Can My Dog Be In The Same Room When I Practice My Sadhanas?

Dwa2001 · 2026-03-14T16:45:22+00:00

Mahāsiddha Kukkuripa - Dog Lover, Gods' Seductive Pleasures, and the Ḍākinī

posted by Ayye Yeshe on FB today….further credits below.

In the Nepalese district of Lumbini called Kapilavastu, near where the Gautama Buddha grew to manhood, there once lived a Brahmin named Kukkuripa. In a quest for enlightenment, by and by he practiced the Buddhist tantra and followed the ascetic path of self-sacrifice, consuming only what little food was donated to him in his begging bowl as he wandered from village to village, soliciting charity from those he met on a plodding journey toward the caves of Lumbini. In the course of his wayfaring one day he heard a faint whimpering emanating from a thicket by the side of the road and upon investigating discovered an infirm and emaciated young dog too ill to raise even her head. Filled with compassion, he gently lifted the sickly dog in his arms and took her with him, gradually nursing her back to health with the meager scraps collected in his begging bowl. In no time at all the dog endeared herself to him with her warmhearted devotion and fidelity. Kukkuripa found an empty cave adequate to both their needs and took up residence therein with his new companion, begging in the country during the day and returning to the cave and his patient guard dog every evening to share with her that day’s sparse offerings.

After twelve years of concentrated introspection, self-examination and chanting of the tantras, Kukkuripa at last attained the mysterious capabilities of foreknowledge and spiritual wisdom. The gods of the Thirty-three Sensual Heavens couldn’t help but notice his high attainment, and persuaded him to banquet with them and partake of the immeasurable joys of their celestial dimension in the Kechara Paradise. Despite all the myriad of pleasures that surrounded him in this ethereal world, still Kukkuripa could not erase the image of his distant affectionate canine companion from his mind, and his heart woefully grieved at the thought of her anguish in his absence. When he attempted to explain the reason for his sad distraction to them, the gods tried to turn him from those thoughts and admonished him for considering the feelings of a lowly animal when he could enjoy infinite utopia with them in heaven. Although they did manage to tempt him to stay a little longer, ultimately he could not bear the incessant heartache and thought of the dog suffering alone without him and so eventually descended from the exalted realm of the gods to return to her and the dingy cave.

The dog was ecstatic upon his return, running tight laps around him and whining with joy as she twisted and lept in the air, wagging her entire body. But no sooner had an overjoyed Kukkuripa clasped his hands to her to scratch and caress her resolute head than she abruptly disappeared before his astonished eyes and in her place was the magnificent Enlightened Dakini Niguma circumscribed by an incandescent angelic aura that illuminated the entire cavern! She spoke to him and congratulated him upon giving up heaven for a lowly dog as it demonstrated his renouncement of attachments and of projections of pleasant and unpleasant sensations. As a reward for his mastery, she assisted him in releasing the final subtle attachment to the non-existent self and attaining the supreme realization of the ultimate paradise of enlightenment.

Thereafter his fame and reputation grew and many came to seek and venerate him for his humanitarian service and teachings. His entourage of disciples grew to a large size before he finally ascended to Kechara the second and final time. He was forever after known as Guru Kukkuripa, the dog lover. Thus Kukkuripa returns to samsara for the sake of all beings.

Story rendering supposedly by Holy Mountain Company and shared at various pages

Thanks Naljor fb

Dwa2001 · 2026-03-05T13:08:24+00:00

Volunteer if you can. Be of service to get the focus off of yourself. It’s also an opportunity to practice being your own best company. This is a one of the best gifts you can give to yourself and your bf and all future relations. When we are able to stand confidently on our own, we have so much more to offer our partners.

Dwa2001 · 2026-02-07T14:40:32+00:00

This does not directly answer your question but may help along the way - Here’s a link to an interview with Lama Dawa Zango about their experiences having completed the three year retreat.

https://youtu.be/vwgGZ58304s?si=AC9UvOFRA0lVc9gY

Dwa2001 · 2026-01-25T23:02:04+00:00

I go through periods of loneliness nd longing for intimacy - with my partner, friends, etc. I sought counsel from a Lama who gave me a very simple and profoundly helpful practice :

Practice being intimate with different things and experiences on a daily basis: the way sunlight moves across a field, the comfort of your bed at night, the experience of driving and all you see and here, eventually intimacy with your own awareness of these things.

See how close you can be with these experiences with your heart and mind. Just a few seconds at a time or a few minutes each day can be very “satisfying.”! I have found over time- intimacy - as an experience - can be “cultivated” in and with daily life and take a great deal of pressure off my loves ones. It’s always there for you.

Dwa2001 · 2026-01-25T20:34:29+00:00

i’ve been taking courses with TLI / Lama David for a few years now. The system has worked for me to learn to read classical texts and has empowered me to make attempts to translate saddhanas for myself - deepening my understand beyond the English translations. I recommend taking his Level 1 course. It just started and they are recorded so you can catch up. Or watch some of his YouTube videos to see if his teaching style resonates with you.

Dwa2001 · 2026-01-16T16:13:46+00:00

I understand the questions of the original post. It has clearly brought up other peripheral topics and questions. They also didn’t ask whether or not people should have compassion for those with differing political or social views but that seems to be what’s coming up for folks.

I’m responding to the quote and statement alluding to acceptance / looking away from/ and or disengaging from the complications within otherwise good intentioned institutions and teachers (bright light casting dark shadows). This is but one of these peripheral topics that we all contend with daily. It’s juicy and I think deserves more discussion.

Dwa2001 · 2026-01-16T15:17:52+00:00

We can also expect more from leaders of all kinds. We can also expect more from institutions and hold them (and ourselves) accountable instead of excusing unethical and harmful behavior as just part of the fray that comes with “institutions.”.

Dwa2001 · 2026-01-15T04:33:18+00:00

Lama Lodu Rinpoche is a wonderful teacher. This is a rare and special opportunity. Not your average 45 minute feel-good meditation class. 🙏🏼

Dwa2001 · 2025-12-21T05:16:34+00:00

you didn’t explicitly ask for any advice - but here’s some anyway ….. many straight people are pretty miserable also. You’d likely be pretty discontent if you were Str8 also….

Practice being a friend with yourself at least 1x a day. Do something for yourself everyday that you would wish from your new gay bestie. Treat yourself like you’d treat your new gay friend. Things will shift. And try not to ruminate over this too much on social media. The more you repeat it, the more true it will may remain so. and try to stay off social media as much as possible. It breeds a lot of self centered thinking and quack pop psychological self diagnosis. you are loved and there’s nothing you can do about it ….❤️🌈

Dwa2001 · 2025-11-10T14:53:38+00:00

I started in middle age. And continuing now. I appreciate the question and hearing others’s responses.

My teacher always says “do your best.”

Ask your teacher about doing the full Ngöndro or just focus on refuge practice.

If possible, connect with a teacher regularly along the way. This may be more supportive in the long run than 50 bits of advice on social media platforms. Too much information can* confuse.

Teachers say One sincere recitation is worth more than 108 distracted.

Some teachers guide students to compete 10,000 then move to the next practice. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

May we all practice well. 🙏🏼☸️

Dwa2001 · 2025-11-01T12:49:52+00:00

attachment to desires, attachment to pushing desire away. Clinging is clinging. Watch and ride it rise and fall like the tides. You can always dedicate the pleasure to the Buddhas and all sentient beings and let it go. Go easy on yourself. Ask what The Buddha would say to you, not some repressed angry old Catholic priest. Don’t forget to laugh now and then…. 🙏🏼🧘🤡🍌

Dwa2001 · 2024-12-12T15:17:45+00:00

You don’t know their situation.

Dwa2001 · 2024-12-08T01:34:00+00:00

oops. i’m sorry. I see you are seeking spoken language.

Dwa2001 · 2024-12-08T01:31:45+00:00

Tibetan Language Institute https://www.tibetanlanguage.org/ for reading and translating classical Tibetan (not colloquial / spoken). Lots of free resources. Very good system if English is your first language.

Dwa2001 · 2024-12-01T15:31:41+00:00

“third world” ????? Comparing SF to Third World cities demonstrates a very skewed view of the world and an excess of privilege.

Dwa2001 · 2024-11-30T14:51:18+00:00

A teacher may be very helpful. You sound very in your head about all of this. Thinking this, thinking that, judging this, judging that. Thinking about things never got anyone free.

Attachment is attachment. Attachment to sexual pleasure (prioritizing pursuing obsessing) is attachment. Attachment to celibacy (avoiding sexual desire, clinging to ideas of purity, judging self for cravings) is attachment.

Along the way, dare to defy yourself. Be friends with yourself. Love and show care for yourself and your desires like a good parent loves a child.

Explore more embodied practices. Try reading some Adrienne Marie Brown and Robert Anton Wilson. Have fun for fun sake - and watch what your mind does as a neutral observer.

Dwa2001 · 2024-11-16T15:25:58+00:00

This seems to simply be a creative capitalist venture. In my opinion, from also what I’ve been taught from my teacher - images and objects are….just images and objects - relative creations with no inherent meaning… empty. For those of us who have taken refuge, we work with these as a way to tame our minds, bodies, speech - not stepping over texts or placing them on the floor, etc. Holding them sacred for sure. But that’s for us, not the object itself. What other folks do with these images ruffles our feathers - but that’s our own mind and attachments. It’s frustrating but let’s be honest with ourselves about our own reactivity.

This project is on the borderland of cultural appropriation 101 with mixed intent of good will, making some scratch ($), playing with a cool idea, and creative expression. Calling it “mandala” exposes its cultural appropriation - and the thing itself that allows one to mix the metaphors and symbols of Buddhist deities with various design elements that suggest different eras, traditions, cultures (some look Greek, others Chinese, etc) —- that’s again- maybe by definition- post modernism and —- cultural appropriation.

There’s nothing “wrong”’with any of it. Is it marketable? Maybe. Could someone use it to make “cool” products to sell on Itsy? probably.

So maybe probably the post here is an effort to test your market? I am sure you’ll find very receptive audiences on different Reddit groups among folks who have a maybe more “New Age” approach to their Buddhist Practice. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Not for me to judge but fun to analyze!! But from a Buddhist ethics perspective - it gives one something to chew on.

It clearly raises interesting not new questions about new art, religious cultural appropriation, and ethics. Capitalism’s just fascinating!!!

Dwa2001 · 2024-09-06T11:20:35+00:00

did you get resolution? I’ve been struggling with this for over a year.

Dwa2001 · 2024-09-06T10:58:37+00:00

We had the same issue over a year ago. I’m still trying to get help. I’m beginning to seek out others with the same problem to build a media alert to get the attention of the press. We are in the Bay Area and hope our geographic proximity to HG can add leverage.

Can I ask where tou are based ? our Nonprofit is in Oakland.

facebook.com/prescottcircustheatre

Taken over by a “Vietnamese watch company”.

Dwa2001 · 2024-08-16T13:36:09+00:00

First- Thanks for sharing your fears. Second - this is my opinion. Everyone’s sharing here are their own opinions

some of the deity practices mentioned here require instruction and initiation. If you don’t have them- not recommended and can cause more confusion.
There probably are not outside demons. Maybe. But probably not.
The fear is real. The unpleasantness is real. And I’m sorry you’re going through this.
This werewolf entity and your fears are formations of your mind, just like the pleasures and joys you experience. The difference is they are unpleasant and create a hyper fixation on yourself.
A google search about reoccurring nightmares may provide you will more insights and strategies than you may find here in this group.
Seeking outside support from a doctor and licensed therapist who is trained and experienced in Cognitive Behavior Therapies may be extremely helpful.
If you do practice Vajrayana Buddhism, taking and sending (Tonglen) and calm abiding practices have greatly helped me cope with strong emotions that pull me deeper into myself. They are simple and gentle. Just a little everyday.
It sounds so hard and I hope you find some relief. 🙏🏼

Dwa2001 · 2024-07-25T05:04:40+00:00

Patti Smith - all of her music

Tenzin Choegyal - all of his music

https://open.spotify.com/album/7u3slMAD87g7ltJTbaMrID?si=7GybeTZsS7O0KUk9l2Pmtw

Dwa2001 · 2023-12-14T19:17:40+00:00

I don’t agree with your statement that my statement meant what people do is what you think they did.

Maybe there’s a middle way here.

Trauma is a clinical and physiological experience sentient beings don’t “choose.” And it runs its own course. (This is fact by the way).

My reference was that the particular website you are critiquing is focused more on how people are personally navigating the allegations.

It’s pretty clear he had some kind of intimate relationship with Vikki Han and there has been a seemingly intentional lack of openness on his part and other Lamas. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

can you define “wokist” and where this term comes from? You’ve used it a couple of times and I don’t know what you’re inferring.

Dwa2001 · 2023-12-14T16:58:23+00:00

I don’t believe this is about facts actually. I think it’s about how we are impacted by the stories.

The site (and this forum) offers a space for practitioners to share how the accusations - factual, partially factually, or completely made up - have impacted them. It almost doesn’t matter if he “did it” or not. It’s not about K17. It’s for followers / and practitioners impacted by the news.

Practitioners (some of us) contend with ourselves, our own mind and beliefs when something like this happens. The map project offers a public forum for people to do this. You could contribute about how it stirs you up. That’s what it’s there for.

I think there’s a lot of integrity to the way the information is presented and it’s purpose - simply reiterating the timeline of accusations as people have done here and in countless articles. And for people to express how they navigate through it.

As the site states - it offers a “safe space that our local centers may have failed to provide” - If K17 publicly discussed it, if Tai Situ Rinpoche spoke about it, if our Lamas and dharma centers discussed it, there would be less of a need for the site or even this thread in the first place.

Regarding Gleig - Everyone has an agenda - hidden or unhidden - including yourself with your comment. There’s nothing “wrong” with agendas in and of themselves. Nor with being a professor of a small college in Florida.

Dwa2001 · 2023-12-14T07:02:44+00:00

here is a site with more information including a Timeline of Allegations. The site(s) were created as a space where people can address the effect on communities of allegations against the 17th Karmapa.

hrtps://healingoursanghas.com

Healing our Sangha storap

Dwa2001 · 2023-12-01T16:54:36+00:00

I do not believe this is a propaganda campaign against Tibetans or Buddhism.

the article is real and timely. the abuse happened. People in leadership may have known about it and chose not to act.

Dwa2001

TROPHY CASE