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  • #17
    ???????????????????????????????????????




    Karma Kagyu lama, Ven. Lama Namse Rinpoche, who is the representative of HH 17th Gyalwa Karmapa in Canada, has said that bodhisattvas manifest in wrathful forms only when gentler methods are not effective.
    http://www.khandro.net/_themes/leavexe/leabul1.gif9+ min. recitation of Karma Kagyu [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPeon29EYnU"]Mahakala sadhana at KSDL[/ame] < youtube link.
    Khenpo Karthar reminds us ("Relating to the Mahakala Practice," Densal:
    "Mahakala is seen standing on the corpse of two human bodies, thus symbolizing the death of negativities and the complete uprooting of negative patterns to such a point that, like a dead body, they will not come to life.
    It is very important that we know these symbols of Mahakala because many times we have mistaken notions that he may be a clinging spirit or harmful, evil being, perhaps even the Lord of Death ready to devour and attack. One would find great difficulty in relating to the various symbols without understanding that our awakened compassion is the essential quality of the being of Mahakala.
    Mahakala has never been known to harm one being, even in the slightest manner, because he is constantly benefiting beings through the continuous play of the enlightened mind."
    Mahakala is a Protector of all Tibetan Buddhism

    The form varies according to the different teaching lineages. For example, there is the two-armed, big-mouthed Mahakala Bernakchen of the Karma Kagyu, the four-armed Mahakala who is protector of the Drikung Kagyu, and six-armed Mahakala of the Gelugpas described below. They are not all wrathful forms of Chenresi [Skt.: Avalokiteshvara] although
    "There is an emanation of Avalokiteshvara which arose in the form of Mahakala and this is the Shangpa Kagyu Mahakala with one face and six arms, in a standing posture. This form was later adopted by Tsongkhapa and followers as the main protector of the Gelugpa School.
    Mahakalas can arise from various sources namely Vajradhara and the Anuttarayoga Tantras but are not generically Avalokiteshvara."
    ~ Jeff Watt, Himalayan Art
    There is a white one associated with prosperity, and also a eunuch and some feminine forms, but it is incorrectly held that there are 75 variants.
    http://www.khandro.net/_themes/leavexe/leabul1.gif"White" Mahakala.
    " . . . the different Mahakalas with various number of arms are not all the same. The Six-Armed version is the emanation of Chenrezig (in association with the head-blowing-up episode) and was originally the specialty of Shangpa Kagyu, but has now been adopted all over; one of the Four-Armed versions is an emanation of C[h]akrasamvara and the main protector of Karma Kagyu; the two-armed Bernakchen, an emanation of Samantabhadra, is actually not the main protector of Karma Kagyu, but rather that of the Karmapas specifically, although there is nothing that says the rest of us cannot also practice on him; the Sakyapa has the two-armed Panjaranatha Mahakala, who probably is an emanation of Manjushri and holds the rod that emanate[s] many Mahakalas.
    Like many of the other protectors, one pair[s] up with any one of these Mahakalas as appropriate to their cycle of practice; in other words, one doesn't just pick up a Mahakala out of the blue."
    ~ BB to the Kagyu email list, June 2002.
    Ritual Practice
    Students do not generally do practices associated with dharmapalas such as Mahakala until they have completed the Preliminary or Foundation Practices and of course, after receiving the empowerment to do so.
    The Sanskrit descriptive name, Mahakala (Great Time or Great Dark One) is also used to refer to Lord Shiva, the Hindu god whose tandava dance sustains, but can also destroy, the universe of appearances, and who is associated with Time, another meaning of kala. [The teaching known as the Kala-chakra or Wheel of Time,is a Buddhist tantric system thought of as the key to reality that unites the universe, time and the breath of life.]
    Lama C. Reed says that in the liturgy known as Kha Yig Ma, which is the KTD daily practice, a short (3-page) Chagdrupa is performed incorporating the visualization, torma offering and mantra recitation.

    A mid-length, "Tsendring" Mahakala practice is done on the 29th lunar day in KTD's 3-year retreat, and in the afternoon of the first day of the yearly Mahakala drupchen, KTD uses the same brief Chagdrupa liturgy, and that this is one is also a part of the Gyespa (extensive) Mahakala ritual.

    At KTD, each of the 3 days of Mahakala Drupchen begin with the Dorje Phagmo self-visualization liturgy followed by the recitation of the Gyespa text, which broadly speaking, is a collection of short visualization/torma offering liturgies and mantras of the central Kamtsang protectors, Bernagchen and consort.
    http://www.khandro.net/_themes/leavexe/leabul1.gifThe Four-armed (Skt. Chaturbhuja) Mahakala, called in Tibetan, Gonpo Chagdrupa or Gonpo ChakZhipa, is related to the Chakrasamvara tantric tradition.
    Mahakala Bernakchen

    Kubilai Khan succeeded his Buddhist brother Munga, and fearful of the influence of Karma Pakshi, the second Karmapa, had him confined to the Chinese Imperial Palace where he was tied by his beard (among other terrible ordeals.)
    http://www.khandro.net/images/Bernak_2.jpgKarmapa prayed to Mahakala Bernagchen, but "Great Black Cloak" took so long putting on his boots, that by the time he got there, the ordeal had ended. However, as he had been summoned, he was obliged by rules of combat to cleave something with the hook-knife that he held at the ready. The Karmapa therefore had him strike the palace. As a result, there is still a gash somewhere in the Imperial Palace.
    There is a version saying the Karmapa struck Mahakala for his tardiness, giving him his swollen face! Consequently, no subsequent Karmapa has ever worn a beard.
    http://www.khandro.net/_themes/leavexe/leabul1.giftangkas at Himalayan Art
    Origin of Mahakala

    The compassion of the red Buddha Amitabha manifested as Avalokiteshvara who took a vow to forgo his own enlightenment until all the realms of samsara had been emptied.
    This vow required a renewal of determination, and so with Amitabha's blessing, Avalokiteshvara next assumed a form with eleven heads and a thousand arms. Still he had been unable to benefit even a few beings.
    Therefore after reflecting for one whole week, he determined that by assuming a wrathful form he would be able "to subdue the degenerate beings of this Age of Darkness." Also he saw that even beings who practiced Dharma were unable to escape from the Bardo realms (time between rebirths where beings may face great anxiety and terrifying experiences) and he thought that in wrathful form he could also protect them in that way. And lastly, he thought that the beings in this Dark Age were poor and needy, experiencing only suffering after suffering, and that in wrathful form he could provide them an antidote to that suffering so that by simply making the wish (for protection) their needs could be met.

    These three motives made his determination even greater than before and so from the heart of Noble Avalokiteshvara emerged a dark blue HUNG syllable that immediately became the Instantaneous Protector of Wisdom, Mahakala.
    The foundations of all the Pure Lands shook with six kinds of earthquakes, and the Conquering and Transcending One of Immeasurable Light (Amitabha) and all the other Tathagatas of the ten directions proclaimed with one voice:
    "Son of the family, it is well that you have made this resolution. You shall have the empowerment of all the wisdom dakinis. You shall have the strength of the wrathful Yama, Lord of Death. You shall have the mountain spirits, the yakshas, the devils and the demonesses as your messengers. You shall embody the great wrathful empowerments of the Body, Speech, Mind, Qualities and Activity of all the Buddhas throughout the three times."
    Ever since, bodhisattva Mahakala is the Dharma (Buddha's Doctrine) Protector of all Buddha fields.
    Om, Shri Mahakala Yaksha Betli, hung dsa.
    Symbolism of Mahakala in the 6-armed Manifestation:

    The Protector's body is midnight blue, symbolic of the changeless Dharmakaya.
    His three eyes symbolize his knowledge of the past, present and future, and also the manifestation of the three bodies of Buddha.
    The crown adorned with five skulls symbolizes the transformation of the five poisons of anger, desire, ignorance, jealousy and pride into the five wisdoms.
    His six arms symbolize the attainment of the six Perfections: generosity, patience, morality, diligence, meditation and wisdom. The kartika or triku [or trigu, pron. tigu] the ritual curved knife, cuts attachment to ego.
    The kapila or skull bowl filled with blood symbolizes the subjugation of the maras or evil ones. (An alternate interpretation can be found in other contexts.)
    The rosary symbolizes his continuous activity for the benefit of beings.
    The damaru or hand-drum symbolizes his power over the dakinis. (Also, different interpretations in other contexts.)
    His trident symbolizes his power over the three kayas -- the spheres of desire, form and formlessness. (An alternate interpretation can also be found.)
    The lasso binds those who break their vows.
    His two feet are the means and the wisdom to accomplish his task. That his left leg is straight and his right leg bent symbolize his accomplishment of the benefit to oneself and to others. He tramples on a vinayaka, to symbolize his destruction and dispersal of great obstacles.
    The sun on which he stands symbolizes his illumination of the darkness of ignorance.
    His lotus seat symbolizes purity undefiled by samsara.
    The surrounding blazing fire symbolizes his activity that consumes neurotic states.
    The tiger skin stands for purification of desire; the elephant skin for purification of pride, and the snake, for the purification of anger.
    His other ornaments together symbolize that he has all the qualities of a Buddha.

    This material derives from a Gelugpa sadhana (ritual) of Tara that includes an offering to Mahakala. The whole was produced in Jan. 1994 by Dharma Therapy Trust under Ven. Geshé Damchö Yönten and is available unedited at Lamrim.org.uk
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++
    Attached Files

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    • #18
      Agur

      Hommage 2 vegetarian dionysos

      Agur

      Dont b angry!

      Setting the tantric motivation:
      May all beings be free, without suffering, without dogmatism and in absolute non violence for every beings such as animals, humans, ghosts, hungry ghosts (petas), war beings (jealous beings) dogmatic beings, attached 2 senses/body/sensual /pleasure and pain/emotional joy and suffering beings, hell beingss ,not seeing mystics beings, not deeply inquiring the validity or not of budist emptiness of independant existence and dionysiac socratic theories of essence/ideas, not understanding self beings

      Orphic socrates (469 BC+399 BC) in Plato's republic supposedly said that the guardians of the republic had to be vegetarian, witout material possession and practicing free love. He also kind of explained that being vegetarian u will be able 2 c ur past lifes and be immortal. He also maybe emphasized how craving 2 forms and pleasure would be an obstacle 2 contemplation of the essence/idea of goodness (aghaton)> Going beyond the form, not being attached 2 body/pain and pleasure he invited to see the essence, the idea. Sadly the greeks had many political problems such as slavery, machism, tirranny. True or not? Yet not many politicians, right and left, seem 2 have followed these ideas: high salary, much lust and material possession, belief that the body is self, fed on probably bad food. Maybe Gandhi is 1 of the few to have followed this rules

      Bodidama (chinese:damo), the reformer of shaolin temple founded the Chan school. It is noted for its absurd questions (japanese; koan) and siutations (chinese:gongan, a play on word with police). For instance we can meditate on the koan: does money kill, does money create suffering? According chan 2 c the answer u have to give up any trace of anger, any trace of partiality being left or right, being in the center, without attachment or hatred, concentrating on breathing, giving up the dualistic mind, seeing what is ur true self and what is non violence, what is emptiness of independant existence, how muslims r like a wall and how the each brick gives its weakness or force 2 other bricks, givng up anger and force to join gandhi speech?????

      Holy (?) Qoran states that at time of war, no civilians and no animals should b killed (meaning one ought to b vegetarian in order to be far away from death and killing, closer to compassion and giving life??). Unfortunalty, it seems Nato, France, USA, Israel, Russia and terrorists from all side do not follow this rule. I dont know but if they want to live in a vicious circle killing each other for millions of years, that is not my problem. I will try to stand in the middle, like Jesus separating opponents with his arms stretched, but it is their freedom not to hear. And dont think u can make our flower dragon family some problems or that u can kill us, we will not hesitate to call the heavenly police of the Jade Emperor, Sun Wukong, Mahakala, Shaolin temple, Gelugpa and Kagyupa lamas to put u in jail as long as necessary to teach u absolute non violence....

      Tsongkapa (1357+1419), the founder of the gelugpa order (yellow hats) of tibetan budists said that the rule 1 4 bodisatvas is not belittle others and/or praise oneself, rule 2 is always share wealth and teachings, rule 3 is never hit someone and always accept apologize, rule x is never b angry and when u c some being angry help him not be angry. Isnt that the foundation of a clear political view of what is absolute and eternal violence? If u r angry, want 2 give suffering without helping, how can u pretend 2 b right? Another base of political view according budism is while having compassion 2 understand and end suffering of every being, u should also realize what is emptiness of independant existence. 4 instance understand how things come in existence from causes and conditions, how it seems they cannot exist what is usually called outside, what is the self that we call "i" or "him",,, Isnt it? But please dont believe emptiness is nothing...
      www.berzinarchives.com/web/x/nav/n.html_18487 9529.html

      Inaki (1491+1556), born near the city of lasarte, the stupid basque vegetarian founder of the jesuits on the other hand gave the following advice 4 philosophical practice in order 2 b in absolute non violence in this life. Dont waste ur time, do not kill and dont **** with his spanish mother or Inaki wont b happy with u.
      www.sacred-texts.com/chr/seil/index.htm

      Now what is a hungry ghost (sanskritreta, palieta)? That is a very interesting question. I believe, but dont believe me, that petas are left and right and equally evil, they can b fat or thin. Go beyond senses, go beyon attachment 2 pleasure and pain and try 2 c the idea of non violence. Funnily state in french is said "etat" which always make me think of petas, right and left...


      www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/khantipal o/wheel147.html

      Hungry ghosts or peta (lower right in my picture, lower left in the Tibetan) crave for food and drink but find that it turns to fire or foul things when they are able to get it. I have shown a huge moon and a tiny sun, as the verse says:

      "From want of merit, hungry ghosts
      in summer find the moon is hot,
      in winter sun is cold;
      Barren are the trees they see
      and mighty rivers running on
      dry up whene'er they look at them."
      — L.K. 95

      Then there is a sky-going peta being torn to shreds by birds, as seen by Venerable Moggallana; one "resting" upon rocks under a leafless tree which is the simile used by the Exalted Buddha in the suttas to symbolize the sole comforts of this realm, and two ghosts sunk in the water up to their lower lips, their gaping mouths just a little too high to get any of it. The state of Tantalus was obviously birth among the hungry ghosts! The ghosts all have bloated bellies, extremely slender necks and "needle-mouths." Their sufferings are illustrated further in the Tibetan. They have to bear intense cravings for food and drink and then more sufferings when they manage to get a little of it, for it turns to swords and knives in their bellies. The Buddha in this "abundantly painful" realm carries celestial food to allay the ghosts' cravings. In the words of Ven. Nagarjuna:

      "Lord Buddha has declared the cause
      why beings come to birth as ghosts,
      torments to endure
      For when as men they gave no gifts,
      or giving gave with avarice —
      They ghostly kamma made."

      Finnally, we come 2 imperfect Gandhi who commented on the bagvad gita. Actually in the lotus family there is a female bodisatva named gita that saves the petas from hell. A prayer 4 insects if u want buy this book and may u be in eternal non violence, eternal peace, eternal paradise, eternal non killing. According to his explanation 2 chapter 2 of bagavad gita, the way of having clear political view is 2fold:sankhya and yoga. Sankhya is the theoritecal view that the body is not the self, is impermanent, while the self is the soul, atman, which is eternal, immortal. Though one should not see body and impermanence but soul and eternity. Yoga is selfless and constant service 2 non violence 4 every being. Through detachment from body one gives up narcissism. Gita also emphasize one should act while renouncing the fruit of action. Doing ur duty, reslut is not important and u should not crave for it. 4 instance if u r attached 2 freedom (askatasuna) u might do wrong deeds 4 it. Of course,Gandhi,inspired by the service of jesus was against any killing wether it is human or animal. He emphasized that action must be guided by sacrifice, yajna, which is defined as doing the good of others. Thus no animal or human should be sacrificed. If u encounter a situation where someone makes u suffer, maybe it is because of ur own bad past karma. So in no way should respond by violence, but following the sacrifice of Jesus should u offer ur left cheek. Non violence starts in everyday by being not angry but gentle, understanding and alleviating the suffering of every being, taking care of the friends destiny has brought to us, not looking for impermanence but eternity...

      www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-According-Gandhi /dp/15564380...

      www.mkgandhi.org/

      The reality of animal suffering

      www.petatv.com

      Isnt it that many animals r just like u, not want 2 die? On what authority kill a being/make war? Is nature non violent and the food chain perfect? Isnt it living in a world of fantasies, self desire, leading 2 psychosis 2 believe nature is non violent, food chain perfect? And in modern capitalist industry dont many animals suffer?

      FrOm shangrila, pacific tibetan zone in chinese himalayas, mila esker and hippie peace and free love!
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      • #19
        om a hung benza guru pema siddhi hung

        U.S. general: Afghan civilians wounded at bomb site

        http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/nws/p/ap_logo_106.png
        http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090905/ca...GTTANOeiMAnA-- AP – An Afghan soldier walks, near one of the two fuel tankers, seen in the back ground, which were bombed …



        By JASON STRAZIUSO, Associated Press Writer Jason Straziuso, Associated Press Writer – Sat Sep 5, 7:38 pm ET
        KUNDUZ, Afghanistan – The top NATO commander confirmed Saturday that civilians were wounded by a devastating airstrike targeting insurgents in northern Afghanistan, a major test of his policy to curb airpower to reduce civilian casualties and win over Afghans to the war against the Taliban.
        Gen. Stanley McChrystal waded through a knee-deep river to inspect the charred remains of two fuel tankers destroyed in the Friday attack, which Afghan officials say killed about 70 people. It was unclear how many were Taliban and how many were villagers who rushed to the scene to siphon fuel from the stolen trucks.
        McChrystal visited the site about 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of Kabul as European leaders already nervous about the escalating war demanded answers. Some called the airstrike — requested by the Germans and carried out by U.S. jets — "a tragedy" and "a big mistake" that must be investigated.
        The bombing also sent shock waves through Germany ahead of national elections Sept. 27. Opposition politicians called for a thorough investigation, even as the defense minister insisted all the dead were militants.
        After touring the bomb site — where villagers' yellow fuel cans still littered the river bank — McChrystal paid a somber visit to the Kunduz hospital, where he stooped low to talk with a 10-year-old boy whose arms and legs were swathed in gauze.
        "While I was going to get the fuel, on the way I heard a big bang, and after that I don't know what happened," said the boy, Mohammad Shafi.
        McChrystal whispered "tashakor," — thank you in the Afghan language of Dari — to the boy and left the room.
        "Anytime anybody is hurt it is something that gives pause to everybody, particularly when they're young people, still children. And so you take it very seriously," McChrystal said. "So I take this entire effort as something that is a responsibility of our command, and a responsibility of mine, to try to protect Afghans."
        Civilian casualties have dogged the U.S. and NATO mission in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion. When McChrystal took command in June, he immediately issued orders aimed at reducing such deaths, and asked his troops to concentrate on protecting and understanding Afghan villagers.
        The new approach appeared to help, but Friday's bombing threatened a major setback to McChrystal's goals.
        "From what I have seen today and going to the hospital, it's clear to me that there were some civilians that were harmed at the site," McChrystal told reporters. He did not say if any civilians were killed.
        "I think it's a serious event that is going to be a test of whether we are willing to be transparent and whether we are willing to show that we are here to protect the Afghan people," McChrystal added. "And I think that it's very important to me that we follow through on that."
        German officials have insisted everyone killed in the attack were militants. Other NATO officials, though, have conceded that civilians likely died as well.
        "There is no reliable information on numbers, but there's a good sort of a gut sense that there had to have been civilians that made their way just based on the anecdotal conversations we've been hearing," said U.S. Rear Adm. Gregory J. Smith, McChrystal's top spokesman.
        During his visit to the site, McChrystal asked Smith how many people could be seen on the riverbank through the video feed from U.S. F-15E fighter jets that carried out the attack.
        "We could see from the downlink about 120 people?" McChrystal asked.
        "It was ebbing and flowing," Smith said.

        Afghan officials at first said as many as 90 people died in the bombing, though the Kunduz governor lowered his estimated toll on Saturday to about 70.
        Smith said a preliminary review of surveillance video showed that 56 people died in the blast. But no U.S. or NATO official would say how many might have been civilians. McChrystal's reference to 120 people at the site suggests that officials believe civilians died because militants rarely congregate in such numbers.
        NATO officials said a B-1 bomber first spotted the two stolen trucks and the dozens of people around them. The B-1 was low on fuel and had to return to base, but the two F-15Es arrived 20 minutes later. The jets transmitted video back to officials at the German base. About 30 minutes after the F-15s appeared, the bombs were dropped, at about 2 a.m.
        The nighttime video would have been grainy. Smith described it as showing dark spots on the screen. "You can see shapes," he said.
        McChrystal said it's hard to tell who is an insurgent solely by dress.
        "They are not obvious by actions until they are doing the hostile act," McChrystal said. "This particular activity occurred about 2 o'clock in the morning, so you have the natural confusion of dark and a rural environment as well. So it's a challenge, but it's a challenge that we have to take very seriously and try to take as much care as we can."
        Smith said the upcoming investigation would show if any language barriers between the Germans and the American pilots played a role. It hadn't yet been decided which NATO nation would lead the investigation, he said. Afghan officials were expected to take part.
        Before traveling to the site of the bombing, McChrystal met local Afghan leaders and expressed sympathy for any civilian losses. He said the fight against the Taliban should not come at the expense of civilian lives.
        At least one local official supported the allied bombing, saying it would help drive the insurgents from the area.
        "If we did three more operations like we did yesterday morning, the Kunduz situation would be peaceful and stable," said Ahmadullah Wardak, a provincial council chief.
        That was not a view shared by many European leaders, who called Saturday for a speedy investigation. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said the airstrike was "a big mistake." EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner called the incident "a great, great tragedy."
        German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung insisted in comments to the Bild am Sonntag weekly that officials had no information indicating any civilians died in the airstrike.
        Also Saturday, NATO said two U.S. service members were killed in separate attacks in Afghanistan.
        ___ Associated Press writer Frank Jordans contributed to this report from Kunduz.
        Attached Files

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        • #20
          A new tibetan game

          Tibetan civilians, kagyu monks and the liu family has new game:

          wait those who come to shit down the bai ta temple with big sticks..
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