Vows

The 18 Closely Bonding Practices The sixth point is the eighteen closely bonding practices for mind training – in other words, for cleansing and training our attitudes. “Close bond” in Sanskrit is “samaya,” or “dam-tshig” in Tibetan, which means something that will bond us...

Overview of the Twenty-Two Trainings Last in our discussion is the seventh point, which consists of the list of the twenty-two trainings, or points that train the mind in cleansing our attitudes. The first of these trainings is: Do all yogas with one. This refers to, no...

Let us look more closely at the type of nonrevealing form that a pratimoksha vowed restraint (so-sor thar-pa’i sdom-pa, Skt. prātimokṣasaṃvara) is. There Is Only One Nonrevealing Form for All the Branches of a Pratimoksha Vowed Restraint  Vasubandhu adds further detail...

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...

In addition to taking bodhisattva and the Kalachakra root tantric vows, another commitment of the Kalachakra empowerment is to safeguard 25 modes of tamed behavior.

A look at common misunderstandings people have about tantra.

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.

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.

Presentation of bonding practices that create close bonds with the five “Buddha-families” – aspects of clear light mental activity that allow us to attain enlightenment.

With the secondary tantric vows, we promise to refrain from “eight thick actions.” Committing them would hamper meditation practice and progress along the yoga tantra and anuttarayoga tantra paths.