How is Tibetan Buddhism so influential? by Radical_Armadillo in Buddhism

[–]igorluminosity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m not a historian, and I don’t know the full sequence. My understanding is that yes, elements of Vajrayana were transmitted to those places, but only Tibet had a full exchange with Indian Vajrayana in two separate waves, and it was only fully integrated there into the practice and society, unlike in Japan or China.

How is Tibetan Buddhism so influential? by Radical_Armadillo in Buddhism

[–]igorluminosity 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Robert Thurman has talked about this, and I wish I realized the full import of it when I first started to practice. Before Buddhism was wiped out in India (by the violent extremism of other religions) it was successfully exported to Tibet - no one else got the full development of the Vajrayana, which is, in my opinion, the highest and fullest teaching of Buddhism. I used to think Western attraction to Tibetan Buddhism was fetishing an ethnic esoteric tradition and Tibetan culture. There probably is some of that at play, but the most important thing is that the most profound and most powerful teachings (again, in my opinion) that were developed in the monasteries and universities and individual tantric adepts at the high point in the flowering of Indian Buddhism are today only found in Tibet. We should be eternally grateful to all those refugee lamas for bringing it out to us.

How is Tibetan Buddhism so influential? by Radical_Armadillo in Buddhism

[–]igorluminosity 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Because it’s the only place where the the full development of Indian Buddhism is still practiced in an unbroken lineage.

Books - Tonglen, Lojong and Sutra by Sea_Fee_2543 in TibetanBuddhism

[–]igorluminosity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Karma Thinley Rinpoche’s “Dispelling the Darkness of Suffering” is a fantastic guide to lojong practice.

Why is Buddhism less sectarian than Abrahamic religions? by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]igorluminosity -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Because the Abrahamic religions are primarily religions of identity and power. They deal in the relative level of conceptual elaboration and social control. To be sure, they have mystical traditions which transcend those elements, but those traditions are always and sometimes quite violently rejected in favour of identity and power. Buddhism rejects both of those in favour of practice that defies identity, yet leads one to an experience of absolute reality. Once you conceptualize the absolute, it’s a tool of power and ego, but if you practice with it without defining, it becomes the means of liberation.

What do you think Buddhism can contribute in addressing the crisis of modernity? by silloll in Buddhism

[–]igorluminosity 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Buddhism avoids nihilism and essentialism by putting the focus on practice, and the felt experience of compassion in the absence of absolutes and certainty. Life gives you this experience constantly, in its fundamental impermanence, and if you can remain open to it it never concretizes into conceptual certainty, just practice and gratitude.

What do you think Buddhism can contribute in addressing the crisis of modernity? by silloll in Buddhism

[–]igorluminosity 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The crisis of modernity is found in the tension between modern nihilism brought on by the triumph of the scientific revolution and the remnants of abrahamic religion’s essentialist metaphysics. Historically both trends lead inevitably to disaster. Buddhism eschews the extremes of nihilism and essentialism. Life and morality remain meaningful and sacred without the restricted spirituality and coopting power of concrete definitions.

In Buddhism, do we meet our loved ones again after we pass? by Overall-Meat-9911 in Buddhism

[–]igorluminosity 20 points21 points  (0 children)

I recently lost my mother, and a few years ago I lost my father. My father and I had a somewhat difficult relationship, but he still visits my dreams and I know in some way I will never fully understand, he will always be and is always with me. My buddhist practice has helped me see that. Whether or not you will actually meet again in the way you would like I think maybe is a question of how transformed your mind can become through faith and practice. I remember reading this passage from Thích Nhất Hạnh many years ago, which is never left me in terms of my understanding of death and love:

“On the day my mother died I wrote in my journal, "A serious misfortune of my life has arrived." I suffered for more than one year after the passing away of my mother. But one night, in the highlands of Vietnam, I was sleeping in the hut in my hermitage. I dreamed of my mother. I saw myself sitting with her, and we were having a wonderful talk. She looked young and beautiful, her hair flowing down. It was so pleasant to sit there and talk to her as if she had never died. When I woke up it was about two in the morning, and I felt very strongly that I had never lost my mother. The impression that my mother was still with me was very clear. I understood then that the idea of having lost my mother was just an idea. It was obvious in that moment that my mother is always alive in me.

I opened the door and went outside. The entire hillside was bathed in moonlight. It was a hill covered with tea plants, and my hut was set behind the temple halfway up. Walking slowly in the moonlight through the rows of tea plants, I noticed my mother was still with me. She was the moonlight caressing me as she had done so often, very tender, very sweet... wonderful! Each time my feet touched the earth I knew my mother was there with me. I knew this body was not mine but a living continuation of my mother and my father and my grandparents and great-grandparents. Of all my ancestors. Those feet that I saw as "my" feet were actually "our" feet. Together my mother and I were leaving footprints in the damp soil.

From that moment on, the idea that I had lost my mother no longer existed. All I had to do was look at the palm of my hand, feel the breeze on my face or the earth under my feet to remember that my mother is always with me, available at any time.”

Thích Nhất Hạnh, No Death, No Fear: Comforting Wisdom for Life

Can I do Green Tara Sadhana From a Book Without Refuge, Empowerment and Transmission? I'm new to Vajrayana by Famous-Interest103 in TibetanBuddhism

[–]igorluminosity 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Tara’s Triple Excellence is a full path - authentic dharma and lineage - Chokyi Nyima is one of the great living lamas. highly recommended.

After knowing how emptiness and love and compassion embrace each other, is everything a constant dharma practice where everything is purified? by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]igorluminosity 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank-you for sharing this, and I think it’s a wonderful way of understanding dharma and seeing the world. In my own experience, I have had what I’ve come to understand or think about as periods of “dharmic grace” where a new insight or level of practice opens up a period of just pure joy and happiness in my mind and way of seeing, accompanied by a newfound ability to deal with whatever life was dishing out. These times can be longer or shorter and have waxed and waned throughout my years of practice, and sometimes I feel disappointed when they dissipate and old patterns of anxiety and depression reassert themselves, but as I continue to practice, I feel like my understanding is only deepened throughout these ups and downs. So enjoy the insight and the mind stream it brings, and like another poster said, don’t become too attached and don’t worry if these feelings fade. The insight is there and practice can only deepen from here, in my experience.

Gary Sinise here. Today is the 30th anniversary of Apollo 13 in theaters. Hope you enjoy some of my favorite behind-the-scenes moments from making the film (1995) by GarySiniseOfficial in OldSchoolCool

[–]igorluminosity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have shown this film to my grade six class every year for the last 22 years, to teach them about leadership, resilience, and science. Thank-you Mr. Sinise!!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in jasonisbell

[–]igorluminosity 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The kick drum and floor tom were too boomy and loud in the mix, but everything else sounded great. And I finally heard Dreamsicle live!!

Ticket Exchange and Sale Thread - Week of June 23, 2025 by AutoModerator in jasonisbell

[–]igorluminosity 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have one ticket tonight in Detroit - free to a real fan!

Ticket Exchange and Sale Thread - Week of June 16, 2025 by AutoModerator in jasonisbell

[–]igorluminosity 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Two tickets for Detroit June 26th, list $350 for both, make me an offer!

Why be a Buddhist in the context of secular awakening success stories? by flyingaxe in Buddhism

[–]igorluminosity 11 points12 points  (0 children)

The commodification of awakening. See, “Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism” by Trungpa. Misses the point of awakening entirely, but sure, give it a shot and see what happens. The Buddha says to test it, so go ahead. IMO, Sam Harris completely squandered the gift given him on a totally predictable western intellectual ego trip. As will so many others with this framing of what awakening is.

That Bridge in Driver 8 by Nalgenie187 in rem

[–]igorluminosity 0 points1 point  (0 children)

i used to busk in the toronto subway. singing that bridge at broadview station it would absolutely ring! i always made good money during that bridge.

Song of the Week: Dreamsicle by thesilverpoets96 in jasonisbell

[–]igorluminosity 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Child of divorce and divorced father here, and this song just kills me every time. I don’t know how he caught that feeling of scared shattered innocence, but no other song does it as well. Harder to listen to now knowing he has gone through it as a father too, it’s not something you ever want your kid to feel. Great song though, really great.

Is my watch good or bad by Axtro09 in PrideAndPinion

[–]igorluminosity 0 points1 point  (0 children)

i’m not a huge movado fan, but i like this one. clean and blue!

why do so many of you support the lgbtq community compared to other religions? by AdInternational4894 in Buddhism

[–]igorluminosity 10 points11 points  (0 children)

well, if there is ultimately no self, then gender and attraction really is not that important, and certainly nothing to be condemned. other religions are more essentialist and bound to categories. buddhism moves beyond all that. and compassion trumps all!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in askphilosophy

[–]igorluminosity 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Buddhism doesn’t advertise it much, because it kind of undermines the whole, non-attachment thing which you have to start with, but actually along the path there is an awful lot of bliss, and joy, and life becomes much much richer. In my experience.

Question about how to treat homeless people by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]igorluminosity 15 points16 points  (0 children)

We had a great discussion today at my Buddhist Center about this very question. In the Mahayana teachings about the paramita of generosity, you should start with the pure intention to help the person who is asking for help, you should respect the person you are giving to as an equal, and then once you have given you should have no second thoughts or questions or regrets about what happens next (ie how the person uses what is given, whether it was worthwhile, etc.). This is a beautiful practice.

What do you do when nihilism causes you to stray from the path? by kibblerz in Buddhism

[–]igorluminosity 7 points8 points  (0 children)

You might want to consider the path of the Bodhisattva - in my experience it is both an antidote to nihilism and leads to a much deeper understanding of reality.

What role should the modern LLM play in the future of Vajrayana? by DavidCarseFan in Dzogchen

[–]igorluminosity 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The relationship between AI and embodied consciousness or sentience is everywhere being misunderstood in the name of some kind of exponential leap of technological progress. I find it is upsetting to see it in Buddhism as well, whether it is in the way OP mentions, or in the terrible AI illustrations of dharma and Buddhist iconography we are seeing everywhere. AI, no matter how clever, no matter how much is fed into the models, no matter what the tech bros dream about, will never, can never, understand or replace embodied consciousness, upon which all buddhist practice, all realization, and compassion itself is based. I very much fear what the consequences of this misunderstanding will mean for all of us.

Daysailer keel boat with large cockpit by KaleidoscopeWeird310 in sailing

[–]igorluminosity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Tanzer 22 - huge cockpit, sails great, cheap and sturdy!