The Doctrine of Awakening by Julius Evola.

I've been approached by an internet friend, with whom I discuss things spiritual and magick, and who prefers me to not disclose his nickname in the internet.

He told me that he was advised to read this book, and he told me that I might be interrested in this as well.

He wanted me to review this book for him and I'll gladly do this for him, for myself, and for others. I hope that I'll find time for that soon.

As a buddhist, I work with my friends, my connections. if this book is of interrest for them, it's important for me too, afterall.

I've found a fairly cheap seller, so I've ordered this book. It has arrived and I've started reading.



--
Summary & Comments/Review (by chapters):

PART I: PRINCIPLES

1. Varieties of Ascesis.

In the first chapter, author explains that in various religions and views (book's author - as well as many others - say that buddhism is NOT a religion), there are different types of ascesis. From self-punishment to absolve from sins - as is done in Religions of Faith, to disciplined training and practice for Mind's development, as the ascetism is explained in Buddhism.

In Buddhism, ascetic practices are like a science, are means to perfect the Mind, to reach Calmness and Liberation (from suffering). In Religions of Faith, ascetics are often mixed with feelings to extreme, and are often too sentimental, often not-so logical and not very scientific.

Blog author's notes:
- In Buddhism, feelings also have their very important place, but should be controlled to not cause harm to oneself and/or to others,
- The early Buddhism teaches the simplest, the most basic lessons, and leads to Liberation. Later lessons that came from Buddha were more advanced, dedicated for the people with better karma, and lead to Liberation & Enlightenment.


2. The Aryan-ness of the Doctrine of Awakening.

The book's author explains that in modern days, the typical translations of the word: 'Aryan' are: 'Noble', 'Sublime', 'Saint', etc... In the Early Pāli Canon, however, the word: 'Aryan' meant: 'Awakened', 'Liberated'.

Author explores 'spirit of common origins' between Western and Eastern Aryans, considers not only the intermarriages, but also spiritual excellence, worldly greatness and worldly nobility of certain famous individuals / Philosophers included / both in the East and in the West. He points out to the supposed Aryan origins of many of these famous people.

Book's author says that it was generally held that the bodhisatta, those who may one day be awakened, are never born into a peasant or servile caste, but into warrior or brahman (priesthood) caste, into the two purest and highest of Aryan castes. Analogies between the Buddhist ascesis and war, between the qualities of an ascetic and the virtues of warrior and of a hero recur frequently in the canonical texts, as well as themes of nobility, liberty, and 'spiritual conquest' (of one's own weaknesses).

According to Buddhist texts, Buddha himself said: 'I serve no man, I have no need to serve any man'. Buddha - being himself kingly - was also kingless. Book author also mentions about Buddha's 'spiritual race', the 'autonomous and immaterial race'.

Buddha had too much respect for himself to allow himself to impose his ideas on others, even that he knew that these ideas are true. He did not convert people, he just allowed people to come to him of their own will, and instructed those who were ready for the lessons, and let them see results of following his doctrine. Having then recognized the existence of a few individual of a nobler nature, with clearer vision, he expounded the doctrine with compassion, maitaining, however, his distance, his detachment, his dignity.

Blog author's notes:
- The book was released in 1943 in Italy, during the World War 2nd. It's when the Hitler Nazis used so-called 'Scientific Occult' to justify the superiority of Ayran people. Perhaps this book would never been printed, if it did not refer to the superiority of the so called Ayrans, Ayran Race,
- The Pāḷi Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhist Tradition (Theravada Buddhism is Early Buddhism), as preserved in the Pāli language,
- Despite above claims, the Buddhist Path to Liberation & Enlightenment is open to any caste/occupation, not only to warriors and priests - at least in the modern times,
- Buddha was born as a Prince (Prince Siddhartha Gautama), then left the palace and became ascetic because of his Spiritual Aspirations.


3. The Historical Context of the Doctrine of Awakening.

TO BE DONE:

4. Destruction of the Demon of Dialectics.

5. The Flame and Samsaric Consciousness.

6. Conditioned Genesis.

7. Determination of the Vocations.


PART II: PRACTICE

8. The Qualities of the Combatant and the 'Departure'.

9. Defense and Consolidation.

10. Rightness.

11. Sidereal Awareness: The Wounds Close.

12. The Four Jhana: The 'Irradiant Contemplations'.

13. The States Free from Form and the Extrinction.

14. Discrimination Between the 'Powers'.

15. Phenomenology of the Great Liberation.

16. Signs of the Nonpareil.

17. The Void: 'If the Mind Does Not Break'.

18. Up to Zen.

19. The Ariya Are Still Gathered on the Vulture's Peak.

Politically Incorrect Fight for Peace.

Buddhism fights for Peace.

We deal with conflicting parties, making them coexist peacefully.

We deal with Catholic Church and Luciferianism for example, with Jews and Hitler Nazis, for example.

Et cetera.

Even if it is bold, scary and politically incorrect, someone has to mediate and fight for peace - warring factions need to be addressed and talked with, instead of ignoring them.

I think and believe it's good way to follow, to make such steps for World's Peace.


P.S. Svastika is ancient Buddhist symbol that Hitler Nazis turned into emblem of hate.

Wish for Good Karma, Good Food.

About.

I think that people should not treat their stomachs as trashcans.

I wish that friends (of both genders), teachers and gurus eat something good. Not neccessarily today, and not neccessarily only once.

I think that eating well is a good karma, and am eagerly waiting for return of that karma to me. ;)

Black Crown.

Quote.

Black Crown (Tib. Shwa nag): the special attribute of the Karmapas. Signifying the power to help all beings and the Master Buddha Activity, the dakinis bestowed this powerfield on Karmapa at his enlightenment several thousand years ago. It is constantly above his head and only visible to highly accomplished beings. During the time of the 5^th Karmapa, the Chinese Emperor had a replica of the powerfield of the Black Crown made for the Karmapa, which he uses during the Crown Ceremony. Seeing or meditating on the Black Crown causes an openness that allows one to purify the deepest levels of mind and to realize its nature. One can even reach liberation merely by seeing it. The Black Crown is one of the treasures of the Karma Kagyu lineage.

-- Quoted from 'Buddha & Love' by Lama Ole Nydahl.


Blog author's comments.

Recently I had insights (thoughts appearing in mind).

I had insights that sometimes buddha blesses his students with Black Crown's blessing.

This works as the preparation for a student to be a king on one or more of his/her way(s).

Black Crown, it's essence being the powerfield generated by the activities of buddha & parts of sangha, prepares student for being a 'king' on one or more of his or her way(s). This also means that one's skillful methods, such as, for example - piloting an airplane, computer(s) hacking, martial arts philosophy, magick, or polishing diamonds - reaches mastery level that allows one to be highly efficient in this role.

Once Black Crown's blessing makes one to be realized as a king, one takes this responsibility of helping being(s) while in this role (king's role).


I think that I have Black Crown blessing for the way of computer-oriented magician (I want to be Red Team Hacker, and Virtual Adept as well) with martial arts philosophy.

I think that martial arts philosophy can be abstracted, and can be used with any way of life. Martial arts philosophy includes critical and honest introspection & strategy ('know yourself, know enemy'), and many other wisdoms that can help one to overcome his or her limits and prepare for facing life's difficult moments, hardships.

I think that martial arts philosophy can make one strong, can make one to keep improving, make him or her to be better and better person as life progresses, can be beautiful as well.


Links.
- Powerfield (Mandala),
- Buddha,
- Sangha,
- Virtual Adepts, computer-oriented Magicians,
- Technocracy & Artificial Intelligence - related Threats,
- Purpose of Martial Arts.

Hossen & Mondō: Dharma Duelling in Zen Buddhism.

Quotes.

Dharma Dueling (jap. hossen): a verbal joust or battle of "wit" as respects the Dharma, usually between two enlightened persons. In practice it is sometimes difficult to draw a clear distinction between hossen and mondō, but generally speaking, a mondō involves only a question and an answer, while a hossen can develop into an extended encounter. Dharma dueling is the typical Zen method of demonstrating Truth without recourse to logical conceptions. See also: "mondō".

-- Quoted from "The Three Pillars of Zen" by Roshi Philip Kapleau.


Mondō (literally, "question and answer"): a uniquely Zen type of dialogue between a master and a student wherein the student asks a question on Buddhism which has deeply perplexed him, and the master, skirting theory and logic, replies in such a way as to evoke an answer from the deeper levels of the student's intuitive mind. See also: "Dharma Duelling".

-- Quoted from "The Three Pillars of Zen" by Roshi Philip Kapleau.


Links.
- Dharma.

Six Realms of Existence in Zen Buddhism.

A quote.

'Six Realms of Existence:

In ascending scale these are the six realms of:
- hell,
- pretas (or hungry ghosts),
- beasts,
- asuras (or fighting demons),
- human beings,
- devas (or heavenly beings),

All creatures in these realms are tied to the ceaseless round of birth-and-death, that is, to the law of causation, according to which existence on any one of these planes is determined by antecedent actions.

In Buddhism these planes are depicted as the spokes or segments of the 'wheel of life.' This 'wheel' is set in motion by actions stemming from our basic ignorance of the true nature of existence and by karmic propensities from an incalculable past, and kept revolving by our craving for the pleasures of the senses and by our clinging to them, which leads to an unending cycle of births, deaths, and rebirths to which we remain bound.

The Six Realms are the worlds of the unenlightened.

Buddhism also speaks of four realms of enlightened existence, sometimes called the "four holy states". In ascending order, these are the worlds of:
- sravakas,
- pratyekabuddhas,
- bodhisattvas,
- full buddhas.

A sravaka is one who hears the teaching of the Buddha and accepts it into his heart, thereby attaining enlightenment. Prateyakabuddhas ("private buddhas") are those who carry on solitary practice and reach enlightenment without a teacher.

Finally. at the highest two levels of enlightened existence are Bodhisattvas and full Buddhas.

Unlike those in the lower Six Realms, the enlightened know the joy of inward peace and creative freedom because, having overcome their ignorance and delusion through Knowledge, they are freed from enslavement to karmic propensities arising from past delusive actions, and no longer sow seeds which will bear fruit in the form of new karmic bondage.

Enlightenment, however, does not suspend the law of cause and effect.

When the enlightened man cuts his finger it bleeds, when he eats bad food his stomach aches.

He too cannot escape the consequences of his actions.

The difference is that because he accepts - that is, sees into - his karma he is no longer bound by it, but moves freely within it.

-- Quoted from: 'The Three Pillars of Zen' by Roshi Philip Kapleau.
(I've reformatted the text to be easier to read, and omitted the language translation comments).

Delusion & Illusion in Zen Buddhism.

A quote.

'Delusion, Illusion:

To be deluded is to be totally deceived. Delusion implies a belief in something that is contrary to reality.

Illusion, on the other hand, suggests that what is seen has objective reality but is misinterpreted or seen falsely.

In Buddhism, delusion is ignorance, an unawareness of the true nature of thing or of the real meaning of existence.

We are deluded or led astray by our senses (which include the intellect and discriminating thoughts) insofar as they cause us to accept the phenomenal world as the Whole of reality when in fact it is but a limited and ephemeral aspect of reality, and to act as though the world is external to us when in truth it is but a reflection of ourselves. This does not mean that the relative world has no reality whatever.

When the masters say all phenomena are illusory, they mean that compared with Mind itself the world apprehended by the senses in such a partial and limited aspect of Truth that it is dreamlike.

See also: "Six Realms of Existence"'.

-- Quoted from: 'The Three Pillars of Zen' by Roshi Pilip Kapleau.
(I've reformatted the text to be easier to read).

Links:
- Ego, Delusions, Stiff Ideas & Mind's Veils,
- Reality is Illusion, Worldly Knowledge is Delusions,
- Emptiness, Interdependence, Equanimity & Illusory Nature of Reality.

Diamond Way (Vajrayana Buddhism).

Quotes.

Diamond Way (Skt. Vajrayana / Tib. Dorje Thegpa): also called Tantrayana and Mantrayana. It is the highest view within the Great Way (Skt. Mahayana). With enlightened mind as the basis, the profound and fast methods of the Diamond Way turn the goal - full enlightenment - into the path. Utilizing methods of identification, it can only be practiced with a teacher (lama) and the view of seeing everything as fundamentally pure.

-- Quoted from: 'Buddha & Love' by Lama Ole Nydahl.


Pure View: the view in the Diamond Way. One practices seeing the world and all beings as the self-liberating play of space.

-- Quoted from: 'Buddha & Love' by Lama Ole Nydahl.


Tantra, Tantric, Buddhist (Skt.):
1. The path in which identification with enlightenment and holding the pure view are the most important methods. The goal, buddhahood, becomes the path. A fast way to enlightenment, the prerequisites are: pure view, confidence in one's own mind and in one's lama, and a compassionate and courageous attitude (enlightened mind).
2. The tantras are the individual teachings given by the Buddha on the Diamond Way level, e.g. the Tantra of the Buddha of Highest Bliss (Skt. Chakrasamvara Tantra).

-- Quoted from: 'Buddha & Love' by Lama Ole Nydahl.


Mantra (Tib. Ngag): the vibration of a buddha form. Reciting a mantra activates the buddha form's powerfield. Many Diamond Way meditations have a phase where mantras are repeated.

-- Quoted from: 'Buddha & Love' by Lama Ole Nydahl.


Links.
- Small Way (Hinayana),
- Great Way (Mahayana).

Great Way (Mahayana Buddhism).

Quote.

'Great Way (Skt. Mahayana / Tib. Thegchen): the way of the bodhisattvas. It can be approached from either sutra or tantra level. Either way, one strives for enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.

In the sutra way, compassion and wisdom are deepened through study, analysis and meditation over a long time, which then culminates into insight. The Great Way is sometimes used as an alternative to sutra.'

-- Quoted from: 'Buddha & Love' by Lama Ole Nydahl.

Links.
- Nirvana.
- Small Way (Hinayana),
- Diamond Way (Vajrayana).

Samsara.

Quote.

'Samsara (Tib. Khorwa): the cycle of existence. Involuntary reincarnation in conditioned states, also failing to master the world of experience.'

-- Quoted from: 'Buddha & Love' by Lama Ole Nydahl.

Nirvana.

Quote.

'Nirvana (Tib. Nyang ngen le depa): in general it is liberation from suffering in samsara.

In the Great Way, it is the state of perfect buddahood.

Great Nirvana (non-clinging), is the state beyond samsara and nirvana, to rest in that which is. In this state, if nothing happens, it is the space of mind. If something happens, it is the free play of mind. If nothing appears, it is mind's space essence. If something appears, be it outer or inner, it is mind's free play. And the fact that all experiences can appear is mind's unlimited expression.'

-- Quoted from: 'Buddha & Love' by Lama Ole Nydahl.


Blog author's comments.

Nirvana (Sanskrit) can be translated to Nibbāna (Pali).

Nirvana means extinguishing the fevers of greed, hate, and delusion, the three roots of suffering.


Links:
- Dana, Sila & Bhavana (The Way leading to Nirvana).

Dana, Sila & Bhavana.

Practice.

It's worthwhile to combine generosity with ethics and mind development, when one wants to improve his/her karma efficiently. This liberating practice eventually leads to development of Nibbāna.

Nirvana (Sanskrit) and Nibbāna (Pali) means extinguishing the fevers of greed, hate, and delusion, the three roots of suffering.

Dana (generosity), sila (morality or virtue), and bhavana (meditation / mind development) are key components of wholesome actions leading to positive results, eventually leading one to the mind state where one is free from suffering.

Links.
- Puñña Kamma – Dāna, Sīla, Bhāvanā.