Soma
Tools of the Path => Buddhism [Public] => Topic started by: Michael on July 17, 2006, 02:39:30 AM
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I am very drawn to Buddhism, esp Tibetan Buddhism - Vajrayana. A psychic once told me I had previous lives in a sect of Tibetan Buddhism which wore a blue robe instead of the usual deep Tibetan red or orange. I can dig that.
When i traveled in Tibetan Buddhist lands, I was drawn to those monasteries perched on crags and hills. I even slept in a famous one on my way back from Ley - felt very much at home.
There is something about those high mountain passes and deep valleys where the prayer flags and chortens are found... the space, and the quiet, and those skies. I always would have liked to retire in a remote monastery high up on the Tibetan plateau, or even one of those small mud brick houses near a small river/creek, with an orchard, and little tracks that wander up into the mountains. Eating apricot kernels, and drinking chung, and meditating.
Julie often snipes at me that I always wanted to be a hermit. its true.
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When i traveled in Tibetan Buddhist lands, I was drawn to those monasteries perched on crags and hills. I even slept in a famous one on my way back from Ley - felt very much at home. Michael
Most jealous Michael! I hope you share more of your adventures ;)
Julie often snipes at me that I always wanted to be a hermit. its true. Michael
Yes! (Im close, but not close enough)
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I guess I'm not quite there yet.
It is important to carry the door in my mind that I can open any time to speak directly to Buddha or anybody else for that matter.
Can't really choose the time and place - events tend to throw me around, so I must carry the door and travel light.
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I am very drawn to Buddhism, esp Tibetan Buddhism -
There is something about those high mountain passes and deep valleys where the prayer flags and chortens are found... the space, and the quiet, and those skies. I always would have liked to retire in a remote monastery high up on the Tibetan plateau
Me too Michael
Me tooooo!
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---- so I must carry the door and travel light.
I like that - carry the door and travel light
I love the quietness and solitude of my own space - both figuratively and literally - and yet find myself drawn to space that is full with others.
I don't really like noise and rush, and yet I find myself often in the midst of crowds and the crowded, and the only way to get through that it to extend the silence around me.
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I am very drawn to Buddhism, esp Tibetan Buddhism - Vajrayana. A psychic once told me I had previous lives in a sect of Tibetan Buddhism which wore a blue robe instead of the usual deep Tibetan red or orange. I can dig that.
That's interesting. Do you know anything more about (Tibetan) monks that wear blue robes?
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no i don't. have never been able to find more on this, except from Lobsang Rampa (an irish historian i believe) who talked of a small healing monastery where the monks wore blue.
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Tibetan buddhism was originated from Padmasambhava, however the prehistoric shamanistic practice of tibetans known as Bon also had a strong influence.
My personal favorite form of buddhism,Dzogchen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dzogchen), is often said to have been more of an "origin teaching" of the timeless variety rather than a further development of buddhism perse. It has much in common with Taoism and other traditions which hark to the ancient ways.
Monastaries which were perched on cliffs and mountainsides in Tibet often engaged in esoteric practices involving flying. Robes were used as a gliding apparatus to aid in this pursuit. In fact many different monasataries and schools specialized in different forms of esoteric practices, and were positioned in environments which would benefit them in such a particular way.
An interesting book on some of the more fantastical nature of these practices is called Magic and Mystery in Tibet (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486226824/103-1896739-8926220?v=glance&n=283155). It was written by a traveling buddhist scholar from England, a woman who also spoke tibetan and was sworn as a monk. Also, it was written in the 1920s and at a time when public perception of Tibet was just beginning to form. It was certainly a different era - in the beginning of the book the author writes an account of meeting with the current Dalai Lama who had just returned from a successful military campaign against the Chinese army. There are further accounts of all manner of things, and it is all documented very well and in the utmost sobriety. In fact, she has the air of a skeptic turned believer by sheer weight of evidence. Unfortunately her reserved nature does cause her to keep theories to herself - and thus excludes communication of a possible deeper understanding of those events she writes about. In any event, its a great book - check it out.
My own personal connection to Tibet and its culture, art, spirituality and mysticism is intense to say the least. I have many other old roots as well, but few as indelible.
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Yes Joshua, that's the other book by Alexandra David-Neel that I couldn't remember when I posted a list of her works Books > Tibet (http://restlesssoma.com.au/soma/index.php?topic=113.0)
Magic and Mystery in Tibet is another of hers where she revealed some very interesting techniques.
Her books are among my favourites. Someone wrote a play about her recently.
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Nice stuff - i will definately have to check those out
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I am very drawn to Buddhism, esp Tibetan Buddhism - Vajrayana. A psychic once told me I had previous lives in a sect of Tibetan Buddhism which wore a blue robe instead of the usual deep Tibetan red or orange. I can dig that.
YungDrung Bön tradition of Buddhism
http://www.sherabchammaling.com/:
(http://buddhismcanada.com/images/HHandYongDong.jpg)
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It seems that there are some cultural roots here for me.
In Swedish the name for prayer is Bön.
And this is what the say on that homepage about the origin of Bön:
"The ancient Bön was shamanic. In other words, it was based on the belief that spirits residing within the earth's framework of mountains and rivers, trees and sky are sensitive to human action and therefore must not be harmed. Pollution and degradation of the natural world will provoke the spirits into creating illness and harm to humans. Shamans work to appease and communicate with these spirits, for instance, as in a prayer for rain. "
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There is something about those high mountain passes and deep valleys where the prayer flags and chortens are found... the space, and the quiet, and those skies. I always would have liked to retire in a remote monastery high up on the Tibetan plateau, or even one of those small mud brick houses near a small river/creek, with an orchard, and little tracks that wander up into the mountains. Eating apricot kernels, and drinking chung, and meditating.
Julie often snipes at me that I always wanted to be a hermit. its true.
Agreed.
In a locale similiar to what you mention above is where the totality of myself will be found...the fire from within will thus burn brightly...
z
PS ...of course this begs the question, oh dear zamurito, why cannot you burn with your arse parked where it's at?? The only explanation that comes to *mind* is that this has been seen in Dreaming already...myself being drawn to such a place for the final boost of this great Earths power.
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PS ...of course this begs the question, oh dear zamurito, why cannot you burn with your arse parked where it's at?? The only explanation that comes to *mind* is that this has been seen in Dreaming already...myself being drawn to such a place for the final boost of this great Earths power.
I've noticed that the energy can get sucked out of a place that is familiar to us - or, more likely, we become so familiar with those energy patterns that we might fail to notice the beauty of the mystery all around us. That's certainly been true with me, living here in the high desert. When we first moved here, I felt a lot more "energy from the place. Now, I look around and feel my spirit aching for something new, something different, some new scenery.
And yet, when I go out into Joshua Tree National Park (only about 5 miles from here), I can be quickly and delightfully overwhelmed by the sheer force of energy. There have been times out there when I have almost just walked off into the nagual and kept going... literally into that door DJM and Silvio Manuel were always searching for.
So, fwiw, I think you're right about that extra boost of energy. familiar surroundings are for nurturing the tonal self, and so it stands to reason that when we are ready to burn with the fire from within, the ideal thing would probably be to do it at some phenomenal place that really speaks to the spirit of our nagual.
I'm liking the moody shoreline of Bandon, Oregon myself. ;)
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There have been times out there when I have almost just walked off into the nagual and kept going... literally into that door DJM and Silvio Manuel were always searching for.
That door? Ah, the 'Cosmic Vagina!'
Interesting....spent 9 months trying to get out of it and the rest of my life getting back in.
:)
Z
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I am very drawn to Buddhism, esp Tibetan Buddhism - Vajrayana. A psychic once told me I had previous lives in a sect of Tibetan Buddhism which wore a blue robe instead of the usual deep Tibetan red or orange. I can dig that.
When i traveled in Tibetan Buddhist lands, I was drawn to those monasteries perched on crags and hills. I even slept in a famous one on my way back from Ley - felt very much at home.
There is something about those high mountain passes and deep valleys where the prayer flags and chortens are found... the space, and the quiet, and those skies. I always would have liked to retire in a remote monastery high up on the Tibetan plateau, or even one of those small mud brick houses near a small river/creek, with an orchard, and little tracks that wander up into the mountains. Eating apricot kernels, and drinking chung, and meditating.
Julie often snipes at me that I always wanted to be a hermit. its true.
I got the feeling that there was something transpiring with regard to blue robes.
This time I stumbled upon this:
http://www.xuxiaohu.org/?p=968
http://www.xuxiaohu.org/?cat=14
Not sure, what this is about. At the first glance, it looks like a splinter group who decided to start from "0".
They wear fully-blue robes, though.
More on these blue robe people:
The guru: http://dharma.maitriya.info/en/
Their website: http://maitriya.info/en/
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I can't see anything in that which triggers recognition in me. I've always thought the connection was probably more related to the Mahīśāsaka Buddhist sect, or one of the healing traditions in Tibet.
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I have heard claims that what are considered new orders or movements, are occasionally reincarnations/re-appearances of very ancient things. Just wondered if these people with their claim to the beginning of a new age and donning white-blue robes may be an echo of something ancient.
The issue of blue robes either in India or Tibet remains a true mystery. :)