM MANI PEME HUNG). The six syllables, their six colours, and the six worlds. Plus a description for anyone who might be confused about clockwise, anticlockwise, facing in, facing out... Approximate script with possible errors at this blog post Words and names you might like to search for: six worlds lung yidam seed syllable Karmapa Kakhyab Dorje six worlds guru yoga In t...