What are /r/TibetanBuddhism's favorite Products & Services?

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Begin to work seriously on Bodhicitta. Equanimity, which kind of sounds like what you are experiencing, doesn't mean you turn your back on the world, at least not when you have such wonderful vows to keep (like marriage, etc. :) ). Go to the Lam-Rim if you have "finished" that practice (or start the Lam-Rim, if you haven't). Good commentaries abound. The Easy Path by Gyurmed Khensur Rinpoche Lobang Jampa is a good one. (There may be youtube videos of Rinpoche teaching his book.) Also, our center director taught the Lam-Rim Chenmo (Middle Length), so videos of those Lam-Rim teachings are available on youtube. The main FPMT Lam-Rim book is by Pabongkha Rinpoche, "Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand, but I prefer the above commentaries.

Good Luck!

Thanks. That's 7:00 am - 10:30 am EDT (Eastern Daylight Time - [-4 GMT atm]). https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/?qm=1&lid=30,5,4787534&h=30&date=2021-5-1&sln=16.5-20&hf=1

All experiences are legitimate, as every day and every moment is an opportunity to practice. Once it is past, let it go. Any experience in lucid dreaming, etc., should (I think) be taken as a learning experience and, if possible, use that knowledge the next time you get to practice. (Less surprise, in the least) Most people , once they begin to practice and study Buddhism, do have occasional, random psychic experiences, which run the gamut. (just my opinion >>) I think these are a bit like the lucid dream, where our minds either "wake up to what can be experienced" a little bit or maybe the "concepts that we harbor get loosened and occasionally abandoned" so that more of our reality can be seen, if only for a short time. If you read the first 8 Chapters of the "Liberation by Hearing in the Intermediate State" , which is (WOW!) currently priced at $1.99 on amazon for the Kindle, you will get a better understanding of the Intermediate States. (Apple has Kindle apps for the iphone and ipad, etc.)

There are also videos available of a 1-week retreat on the Zhitro, led by Khenpo Samdup Rinpoche. You need to contact Marilyn Lawson at the Garchen Meditation of Canada to get access to those youtube videos. (Donation requested but not required, I don't think.) I found it interesting that Khenpo Samdup Rinpoche said, during the retreat, that listening to the teaching all the way through was the best empowerment for the Liberation by Hearing of the Intermediate States. Very good stuff. Good luck!

I think you could have searched the web for the book yourself, but okay:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3042068-enlightenment-by-a-single-means

https://www.amazon.com/Enlightenment-Single-Beitrage-Kultur-Geistesgeschichte/dp/3700121628

Read the book, then comment. With all due respect, I didn't start the thread to discuss the matter with those unfamiliar with it.

I bought this.

The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systems by Thuken Losang Chokyi Nyima compares Gelugpa to all other philosophical systems - those of the other Tibetan Buddhist schools as well as non-Buddhist systems..

The Two Truths Debate by Sonam Thakchoe compares the philosophy of Tsongkhapa and Gorampa, a master of the Sakya school.

And of course the translations of Lam Rim Chen Mo (there is the full 3-volume collection and a condensed 1-volume book ) and Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand.

> I'm fairly new to Vajrayana, but had a couple of hyt initiations

That's honestly kind of a concerning sentence right there.

I'm hoping these were jenangs (special-permission empowerments) and not wangs (abhisheka, full ritual-empowerment). If you're new to vajrayana and received anuttarayogatantra wangs then I sincerely hope someone coached you on samaya first. If not, grab a copy of Kongtrul's "Buddhist Ethics" and read through some articles on samaya at studybuddhism.com. Dying in transgression of the tantric vows taken during a wang is one of those things that leads people to the lowest possible births ("vajra-hell"). It's hard to fully break samaya but very easy to transgress and weaken samaya, but all transgressions can be repaired if you know you did them and take appropriate remedy (which can be as easy as vajrasattva practice, or having a tsok (which probably includes vajrasattva mantras anyway), or retaking the empowerment, or self-initiation if you've been taught how to do that, etc.)

If these were jenangs then that's much better, as jenangs rarely incur the level of commitment as a wang.

To your question on yak bone: I wouldn't worry about it. My lama gave me a yak bone mala and I used it for years. I don't think my lama would give me a tool to practice with that they believed would hurt me or hinder my practice. Currently I practice with a garnet mala, and I have and have practice with a rudraksha mala as well.

I’d encourage you to do the Vajrakilaya practice that GBI does. It’s seminal to many of the deities that Garchen Rinpoche talks about. Garchen Rinpoches first practice was Vajrakilaya as well. I’d also recommend this book: https://www.amazon.com/Vajrakilaya-Complete-Guide-Experiential-Instructions/dp/1611809053

It’s a book that it’s not only good for the practice that we do at GBI and subsidiary dharma centers but it’s good for setting a stronger foundation to your generation practice!

It’s also considered to be a Tantra of the highest order so, before it was decided that it would be better to publish it to show exactly what the text was than to have sheer speculation and bad information abound (which it still does anyway), it was only taught to people who had already had many years of training in the Tibetan Buddhist philosophy. So they saw no contradiction in the teachings.

You might be interested in the subject of “Delogs” or Tibetan people who report that they have come back from the dead (or from dying). http://mossdreams.blogspot.com/2019/05/tales-of-delog-those-who-die-and-come.html . I couldn’t quickly find a free pdf of such accounts. Many books include tales of delogs, who are fairly consistent in their tale, and , unsurprisingly, the tales are usually following the Tibetan mythology. (Just as tales of Western folk coming back from being “almost dead” are fairly consistent with Western mythology or culture (or lack thereof).

Finally, in Tibetan Buddhism’s Dzogchen lineage, an very advanced practitioner is supposed to have an experience of seeing the Zhitro Deities in a completely darkened room (or within their eyelids).

Finally finally, the real Tibetan Book of the Dead is the Liberation by Hearing in the Intermediate State , is a AtiYoga tantra, and has 14 chapters. https://smile.amazon.com/Tibetan-Book-Dead-Complete-Translation-ebook/dp/B00452V4AO. I think it’s okay to just read it but, before attempting to practice it, you should get the empowerment either in person or online (with Ven. Garchen Rinpoche, is one possibility, on the recording at his YouTube site).

A Peaceful Piggy's Guide to Sickness and Death, Sadness and Love https://www.amazon.com/Peaceful-Piggys-Guide-Sickness-Sadness/dp/1614297819

zong rinpoche You must have the Chod empowerment to read and understand this book at the feet of the tantra master

https://smile.amazon.com/Chod-Ganden-Tradition-Instructions-Rinpoche/dp/1559392614/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3O7JTTLDR07XM&keywords=Zong+Rinpoche&qid=1662576110&sprefix= zong+rinpoche%2Caps%2C218&sr=8-1

I'd recommend going through Khentrul Rinpoche's 3-book series on Unveiling Your Sacred Truth to get a sense of what the Kalacakra path entails and how you can get on the path. It'll help answer the questions you need answered, which might not be the questions you asked.

Would you be interested in something like The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systems: A Tibetan Study of Asian Religious Thought?

Been a Buddhist for many years. If I could only choose one text to read in my entire life, it would be the Lam Rim Chen Mo. It's like a very complete explanation of the Mahayana perfection vehicle. I'd say if you managed to understand everything in this, it would be a very good map for the entire path. I still can't believe such an amazing text exists.

Commentary by Geshe Sopa, starting with Volume 1 of a 5 part series: https://www.amazon.com/Steps-Path-Enlightenment-Commentary-Tsongkhapas/dp/0861713036

I would first say to ask your Lama because they might have something particular in mind. Aside from that I'd say Atisa's "Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment" and Santidiva's "Entering the Bodhisattva's Way" as well as Padmasambhava's "Advice from the Lotus Born."

I would also throw in "Wake up to What Matters" by my Lama, which is a good book for beginners.

https://www.amazon.com/Wake-Up-What-Matters-Generation-ebook/dp/B07V8CJ4YD

This image is included in the very wonderful book.

https://www.amazon.com/Vajrakilaya-Complete-Guide-Experiential-Instructions/dp/1611809053/ref=nodl_?dplnkId=5b1d5733-ac65-4a70-96d0-5de033d38047

Some sangha members told me during the retreat today that an artist drew Vajrakilaya over and over until the image met the specifications of H.E. Garchen Rinpoche. The image is a very unique styles that’s very interesting as you don’t see many western depiction of deities that are this quality with all the require symbolism for a samaya deity.

This isn't a vajrayana practice. This is breathing yoga. It does not require transmission or empowerment. There are dozens of books about how to do it, and dozens of videos (some for free on YouTube, others for sale from publishers like Shang Shung).

The latest book on it is from a Bonpo lama in the Bon Tibetan tradition, and it's for sale here: https://www.amazon.com/Calm-Breath-Mind-Guide-Healing/dp/1614297800/ref=sr_1_12?crid=UPRSLR9Y0T26&keywords=breath+tibetan&qid=1657472341&sprefix=breath+ti%2Caps%2C497&sr=8-12 The author is a geshe in the Bon tradition, and he does not require transmission or empowerment to practice the breathing practices therein.

You can also find books on this from Namkhai Norbu. It's true that in Chögyal Namkhai Norbu's tradition that some 'higher' yantras were considered offlimits without transmission; however, he changed that later on (c. 2010) and all yantras (Tibetan Yoga) can be practiced without transmission, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/Lama-Many-Lifetimes-Touching-1937-1958/dp/0988387301

This is the first part of his biography. While he's primarily in the Drikung Kagyu lineage, he also holds and teaches dharma from the Nyingma lineage. He's an incredible being.

At least they're better than secular Buddhists, If you want the real deal, start with the Lam Rim.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R1YYZ4S?searchxofy=true&binding=kindle_edition&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tkin&qid=1652912844&sr=8-11

I use a swim lap counter. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JSJEPAA?pd_rd_i=B00JSJEPAA&pd_rd_w=f9mVH&pf_rd_p=d3994b33-ac52-4180-a64c-4b6aa007fe3e&pd_rd_wg=9Mjqx&pf_rd_r=KYF2WJ0JHCFNZ69B1HKM&pd_rd_r=ba8ff30e-8b9a-4dde-954b-eed004d7da11

Is recommend this. It's a book that also has audio CDs of guided meditations. Great for delving into Avalokiteshvara practice.

I think this is a great question. I would image that any Tibetan Buddhist institution in China is compromised. The monks may or may not be willfully complicit, but any government founded on the psychotic Cultural Revolution isn't going to treat symbols of political rebellion or retreat kindly.

Now - gotta keep the CCP trolls at bay. <3

动态网自由门 天安門 天安门 法輪功 李洪志 Free Tibet 六四天安門事件 The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 天安門大屠殺 The Tiananmen Square Massacre 反右派鬥爭 The Anti-Rightist Struggle 大躍進政策 The Great Leap Forward 文化大革命 The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution 人權 Human Rights 民運 Democratization 自由 Freedom 獨立 Independence 多黨制 Multi-party system 台灣 臺灣 Taiwan Formosa 中華民國 Republic of China 西藏 土伯特 唐古特 Tibet 達賴喇嘛 Dalai Lama 法輪功 Falun Dafa 新疆維吾爾自治區 The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region 諾貝爾和平獎 Nobel Peace Prize 劉暁波 Liu Xiaobo 民主 言論 思想 反共 反革命 抗議 運動 騷亂 暴亂 騷擾 擾亂 抗暴 平反 維權 示威游行 李洪志 法輪大法 大法弟子 強制斷種 強制堕胎 民族淨化 人體實驗 肅清 胡耀邦 趙紫陽 魏京生 王丹 還政於民 和平演變 激流中國 北京之春 大紀元時報 九評論共産黨 獨裁 專制 壓制 統一 監視 鎮壓 迫害 侵略 掠奪 破壞 拷問 屠殺 活摘器官 誘拐 買賣人口 遊進 走私 毒品 賣淫 春畫 賭博 六合彩 天安門 天安门 法輪功 李洪志 Winnie the Pooh 劉曉波动态网自由门

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https://hooktube.com/watch?v=hA4iKSeijZI

<strong>COMMUNISM IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF FAILURE</strong>

It works great. I have used both regular and fractionated oil. The former needs to be melted and poured and will solidify at room temperature. The latter stays liquid, so is more susceptible to spilling when not lit but makes it easier to refill your lamps more regularly - its also more $. Some examples

Refined Coconut Oil

Fractionated Coconut Oil (currently the fragrance free is only avail. in 5 gal)

I had a co-worker with chronic tailbone pain, and she was able to sit at her desk all day with the help of an orthopedic ring cushion.

For the Nyingma school, try this:

The Buddhist Path: A Practical Guide from the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism https://www.amazon.com/dp/1559393556/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_2J48WEGFQPY0QTCTC64B

For Dzogchen, try this:

The Crystal and the Way of Light: Sutra, Tantra, and Dzogchen (Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1559391359/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_4G1CBRAX0JA7V0XS9C72

Good luck!

You can contact the Garchen Vancouver Meditation Center. Khenpo Samdup Rinpoche gave a 1 month retreat online a few years ago. (Khenpo Samdup Rinpoche studied under Ven. Garchen Rinpoce, and is the Director of 3 or 4 of Ven. Garchen Rinpoche's Centers.) You would need to commit to the whole course, register for the whole course upon which you will be sent the links to the resultant videos by Rinpoche. (If I remember right, the registration costs 90 US$. All Donations are accepted. ) Rinpoche maintains that watching and studying the whole text with him gains you a proper initiation. (And the course is a complete course.) They use the following text: The Tibetan Book of the Dead: First Complete Translation (avail. in ebook, paperbook, and hardback). It is recommended to read all the book as it really is a "soup to nuts" book. If you complete the course, you will be given, if you wish, the email of a fellow practitioner who has gone to the trouble of re-texting the whole thing into a pecha format with a clear description of what should or could be practiced on that particular numbered day (for personal use or the use of the deceased). Good Luck!!

I have done a number of these over my life, including a retreat where we did 8 in a row (which was amazing - if you ever have the chance to do so please do one).

They both require empowerment (specficially 1000 armed Chenrezig, although any Chenrezig empowerment may be okay depending on your teacher) and Bodhisattva vows (all Vajrayana practices require Bodhisattva vows - you will receive these as part of any empowerment).

You could technically do one alone at home, but you probably won't be able to get all the ritual material, and you also need to be given vows for each day -- so while you can take those on yourself, it's even better with a preceptor there to give the daily vows.

But before doing one, you definitely should take refuge, Bodhisattva vows and get an empowerment (and instruction).

If you'd like to learn more about the practice I highly recommend Bardor Tulku Rinpoche's book Rest for the Fortunate.

I highly recommendBuddhism For Beginners by Thubten Chodron, a great general introduction to Buddhism but from a Tibetan Buddhist perspective. Or how Tibetan Buddhism views the basics of Buddhism. It's a great book! Also, take some time to learn about the major sects of Tibetan Buddhism: Gelug, Kagyu, Sakya, Nyingma, and Jonang. Take time to learn their differences philosophically and perhaps even visit centers for each to help find what resonates with you. Good luck!

https://www.lionsroar.com/how-to-do-green-tara-practice/

And if you want to get into the nitty gritty of symbolism and the 21 Taras: https://www.amazon.com/Taras-Enlightened-Activity-Commentary-Twenty-One/dp/1559392878

Dr. Thurman only talks about Chapter 7 of the book, whereas there are about 14 chapters in that terma. Check out https://smile.amazon.com/Tibetan-Book-Dead-Complete-Translation/dp/0143104942/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ILQ8QBK7EYI1&amp;dchild=1&amp;keywords=tibetan+book+of+the+dead&amp;qid=1620752886&amp;sprefix=tibetan+book%2Caps%2C166&amp;sr=8-1 for more info. The first 4 chapters are really necessary to understand the last 10 chapters.

Natural Liberation

Natural Liberation: Padmasambhava's Teachings on the Six Bardos https://www.amazon.com/dp/0861711319/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_DS57J1FJKACA68CK44JM

There’s others on Amazon, but this is the only one I’ve read. I did not have any empowerment, so I don’t practice anything from this text, but some very good teachings that have shaped my view.

I know everyone here is saying "demons are only a projection of your mind blah blah blah" which is ultimately true, but there is definitely a whole tradition within Tibet of dealing with local malevolent spirits. Generally though these things aren't really "Buddhist" per se, but have been wrapped up in Buddhism since it has so thoroughly become ingrained in Tibet's culture.

It's not a "Buddhist" text, but here's an academic book I found about the subject https://www.amazon.com/Tibetan-Demonology-Elements-Religion-Violence-ebook/dp/B087D8G6SB

I would recommend studying “Maitreya’s Distinguishing Phenomena from Wisdom” for a really good explanation of this.

https://www.amazon.com/Middle-Beyond-Extremes-Madhyantavibhaga-Commentaries/dp/1559392703

I'm surprised nobody suggested my favorite: Unmistaken Child. It's available on Amazon. Warning: it's a bit of a tearjerker.

https://www.amazon.com/Unmistaken-Child-Tenzin-Zopa/dp/B002SP2JTU

I have met Ani-la and she was very straightforward and sincere. She holds legitimate teachings and is working to restore full ordination for women to the Tibetan tradition. She has written a series of books with His Holiness the Dalai Lama too. She is not connected with the NKT. She is compassionate and holds authentic teachings. https://www.amazon.com/Approaching-Buddhist-Library-Wisdom-Compassion/dp/1614294410

The Buddhist Path: A Practical Guide from the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism by Kenchen Palden Sherab and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal and Awakening the Buddha Within by Lama Surya Das.

Short term: Try using a yoga cushion? Something like this? Perhaps you could speak to your doctor and ask for their advice, if you have yet to.

^(IANAD and I would not want to inadvertently give you advice that might hurt you more!)

You might want to bring it up at your next visit anyways, in order to rule out anything more serious.

Long term: Like you said, keep focusing on losing weight, exercise seems like it could work go great with your practice. You could wear headphones and listen to mantras/lessons/deity meditations while you do cardio/lift/yoga/whatever you can enjoy at the moment. Working out and strengthening your muscle groups will help with the pain, as you will be supporting your knees more adequately so that the prostrations do not hurt as much.

^(I say this with love and respect and I commend you on having begun this journey and wish you success!)

While Dr. Thurman's book on the Tibetan Book of the Dead is good, his commentary only covers one chapter. You can read the whole thing (~14 Chapters) with this translation, which is the best in my opinion. Pretty straight forward, too. https://www.amazon.com/Tibetan-Book-Dead-Complete-Translation/dp/0143104942/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1VBH6AG3R1TQZ&amp;dchild=1&amp;keywords=tibetan+book+of+the+dead&amp;qid=1596378275&amp;sprefix=tibetan%2Caps%2C145&amp;sr=8-3

Enjoy!

Well none of the books I mentioned are translations of the text. If you want another translation, then I would go with Gyrume Dorje's 2006 translation. It was the first available unabridged translation, and it may still be the only unabridged version (Chogyal Namkhai Norbu has a 2013 translation, but I can't find anything that says it is a full translation). Don't mistake it for Gyrume Dorje's earlier 1993 abridged translation.

Ok. I see. Interesting. I did not know that. Thanks.

Are there "other shitro practices and empowerments" that are not in this TBD book? : https://www.amazon.com/Tibetan-Book-Dead-Complete-Translation/dp/0143104942/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1TSQO44BJV615&amp;dchild=1&amp;keywords=tibetan+book+of+the+dead&amp;qid=1595181379&amp;sprefix=tibetan+bo%2Caps%2C157&amp;sr=8-1 I know there are variations, such as the 62 Deity sadhana of Chakrasamvara.

The (mostly misnamed) Tibetan Book of the Dead's proper title is "Liberation by Hearing in the Intermediate State". The link goes to the full text of the Liberation by Hearing, all 14 Chapters. Most "translations" only use Chapter 6, which is a bit like jumping in the deep end when one doesn't know how to swim. Then one wonders why one doesn't understand the commentary. If you read the whole thing, "soup to nuts", you will begin to understand what the book is about.

It is best to get the empowerment and to find a teacher who can tell you what is happening here. This is a Vajrayana practice so theoretically it is a restricted practice. Knowing what it is by reading prior to getting the empowerment is not a bad thing. Practicing the text is where you really get the meaning of the practice. The practice is mostly done by those in the Kagyu and Nyingmas schools of Tibetan Buddhism. (See Ven. Garchen Rinpoche and Ven. Thrangu Rinpoche as excellent examples who also have a good web presence.) Good Luck to you!

Buddhism: Beginner's Guide... by Michael Williams will give you a nice overview.

Buddhism: Beginner's Guide to Understanding & Practicing Buddhism to Become Stress and Anxiety Free (Buddhism, Mindfulness, Meditation, Buddhism For Beginners) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1537410008/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_U-HODbJHF38YG