Mar 29 2016 10
Alan begins by stating the only suitable focus of our motivation as Mahamudra practitioners is on Bodhicitta as it is integral to the Mahayana path. However the Bodhicitta vow is like a promissory pledge and not realistically meaningful unless it is accompanied by a plan or strategy for taking the path. Alan invites us to develop our vision to enter the path and incorporate it into our shamatha practice initially with self-directed loving kindness and then expanding our motivation outwards by considering the 8-week retreat as part of an ongoing flow. In doing this we need to be cognisant of the big picture of the continuity of consciousness, of confidence in our practice that comes from taking Refuge, and of the practice of virtue in all our activities with the motivation of Bodhicitta.
Meditation is on the four questions of the vision quest.
After the Meditation Alan introduces the translation and explanation by Roger Jackson of the Mahamudra root text “Lamp So Bright”, noting that this has been generously provided only for the purposes of this retreat prior to its formal publication and therefore should not be made available to others outside of the retreat. Hence those listening by podcast will need to note carefully the oral transmission. However another translation by Glen Svensson will be made available on the SBI website as a pdf to assist understanding. Alan explains the opening homage and the preface to the composition in stanzas 1 & 2 and further elucidates some of the English words as translated by Jackson in relation to their original use, context and meaning in Tibetan.
The meditation starts at 10:33.
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Please contribute to make these, and future podcasts freely available.
Meditation is on the four questions of the vision quest.
After the Meditation Alan introduces the translation and explanation by Roger Jackson of the Mahamudra root text “Lamp So Bright”, noting that this has been generously provided only for the purposes of this retreat prior to its formal publication and therefore should not be made available to others outside of the retreat. Hence those listening by podcast will need to note carefully the oral transmission. However another translation by Glen Svensson will be made available on the SBI website as a pdf to assist understanding. Alan explains the opening homage and the preface to the composition in stanzas 1 & 2 and further elucidates some of the English words as translated by Jackson in relation to their original use, context and meaning in Tibetan.
The meditation starts at 10:33.
___
Please contribute to make these, and future podcasts freely available.
