Vajrayana Buddhism ― When used in reference to a MetaPhysical Orientation as to Tradition, Culture or Preferred Flavour, is primarily defined, usually selfdefined by its members and/or adherents as such, and holding the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, and/or interpolations thereon as a primary or critical parameter of their Spiritual Paradigm. (also see: the complete entry on Buddhism.) Vajra (Sanskrit) Diamond or thunderbolt; one possessing this scepter, or diamond-thunderbolt, possesses great spiritual, intellectual, and psychic powers; among others, the occult ability to repel evil influences by purifying the air, as ozone does in chemistry. The vajra mystically refers to indestructibility and to the wondrous reflective powers of the diamond. Some postulate that there is no monolithic Buddhism as such, but that there are Buddhisms such as Sinhala Buddhism or more precisely Sinhala Theravada Buddhism, Siam or Thai Buddhism, Myanmar or Amarapura Buddhism and so forth. One who possesses the vajra reflects the suffering, joys, and sorrows -- and beauties -- of the world, but can never be injured by them. It has been said that the heart of the perfect person is a mirror: it reflects all things, but holds nothing for self alone. Thus also is the heart of one wielding the scepter of the vajra. Also commonly called Tantric Buddhism, Vajrayana Buddhism is the "Diamond Vehicle." It developed out of the Mahayana teachings in northwest India around 500 B.C.E. and spread to Tibet, China and Japan. Today it is practiced mainly in the Himalayan regions and involves esoteric visualizations, rituals, and mantras which can only be learned by study with a master. In the Vajrayana path, all situations can be used as a spiritual path. It teaches not to suppress energy, but rather to transform it. There is no external "good" reference point. For this reason, the role of the teacher is especially important in the Vajrayana. Without a clear motive to help others and a strong grounding in meditation, practicing tantra is dangerous and ultimately self-destructive. This necessary practice of complete devotion to the teacher is known as "guru yoga." In Hindu literature this vajra is the scepter of Indra (similar to the thunderbolt of Zeus), with which he as the god of the skies was said to slay evildoers. In mystical Buddhism it is the magic scepter of priest-initiates and adepts, the symbol of the possessions of siddhis (superhuman powers), wielded during certain mystical ceremonies by initiated priests and theurgists. It is also the symbol of the Buddha's power over evil spirits or elementals. The possessors of this scepter are called vajrapanins. This is about Vajrayana Buddhism, especially Phowa which is 'transferance of conciousness at time of death' Anyone who is curious about death should find this very informative. His Eminence The 8th Garchen Rinpoche Tibetan Buddhist Lama in Drikung Kagyu Lineage Life's most awesome event is death, and death comes to all without regard to wealth, beauty, intelligence or fame. Death is inevitable, but how you die......terrified and confused, or with confidence and spiritual mastery.....is within your control. Phowa, or "transference of consciousness at the time of death", is the Tibetan Buddhist method for ensuring that one attains enlightenment after present life ends. Through a combination of breath, mantra and visualization techniques applied at the time of death, the consciousness is ejected from the crest aperture, circumventing the Bardos and avoiding rebirth in the six realms of cyclic existence, From this gate one's consciousness can be transferred directly to the domain of the Amitabha Buddha (Dewachen, the western Buddha-field). Naropa said, "There are nine Gates (ordinary aperture, called buga) which are of the world, but there is only one which is the gate of Mahamudra (nirvana). If you shut the nine Gates then you will get the Path of Liberation without any doubt." In the words of Marpa the translator, "If you study Phowa, then at the time when death is approaching, you will know no despair. If beforehand you have become accustomed to the Path of Phowa, Then at the time of death you will be full of cheerful confidence...". It is taught that one does not return to the sansaric realms after entered Dewachen, and that one can quickly and easily achieve enlightenment from that realm. Thus, Phowa is like an insurance this attainment will follow death. One of the Six Yoga of Naropa, Phowa has been said to be the quickest an most direct way to be liberated from samsaric suffering and to attain enlightenment. Marpa promised, "There are teachings for one to become enlightenment, but I have a teaching (Phowa) that offers enlightenment without meditation." This practice is especially relevant in the present day, when most of us lack the luxury of lengthy solitary meditative practice. The Role of the Root Lama The lama whom we choose to be our personal guide and with whom we establish a spiritual relationship is our root lama. It does not matter which qualified lama we choose; it could be one we meet in a Dharma center or elsewhere, as long as we have an affinity and connection with him or her through a Vajrayana initiation. At a vital level, the root lama is the one who causes us to recognize the nature of our mind; he is the source of the blessings that introduce us to mahamudra, the ultimate nature of mind; he shows us how to recognize our mind as the dharmakaya. He directly gives us appropriate teachings that we then examine and practice. After that, we discuss our experiences with him and he guides us further. Recognizing the nature of mind is delicate; if it had a form or colour, the lama could show it to us an say, "look here," but that is not the case, and he can only give us subtle suggestions to guide our personal examination in meditation. We also report our experiences back to him regularly. He helps us to process these and gives us new instructions, so we can continue this exchange in the right way, until we arrive at an experience beyond all doubt, and actual realization. Certain criteria can help a disciple in choosing a root lama. First of all, the lama should have an authentic traditional connection, guaranteeing the correctness of the transmission; his understanding of Dharma should be profound and his realization genuine. His words and actions should accord with one another, and he should be detached, that is, not motivated by material interest or personal satisfaction. His motivation for helping disciples and all beings should be sincere, based on bodhicitta, deep love, and compassion. Moreover, lama and disciple should be able to communicate with each other well, with complete trust. The person who has those qualities and qualifications can be our root lama. If we sincerely commit ourselves to him as a disciple, he becomes the transmitter of the lineage of all buddhas and the source of their blessings. As for the disciple, he or she should have great faith and should exert effort to put the lama's teachings into practice completely.

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Capital A with ring aboveÅ   Capital A with macronĀ   Capital A with breveĂ   Capital A with diaeresisÄ   Capital A with circumflex   Capital A with dot aboveȦ   Capital A with inverted breveȂ   Capital A with tildeà   Capital A with ogonekĄ   Capital AE ligatureÆ   Capital AE ligature with tildeÆ̃   Capital Glottal Stop⦾   Capital Palatoalveolar Click⊛   Regular English AA   Script Capital Lℒ   Capital L with macron aboveL̅   Capital L with dot belowḶ   Capital L with stroke, Dark L Ł   Regular English LL   Capital WHω   Capital W with macron aboveW̅   Capital W with dot belowẈ   Regular English WW   Capital Slide H with reverse solidusℋ⃥   Capital H with macron aboveH̅   Capital H with dot belowḤ   Aspirate^○   Slight Pause⚫   Very Slight Pause⚬   Regular English HH   Capital S with macron aboveS̅   Capital S with dot aboveṠ   Capital SH sign∫   Capital SKΣ   Regular English SS   Hard and Deep Capital DД   High and Light Capital D∇   Regular English DD   Capital O with ring aboveO̊   Capital O with macronŌ   Capital O with breveŎ   Capital O with diaeresisÖ   Capital O with solidusØ   Capital OE ligatureŒ   Capital O with Cyrillic Round OmegaѺ   Capital OIꙔ   Capital O with ogonekǪ   Capital O with double oo topტ   Regular English OO   Capital EZJHʑ   Capital Z with macron belowẔ   Capital Z with dot aboveŻ   Regular English ZZ   Capital K with macron aboveК̅   Capital K with dot below К̣   Capital Hard KHχ   Capital KHƙ   Regular English KK   Capital V with macron aboveV̅   Capital V with dot belowṾ   Regular English VV   Capital G with macronḠ   Capital G with dot aboveĠ   Capital GNΓ   Capital GRЖ   Capital GW   Capital Uvular Voiced ImplosiveϘ   Regular English GG   Capital rolled R with macronЯ̅   Capital rolled R with dot aboveЯ̇   Capital R with macron aboveR̅   Capital R with dot above Ṙ   Capital R with ogonek R̨   Regular English RR   Capital C with cedillaÇ   Capital CHЧ   Regular English CC   Capital N with macron aboveN̅   Capital N with dot belowṆ   Capital N with tildeÑ   Capital NGŋ   Capital NG with macron aboveŋ̅   Regular English NN   Capital Y with macron above Ȳ   Capital Y with dot aboveẎ   Capital Y with yaw aboveЎ   Regular English YY   Capital J with macron aboveЈ̅   Capital J with dot belowЈ̣   Regular English JJ   Capital U with a ring aboveŮ   Capital U with macronŪ   Capital U with breveŬ   Capital U with circumflex aboveÛ   Capital U with diaeresisÜ   Regular English UU   Capital F with macron aboveF̅   Capital F with dot aboveḞ   Regular English FF   Capital Q with macron aboveQ̅   Capital Q with dot aboveQ̇   Regular English QQ   Capital B with macronB̅   Capital B with dot belowḄ   Trilled B   Regular English BB   Capital M with macronM̅   Capital M with dot belowṂ   Capital M with tilde M̃   Capital MB   Capital MGⱮ   Regular English MM   Capital X with macron aboveX̅   Capital X with dot aboveẊ   Regular English XX   Capital I with macronĪ   Capital I with breveĬ   Regular English II   Capital T with macron aboveT̅   Capital T with dot belowṬ   Capital TH voicedΘ   Capital TH voicelessÞ   Capital TSЦ   Capital TSCHЩ   Regular English TT   Capital E with macronĒ   Capital E with breveĔ   Capital E with circumflexÊ   Capital schwa Ə   Regular English EE   Capital P with macron aboveP̅   Capital P with dot aboveṖ   Capital pT   Regular English PP

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