Mind's Mirror & Rainbow Body.

Introduction.

Rainbow appears when there's Sun & Rain.

Sun can be compared to Buddha's blessing, to happiness. Rain can be compared to tears.

While there is much to say insofar as understanding the core teachings of this technique, it can be summarized as making every thought a loving thought.

Every pleasant or unpleasant experience can be perceived as a lesson, for which one can be grateful.


The Spiritual Nature of All Things.

The method of achieving Rainbow Body is the art of embracing all of what life has to offer, including experiences that society labels as unquestionably bad or undesirable. To be sure, we need not seek out suffering, harm, or oppression, yet at the same time, we must develop a comprehension of the spiritual nature of all things.

Once one really perceives that all events and things in life are spiritual at their foundation, gratitude for being able to experience them can be developed. In this way, any experience, no matter how seemingly horrific and tragic, can be viewed or defined in a way that produces the experience of gratitude. The more one finds success in this path and the more one feels empowered by the challenges of life, the more one can embrace change and evolve in harmony with the ever-emerging newness or novelty of existence.


The Altruism of the Rainbow Body.

As one point of consideration, the Rainbow Body, as described below, is not a selfish or self-serving practice. While one does achieve increasing states of personal healing, transcendence, and empowerment, it is harmonized with an ever-increasing desire to service others and become an instrument of universal will.


Mirror-clear.

The analogy given by Dzogchen masters is that one's nature is like a mirror which reflects with complete openness but is not affected by the reflections, or like a crystal ball that takes on the color of the material on which it is placed without itself being changed. The knowledge that ensues from recognizing this mirror-like clarity / which cannot be found by searching nor identified / is what Dzogchenpas refer to as rigpa.


Source: The Rainbow Body of Light.




-=- Padmasambava's Rainbow Body / Guru Rinpoche /. -=-

Shikantaza.

Introduction.

The term shikantaza is attributed to Dōgen's teacher Tiantong Rujing (1162-1228), and it literally means, 'nothing but (shikan) precisely (da) sitting (za).'

In other words, Dōgen means, 'doing only zazen whole-heartedly' or 'single-minded sitting.'

Source: Shikantaza on Wikipedia.


Martial Arts.

Before and after a martial arts lesson, it's customary to sit in zazen position for a short while, and calm down. At this short time one can meditate for a while, count breaths, calm down.

Also, our Teacher made us perform a practice borrowed from Yoga - a practice of drawing energy from the universe.


Does it work?

After eagerly practicing shikantaza before and after karate training, my mind went quiet and balanced after some years.

i didn't know it's shikantaza, just counted breaths, being fascinated with 'oriental philosophy aspects', when training.

i was 'radiating with calmness', people told me - and i felt same calmness in me as well.

i felt stronger, as well.

Now, unfortunatelly - after stopping shikantaza - i am much more nervous, at least internally feeling that way.


Also, on a course with Lama Ole Nydahl, i've heard that sitting is important, that many sat in caves and reached Enlightenment. i do not know what they did during/after sitting, however.


What's involved?

During Shikantaza, body, breath and mind are in fact one thing. Or, more accurately, body-breath-mind is actually body-breath-mind-universe.

Breath brings together consciousness with unconscious.

Breathing is also bodily function.

'The entire universe is the true human body ... the entire universe is the dharma body of self.'

Source: My experience, Buddhadharma magazine - Spring 2018.


How to do Shikantaza?

Many people start in Buddhism by counting breaths.

Practicioneer sits and observes breath and mind, breathes naturally - while counting from one to ten, with each of breaths - one or two numbers.

After reaching ten, practicioneer starts from one again and again.

When a distraction appears, one relaxes, affirms non-duality / 'whatever arises - affirm no-two' /, lets go and starts counting again.

... at later stage, one can stop supporting practice of counting breaths as well.

Source: My experience, Buddhadharma magazine - Spring 2018.

Buddhadharma Magazine.

Buddhadharma magazine arrived at my apartment today. :)



On this issue's cover, the wrathful deity Mahakala takes a selfie.

Ritual objects, once used as a means of communicating with the gods, are replaced with iPhone, all against a backdrop of quotations from Mao Zedong's Little Red Book.


One of these is published every of the year's quarters.

This one is for Fall 2018.

Subscribed for one year, also have access to this and to every of other issues of Buddhadharma in digital form.

i hope that materials within will let me understand other Buddhist Schools, as well as HH Ogyen Trinley Dorje's School.

This makes sense after Joint statement of His Holiness Trinley Thaye Dorje and His Holiness Ogyen Trinley Dorje.


   

Joint statement of His Holiness Trinley Thaye Dorje and His Holiness Ogyen Trinley Dorje.

Source: Joint statement of His Holiness Trinley Thaye Dorje and His Holiness Ogyen Trinley Dorje.