The Double Dorje: Modern Vajrayana Buddhism.

When you start to get “serious” (whatever that is and however you try to define it) about your vajrayana practice you will face the question of the “preliminaries” or “foundation practices”. Best to …

A powerful Vajrayogini shrine, Guru Rinpoche caves, and much, much more. Pharping is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Kathmandu valley.

A shorter episode, but with a nice bit of a fl…

What does the “Tibetan Book of the Dead” tell us about being dead? Will we see the Peaceful and Wrathful deities?

• Bardo
• Tibetan Book of the Dead
• Bardo Thodol

The 42 Peaceful Deities of the Bardo

T…

The fruit of our actions – our karma – is said to be unavoidable. Sooner or later, every action comes back to us. But that does not mean that everything that happens to us is predetermined.

Bonus spe…

She was a new bride, but for the help she gave I call her a princess! The pilgrimage trip to the Vajrayogini shrine at Sankhu could have been a LOT, LOT worse.

The Welcome Gate at Sankhu town

The …

In dreams, in the wild, dark woods where reality starts to break apart and become entangled in vision, where fear and ecstasy dance and sing, you may meet the dakini. Is she your mother, your lover, …

From monster practice cycles that need a whole Dharma Centre to work through in a year to the handful of practices an individual carries out daily. What are practice cycles for?

Is 550 pages enough?

…

The two certain things in life are, famously, death and taxes. If you are rich enough, you may be able to mitigate your tax liability, but death cannot be bought off.

How do Buddhists handle it?

Epis…

Tsok pujas are a big feature of Tibetan-style Buddhism as it is actually practiced, but newcomers often don't have a blind clue what's going on - explanations are hard to find. So here is a rundown w…

When secret teachings are spoken of in Tibetan Buddhism, the word "secret" is much closer in meaning to "sacred" or "holy" than it is to the meaning of "unknown to outsiders".

When the 15th Karmapa, …

How does pilgrimage fit into the Buddhist way of doing things?

Plus the Guru Rinpoche mantra sung to a tune you might not have expected.

Words or phrases you might want to look up:

• Walsingham
• Hajj
• K…

Chöd - a vast stream of Buddhist practice! Here is a taste.

Chöd

Chödpa - (images of)

Jamgön Kongtrül

Treasury of Knowledge

Rimé

Sakya

Kadampa

Kagyu (Marpa and Shangpa)

Nyingma

Kalachakra

Machig L…

A traveller's tale from eastern Tibet three decades ago! The great prayer wheel at Mani Dunkhor.

Some words you might like to look up:

• Sakya
• Mala
• Vajra
• Yushu
• Jyekundo
• Mani-Dunkhor
• Trisong Detsen
• Śān…

Refuge, the Three Jewels and the Bodhisattva vow...

Words or phrases you might want to look up:

• Refuge (Buddhist)
• Dharma
• Sangha
• Three Jewels
• Bodhisattva
• Bodhicitta
• Perfect Conduct – Ascertaining the…

A heavy criticism of the whole "Shambhala" cult, describing the behaviour of Chogyam Trungpa and his chief defender, Pema Chodron, recently went viral on the net. I had intended to express some thoug…

More often called the "Four Thoughts to Turn the Mind": precious human birth, impermanence, karma and suffering.

Something to think about

Approximate text at the Blue Sky blog

Words or phrases you m…

The Guru Rinpoche (or "Vajra Guru") mantra. Includes four tunes for singing!

Approximate script at my blog

#Buddhism #Vajrayana #Tibet #DoubleDorje #tantra #mahamudra #dzogchen #lama #mantra #medita…

To what degree does sex have anything to do with Buddhist tantra?

Terms you might want to look up:

• Tantra
• Guru Rinpoche
• Milarepa
• Niguma
• Vajrayogini
• Lobsang Rampa
• Tummo
• Vajrayana
• Dakini
• Sangyum

Appr…

What do Buddhist practitioners and students mean when they go to "take teachings"? What to expect, how to feel comfortable.

Picture irrelevant - but charming!

Approximate script may be found at this…

Another look at the mani (OM MANI PEME HUNG). The six syllables, their six colours, and the six worlds.

Plus a description for anyone who might be confused about clockwise, anticlockwise, facing in, …