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lazyyogi · 8 months

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What is the purpose of mantras in your practice?

A mantra is made from seed sounds. Each seed embodies a fundamental aspect of reality--not represents but embodies. Think of this as if universal dharma were to be filtered through synesthesia and then expressed as the vibrations that most of us then perceive as sounds.

We truly have no idea how far back the human use of mantras goes. I suspect it is tied into the origins of language.

There are a number of ways in which mantras can be used and I have benefited from several techniques, both tantric and non-tantric. It is worth noting that the use of mantra is a key defining feature of tantra.

Japa Dharana

Focusing on a mantra was the first form of meditation I ever practiced. It was also the first form of meditation that caused unexpected and permanent shifts in me.

Japa means repetition/utterance and dharana means concentration. Therefore japa dharana means focus or concentration on a repeated mantra.

All forms of meditation have dharana, in other words focus or attention. Some forms of meditation have you focus on a mantra, other forms have you focus on the breath.

This is a good way to learn how to overcome the momentum of the mind's continual chattering, reacting, daydreaming, etc. It would be difficult to just sit down and focus on silent awareness, especially if you've never consciously experienced silent awareness. As such, using a point of focus provides a support for your meditation.

I will often recommend this practice to beginners but it can benefit practitioners at all stages of their path.

Deity Yoga

Now we enter the realm of tantra. For japa dharana, you can use any mantra that you find appealing. The technique is that the mantra is a support for the focus of your attention. With tantric forms of practice, however, the various mantras will have specific purposes or layers of effects.

When it comes to deity yoga, the mantra is the deity. Everything that comprises the deity is embedded in the mantra and the mantra itself can embed the deity--whether that means embedding in your heart or in a statue of the deity or in an offering.

Deity yoga is often credited as an exclusively tantric practice but you will find examples of it within bhakti (devotional) based spiritual traditions as well.

The purpose of deity yoga is manifold. For bhakti yoga, it means to lose yourself in a form of the divine and therefore find yourself as divinity. For tantra, it means to become the deity in order to receive its wisdom.

For example, maybe we aren't the most compassionate person. Maybe we find compassion very difficult to feel or understand. But Avalokiteshvara the bodhisattva of compassion is the living personification of compassion itself.

Therefore we can undertake a deity yoga practice in which we dissolve and arise as Avalokiteshvara. Then as Avalokiteshvara, we do compassion meditation practices. At the end of the practice, Avalokiteshvara dissolves back into our mindstream and we return to our human form.

While this practice utilizes visualization, it is the use of Avalokiteshvara's mantra that facilitates connection with his blessings, or influence.

In most ways that it is taught within Buddhist Tantra, deity yoga emphasizes that the deities do not exist outside of our own mindstream. The deities are archetypal facets of enlightened wisdom and/or activity. This is why the practice works at all: it helps you to discover, cultivate, and integrate those enlightened aspects.

Guru Yoga

Similar to deity yoga except with enlightened humans, either living or dead. Use of a guru's mantra along with visualizations can be applied to receive the blessings and teachings of a guru, or to meditate in their presence.

Sacred Formulae

As I mentioned from the beginning, a mantra is made from seed sounds with varying qualities. These can be used alone or combined in endless ways to create mantric formulae.

Such mantras are then used in practices and rituals. For example, nyasa is a tantric practice in which parts of the body are blessed and divinized by means of mantra. It is a ritual of placing/awakening divinity within the body.

Mantras are used in homa fire offering ceremonies, initiations, or magic rituals.

There are examples of things similar to mantras in other religions and cultures around the world, of course. But since the word "mantra" is a sanskrit word, I am speaking to my understanding and practical experience with mantras in the context of sanatana dharma and buddhist tantra.

Hope this wasn't too long/tedious! 😅

LY

#mantra #mantras #japa #mala #spirituality #tantra #yoga #consciousness #awareness #deity #deity yoga #guru #guru yoga #buddhism #hinduism

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livingwellnessblog · 9 months

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Tantra: Tilopa’s Song of Mahamudra

Explore the profound world of Tantra and the teachings of Tilopa, an Indian Buddhist monk in the tantric Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Delve into the essence of Mahamudra, a set of spiritual practices that accelerate the path to Buddhahood.

Tantra The Supreme Understanding Tantra: The Supreme Understanding Introduction Tilopa’s Song of Mahamudra A deep and insightful look into the underlying ideas of Tantra. Walking the road to enlightenment by embodying the full acceptance of all that is. A commentary on Tilopa’s marvelous song. Tilopa, was an Indian Buddhist monk in the tantric Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He…

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meditation-music · 10 months

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Listen to this beautiful story about Shiva and Shakti that explains how the One Supreme Joy sits inside everyone of us.

We tend to make the mistake of thinking Shakti is something that is given to us. But Shakti is our inner most self being awakened within.

This talk cannot be understood through the intellect but a meditation to awaken you to the One Supreme Joy beyond all logic and reasoning.

May it make you blissful!

#youtube #shakti #kundalini #guru #shaktipat #guru yoga #nonduality #self realization #spiritual enlightenment

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kadampalife · 1 year

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Kadampa Buddhism ~ helping it thrive in our modern world

At the International Spring Festival last year in Malaga, Gen-la Dekyong explained why Venerable Geshe Kelsang asked her to give the commentary to the practice of Guru Sumati Buddha Heruka: And then Geshe-la said the most extraordinary thing, which I think is the main message and blessing from this Festival that we need to think about forever … Carrying straight on from this article, A passion…

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#Gen-la Dekyong #good fortune #Guru Sumati Buddha Heruka #Guru yoga #Kadam Dharma #lineage #old merit new merit #what is virtue #wishfulfilling jewel

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wisterianwoman · 9 months

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Finding and nurturing a spiritual practice is essential to who we are as humans; its built into our DNA. but we can get lost in this endeavor and forget to cherish the here and now.

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mahayanapilgrim · 10 days

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Free from the impulse to avoid, cultivate or cling. all concepts of samsara and nirvana totally vanish into the expanse of nondual wakefulness, and you remain nakedly as nondual unity, the essence of great bliss. At that time, even if the Dharmaraja, the Lord of Death, puts his hook into you and takes you away, you will not feel fear or dread.

-Padmasambhava

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lovesinistra · 2 years

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#metaphysics #spirituality #consciousness #guru #lol #meditation #yoga

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drguptaclinic · 10 months

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The bond between a guru and a disciple is precious and eternal. May this bond grow stronger with each passing day. Happy Guru Purnima 2023!

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yogahealth2 · 6 months

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Unlocking the Benefits of the Tree Pose in Yoga

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santmat · 7 months

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Spirituality of the Sikh Scriptures of India - Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcast

Listen/Download @ https://traffic.libsyn.com/spiritualawakeningradio/Sikh_Spirituality_Adi_Granth.mp3

@ the Podcast Website, and with Links to Various Podcast APPS: https://SpiritualAwakeningRadio.libsyn.com/spirituality-of-the-sikh-scriptures-of-india

@ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spirituality-of-the-sikh-scriptures-of-india/id1477577384?i=1000630005691

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lazyyogi · 1 year

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How to Recognize an Enlightened Human

It may or may not come as a surprise but there are enlightened humans on this planet. It wasn't just Buddha or Jesus or random historical figures. My own guru is one of them.

To learn from an enlightened human is the most precious and beneficial support for one's own path. Even just to meet one and receive the blessings of their presence will have far-reaching effects.

As you might imagine, there are plenty of people mistakenly or falsely proclaiming themselves to be enlightened. And the truth is that there is no way to 100% know or prove that someone is enlightened.

However, having met, learned from, and received the blessings of a few such living buddhas, I do have some observations that are common to all enlightened humans that I've experienced.

When you meet a typical person, the light of their awareness seems brightest behind their eyes. When you meet a realized human, they don’t feel located solely behind their eyes. Their awareness radiates effortlessly though every bodily cell, like a divine fragrance.

They seem rather ordinary but not in any samsaric (mundane) way; it's more like seeing an animal in nature. Elegant yet simple in their naturalness.

Their brain’s consciousness of the human body is like a pinprick relative to the immensity of their awareness, which again gives them a strange ordinariness because nothing is a big deal to them. At the same time, they don't behave as if nothing matters.

They aren’t all-knowing; they teach according to their direct knowing/experience and what worked best for them on their path, although some are gifted as teachers beyond that.

They can display the full spectrum of human emotions but it’s all like writing on the surface of water, no imprints or resentments or judgments are left behind.

For them, waking, dreaming, and dreamless sleep aren’t that different, if at all.

They never live in a state of unhappiness.

I decided to share these in case anyone who reads this is looking for their own guru. A true guru is someone who has attained enlightenment and is capable of leading others to enlightenment as well. I have seen many sincere seekers waste years or their entire life in the service of a false guru.

Many of these gurus/teachers tour the world and give sessions in every major city. Some remain stationary and you have to travel to them if you wish to learn in their presence. My advice, and what I did, was to meet a few, listen to what they share, try to practice what they teach, and see what happens. If you start to feel more peaceful, loving, and happy, it's a good indication that you are on the right track.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

LY

#enlightenment #self realization #guru #buddha #spirituality #yoga #buddhism #meditation #mindfulness #consciousness #awareness

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skilasophia · 7 days

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Reduced Belly Fat

Core discipline People think you're so fine With your nice abs (no water after 12p) Skeleton face (google: "how to manage mood swings"); The camera loves you

Less than 5%? All the fitness rats will fall in love You're so thin, you're so hot (don't season your food); The elliptical is efficient for losing weight Integrate into your workout 60-to-90 minutes daily Maximal incline and resistance

Lululemon's calling: Influencer of the year Go build your audience Lie to your fans Profit from scams You're their favorite brand ("I don't even like this material")

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#biology #body #diet culture #discipline #dysphoria #fitness #fitness culture #gym #material feminism #materialism #meditation guru #pilates #poem #Poetry #seattle #self-help #yoga

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attractivewebsolution · 10 months

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Today is the best day to pay tribute to all the gurus in our life❤🙏💖

Happy Guru Purnima 2023🙏🙏❤

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kadampalife · 1 year

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A passion for the possible

I hope you’ve all been having holidays as peaceful as are possible in your circumstances. I had a good time, as you can see from this picture of my mother and her Dakini carers, who all appeared together spontaneously on the 24th — her 85th birthday — bearing gifts, cards, flowers, and, mostly, love. Then I had a lovely Christmas Day hearing from these little fellows and then spending time with…

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#blessings #Blessings & inspiration #Buddhist Tantra #close retreat #Geshe Kelsang Gyatso #Guru Sumati Buddha Heruka #Guru yoga #Heart Jewel #Kadampa Buddhism #name mantra #potentials #The Hundreds of Deities of the Joyful Land #Wheel of Time

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griaustinis · 1 year

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whatever moldova 2023 is doing, france 2022 has done it better already

#eurovision #sorry but the moldovan guy looks like he pretends to be a yoga guru or whatever after spending a week in india #esc 2023 #esc #eurovision semi 1 #eurovision 2023 #esc moldova #esc france

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mahayanapilgrim · 7 days

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So stay right here, you lucky people, let go and be happy in the natural state.

Let your complicated life and everyday confusion alone and out of quietude, doing nothing, watch the nature of mind.

This piece of advice is from the bottom of my heart: fully engage in contemplation and understanding is born; cherish nonattachment and delusion dissolves; and forming no agenda at all reality dawns.

Whatever occurs, whatever it may be, that itself is the key, and without stopping it or nourishing it, in an even flow, freely resting, surrendering to ultimate contemplation, in naked pristine purity we reach consummation.

~Longchenpa

#buddha #buddhist #buddhism #dharma #sangha #mahayana #zen #milarepa #tibetan buddhism #thich nhat hanh #Longchenpa #Padmasambhava #four noble truths #Guru Rinpoche #amitaba buddha #buddha samantabhadra #enlightenment spiritualawakening reincarnation tibetan siddhi yoga naga buddha

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