Ep307: Modern Vajrayana Buddhism - Lama Justin von Bujdoss & Charlie Morley YouTube video by Guru Viking

Really enjoyed this conversation on the evolving presence of Vajrayana in culture and practitioners' lives. Rich:
youtu.be/wSxPC-BpZTk?...

The relationship between writing and thinking is a fundamental one and getting more attention given that we can (presumably) offload our writing to AI systems.
I often find that we don't really understand things sufficiently well if we can't write it in ways that others understand.

SuttaCentral Early Buddhist texts from the Tipitaka (Tripitaka). Suttas (sutras) with the Buddha's teachings on mindfulness, insight, wisdom, and meditation.

suttacentral.net/sn1.23/en/su...

Seeking to step out of birth and death,
This tangle you are tightens:
Its end before your beginning is missed.

Looking obscures seeing,
But if you don't once look back,
Where no eye can be,
You'll never see!

How difficult!

Some older meditation manuals are written for use by both teachers and students, and you'll find offhand lines going something like:
"If at this point the disciple has not been introduced to the view that all is the magical appearance of one's own mind, introduce it now."
😄

Who is reading these words?
What is this?
Where is reading occurring?
❤️
Wrong answers only.

Ever tried to find the exact boundary of these skinbags we call our selves on the level of sensation?
Weird.

An illuminating exercise: pair Do Nothing with free-writing. You can alternate this way between an unfixated state and automatic writing until they merge.
Any time you notice the intention to control attention or direct the stream of thought or expression arise, drop it.
Enjoy!

Intensives — Wystan's

Saturday, March 8

12-6PM Pacific, 3-9PM Eastern

www.wystantbs.com/intensives

In this one cycle of breath you may notice self and world arise and vanish.
Here and gone, here and gone.
Amazing!

I'll be leading a Zoom intensive focused on refining mindfulness of breathing this Saturday, which I invite anyone interested to join, info and link below.❤️

SN 44:6  Sāriputta-Koṭṭhita Sutta | Sāriputta and Koṭṭhita (4) | dhammatalks.org Theravada Buddhist Sutta from the Pāli Canon

www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN...

Post-mortem pondering put to rest:

Eventually the ever insistent urge for abstraction away from this wears thin and mind, wearied from endless fabrications, rests open and free.
Amazing!

How long to sit came up a few times on retreat: I notice diminishing returns past 90 minutes. Sitting truly motionless for that duration is a good goal. Past that, unless you're in hard/formless jhana territory and the body's out of the picture, best to break sessions up. YMMV

Attachments to positive experiences and realizations which arise when engaging wholeheartedly in practice are only this mind showing its habits. How good to see oneself clearly, to know without doubt what here remains to let go!

Afflictive reactions which arise when attempting to live harmoniously with others are only this mind showing its habits. How good to see oneself clearly, to know without doubt what here remains to let go!

Hindrances which arise when attempting to unify with an object in meditation are only this mind showing its habits. How good to see oneself clearly, to know without doubt what here remains to let go!

Death is certain; only the time is uncertain.
Knowing this, how will I pass these the few hours of this life?
Remember, remember.

Why Retreat? YouTube video by WystanTBS

Recorded thoughts on the importance and function of retreat practice:
youtu.be/AHijhjFElPs?...

Stepping into an online retreat with Leigh Brasington tomorrow and soon after beginning a year-long immersion in Rangjung Dorje's presentation of Dzogchen.
Good friends, teachers, and community on this path make all the difference.
May all be well.
❤️

Nothing quite like old masters spilling steaming Zen tea:

Verse Autobiography

www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-mast...

"Therefore, if the proliferation and decline of the Teachings
Are measured, not by the realization of reality itself
Or by actions that accord with the Dharma,
But instead by numbers of people,
Genealogy, physical appearance or power,
That is nothing but delusion and stupidity."

Encouraging Coming Undone YouTube video by WystanTBS

Short video reflecting on and encouraging going all-in on practice:
youtu.be/pwyCUbl1Hjc?...

From:

😆Hakuin heckling the Heart Sutra is gold:

METTA HOLIDAY!
Saturday, December 21, 12-6PM Pacific, 3-9PM Eastern.

Drop in for time immersing, saturating, and suffusing in loving awareness extending to all, offered on donation.

www.wystantbs.com/intensives

Discussing cessation with Stephen Snyder our connection cut out repeatedly. Very funny!

This is because your training and practice are still insufficient. There is a proverb, 'At home a tiger, in public a pussy-cat.' In one's own home one plays the tyrant, but one step outside and one dwindles to the uncertainty of a cat in strange surroundings. Very awkward!"

- Daibi on Torei

'When alone, think you are in the midst of others — you will not then behave carelessly.' For though your heart may be wide and free when quietly by yourself and your very body may feel spacious, yet you tense up when meeting a crowd and experience a kind of coercion.