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.

Bhavana.

About.

Bhāvanā (Pali; Sanskrit, also bhāvana) literally means "development" or "cultivating" or "producing" in the sense of "calling into existence."

The word bhavana normally appears in conjunction with another word forming a compound phrase such as Citta-bhavana (the development or cultivation of the heart/mind) or Metta-bhavana (the development/cultivation of loving kindness).

When used on its own bhavana signifies 'spiritual cultivation' generally.

Bhavana is general term for any type of meditational practice involving continuous attention by the mind to any suitable object.

The two main types of meditation practiced in exoteric (form; outer/material) Buddhism are shamatha (calming) and vipashyana (insight) meditation, while in esoteric (essence; inner/spiritual) Buddhism various forms of visualization are used along with the methods practiced in exoteric Buddhism.


Compunds.

Bhāvanā is often found in a compound phrase indicating personal, intentional effort over time with respect to the development of that particular faculty.

For instance, in the literature one can find the following compounds:

Citta-bhāvanā, translated as "development of mind" or "development of consciousness."
kāya-bhāvanā, translated as "development of body."
mettā-bhāvanā, translated as the "cultivation" or "development of Loving-kindness."
paññā-bhāvanā, translated as "development of Wisdom" or "development of understanding."
Samādhi-bhāvanā, translated as "development of tranquil-Wisdom."

Samatha-bhāvanā, meaning the development of tranquility.
vipassanā-bhāvanā, meaning the development of insight.


It's the cultivation (bhavana) of a broad range of skills, covering everything from worldview, to ethics, livelihood and Mindfulness.


Links:
- Dana, Sila & Bhavana.

Diamond Mind.

Image.

Quote.

Diamond Mind (Tibetan: Dorje Sempa, Sanskrit: Vajrasattva): The buddha representing the purifying power of all buddhas. He is in the Joy State, white in color, and depicted sitting in either full meditation or the activity posture. His right hand holds a dorje to his heart and left hand holds a bell at his hip.

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


Blog Author's comment.

Meditation on Diamond Mind is second part of the Four Foundational Practices (Ngöndro) that prepares for Great Seal.

Diamond Mind Meditation purifies strongly one's Karma, working even during one's sleep. That's why one who practices it suffers from nightmares during sleep. I think it's better to suffer during sleep than when awake - that way one's life is not ruined so much from painful mental states.

Invocation.

In Buddhism, word: 'Invocation' means:

Short spoken or written meditation on a buddha aspect to evoke his powerfield
and to experience the qualities embodied by it in one's own development.

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

See also, if you wish: Mahakala Invocation.