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Personally I love Sky Dancer. Was just such a powerful read. Sometimes people complain about Keith Dowman's translations, but I loved this one.
Everything u/weatherfieldandus said is down pat great. The teachers he recommends are great too. Mingyur Rinpoche's book Turning Confusion Into Clarity is his book on the purification and preparatory practices in the Kagyu tradition, at least to my awareness.
I'd like to add Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche to the list. He is really good at dispelling false notions of what Vajrayana is and calls out a lot of so-called tantric practitioners for their laziness and pride. If you read Not For Happiness, a book on purification in the Nyingma tradition, he specifies very clearly some of the misunderstandings people have towards Ngondro purification. If you read him, I promise you you will be reading a book of someone who cares about you doing practices genuinely and honestly.
There is an excellent book on this topic. Goes deep into the existence of Chan in Tibet early on and how the 2 influenced each other. It uses direct documents from the time. They’re mainly from the border areas of the Tibetan and Chinese empires. It’s called “Tibetan Zen” and is a bit academic, but very interesting read. Here’s a link to it on Amazon: Tibetan Zen: Discovering a Lost Tradition https://www.amazon.com/dp/1559394463/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_UAEkDb1BD6F8W
Yamantaka, Vajrakilaya, and Tara are the favorite deities of HE Garchen Rinpoche. Both wrathful deities are heavily practiced due to 9/11. Bar some exceptions one doesn’t need to have finished or done ngondro to participate in any of the three deities, except for the repelling ritual of yamantaka - as it requires an insane amount of focus and meditation experience.
Vajrakilaya is a very beautiful deity and the form that Garchen Rinpoche gave out is easily accessible. In fact it was the first deity that Garchen Rinpoche practiced at the age of 8.
Feel free to take the empowerment and do the practice and see if it resonates with you. If Vajrakumara and his consort don’t resonate with you then try doing Vajrasattva for a bit and return to Vajrakilaya.
A lot of schools have people practice Vajrakilaya before they even begin ngondro or a three year retreat to prevent any obstacles.
Vajrakilaya will always be here to help you.
If you’re curious I’d highly recommend reading this book. It was written by Garchen Rinpoche and includes not just an explanation of the sadhana text but many introductory concepts that will be indispensable to your practice: https://www.amazon.com/Vajrakilaya-Complete-Guide-Experiential-Instructions/dp/1611809053
This is helpful book, written by a sangha brother I've known and respected for years:
>The Life Story of Padmasambhava by Yeshe Tsogyal
This is on my summer list.
Depending on your practice tradition, the books in this series might be interesting. I just finished the one on Atisa and thought it was great.
Other than that, biographies/hagiographies can be really interesting. I'd love for someone to write a full-length account of the life of Mahasiddha Virupa.
Sky Dancer: The Secret Life and Songs of Lady Yeshe Tsogyel is one of my all time favorites. Another good one is Blazing Splendor: The Memoirs of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
28 is a short mantra requirement for some lineages and 21 is a long mantra requirement for others. Either would be fine. Also you’re not entirely mistaken by accidentally visualizing them as very similar beings. They both have the same ornaments of the Sambhogakaya both tend to be white like conch (which makes visualizing many deities very easy when you see how similar nirmanakaya and Sambhogakaya beings often are clothing and face wise). Often the silk garments are slightly different and more importantly the number of hands and implements varies the most. I’d pay special attention to the bell and Dorje present in the visualization for Vajrasattva. When it comes to the visualization try focusing on each part at a time,. I.e. focus on hum and mantra garland first, or focus on the face, or the jewelry, or the color. Just try to build a familiarity with different aspects with the visualization so that eventually you can do everything all at once. Or go through the generation of the deity Over and over again by each step, lotus and moon disc, then hum, then guru as Sambhogakaya, etc…
Also I’m not sure what you mean by exhaustion, if you feel like you’re getting tired from the verbal aspect of it you could always do 21 verbal maybe in a melody and then do the rest as semi silent/muttering.
Also part of Vajrasattva practice is stabilizing the visualization try focusing on that while you recite the mantra.
Here’s a lama yeshe book, haven’t read it but have heard good things.
There’s also the “sutra teaching of the four factors”
Here’s an interesting excerpt, https://buddhaweekly.com/vajrasattva-great-purifyer-among-powerful-profound-healing-purifications-techniques-vajrayana-buddhism/
To add to what u/Vystril shared there's an android app called Drukpa Calendar that all the Tibetans I know in Sera (and I've been told it's the same in Gyume) use
A Garland of Jewels is a great read to get a better understanding of Bodhisattvas and what they can do. It gives an in depth description of the activities of the 8 major Bodhisattvas, along with how they emanate, etc. Highly recommended.
>For instance, perhaps you know this one, in regard to nirmanakaya emanations of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas--are they necessarily aware that they are an emanation? I'm curious how it works. For example, could my neighbor down the street who knows nothing about Buddhism and behaves as anyone else would unknowingly be an emanation and here to fulfill some greater plan in the long-run, or are these beings aware and endowed with special qualities? That is, say, could an emanation ever be an actual ignorant person, or would they internally be just like the Buddha or Bodhisattva of whom they are an emanation and simply project something else outwardly?
This is tough, I've never really gotten a good answer to that question. I would imagine so, though. After all, we're both Buddhas and don't realized it yet ourselves. :P
I highly recommend reading Rest for the Fortunate by Bardor Tulku Rinpoche if you have not already, it's an excellent commentary about the Nyungne practice.
Thin soup and broth (assuming there's nothing in it that would require you to chew) is probably okay. Although if you're having like a thick hearty chowder that's probably cheating. IMO just stick to actual beverages (water, milk, juice, tea). I'd recommend drinking a nice big glass of water (or as much water as possible) throughout the first day.
The second day usually isn't too bad until the evening when you're trying to sleep. If it gets tough don't lay in bed and stress, just get up and practice. You'll actually need less sleep because you're hungry and should be able to wake up just fine. The best thing to do when things get rough is practice tonglen, visualizing that you're taking on all the hunger and thirst of the hungry ghosts and experiencing it instead of them, and dedicating the merit so they'll most quickly be freed from lower realms, come to dharma and achieve Buddhahood for the benefit of all beings.
I would just be excited about the amazing opportunity you have. Some people say nyungne's are the most powerful practice easily available to the public.
I found Robert Thurmans translation with commentary very helpful. It’s even available as an audio book.
https://www.amazon.com/Tibetan-Book-Dead-Liberation-Understanding/dp/0553370901/ref=nodl_
His translation may be too modern/colloquial for some, but it’s well organized with basic instruction.
You did? coool. How was it?
I dont think there is a translation group version of Pema Kathang. The only translation I know of is this: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Liberation-Padmasambhava-2vols/dp/B000NP3FR2 but its a double translation (translated from a french translation). I haven't read it but the reviews say that it has very good illustrations. Could be worth a try. Try downloading the ebook from libgen or sth and take a look before you buy. Since pema kathang is just a narration of stories I dont think there will a lot of badly translated phrases.
i didnt edit it at all. It should be exactly what you hear on their mixlr showreel... if that is pitch-corrected, then I would contact the Long Beach temple and ask.
The Words of my Perfect Teacher, and also Finding Rest in the Nature of the Mind go into this in a good amount of detail. Finding Rest has a great chapter on the four immeasurables and how they are the 'proper' way of doing the brahmaviharas.
As many here will tell you, nothing replaces a teacher, especially on topics like human energy systems, an area in which incorrect practice can cause harm. But there are also many books.
Secret Map of the Body: Visions of the Human Energy Structure, by Gyalwa Yangönpa.
Also, at a much more advanced level, Clear Light of Bliss by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso is extremely lucid on a difficult topic. While there are many criticisms of Gyatso and his organization in recent years, this early scholarly work is excellent and worth a look.
My two cents: It sounds like you've already made up your mind about what you want the outcome of your inquiry to be, so why bother undertaking the inquiry if it's not an honest and open inquiry? Is it simply to win points on that message board you link to?
I'd suggest doing the opposite of what you're asking for: devour readings that most challenge your assumptions, rather than finding only readings that confirm them. See where things shake out for you then with an open inquiry. If you want a challenging read, try this.
But the key is to, at some point, stop intellectualizing it. Some people spend decades tossing around words like "non-substantivist event-based interactionist psycho-physical dualism" that do nothing to advance their practice. Whether it's Vajrayana or Advaita, everyone agrees that eventually you have to find a teacher that you can relate to and put in the work of practice.
That's probably true. But really - unwelcome proselytizing isn't exactly skillful means. Think this through.
That being said, if they are Christian, Living Buddha, Living Christ is a good one.
If you're going to do the Bodhicharyavatara, I highly recommend reading The Nectar of Manjushri's Speech which is a detailed commentary to it beforehand. It explains so much that you'll just miss reading the Bodhicharyavatara, especially as a beginner. It unpacks the whole thing line by line, verse by verse.
Here is a two volume set for an historical overview. I these found helpful to get a very solid context of Buddhism in Tibet historically and spiritually:
Secret of the Vajra World: The Tantric Buddhism of Tibet (World of Tibetan Buddhism, Vol. 2)
There was one lama who was quoted a few times in these books that spoke to me. That was where my formal path began.
As you explore, consider how different schools, the non-sectarian movement (rimé), and specific lineages relate to monastic vs yogic/lay practitioners. A monk's lifestyle is very different than the rest of us.
At the end of the day, there is only one witness that knows the right path for you. That is you. :-) Your karma got you this far. Enjoy the process as your path unfolds, and trust in that it is not a straight line.
It’s a foam meditation cushion. Not very squishy. It was perfect shape down chest area. I think the key is finding the right shape and level of firmness. Is this similar to what you have been using?
I have also seen many ppl stack cushions. Not that I’m advocating for that I just didn’t know there were so many varieties for how people has their set up.
When I was practicing somewhere else in western country I found a tempur-pedic pillow which worked fine as well.
For the hand sliders mosquito net worked best.
One thing my dharma center recommended for prostrations is a self-inflating pad, like for under your sleeping bag. The smooth nylon surface lets you slide your hands forward easily. Like this:
A sticky yoga mat seems like the last thing you'd want.
This is an excellent book for how to write the Tibetan alphabet (assuming the Sanskrit mantras are written in the Tibetan alphabet):
My list, as of today:
1 - Dudjom Lingpa's 'Buddhahood without Meditation' (aka Enlightenment without Meditation)
2 - Sera Khandro's commentary on the above. The book also includes other texts which would be very supportive in retreat.
http://www.shambhala.com/refining-our-perception-of-reality.html
3 - Perhaps the new namthar of Yeshe Tsogyal?
How about you?
Also, Illuminating the Path to Enlightenment, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. (Free on Kindle Unlimited)
The concept of Shentong was brought to Tibet by Taranatha, so he is probably the best source you need. There is only one such scripture of his I know: The Essence of Other-Emptiness