Outer Promises for Self Liberation.

About.

'Buddha gave his students the outer rules to protect them from losing their way. Their goal is to avoid thoughts, words, and actions that stand in the way of a calm mind and to help people let go of attachments.

Buddha gave five promises, which are part of the Eightfold Path, that apply to lay people in today's world:

• Do not kill. Most people at that time were farmers and slaughtered their own animals. Today city dwellers can strengthen that promise,
  
• Do not lie to harm others or wrongly present one's own spiritual attainments,
  
• Do not take what is not given,
  
• Do not bring sexual harm to anyone,
  
• Do not get intoxicated.
  

-- Quoted from 'The Way Things Are' book by Lama Ole Nydahl.

No Intoxicants.

Introduction.

'Buddha gave his students the outer rules to protect them from losing their way. Their goal is to avoid thoughts, words, and actions that stand in the way of a calm mind and to help people let go of attachments.

One of five promises is: "Do not get intoxicated"'.

-- Quoted from 'The Way Things Are' book by Lama Ole Nydahl.


Blog author's situation.

Since many years i am addicted to computer games.

i tried to ditch this addiction, then to play in a way that results in creating art, that encourages others to seek spirituality instead of playing computer games pointlessly. / See 'Chea's Journal' blog if You wish. /

Now i attempt to completely get rid of all computer games from my life.

Since a few of years i am addicted to cigarettes, as well.

Now i attempt to completely get rid of cigarettes addiction from my life.

Greed, Stupidity and Dana Offering.

Dana practice is generosity practice in Buddhism, one can gain merit by offering.

Traditional offerings include:
- Food,
- Water,
- Clothing,
- Flowers & Fragrance,
- Candles & Light.

There's also wisdom that explains that with amounts, quantity can be transformed to quality increase.

Perhaps a silly example that bothers me since years is about my offering of Chea's Journal art-resources, with attached characters & their possessions, that i've offered for HH Buddha Karmapa 17th Trinley Thaye Dorje.

In my mind bothersome thoughts keep appearing since years. These voices of various people from Lama Ole's Sangha keep wanting to claim magic items of my characters, as well as gold pieces that my characters possess. These thoughts explain that with quantity increase, quality will appear and these computer game valuables & currencies can be transformed to real money. Perhaps it's possible to sell these for real money, and these thoughts say that they need a lot of money, and that i should share because they are more realized than i.

Sometimes these want to share part with Buddha, occasionally however they don't tell anything about this.

These thoughts in my mind slander and jest at my efforts to create art for kids, art that should direct them for Real Buddhism and Esoterics - instead of playing computer games so much. These thoughts want to force me to play in excess, to make me fat person unprepared for Enlightened Love, to sell all that's valuable and claim for themselves, to slander, jest and insult me for my efforts.

... i think these art-resources have uses in Greater Arts, that these are half-products for other Buddhist & Esoteric Artists - so these are worth far more in Artists' toolboxes than in hands of other players, than market's value estimation would suggest.





i offer a lot of things - mostly for Buddhas, for Lama Ole and for a Buddhist woman i Love.

... instead of a support, of return, i suffer from inner abuses - these thoughts are quite stupid, egoistic and greedy.

When i do something beneficial, without thinking of myself, thoughts want me to keep doing this indefinitely - even at cost of my sanity & well being.

When i give a little, i feel inner pressures to do it even more, more, and more ... until i fall into troubles, and even further than that.

Another example is the 'Project Wraithstar' gift for Lama Ole Nydahl and for a Buddhist woman i Love - thoughts in my mind want to receive only benefits, without suffering any of possible, even if only imagined - costs. So i am forced by my thoughts to work, to celebrate each small success by eating in excess, or by smoking cigarettes - even when it harms my health & well-being.

... is it wise to forget about oneself when one practices Dana, and Four Immeasurables?

... perhaps yes, but not when others only take, without returning the favour.

I've heard on a Buddhist lecture that energy sent will return to one at a certain point in time - but so far, it doesn't seem it will happen in this life.

Emanation vs. Incarnation.

About.

This article is more a question than answer - if readers know answers - please tell me, if You can.


Quotes.

So far i've read:

'One of the powers of an enlightened mind is the ability to spontaneously emanate itself through the power of its altruistic intention.

When an attained Lama enters clear light meditation, he would usually emanate into 5 main emanations, which corresponds to body, speech, mind, qualities and activities.

The students of the Lama would search for the mind emanation, which is also known as the incarnation of the high Lama.

That is an incarnation.

Emanation is an animate or inanimate form manifested by Buddhas or high Bodhisattvas to benefit others.

If it is from an infinite source such as all embracing mind of a Buddha which is space like and unobstructed, it can have countless emanations in infinite forms all at one instance.

Reincarnation requires a mode of birth egg womb born, egg born, moisture born, etc in order for the rebirth entity to possess the characteristics of the being specific to that mode of birth.

Egg, to take on human form and characteristics, one need to take rebirth through the womb of a female human.'

Source: Emanations vs. Incarnation on Chinese Buddhist Encyclopedia.


More questions.

Can inanimate physical things, as for example: Dorje Phurba, be vessels for Buddha emanation?

If yes, then does Buddha blessing radiate from these?

Vajrakilaya - Dorje Phurba.

There are Buddhist tools one should not touch or even look at for as long as one is not ready.

But, i think - one can acquire these to be ready to use later.

One won't learn without having and using such tools, i know.

i've bought Dorje Phurba on an internet auction.

i offer this tool to HH Buddha Karmapa 17th Trinley Thaye Dorje, both it's uses - as well as the tool itself.

Perhaps Buddha will accept, otherwise i'll keep it and prepare to use skillfully as soon as i can.

i wish to not use it, except when insights and / or visions explain me that i should train with it, or when insight and / or visions tell me that i should use to achieve Enlightening goal.

... i need to be wary, however - as insights & visions often lie to me. i should keep distance & criticism to voices in my mind, it's only healthy.





'The Awesome Three Wrathful Deities of the Phurba.

Phurba or Kila is the wrathful implement associated with three of the most awesome and ferocious of the wrathful meditational deities: Hayagriva, Vajrakilaya, Black Mahakala. There are specialized Phurbas dedicated to Padmasambhava and other deities, but Vajrakilaya / in Tibetan, Dorje Phurba / is the best known in the west, awareness spread by many public Vajrakilaya blessings by His Holiness the Sakya Trizin. Equally, Most Secret Hayagriva is very popular and precious.

The deity cannot be separated from the Kila or Phurba. They are not separate. The presence of the deity is invoked into the Phurba, and it is considered a living Nirmanakaya deity — one of the reasons Phurba’s are typically covered in blue cloth when out in public. Phurbas are also often placed on altars where offerings can be made to them. Hayagriva, Vajrakilaya and Mahakala are all wrathful and secret Higher Tantric Deities. Hayagriva is a wrathful manifestation of Amitabha, Vajrakilaya is the wrathful emanation of Vajrasattva, and Mahakala is wrathful Avalokiteshvara.


(...)

The Handle: Vajra or Knots.

Some Phurbas have extraordinary detail, such as this one with six arms and three faces.

The “main grip” of the Phurba is typically a / eight sided / shaft with two symmetrical knots, or a complete vajra. Beer describes the knots this way: “Its form may derive from its use as a tethering stake, or from its uses in kilana rituals where the protective circle is petted out on the ground and bound with colour thread. In a Nyingma text from the “Norther Treasure Tradition, it is stated that “samsara and nirvana are enclosed within the vast knots /Skt. mahakanda / at either end of the handle.” The eight-sided shaft can have multiple meanings:

The eight directions, with the knots / top and bottom . representing above/below or zenith / nadir,
The Eight-fold path,
The eight consciousnesses,
The eight great charnal grounds of the mandala,

Esoterically, the eight main psychic channels that radiate from the heart chakra'.


Source: Buddha Weekly.


'Diamond Dagger / Skt. Vajrakilaya, Tib. Dorje Phurba /: Powerfully protective emanation of Diamond Mind; overcomes all hindrances, especially to meditation'.

-- Quoted from 'Fearless Death' book by Lama Ole Nydahl.


Phurba is used ritually to symbolically sever attachment to the ego. Varja symbolically means 'thunderbolt', 'diamond', 'skillful methods' among other meanings. Therefore, i can imagine that
Dorje-Phurba is the tool for severing one's attachment to ego, with use of 'skillful methods'.

Thunder symbolizes that Enlightenment might be as quick as a lightning bolt carrying light, and once one is Enlightened - Diamond symbolizes that Enlightenment is indestructible, 'hard as diamond'.

Way Analysis.

My way consists of many aspects, including Martial Arts, Esoterics & Beuatiful Art of Roleplaying.

These aspects have common points, but cause internal conflicts and there are other troubles associated.

In my Mind, Esoterics have no respect for Martial Arts - esoterics-associated voices in my mind slander Martial Arts, and there are too much of expenses associated with Esoterics. These candles, incense, wands and other implements cost a lot, and shipping/handling fees are not small as well.

In my Mind, Martial Arts used to calm me down - but not anymore. Voices associated with Buddhist Martial Arts Teacher / with nickname: Yoda / are abusive as well. Martial Arts also cause me to eat too much after training and in other situations - and i do not want to be fat as Sumotori.

Roleplaying Beautiful Arts, written tales are major source of stress and emotional effort associated with playing with other players - who usually treat the games as a way to de-stress after work, who wish to just release anger in game.


After thinking it over, i wish to reduce on these aspects of my way, for my health and well being - both mental and physical.

Teacher, Student & Training.

Preparing for Phowa.

Not many - if any - know for sure when one dies.

i wish to prepare for that moment, by preparing for Phowa, the Conscious Dying Meditation.

i doubt i will have a chance in this life for attending the Phowa Course, so i'll just prepare and hope that if something disastrous occurs, others will do Phowa for me.

i'll try to repeat 1000 malas of 108 mantra repetitions - of Limitless Light Buddha Mantra: OM AMI DEWA HRIH.

i'll also try to repeat the Buddha Diamond Mind's Mantra, 100-syllable mantra, 1080 malas of 108 mantras - taken from 'Ngöndro' book by Lama Ole Nydahl, translated to polish language.

... so far it seems i will skip the prostrations part, and won't complete with other two practices that follow - Mandala Offering & Meditation on Lama, because my insights tell me i cannot do Ngöndro in this life.

If my mind state changes that way, then perhaps i'll do Ngöndro anyway, but for now my mind opposes that. But perhaps this mental block is just an ego trick, and sooner or later will be overcome.

Please do Phowa for me, after i die - if You can.