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.

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.

Limited Omniscience - Is Buddha All-Knowing?

Mind's Potential.

On an one of Buddhist lectures that i participated in, I've heard that Mind knows everything and enables anything.

Enabling is not automatic success yet, almost always one's wishes won't be fulfilled without serious fight for them. I think that Buddhism gives one tools for fulfilling any wish, but the price is often enormous.


Limited Omniscience.

What follows is only my own understanding, I do not know how close it is to the Truth.


Based on my observations of my own underdeveloped Buddhist Mind, I think that in a way Buddha is all-knowing.

I think that Buddha understands world & reality abstractly, and can at any moment know any detail that being(s) know.

It's limited omniscience, but I think that beings have right for privacy if they want and need it.

Perhaps when I develop more, i will understand Buddha's Mind better.

Perhaps it's far better than how i see it for now.

Wish for Thinking.

Introduction.

I think I can think.


Wishes, Feels & Sentiments.

I wish to be Buddhist/Wiccan Thinker (Intellectual) on Mahakala (Protector's) Way.

I wish to be Wise, Intelligent and Compassionate Thinker, with a healthy distance to sentimentalism.

I wish to be a Bodhisattva (one who helps to make world better, one who follows the Way to Enlightenment for benefit of all beings) on Diamond Way Buddhism's Level on Thinker's Way.

I feel that even Basic Thinker's Mental Apparatus On Diamond Way Buddhism's Level consists of many very expensive lessons. I do not want to be a parasite, however. I feel that I should be cost-efficient Thinker Aspirant and i Wish for that as well. (I think that Aspirant is Ambitious, Beneficial and Hard Working Person).

... Is it only wishful thinking?

Self-Improvement and Mind States.

I think and feel that we - living beings (humans,animals,deities,etc...) - are Mind(s), and have bodies.

Self-improvement and self-transformation would be changing one's Mind State from 'State A' to 'State B'.

This can also be explained as that one's state can move from 'Point A' to 'Point B'. One's Mind state can 'move' between Points A & B like a pawn in the board game, possibly crossing through more points (Point C, Point D, Point E... etc) in process, before reaching the desired 'Point B'. One's current Mind's state would be determined by pawn's current position.

Transition between Mind states (moving from 'Point' A to 'Point B') can be triggered by (almost) anything one experiences. From hearing a buddhist lecture, to crossing the street, participating in karate lesson, speaking a Mantra, watching theatre play, drinking water, observing a holy paint (thangka), lighting a candle, etc... Sometimes, however, one's experience doesn't result in such transition, or - more precisely - it triggers transition from 'Point A' to 'Point A', so nothing changes, practically speaking - except for having time to pass during such 'empty transition'.

Not every transition is beneficial, resulting in self-improvement. Some transitions are either 'neutral' or 'detrimential', resulting in downfall instead of development.

One's Mind state determines many aspect of one's being and perceptions. Whether one is in Europe or Asia, whether one feels joy or sadness, whether one experiences world as Hell or Zoo or even the 'Pure Land' - it's all included in one's Mind State.

I feel that death itself, and rebirth, are also Mind State transformations. During the moment of death one's mind state changes and one perceives world 'around' differently, like one would 'teleport' to another world. Same with the moment of rebirth and other bardo state changes.

For more about bardo states, feel free to read: 'Fearless Death' book by Lama Ole Nydahl.


Many won't understand this sadly, but I think that Mind behaves in a similar way as 'Finite State Machine(s)' in the Computer Sciences - except for that Mind is Limitless, is Infinite like an Open Space.

I think and feel that many would use words: 'Complex Machine(s)' instead of 'Finite State Machine(s)' when explaining the Mind's behaviour.

Jambhala.

Name.

Jambhala, also known as Dzambhala, Dzambala, Zambala or Jambala means: 'The Enlightened Deity of Fortune and Wealth'.


Meaning.

“Jam” means “Deity or gathering”. “Bhah” means “gold or wealth”. “La” means “to honor”.

“Dzambhala” means “Precious Golden Deity, who gathers or brings the wealth of spirituality or Dharma and material security or accomplishment to our lives”.

Wealth also includes auspicious conditions, such as health, attracting helpful people and other aspects of overall “good fortune.”


Five Jambhalas.

The Five Jambhalas, deities originating from diverse teaching lineages who collectively form a mandala of bodhichitta prosperity, or enlightened mind wealth. These deities, each with their unique form and mantra, are bound by their common pursuit – to eliminate poverty and create financial security. They emanate from four of the Buddha Families, with the fifth arising from Avaolokiteshvara. All activite different methods of auspicious activity. All specialize in bringing auspiciousness for the benefit of sentient beings, but with a focus on different activities:

Yellow Jambhala, of the Ratna Jewel Family, attracts auspicious circumstances.

White Jambhala, of Buddha Family, and an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, pacifies obstacles to auspiciousness.

Green Jambhala of the Karma Family, activates all activities of wealth and prosperity.

Red Jambhala of the Padma Family, magnetizes good fortune and helpful people.

Black Jambhala, of the Vajra Family, takes the most ferocious approach, bringing power and fierceness to the activities of prosperity.


Mantra.

OM JAMBHALA DZALEN DAYE SOHA.


Source.

For more, click if You wish: [ Yellow Jambhala on Buddha Weekly ].

Zoroastrianism & Dragon Magick of Babylon.

Zoroastrianism - common roots of Nihilism and Islam coming from Persia (Iran).

One of Nietzsche's books is called: 'Thus Spoke Zarathustra' and Zarathustra (also known as: 'Zoroaster') is a name for Leader of ancient Persian caste of Magicians-Priests called Magos, from which word: 'Mage' or 'Magician' comes.


Years ago, during a Buddhist course in Poland, I had insight (thoughts appeared in my mind) that I should study and counter Dragon Magic of Babylon for Lama Ole Nydahl, thus for whole of Buddhism as well.

Babylon was an ancient city located on the lower Euphrates river in southern Mesopotamia, within modern-day Hillah, Iraq, about 85 kilometers (55 miles) south of modern day Baghdad.

Tamed, befriended Dragon is the symbol of Protection and Magical Power, while Enemy Dragon is the symbol of Fear.

Thus - now I think - that 'Dragon Magick of Babylon' is ancient Persian Magick of Terrorism, basicly Zoroastrianism & related.

I think that I should study Hermetic Magick, of the Hermes Thrice Great (Hermes Trismegistos), as an alternative to Persian Magick. Hermes was known as Thoth in the ancient Egypt, as Hermes in ancient Greece, and as Mercury in ancient Rome. He is considered by many as deity of Magick, of Travellers and of Medicinemen/women. He was messenger of gods as well.

I think that Hermetic Magick has everything that is needed to defeat Dragons of Babylon. By Dragons, I mean scary Magicians/Priests. Both for western and eastern Buddhism, as well as for other parts of the Western World.