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Dharma podcasts
- Thread starter ommani
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Pumpy
Titanium Teammate
Ommani you seem pretty well versed and mention Buddhism frequently, what do you think of this guy's book (it's short) ?[Internet Archive Link = Dark Zen by Zenmar (1995)]
If you are into mysticism, all you need is Vajrayana (both Tibetan and Japanese branches will do). People tend to make stuff so esoteric that they lose sight of the goal on the way. Read "The Magic of Vajrayana" by Ken McLeod. Even if you do not practice it, this book will give you many practical insights into mysticism.
It's hard for me to say without reading the whole book, but I'm not sure about the extent to which it corresponds to Buddhism/Zen, as it is commonly understood. In essence, when I see someone dismissing an entire tradition and saying that their interpretation of it is the correct one, my inclination is to look elsewhere, especially when the person in question doesn't appear to represent an established lineage.
With regard to Zen, the books, Zen Mind, Beginners Mind and Not Always So, by Shunryu Suzuki are well known classics of the genre that I can recommend.
When it comes to Vajrayana (Buddhist tantra)/Tibetan Buddhism, Anam Thubten is probably my favorite teacher. He's got lots of great books, including one that is specifically about Dzogchen, which is generally considered the most advanced (non-dual) form of Tibetan Buddhism, corresponding to Mahamudra (Dzogchen is part of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, while Mahamudra is related to the Kagyu school).
Chogyal Namkhai Norbu is another Tibetan Buddhist teacher you could look into, who focused largely on the Dzogchen tradition.
Pema Chodron is another great teacher who takes the vast teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, and brings them down to earth.
I've actually been listening to the audiobook of The Magic of Vajrayana that @northape recommended, which I really like so far. I've also been listening to his book, Reflections on Silver River: Tokme Zongpo's Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, which pertains to the Mahayana teachings of Buddhism.
Two cross-references for the aforementioned book would be The Heroic Heart: Awakening Unbound Compassion - A Modern Commentary on the Thirty-Seven Verses on the Practice of a Bodhisattva, by Tenzin Palmo
and
The Heart of Compassion: the Thirty-Seven Verses on the Practice of a Bodhisattva by Dilgo Khyentse
I haven't read, A Trackless Path, by Ken McLeod, which I saw northape had recommended in your post, but have the audiobook and plan to give it a listen - this book deals with the topic of Dzogchen and is a commentary on a poem written by renowned, 18th century Dzogchen master, Jigme Lingpa.
For a little context, Tibetan Buddhism is organized into the foundational teachings of Hinayana (analogous to Southeast Asian, Theravada Buddhism), Mahayana (focusing on teachings of emptiness and compassion), Vajrayana (Buddhist tantra), and Dzogchen/Mahumudra (ultimate/non-dual teachings/practices, through a Buddhist lens). I suppose that Dzogchen/Mahamudra could be included under the umbrella of Vajrayana, yet are also distinct from the kinds of tantric (deity yoga) practices that I associate with Vajrayana Buddhism.
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Pumpy
Titanium Teammate
Yes, this author does the deception wherein he pretends he's too cool for Buddhism/Zen and then immediately says, "But I'm the Real Thing." to me this person and his site ; it's geocities fluff from 1997 but it stuck in my head because there are good instructions inside.
I have already read every entry level book on zen worth reading so other than that one, I will definitely check out the books you mentioned
Pumpy
Titanium Teammate
These are really good ! You were talking about Citadel of Awareness with Thubten and Dzogchen? I found a copy of The Lamp That Enlightens Narrow Minds on walmart.com
also
This is a good one. Dhammarato's approach has helped me a lot.
These are really good ! You were talking about Citadel of Awareness with Thubten and Dzogchen? I found a copy of The Lamp That Enlightens Narrow Minds on walmart.com
That's the one! I have a copy at home, but haven't read it yet. Nice, I bet walmart.com has some good deals haha Btw Anam Thubten gives live talks around twice a month that can be watched through zoom (you can sign up for the mailing list at Dharmata Foundation to receive the links). While his humor doesn't always come through in his writing, he's kind of hilarious, in real time, so I find his talks to be simultaneously inspiring, uplifting, and grounding to watch/listen to. I remember reading somewhere that he was actually recognized as a Tulku, or a reincarnated lama, but has apparently chosen to forgo that title, along with that of Rinpoche, or "precious one," which I believe would traditionally be attached to his name.
Pumpy
Titanium Teammate
I saw a link to that and was shocked , it was so unexpected. I'm going to watch one for sure
Shaiva Tantra vs Dzogchen - The Ultimate Showdown
@northape I think this is the scholar you posted the article by, yes? He seems to know a lot more about Buddhism than he does about psychedelics haha While I can’t say that I feel too drawn to either of these guys as spiritual teachers, I very much appreciate the scholarly/historical knowledge they bring to these topics.
@northape I think this is the scholar you posted the article by, yes? He seems to know a lot more about Buddhism than he does about psychedelics haha While I can’t say that I feel too drawn to either of these guys as spiritual teachers, I very much appreciate the scholarly/historical knowledge they bring to these topics.
Malcolm studied within the Sakya lineage, which is a philosophy-oriented branch of Tibetan Buddhism. Later on, he met the late Namnkai Norbu, and the rest is history.
He's an Acharya, or Buddhist scholar, and I consider him to be one of the best in the West. However, the guy is very fundamental, and he doesn't hide it either. He views Dzogchen as the way toward awakening and can support his many arguments from a vast variety of Tantras.
Hareesh is a Sanskrit scholar and a Tantric practitioner with his own following and work. He promised to translate some Kaula Tantras (a Tantric tradition focused on Kali), but I'm still waiting. Maybe in a few years, he can make it accessible to the English-speaking world.
When it comes to psychedelics, all the spiritual traditions are very myopic. Only Ram Dass and his group were openly using anything and acknowledging the benefits.
Better to let all nonbelievers be and follow your own path. Nothing is against the Dharma, and everything is workable.
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