Tantra

In order to develop an effective tantra practice, we need to understand what tantra is, how it works and how it’s more efficient than the sutra methods alone. Our practice is effective if it purifies away our emotional and cognitive obscurations and strengthens our...

How to gain the most from tantric practice when lacking a traditional Buddhist background.

Kriya tantra (ritual tantra) is found in the Nyingma and Sarma classification schemes. It’s a practice with deity visualization that emphasizes cleanliness, vegetarianism and purification.

Chakrasamvara (Heruka) is a mother tantra practice of anuttarayoga tantra. It provides the most detail about the methods for generating the four levels of blissful awareness of voidness within the central energy-channel, enabling access to the subtlest level of mind, clear...

The primary connotation of “ngondro” is preparation. These practices are absolutely essential preparation for undertaking and sustaining our “spiritual journey.”

To appreciate tantra and put full enthusiasm into its practice it is important to know what makes tantra a quicker and more efficient method for achieving enlightenment than is sutra.

In addition to taking bodhisattva and tantric vows, we also pledge at an anuttarayoga empowerment to maintain nine auxiliary bonding practices that bond us closely to tantra.

The energy-winds of our minds give rise to appearances resembling holograms. Depending on the mental factors accompanying this appearance-making, the holograms may be of samsaric appearances or the nirvana-type appearances of a Buddha-figure.

The Tibetan word “damtsig,” “samaya” in Sanskrit, means “close bond.” It refers to practices that create a close bond between us and a Buddha-figure or our spiritual teacher.

Understanding and appreciating Kalachakra’s unique features and methods for attaining enlightenment grow based on first understanding and appreciating the unique features of Mahayana sutra, general tantra and anuttarayoga tantra.