The path of the bodhisattva is two simultaneous and complementary trainings:

Discernment (Prajna) and compassionate benevolence (Maitri/Karuna) are known as Bodhicitta, the attitude of the enlightened mind.
Intention:
The deep desire for awakening stems from the understanding of the interconnectedness of all beings and their conditioning by karmic tendencies. We are dragged and pushed by our obscuring emotions, habits, which prevent us from living inner peace.
Realizing this fact, we strive to develop the ability to liberate all beings from suffering to the true happiness of Buddhahood, awakening.
Practice:
1/Distinction:

As meditation teachings from various Buddhist traditions have become accessible to our society, as well as various variations of currently modern mindfulness practices, there is growing confusion as to what the practice of stillness (samatha) and insight meditation (vipashyana) actually mean.

In a certain context, samatha means meditation (dhyana, samten) and vipashyana discriminating knowledge, clear perception (prajna, sherab). Although stillness of mind is generally samatha, vipashyana does not depend exclusively on stillness of mind.

It is necessary to understand what samatha and vipashyana mean in the context of the basic teachings (Shravakayana and Mahayana) and what they mean in the context of Mahamudra – the teachings of ultimate meaning (ngedön).

Their significance is mentioned in the Cloud of Jewels sutra:

Samatha is steady attention.

Vipashyana is individual discernment, clear perception of phenomena, correctly and exactly as they are.

In terms of their function, the sutra continues:

Samatha soothes disturbing emotions,

While Vipashyana completely purifies them, liberates them.

Thus both are the cause of nirvana.

2/ Compassionate benevolence

Compassionate benevolence is born in us through the meditation of sending and receiving (tonglen), as outlined in Shantideva’s important work, The Bodhisattva Path:

Those who want to become fast

A refuge for yourself and others

Let them mistake themselves for others

And so they receive the sacred secret.

20230721_Domoraj_Lojong_Day 3_4

we freestyled this song on ARIatHome's livestream on the streets of nyc 8 days ago, recorded it this week, and here it is <3 

Hold Me

Happy to present you today one wonderful song taken out of 'Portraits', the brand new album of British duo @mariboustate.  
Voice by Holly Walker

PREMIERE : Maribou State - Steal (ft. Holly Walker) [Ninja Tune]

Vocals: Jaydeep Vaidya, Backing Vocals: Namrata Mahabal, Keyboard: Devendra Bhome, Tabla: Ketan Pawar. 

Lyrics: these are songs of realisation, written by the great mahasiddha (mystic)Saraha. Some of the verses have the rhythmic meter of Dohas. Hindi Translation is by the great scholar Pandit Rahul Sanskrityayan. 

Saraha, was known as the first Sahajiya and one of the 84 Mahasiddhas. His spontaneous songs of realisation are called Dohas and Vajra Geetis. He is also often referred to as The Great Brahmin. Saraha was originally known as Rāhula or Rāhulbhadra. Born in eastern India, into a Brahmin family, He studied at the Buddhist monastic university Nalanda. Saraha is known for being a wandering yogi and avadhuta (Tib: nyönpa) engaging in behaviours that overturned the social norms of caste, social class, and the oppressive normative gender roles and hierarchies of the time. Two of Saraha’s important teachers and consorts were women who were technically lower than him from the stand point of caste, class. and gender. Yet, each of these nameless women met Saraha as an equal on the path of spiritual practice and each of them had realization that led Saraha further in his own spiritual development

ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF VERSES BY SARAHA:

Saraha: 
Namo Manjushri, Homage to Him, who has conquered Mara and his Powers

Just as when the wind blows,
and still water is turned into moving waves,
So the appearing Saraha is just one, 
Yet the king creates diverse aspects.

The ignorant press their eyes
and see one lamp as two. 
Like this, in (Mind’s nature) where seer and seen are not two,
Alas! The mind appears as two things.

Though many lamps are lit throughout the house,
Those with no eyes to see remain in darkness. 
Like this, though spontaneous wisdom is all-pervasive and nearby,
for the ignorant it is far, far away.

Though diverse, rivers are one in the ocean.
Though myriad, lies are overcome by a single truth.
Though darkness is manifold,
The rising of a single sun clears it away.

By entering into emptiness but devoid of compassion, 
One will not find the supreme path. 
By meditating upon compassion alone, 
One will not attain liberation, but remain in samsara. 
The one capable of apprehending the unity of the two, 
will not remain in samsara nor abide in (personal) nirvana.

That with which one is born, is same as that with which one dies.
It is with that, one attains supreme bliss. 

Saraha says,” what do i do?” 
The world of brutes do not understand this.

Mind is one, Mind is the seed from which Samsara & Nirvana bloom. 
Take care of the mind, and Like a Wish-Fulfilling Jewel it will produce the fruit of all desires.

Tied down, one runs in the ten directions, Free, one remains immovable. 
Friend! look at the camel; this paradox appears evident to me.
 * Camel is a conventional metaphor for the mind.

In engaging with the world, one does not get entangled in it.
take the lotus without touching murky water. 
So, the Yogi who takes refuge in the root, 
he is not bound by the world, even while enjoying it.

I dont differentiate ‘One’ or ‘Two’ or make a big deal of ‘Duality’. 
I paint with one colour, the three worlds in entirety.

Songs Of Saraha

Vocals: Namrata Mahabal, Violin: Anup Kulthe, Sitar & Backing Vocals: Jaydeep Vaidya, Keyboard: Devendra Bhome. 

This is a traditional gatha (song) based on the eight victories of Buddha. Sung in Pali language, the composition is traditional.

Based on the Book of Protection (Paritta Sutta) from the Pali canon, the Jaya Mangala Gatha proclaims the 8 major victories of the Buddha which are:
Victory over Mara, demon Alavaka, wild elephant Nalagiri, serial killer Angulimala, the evil intentions of Cinca who sought to defame, the arrogant brahmin Saccaka, the Naga   king Nandopananda, and the false views of Brahma Baka

Jaya Mangala Gatha

This song is based around that feeling of being at odds with where you are. The uncomfortable sense that you’ve made a wrong turn somewhere; learning to settle.

From Elder Island's EP Seeds In Sand available to buy and stream now: https://ElderIsland.lnk.to/SeedsInSand

Bamboo

Recorded live at Study of Mind Lecture Series, Pune. Vocals by Ms. Namrata Mahabal, Text & Editing by Raji Ramanan (Original version sung by Vidya Rao in Dharma Nada.

Manjushri Naam Sangeeti - Ch. 10

How to lead a wholesome life

Our body decays and will die, but mind's activity will perdure. It will be driven by habits or by aspiration.

Sunday Talks

Mind Activity Driven by Habits or Aspiration

Resident Dharma Teacher at the Bodhipath Buddhist Center in Natural Bridge, VA

20230721_Domoraj_Lojong_Day 3_4

Lama Tsony

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