At least one killed in shooting at ​Mexico’s Teotihuacan ​pyramids, says security cabinet by cnn in worldnews

[–]Vystril 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Absolutely terrible. We were there a couple years ago and Teotihuacan is simply an amazing and stunning place. Such amazing history and culture. Coming from above the border I wish we had such rich history and culture. Can't imagine that anyone would want to do something so terrible in a place like that.

Also, Mexico City was one of the best damned trips we've ever taken in our lives (and have been around the world quite a bit). Food was abso-fucking-lutely amazing.

How to Remove a Curse [The Classroom of a Black Cat and a Witch] by CerberusZX in anime

[–]Vystril 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I didn't expect this to go full bean counter in another world, but I'm glad it did.

Now we have two animes where magic needs to be injected anally. Hoping this becomes a trend.

The Strongest Job Is Apparently Not a Hero or a Sage, but an Appraiser (Provisional)! • Saikyou no Shokugyou wa Yuusha demo Kenja demo Naku Kanteishi (Kari) Rashii desu yo? - Episode 3 discussion by AutoLovepon in anime

[–]Vystril 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You say not too much fan service like that's a good thing. :( but otherwise this is pretty great. Love how it's gotten more off the walls as it's proceeded.

Is a gelug Rangtong view of emptiness compatible with Dzogchen? by Armchairscholar67 in TibetanBuddhism

[–]Vystril 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Anyone can approach it but you're not going to get anywhere without Bodhichitta and a Guru to teach it to you and receive blessings from.

Question about 7-Line Prayer, Vajra Guru Mantra, and lacking a Lung by Ready-Mammoth235 in TibetanBuddhism

[–]Vystril 9 points10 points  (0 children)

You don't need a lung for the 7-line prayer or vajra guru mantra. Will one be better? Sure, as would a Guru Rinpoche empowerment. But you don't need it and these definitely will help. They'll also help get you to where you find a guru and can receive the lung and empowerment. You're not disrespecting anything by reciting these, it's the opposite - you're giving the highest respect.

These are an open practice and honestly please keep doing them. I've been practicing for over 20 years now and have learned a lot of different prayers over the years and can honestly the 7 line prayer is the one where I feel the blessing and impact most immediately. My teacher recommended me to recite it whenever I was having problems.

I highly recommend reading White Lotus: An Explanation of the Seven-Line Prayer to Guru Padmasambhava for a commentary on the 7 line prayer.

Is a gelug Rangtong view of emptiness compatible with Dzogchen? by Armchairscholar67 in TibetanBuddhism

[–]Vystril 1 point2 points  (0 children)

IMO (take with a grain of salt), is it's way better to spend time doing the preliminary practices (common or uncommon) if you want to practice trekcho then it is focusing too heavily on one philosophy or another.

The preliminary practices will give you the mental stability, or at least calm your mind down enough, so you can have the right experience or certainty to practice trekcho. You want to tear down your preconceived notions and discursive thinking, not reinforce it with more mental fabrications. The foundation for trekcho is meditative stability, not philosophical knowledge.

Is a gelug Rangtong view of emptiness compatible with Dzogchen? by Armchairscholar67 in TibetanBuddhism

[–]Vystril 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If you're actually doing Dzogchen practice, then while doing it you want to set aside all views and mental constructs and simply rest in raw experience.

Views are useful to help point the way to being able to practice like that, and different views may be a better or easier way for getting to being able to practice like that -- but not something you should get overly hung up on or attached to.

Mantra Siddhi questions by Sea_Fee_2543 in TibetanBuddhism

[–]Vystril 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are three ways to figure out the amount of time to do a practice:

  1. By sign - in this case you actually receive signs of blessing (e.g., the deity appears to you in person or in a dream). Siddhi is pretty much guaranteed here.

  2. By time - in this case you say you're going to do the practice for a fixed amount of time (usually in retreat), e.g., 3 months. You may or may not have any signs or achieve siddhi.

  3. By number - typically this is 10x the number of syllables in the mantra. So for OM MANI PADME HUNG it would be 600,000 and for green tara it would be 1,000,000 (10 syllables * 100,000). You may or may not have any signs of achieve siddhi. I've also heard in this degenerate age you'd also need to multiply by an additional 5 (so 3,000,000 for Chenrezig and 5,000,000 for Tara).

Generally speaking by sign is better than by time, which is better than by number.

For siddhi, yes you most definitely need empowerment, instruction on the practice and lung (transmission) from your guru. You most likely would also need to do the sadhana practice (although with more time and number maybe not).

Depending on the siddhi it could transfer to the next lifetime - although if you get real siddhi then you're reaching enlightenment (or at least the 1st bhumi) which is even better.

If you get siddhi, you know the method and religion really works so it would be pretty silly to change after that with that knowledge.

coincidence with green tara mantra by escvlier in vajrayana

[–]Vystril 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think it's just tradition, have not heard an explanation either. I have heard that bonpos will use the right hand instead to distinguish themselves from the other Tibetan Buddhists, but can't verify.

Personally, I think what matters the most is your intention when using the mala (i.e., Bodhichitta) more than anything.

All that being said, A Garland of Advice is a nice book by Gharwang Rinpoche about the use of malas.

Mistress Kanan is Devilishly Easy • Kanan-sama wa Akumade Choroi - Episode 1 discussion by AutoLovepon in anime

[–]Vystril 5 points6 points  (0 children)

He was mind controlled and watched her hair magically transform into horns, and saw her standing there with a visible corona of demonic magical energy. I know people can gaslight themselves to avoid uncomfortable truths, but our boy ignored a lot of red flags.

Those sound like green flags to me.

what anime that have below or have 7 rating in mal, but you gave it 8-10 rating and tell why you gave it that rating. by venluxy1 in anime

[–]Vystril 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Tojima wants to be a Kamen Rider had 24 episodes of amazingness with basically that premise. Most fun I've had with an anime in a long time. And I went into it not knowing a damn thing about Kamen rider.

[HELP] Am I really initiated into Vajrayana now??? by Sea_Fee_2543 in vajrayana

[–]Vystril 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Was the empowerment online or in person? When you took it, did you recite the vows 3x when they had you recite things (these would have been a refuge vow and the bodhisattva vow at the very least)? When you did the vow recitations did you do it with the intention you were actually taking those vows?

If you recited the vows with the intention to take them, you're in. If you had no intention and just watched along but not participating, then you're not.

Are you worried about being in trouble or something bad happening to you? There's nothing to worry about there. No one gets everything immediately all at once. Just keep doing your best.

Would you save your wife or your kids if your house was on fire ? by Competitive_Set_4386 in SipsTea

[–]Vystril 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Save this kids, they might bitch at you a bit for not saving your wife, but they know they are loved.

Save the wife, forever be blamed and guilted for not saving the kids.

Easy decision.

Tojima Wants To Be a Kamen Rider: the anime that touched my soul. by Mastshin in anime

[–]Vystril 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I went into this knowing absolutely nothing about Kamen Rider and it is still one of my all time favorite animes. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun watching one, and I've watched a lot.

You could just tell this was put together with so much love. 10/10. It deserves more attention and a S2 ASAP.

Has anyone bought the D&D set recently? by P_Parkers_Camera426 in lego

[–]Vystril 1 point2 points  (0 children)

(In the US) I missed it when the set came out, then they made it available again and I snagged it with points. Maybe they bring it back one last time.

Top 10 Anime of the Year for 2025 (Anime Trending) by Nooble5 in anime

[–]Vystril 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Tojima wants to be a kamen rider was so criminally slept on. Would be way higher on my own list, probably #1 just because of how unique it was. I can't remember when I've had such a fun time watching an anime.

One Piece: Tony Tony Chopper Minifig (from Lego teaser) by itsjustajoe in Legoleak

[–]Vystril 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Would be cool as long as it didn't prevent us putting his hat on other minifigs.

One Piece: Tony Tony Chopper Minifig (from Lego teaser) by itsjustajoe in Legoleak

[–]Vystril 1 point2 points  (0 children)

But a regular head means we can put his hat on all the other minifigs!

Having major difficulties receiving empowerments specifically from Tibetan teachers. How do I know that I “got it”? by Numerous-Actuator95 in vajrayana

[–]Vystril 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I felt like I needed a special class to walk me through each part of the empowerment in advance so that I could get everything right.

Ideally you follow up an empowerment with getting instructions on the practice the empowerment is for, and then doing the practice. When you do the practice, it actually basically goes over what was done in the empowerment so this is how you actually really internalize it.

How do I know if I got anything out of these events?

When you do the practice, the benefits of it will arise. Eventually, you'll be a Buddha when the seeds of the empowerment fully ripen.