Bodhicitta

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  3. Posted

    The famous past life event of Buddha when he, as Prince Mahasattva, gave his body to a starving tigress is told in prose and verse in chapter 18.  Buddha gives the karmic links of the major persons involved in that event at the end of the chapter:

     

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    I, the Tathagata Shakyamuni was formerly Mahasattva, Son of King Maharatha who made the tigress well. 

    Shuddhodana, the great king was the king called Maharatha, and Queen Maya was the sublime queen. Mahapranada became Maitreya. Likewise, Prince Mahadeva was the youthful Manjushri. The tigress was Mahaprajapati; the five bhikshus were her five cubs.

    When Mahasattva gave the tigress his body, he made this altruistic wish: “By the merit of completely giving my body, may I, in future times for eons utterly beyond thought, perform the deeds of buddhas for sentient beings.”

     

    • Like 1

  6. Posted

    The value and power of faith, from Avatamsaka Sutra, ch. 39:

     

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    Then, from afar, Mañjuśrī stretched his right hand and rubbed the crown of Sudhana’s head, and said:

    This is good indeed, good indeed, O Son of Good Family. Were one to abandon the faculty of faith, his mind would become inferior, and beset by worries and regrets. His meritorious practices would be rendered imperfect, and he would fail in his application of energetic diligence. His mind would become inclined to abide in and become attached to just a single root of goodness. He would find that he would thus become satisfied with only a minor measure of meritorious qualities.  He would not then be able to use artful skillfulness in bringing forth his practices and vows. He would not be drawn forth and protected by good spiritual guides, nor be born in mind by the Tathāgata. He would not then be able to completely know the nature of dharmas such as these, nor purports such as these, Dharma doors like these, practices like these, nor objective realms such as these.

     

  7. Posted

    4 hours ago, Stosh said:

    Um, Back in the old days , we had what was called a phone book, and you could find everybody who had a phone , by name. It seems to me , that right now , one really must go through one of the social media giants. Is that essentially correct ? If so then it seems that a phone book app could be made available , and everybody can make their own social networks , but still be open to 'guests',and probably dictate the parameters of their own "account",, (just not anyone elses). 

    I don't see why anyone has to tolerate the lucrative selling of ones private information, the censorship of content , or any of it. 

    There's money in them thar hills too 

     

    But I don't have a facebook or twitter page , so I am not really sure how that crap works. 

     

    No techie am I, but for persons, keep their email & snail addresses in your Contacts file.  For websites, make bookmarks & favorites.

     

    I never used or joined Twitter, Facebook etc. 

    • Like 1

  11. Posted · Edited by Bodhicitta

    The rest of Porphyry's comments on stage two of virtues:

     

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    There is a difference between purifying oneself, and being pure. Consequently, the purificatory virtues may, like purification itself, be considered in two lights; they purify the soul, and they adorn the purified soul, because the object of purification is purity. But "since purification and purity consist in being separated from every foreign entity, the good is something different from the soul that purifies itself. If the soul that purifies herself had possessed the good before losing her purity, it would be sufficient for the soul to purify herself; but in this very case, what would remain to her after the purification would be the good; she can only participate therein, and have its form; otherwise the soul would not have fallen into evil. For the soul, good consists in being united to her author, and her evil is to unite with lower things."

     

    Of evil, there are two kinds: the one is to unite with lower things; the other is to abandon oneself to the passions. The civil virtues owe their name as virtues and their value to their releasing the soul from one of these two kinds of evil [that is, of the passions]. The purificatory virtues are superior to the former, in that they free the soul from her characteristic form of evil [that is, union with lower things]. "Therefore, when the soul is pure, she must be united to her author; her virtue, after her 'conversion,' consists in her knowledge and science of veritable existence; not that the soul lacks this knowledge, but because without her superior principle ---without intelligence--- she does not see what she possesses. "

     

  12. Posted · Edited by Bodhicitta

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    First Ennead, Book Two:

    On Virtues

     

    I.-There is a difference between the virtues of the citizen, those of the man who attempts to rise to contemplation, and who on this account, is said to possess a contemplative mind; those of him who contemplates intelligence; and finally those of pure Intelligence, which is completely separated from the soul.

    1. The civil virtues consist of moderation in passions, and in letting one's actions follow the rational laws of duty. The object of these virtues being to make us benevolent in our dealings with our fellow~human beings, they are called civil virtues because they mutually unite citizens. "Prudence refers to the rational part of our soul; courage, to that part of the soul subject to anger; temperance consists in the agreement and harmony of appetite and reason; finally justice, consists in the accomplishment, by all these faculties, of the function proper to each of them, either to command, or to obey."

    2. The virtues of the man who tries to rise to contemplation consist in detaching oneself from things here below; that is why they are called "purifications." They command us to abstain from activities which innervate the organs, and which excite the affections that relate to the body. The object of these virtues is to raise the soul to genuine existence. While the civil virtues are the ornament of mortal life, and prepare the soul for the purificatory virtues, the latter direct the man whom they adorn to abstain from activities in which the body predominates. Thus, in the purificatory virtues, "Prudence consists in not forming opinions in harmony with the body, but in acting by oneself, which is the work of pure thought. Temperance consists in not sharing the passions of the body; Courage, in not fearing separation therefrom, as if death drove man into emptiness and annihilation; while Justice exacts that reason and intelligence command and be obeyed." The civil virtues moderate the passions; their object is to teach us to live in conformity with the laws of human nature. The contemplative virtues obliterate the passions from the soul; their object is to assimilate man to the divinity.

     

    Part of Porphyry's comments based four stages of virtue from his Master Plotinus' teachings. The passages in quote marks are from the Enneads.

  13. Posted

    If I had to pick one Mahayana text that covers every aspect of doctrine, path & results, I would suggest this one - in Sanskrit titled Mahayanasutralamkara. There are two excellent English translations, with commentaries. It is a large book with the commentaries, but those comments are needed to clarify many verses.

    One came out in 2014 done by the Dharmachakra translation group and the other from the Padmakara translators just came out late in 2018.

    The root text was taught to Asanga (a bodhisattva of the 5th century) by Maitreya a 10th stage bodhisattva, who will become in the distant future our next Buddha.

    Ornament of the Great Vehicle Sutras is the title of the Dharmachakra version.

    The Padmakara version is called A Feast of the Nectar of the Supreme Vehicle.

    Both are in epub versions also.

  17. Posted

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    The Tathāgata’s wisdom is measureless, unimpeded, and universally able to benefit all beings. It resides in complete abundance within the persons of all beings. It is solely because of all foolish common people’s false conceptions and attachments that they fail to know this, fail to realize this, and fail to acquire its benefits. 
    Then, the Tathāgata, using his unimpeded pure wisdom eye, universally contemplates all beings throughout the Dharma realm and utters these words: “It is strange. It is strange. It is so strange indeed. How could it be that all of these beings completely possess the Tathāgata’s wisdom, yet, because of their stupidity and delusions, they fail to realize this, even fail to perceive this. I should instruct them in the path of the Sages and cause them to forever abandon false conceptions and attachments. Then they will succeed in seeing that, within their very own persons, they possess vast wisdom of the Tathāgata that is no different from that of the Buddha himself."
     
    From chapter 37 of the Avatamsaka Sutra
     

     

     

     

  18. Posted

    Another good source is The Vision and the Way of Vasistha a condensation by Atreya that was not put into English until recently. See Samvid's translation in the Samata Books edition which has the Sanskrit for each verse also.

    • Like 1

  19. Posted

    There are four main paths to Liberation, any one of which will be successful, if self-effort is pursued correctly & consistently:

     

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    There are four methods of crossing over the ocean of worldly existence, namely. Tranquillity {sama). Contentment {samtosa), Company of the good or the wise {sadhu-sanga), and Thinking {vicara). (II, 16, 18.) They are so related to one another that, if one of them is fully acquired, others will inevitably accompany it. One should, therefore, make effort in acquiring any one of them thoroughly. (II, 16, 22.)

     

    From B.L. Atreya's big study, Philosophy of YV, page 136

    • Like 2

  20. Posted

    19 minutes ago, s1va said:

     

    While I truly appreciate the Yoga Vasishta, the quoted text above talks only about self reliance and effort.  Is self effort of jiva or individual enough for self realization? What about surrender, letting go and the divine grace?  Is it all just a matter of self effort only? Can we overpower maya, which is a divine force just by self effort?

     

     

    Self-effort is only a 'leading virtue', not the only one.  Also Rishi Vasishta taught many paths - not sure if 'surrender' is one he emphasized much.  He did mention surrendering one's attachment to worldly feelings & ideas though.

    • Like 2

  21. Posted

    A leading needed virtue, self-reliance:

     

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    II 4 O Rama, listen to what I [Vasishtha] am about to say, which instruction is sure to remove the darkness of ignorance. A well-sustained self-effort leads to success in every field of life. Wherever one encounters failure, it is due to lack of self-effort.

    Liberation produces selflessness; we lose our selfishness when we come to know the unity of the soul. By effort one can attain knowledge which leads to salvation. This is obvious; but what is called God, destiny or fate is fictitious and is not seen. The dull and the ignorant created God, which is none other than self-effort of a past incarnation affecting one.

    Self-effort, Rama, is that mental, verbal and physical action which is in accordance with the instructions of a holy person well versed in the scriptures. This will reveal the moon of spiritual bliss beyond the dark clouds of mental impurities. Such effort, continuous and constant, gives good results, all the rest is sheer madness. The goal of self-effort is Self-realization.

    It is only by such effort that Indra became king of heaven, that Brahma became the creator, and Vishnu and Shiva earned their place. When right self-effort is sustained, one rises to that lofty state wherein ruling the vast earth is known as insignificant compared to the glory of Self-realization.

    II 5 Self-effort is of two categories: that of past births and that of this present birth. Past efforts can be counteracted by current labors. There is constant conflict, like battling rams, between these two in this incarnation. That which is more powerful triumphs. Men of self-effort, by firm and long practice, can undo the past effort.

    Self-effort which is not in accord with the scriptures is motivated by delusion. To go against scriptural injunctions will lead to disasters. Mental desire alone, without the needed action, is pure lunacy. It will not only be useless, but it will lead to further delusions.

    There is no power greater than right action in the present. Hence, one should take recourse to self-effort, gritting one's teeth, and one should overcome evil by good and destiny by present effort. Even obstructions presented by the devas are due to bad actions in past lives.

    One’s effort must be maintained until the past negative karma is overpowered. The virtues of this life are bound to overcome the vices of past lives. Therefore, one must cultivate serenity, self-control, reflection and meditation by his self-effort.

     

    • Like 3

  22. Posted

    The whole of our literature proves that real Theosophists, worshipping universal wisdom, worship in reality the same wisdom which has been proclaimed by St. James in the third chapter of his Epistle [verse 17], i.e., “the wisdom that is from above (δοΦία ἄνωθεν [which] is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy,” avoiding, on the advice of the same Apostle [verse 15], wisdom that “is earthly, sensual, devilish (ψυχική δαιμονιώδης).”

    Blavatsky

  23. Posted

    From Isis Unveiled, the first book of Blavatsky:
     

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    Deeply sensible of the Titanic struggle that is now in progress between materialism and the spiritual aspirations of mankind, our constant endeavor has been to gather into our several chapters, like weapons into armories, every fact and argument that can be used to aid the latter in defeating the former. Sickly and deformed child as it now is, the materialism of To-Day is born of the brutal Yesterday. Unless its growth is arrested, it may become our master. It is the bastard progeny of the French Revolution and its reaction against ages of religious bigotry and repression. To prevent the crushing of these spiritual aspirations, the blighting of these hopes, and the deadening of that intuition which teaches us of a God and a hereafter, we must show our false theologies in their naked deformity, and distinguish between divine religion and human dogmas. Our voice is raised for spiritual freedom, and our plea made for enfranchisement from all tyranny, whether of SCIENCE or THEOLOGY.

     

  25. Posted

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    Temperance was the next topic of Pythagoras' discourses. Since the desires are most flourishing during youth,

    this is the time when control must be effective. While temperance alone is universal in its application to all

    ages, boy, virgin, woman, or the aged, yet this special virtue is particularly applicable to youth. Moreover,

    this virtue alone applied universally to all goods, those of body and soul, preserving both the health, and studiousness

     

     

    Iamblichus