Tantra

What we have discussed up to now concerning the complete stage has been in its first section: the basis situation. Next, the path to follow is divided into two:  The preliminary physical exercises, together with meditation on the body as an empty fenced-in pen The stages of...

Review Yesterday, we spoke about the meaning of tantra, a stream of continuity that goes on forever. There is a basis level – our mental continuum with the Buddha-nature factors. These include our networks of positive force and deep awareness, and the relative and deepest...

Tantra Is an Advanced Practice For our last session together, let’s speak a little bit about tantra. We also need to bring tantra down to earth. Often, Western people, when approaching the tantric teachings in Tibetan Buddhism, fall into one of two extremes. One extreme is to...

Set the proper motivation for listening to these teachings. Wish to be able to benefit all beings and, to do so, to achieve the state of full enlightenment. As stated previously, the six yogas or practices of Naropa are:  Tummo, inner heat Illusory body Clear light...

The Importance of Vows in Tantra  Attaining enlightenment through the sutra path takes a very long time, three zillion eons, and if our bodhichitta is really, really strong, then we want to find a method that is going to build up this positive force more efficiently and...

Powa (Transference of Consciousness)We were speaking a little bit about some of the features of mother and father tantra, as one of the questions. Another feature that I should mention that we have in mother tantra, because I know that many of you are practicing this, is powa...

The Buddha-Nature Factors Going from the basis level to the resultant level through the pathway level in tantra involves working with our Buddha-nature factors. Let’s look at what they are. There are evolving factors and abiding factors, as they are called. The evolving...

Review Tantra practice is a full practice that entails putting together a tremendous number of things and is something that we approach slowly and gradually. We can’t expect at the beginning to be able to do it in a full way; obviously not. Therefore, whether we are practicing...

Bodhisattva Vows For practicing the engaged state of bodhichitta and being best able to practice the six far-reaching attitudes, we need to take the bodhisattva vows. This involves refraining from committing the 18 root downfalls and the 46 faulty actions that transgress these...

Dudjom Rinpoche’s commentary to the third chapter of Longchenpa’s “Precious Garland for the Four Themes of (Gampopa),” entitled “Having the Pathway Minds Eliminate Confusion.”