The Three Levels of Spiritual Perception is a revised edition of the classic guide to the Lamdre, a key system of meditation of the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Written by one of the first Tibetan masters to live and teach in the United States, it is rendered in a lyrical style that entertains, inspires, and motivates the reader. A key work for all those who are eager to develop and deepen their meditation practice.
The Essence of Scholasticism is a meditation manual leading to arhatship. It is the central text of the westernmost part of the Gandharan cultural area, e.e. Bactria. Probably composed in the first century BCE, it was commented on and elaborated in several sastras the best known being the Abhidharmakosabhasya of the fifth century. The Essence and the Astagrantha are the basic treatises of the non-Vaibhasika sarvastivadins, i.e. of the sautrantikas of the Gandharan cultural area.
Vision is more than looking or seeing. It is integral to all human action. Visual Sense presents a series of readings which offer a range of alternatives to conventional psychological and social scientific approaches to the study of the ocular. The book highlights the multitude of ways in which vision is linked to the other senses by virtue of being embedded in complex cultural processes.Visual Sense introduces students to the analysis of a wide range of ways of experiencing sight across time and across cultures: from Renaissance Italy, Aztec Mexico and early Christian Europe, to Tibet, West Africa, Aboriginal Australia and South America, amongst others. It is arranged around broad themes of visual experience, ranging from navigating the sacred and ordering knowledge about the world to thinking creatively, socially and beyond vision into cyberspace and daydream. This unique approach allows cross-cultural and thematic connections to be made. A Guide to Further Reading allows students to expand their learning independently, and section introductions place the readings in context.Visual Sense expands the field of visual studies and explores the place of vision in the sensory world.
Dzogchen (Great Perfection) goes to the heart of our experience by investigating the relationship between mind and world and uncovering the great secret of mind's luminous nature. Weaving in personal stories and everyday examples, Pema Rigtsal leads the reader to see that all phenomena are the spontaneous display of mind, a magical illusion, and yet there is something shining in the midst of experience that is naturally pure and spacious. Not recognizing this natural great perfection is the root cause of suffering and self-centered clinging. After introducing us to this liberating view, Pema Rigtsal explains how it is stabilized and sustained in effortless meditation: without modifying anything, whatever thoughts of happiness or sorrow arise simply dissolve by themselves into the spaciousness of pure presence. The book is divided into chapters on the view, meditation as the path, conduct, the attainment, and the four bardos. Each chapter consists of mini-sections that can be read as stand-alone Dharma talks. Pema Rigtsal has studied and lived with several authentic Dzogchen masters and has surprising stories to tell about their unconventional methods to introduce students to the subtle view of Dzogchen.
Blending contemporary and traditional perspectives, this groundbreaking work offers guidance on the profound foundational practices of the Great Perfection. It contains classic commentaries by the renowned Tibetan masters Jigme Lingpa and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, alongside a lively contemporary discussion by filmmaker, author, and spiritual teacher Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse that discusses how to incorporate these ancient practices into the fast-paced lifestyle of the Western world. Also included are a lengthy introduction to the world of Tibetan Buddhism and its meditative practices, as well as the long and short preliminary practice liturgies and numerous appendices on the nine yanas and other topics. The ngöndro or preliminary practice is treasured in the Ancient School of Tibetan Buddhism as vital for effecting a profound inner transformation and as a foundation for the very highest teachings of the Great Perfection, or Dzogchen. In particular, the Longchen Nyingtik ngöndro—revealed by the great saint Jigme Lingpa following a series of visions in which he was blessed by the omniscient Longchen Rabjam and received the transmission of his wisdom mind—has long been cherished by followers of all traditions on account of its power, depth, and poetic beauty.
Rediscover the classic guide for recovery with this tenth anniversary edition “that transcends genres by seamlessly integrating the 12-Step approach, Buddhist principles, and a compelling personal struggle with addiction and a quest for spiritual awakening” (Donald Altman, author of Living Kindness). The face of addiction and alcoholism is recognizable to many—it may be a celebrity, a colleague, or even a loved one. And though the 12-step program by itself can often bring initial success, many addicts find themselves relapsing back into old ways and old patterns, or replacing one addiction with another. Working with the traditional 12-step philosophy, Darren Littlejohn first shares his own journey, and how he came to find the spiritual solace that has greatly enhanced his life in recovery. Then, he details out how his work integrating Buddhism into the traditional 12-step programs validates both aspects of the recovery process. With accessible prose and in-depth research, he illustrates how each step—such as admitting there is a problem, seeking help, engaging in a thorough self-examination, making amends for harm done, and helping other addicts who want to recover—fits into the Bodhisattva path. This integration makes Buddhism accessible for addicts, and the 12 steps understandable for Buddhists who may otherwise be at a loss to help those in need. The 12-Step Buddhist is designed to be a complimentary practice to the traditional 12-step journey, not a replacement. While traditional programs help addicts become sober by removing the drug of choice and providing a spiritual path, they rarely delve deep into what causes people to suffer in the first place. In this “unique synthesis of the traditional 12-Step model and the liberating wisdom of Dharma” (Mandala Magazine), addicts can truly find a deep, spiritual liberation from all causes and conditions of suffering—for good.
The Miracle of Perfect Eyesight The Truth About The Eyes It is said that the eyes are the "windows" of the soul. How clear is your vision? Can you see the world without blurry vision or distortion? The so-called "normal" eye can easily read the 20 foot line on the Snellen Eye Test Chart at 20 feet away--this is called 20-20 vision. There is no limit as to how much one can improve their vision beyond the 20-20 range. Healthy eyes are a marvel of nature''s creation. A person with above average eyesight can easily read the 10 foot line (smallest bottom line on the Snellen Eye Test Chart), at 20 feet away--20-10 vision! I have seen people who can read the 10 foot line at 50 to 60 feet away--60-10 vision. This is called "telescopic vision." There is also no limit to reading small "Microscopic Type Print"--known as "microČscopic vision." There is no limit to how sharp and clear one can see in the distance and close-up. We are all walking, talking, seeing miracles of Great Nature. The sages say human beings are "solidified sunlight," or "trails of light," because our eyesight and our very life is totally dependent on the Solar Orb! We would all become blind without the healing rays of sunlight upon our retina. Sunlight also gives us natural Vitamin D for healthy skin and eyes. The eye training secrets contained in this book have taken me from 20-600 (progressive advanced myopia, or blind without glasses), to better than 20-20 vision. If you practice and are persistent in your eye training, you too can improve vision quickly. Eye Muscles Accommodation: The Mystery Unveiled In order to "see" properly, the eyes must accommodate. Accommodation takes place when focusing on various distances--close and far. Which muscles are doing the focusing during accommodation is debatable among Ophthalmologists. Dr. Helmholtz, an early eye doctor, found that only the "ciliary" eye muscles do the accommoČdating. The Helmholtz Theory is the "accepted belief" of most modern eyeglass doctors. Dr. Bates, a natural eye specialist, felt that the two oblique eye muscles performed eye accommodation by compressing the round eyeball in the middle and making it longer horizontally. Dr. Bates cut these muscles in rabbits and found the eyes could not accommodate. When he injected a drug to paralyze the oblique muscles, the eyes failed to accommodate. When he put together the severed muscles and washed out the drug, the rabbit''s eyes were able to accommodate again. The Helmholtz theory holds that accommodation is due to the expansion and contraction of the crystalline lens, caused by the action of the ciliary muscle. Dr. Bates, through his experiments, discovered and proved that it is not the crystalline lens but the six external muscles that act upon the eyeball and give the eye its ability to adjust and accommodate to near and far objects. The fact that patients who have had the crystalline lens removed are still able to see, and have the power to accommodate, should be convincing proof of this theory. It is obvious both the oblique muscles and the ciliary muscles work in conjunction when focusing. Here is the reason why--the normal eye when looking at a distant object becomes shortened, and when looking at a close object is elongated. The external muscles--oblique, recti, iris and the ciliary muscles all enable the eyes to accommodate properly. The external muscles lengthen and shorten the eyeball to enable light rays to fall upon the macula. The iris adjusts the pupil for the amount of light necessary to see clearly. And the ciliary muscle contracts the lens to focus upon the object. The ciliary muscle changes the lens and directs the rays of light to focus upon the macula or center of sight. While looking at a distant object of more than twenty feet away, the rays come into the eyes parallel. When looking at a close point rays come into the eyes at an angle. The normal eye must accommodate these rays in order to see clearly a close or distant point. All rays fro
The first English translation of a classic treatise on how the Tibetan practice of Dzogchen, or Great Perfection, is in fact the culmination of the path of Mahayana Buddhism. Rongzom Chökyi Zangpo wrote this treatise in the eleventh century during the renaissance of Buddhism in Tibet that was spurred by the influx of new translations of Indian Buddhist texts, tantras, and esoteric transmissions from India. For political and religious reasons, adherents of the “new schools” of Tibetan Buddhism fostered by these new translations cast the older tradition of lineages and transmissions as impure and decadent. Rongzompa composed the work translated here in order to clearly and definitively articulate how Dzogchen was very much in line with the wide variety of sutric and tantric teachings espoused by all the Tibetan schools. Using the kinds of philosophic and linguistic analyses favored by the new schools, he demonstrates that the Great Perfection is indeed the culmination and maturation of the Mahāyāna, the Great Vehicle. The central topic of the work is the notion of illusory appearance, for when one realizes deeply that all appearances are illusory, one realizes also that all appearances are in that respect equal. The realization of the equality of all phenomena is said to be the Great Perfection approach to the path, which frees one from both grasping at, and rejecting, appearances. However, for those unable to remain effortlessly within the natural state, in the final chapter Rongzompa also describes how paths with effort are included in the Great Perfection approach.
