November 22, 2015 0
This post, written by one of the featured writers Pastor JJ, is about the proliferation of Vajrayogini practice in China. Interesting because we always associate Vajrayogini with Tibet, Nepal and India but not so much with China.
One thing that always amazes me about Buddhism is the universality of the teachings. Regardless of the environment and culture of the countries where the teachings have travelled to, the wisdom of the Buddha is always applicable and relevant to the people. It is just the outer appearance of the teachings that changes to appeal to the local population, but when you approach the teachings with logic and consistency, you always get the same core and same essence.
When you are studying and talking about the mind, it truly is a study without borders – colour, race, gender, ethnicity no longer apply.
But beyond the post, someone by the name of “Duldzin” left a comment on Rinpoche’s blog linking to some interesting videos which stood out for me, and that is what I left a comment to.
http://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/art-architecture/vajravarahi-caves-in-china.html
Thank you Duldzin for sharing the videos. I’ve just watched the first video, and it was extremely interesting. First of all, that the tradition of yogis continues to exist is very inspirational in an age when such deep commitment to spiritual practice has become rare.
Compared to the conditions these yogis practise in, we are extremely fortunate to have such comfortable surroundings and yet, it is never good enough. When it’s a little bit too hot, we can’t focus or concentrate and fidget on our meditation cushions. When it’s a little too cold, we have to put on extra layers.
So even when we practise, our minds are centred on the physicalities of the body. However, instead of focusing on the discomforts and trying to counter them, the experience can be used as a meditation tool. We can use it to remind ourselves that the fact we are never comfortable for long is a reflection of the state of samsara – dissatisfaction and impermanence. What is comfortable does not remain comfortable so don’t cling on to it, try to maintain it and try to prolong it.
What struck me about the second video was the great reverence shown to Kyabje Lati Rinpoche’s remains. The respect for the lama continues after his physical body no longer remains.
What is so great about a body’s ability to produce holy relics after it is cremated? It is not that this is some kind of accomplishment we should strive for but rather, the fact it CAN happen shows that there are results in deeper Dharma practice.
This harkens back to a teaching Rinpoche previously gave about siddhis like tummo, fast walking, clairvoyance, etc. Rinpoche said that it is not that those are attainments to strive for as an end goal but that they are aids to our meditational practices, and they are signs our practice is successful.
Tummo allows practitioners to meditate in remote places free from fear of extreme temperature like the cold, while fast walking allows practitioners to put great distances between themselves and the adoring crowd so they can remain in isolation to continue their meditations. And well, even ghosts have some degree of clairvoyance so it’s no big deal.
The attainment we should ACTUALLY wish to achieve is control of our rebirth so that we can ensure we return in our next life to meet the Dharma at a young age and to resume our practice from where we left off.
Actually, on typing this, I’ve just come to another thought – it is not literally control of our rebirths from life to life that is the ultimate attainment, but rather ultimate control of our rebirths which is actually freedom from samsara.
Also, thank you Duldzin for sharing this video. Kensur Lati Rinpoche was the lama who instructed our Rinpoche to come to Malaysia to raise funds for the monastery. Without Kensur Rinpoche’s instruction we would never have met our Rinpoche and Kechara would not have come into existence. So the fact I have a lama and a home today is thanks to Kensur Rinpoche’s kindness _/|\_
For those who are interested, you can read more about Kensur Lati Rinpoche’s funeral here: http://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/current-affairs/his-eminence-kyabje-lati-rinpoche-enters-clear-light.html
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