Daily Practices

by malalu Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:46 am

Thought I'd start a thread on daily practice with a few questions thrown in...

Since I have not formally taken refuge yet, I have not been given any daily practices other than recomendation of the meditation practice (guru yoga). I am trying to get in a good habit of practice.

Upon waking, I usually:
-Recite refuge/merit prayer
-Recite short "Enlightened attitude of Bodhicitta" prayer/Four Immeasurables
-Recite 7 limb prayer (w/ quick visualizations, offerings)
(followed by meditation)
This usually takes about half an hour.

I do more meditation later in the day, evening, etc., and mantra recitations through the course of the day, Some reading or listening to dharma talks, and of course visiting forums! Wink

Are there any prayers (besides refuge) that one can recite at night? Any other suggestions for a daily practice/routine? Of course, I will ask my teacher, but I wanted your valued input as well.
What are some of your daily practices? (not involving initiations, empowerments or committments of course..)

Thanks, M
Smile

by dorje Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:57 am

A good practice before sleeping would be Vajrasattva and merit dedication.

That way you purify your samaya (if any) and benefit all beings.

by malalu Thu Jan 29, 2009 2:42 am

Good suggestion, Thanks.

Does one need the transmisssion of Vajrasattva in order to practice?

by sherab zangpo Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:08 am

malalu wrote:

Does one need the transmisssion of Vajrasattva in order to practice?

If one respects the transmission, then yes.

by dorje Thu Jan 29, 2009 6:53 am

Short mantra without any visualization, you need oral transmission.

Full mantra with visualization, it is recommended to have the empowerment.

As with always, I recommend you ask you lama, because your lama may give you the practice without empowerment and so on.

by muni Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:39 pm

Always helpful to have by hand in a moment a cloud :complaining: is passing.

To conquer wrong view or ego-self-clinging we can go into the battle and will need the strong "horse of irrevocable renunciation". Renunciation; the profound wish to escape from samsara forever!
We will also need armor to protect us from weapons and shield us from the enemy of negative emotions. Our finest armor is the practice of the four boundless meditations:

-boundless loving kindness, the wish that all sentient beings may have happiness and know the causes of happiness.
-boundless compassion; the wish that all sentient beings may be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
-boundless joy, the wish that any happiness sentient beings might already have will increase further and further.
-boundless equanimity, the aim to apply the first three meditations equally and impartially to both friends and enemies.

Practice of these four boundless meditations attacks the enemies of jealousy, anger, pride, hatred, attachment.

by Kunga Lhadzom Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:59 pm

i don't do anything anymore...
i use to take refuge 3x day
all kinds of ritual.
read till i was blue in the face...
now all i do is mindfulness (sometimes screw up)....
have now an adversion to rituals.....
meditated for a few minutes yesterday...
trying to make another attempt to seriously meditate.............
sick of religion....
disappointed in my teacher......
i think how hopeless i am.and how many freaking eons it will
take for me to get anywhere (Enlightened)...
and just thinking about it discourages me.....
lol
i know
stop thinking
lol

by malalu Thu Feb 19, 2009 3:40 pm

Very well said, Muni! These are certainly some great antidotes...

Hang in there, Kunga! Got this quote elsewhere..."It's either Dharma or Dhukka"

by muni Fri Feb 20, 2009 8:41 am

Kunga Lhadzom wrote:i don't do anything anymore...
i use to take refuge 3x day
all kinds of ritual.
read till i was blue in the face...
now all i do is mindfulness (sometimes screw up)....
have now an adversion to rituals.....
meditated for a few minutes yesterday...
trying to make another attempt to seriously meditate.............
sick of religion....
disappointed in my teacher......
i think how hopeless i am.and how many freaking eons it will
take for me to get anywhere (Enlightened)...
and just thinking about it discourages me.....
lol
i know
stop thinking
lol

Oh, but that is a wonderful opportunity to, even we know very well, to "experience" such a hopeless one is not. Woopee! All the pain and sadnesses such one is creating we don't need at all. Lets get rid of that "I-self"-one. :ufo:
While where should there be one who never lost once courage? "I-self" geek

as well.

"Examine where the nature of that self remains and goes to; we will discover that it does not posses any existence at all. It is an enemy which once subdued, will never rise again." (or will lose power and go) Shechen teaching.

Stop thinking. Hehe. Lets breath and waves will roll in peace. Naturally openess, being diligent but no hard striving. So I do.

The daily life in the empty nature. sunny

by muni Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:56 am

In remembrance I said: "okay, if someone thinks I continue that boomerang dwelling in nature and delusion-doing, they can forget it".

Don't ask to who I was talking to. :eyebrow: Should not know it.

Courage and confidence. _/\_

by Kunga Lhadzom Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:10 pm

Thankyou Muni...didn't quite understand it all...but yeah..i am still very egotistic.....but all i can do is just act naturally until something naturally changes in me....i will naturally just drop away...until then...

by **LauraJ** Fri Feb 20, 2009 7:04 pm

Kunga Lhadzom wrote:Thankyou Muni...didn't quite understand it all...but yeah..i am still very egotistic.....but all i can do is just act naturally until something naturally changes in me....i will naturally just drop away...until then...

It will be okay sister.
The fire will come back. And when it does, be ready!
I bet the passion will be a force to be reckoned with!

Bow

by **LauraJ** Fri Feb 20, 2009 7:19 pm

by sherab zangpo Sat Feb 21, 2009 3:44 am

Kunga Lhadzom wrote:i don't do anything anymore...
i use to take refuge 3x day
all kinds of ritual.
read till i was blue in the face...
now all i do is mindfulness (sometimes screw up)....
have now an adversion to rituals.....
meditated for a few minutes yesterday...
trying to make another attempt to seriously meditate.............
sick of religion....
disappointed in my teacher......
i think how hopeless i am.and how many freaking eons it will
take for me to get anywhere (Enlightened)...
and just thinking about it discourages me.....
lol
i know
stop thinking
lol

Working with all these conditions are our
daily practice! Time to put all that understanding into practical ways
to integrate with these secondary situations. Then we are applying what
our teachers teach, and in this way we make them joyful. We have
refreshed our practice and our commitments are maintained.

Sherab

by Kunga Lhadzom Sat Feb 21, 2009 4:33 pm

[quote="sherab zangpo"]

Kunga Lhadzom wrote:i don't do anything anymore...
i use to take refuge 3x day
all kinds of ritual.
read till i was blue in the face...
now all i do is mindfulness (sometimes screw up)....
have now an adversion to rituals.....
meditated for a few minutes yesterday...
trying to make another attempt to seriously meditate.............
sick of religion....
disappointed in my teacher......
i think how hopeless i am.and how many freaking eons it will
take for me to get anywhere (Enlightened)...
and just thinking about it discourages me.....
lol
i know
stop thinking
lol

Working with all these conditions are our
daily practice! Time to put all that understanding into practical ways
to integrate with these secondary situations. Then we are applying what
our teachers teach, and in this way we make them joyful. We have
refreshed our practice and our commitments are maintained.

Sherab[/quote

Yep....you hit the nail on the head Smile

Practice is everyday living...not the rituals....
Many times i've told my teacher "i'm not "practicing anymore".......
and he always replyed : Your practice is (taking care of your mother)
(when she lived with me)....
or whatever it was that i was engaged in.....
as far as saying that i was disapointed in my teacher,
it is because he does not want to formally teach now...
he's working at a "regular" job...getting a paycheck
every 2 weeks.....
but mostly it's because he dosn't have a
regular sangha to support him....like he had before....
the "sangha" community broke up....
and he was left to go on his own....
he lived for about 6 months with a Tibetan family..
but wanted to move...as not to disturb their family life...and possibly cause any
discomfort.......
then he got a menial job....and moved out and got an apartment...
and has been job hopping a lot....but able to maintain working as to provide for himself....
i help him as much as i can....recently he lost his job...but then found another one...he has a roomate..and they get along great...
i offered for him to live at my house and not work so he can teach & form
another sangha....but he is not ready....or maybe reluctant...
because his heart was broken by the last sangha (boardmembers).....
(they wanted another teacher...one that would teach at a more advanced level & spoke perfect English)....
they have not yet found another resident teacher.......
so...my only disappoitment is that he is not (formally)teaching..
like he did before....i guess it's like hanging on to the teachers apron strings...lol
i'm on my own now........
but we are in close contact....

_/\_

by **LauraJ** Sat Feb 21, 2009 11:09 pm

Oh dear, I feel sad for you and your teacher. I'm troubled by what I see happening to Sangha everywhere, in fact. It's not a good sign.

It's wonderful that you help him so much. Blessings to you...

/\

ps. for me, my daughter is always the centerpiece of my dharma practice, whether I make it to the cushion or not. It is very good I think to keep it in mind, what your teacher said about your mother.

by Kunga Lhadzom Sun Feb 22, 2009 1:48 am

yes.....it is a very challenging practice....as she is one of the emotional vampires in my life....sometimes i feel like it's part of my job now to help her with attachments...as she will be 80 years old soon...and is attached to soooooo many things....i love to throw things out...she hordes & saves....she gets sooooo angry whenever i toss something....even rotting food in the fridge !!!!!

she had an unbeliveable life....and i have always respected her under the life circumstances she has been through...no one else in the family can tolerate her....she is very difficult.....

Are you a single parent Drolma ?
Parenting was a breeze for me....i loved being a mom to my kids...i miss that (when they were little)....now i can't kiss them and hug them and squeeze them !!!!
(they're teenagers)
and my daughter is 31....divorced with 2 children....

by muni Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:35 am

The reactions in mind in each and every challenge. Empty thoughts in empty "being". Calm abiding.

All painful experiences in the very moment: garbage!

I love you

by **LauraJ** Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:59 am

Kunga Lhadzom wrote:yes.....it is a very challenging practice....as she is one of the emotional vampires in my life....sometimes i feel like it's part of my job now to help her with attachments...as she will be 80 years old soon...and is attached to soooooo many things....i love to throw things out...she hordes & saves....she gets sooooo angry whenever i toss something....even rotting food in the fridge !!!!!

she had an unbeliveable life....and i have always respected her under the life circumstances she has been through...no one else in the family can tolerate her....she is very difficult.....

Are you a single parent Drolma ?
Parenting was a breeze for me....i loved being a mom to my kids...i miss that (when they were little)....now i can't kiss them and hug them and squeeze them !!!!
(they're teenagers)
and my daughter is 31....divorced with 2 children....

Hi Khandro,

I have help from my little one's father. But I'm divorced. Being a mom can be the best and the worst, I think. But I wouldn't have it any other way. My little one can be quite a challenge; she has some special needs. Because she is like the embodiment of my heart, she is at the heart of my practice.

What's it like having grandchildren? It sounds like you made it through motherhood in one piece! cheers

But you still have teenagers too?

I understand what you say about your mom. I'm familiar with people who hoard-that can be really tough. I lived with someone who did that. And I understand about emotional vampires too. It can be very difficult to deal with when it's your most loved ones!!!

Kindly,
Drolma

by muni Tue Feb 24, 2009 10:37 am

Whatever we get on our shoulder: remain aware.
The tricky game of concepts in mind projections are the wild horse to tame. Then I will not be a fearful worrying paper boat on the big ocean but dwell in freedom. This is my daily practice now.

Kunga, Drolma: :grouphug:

by Kunga Lhadzom Tue Feb 24, 2009 4:15 pm

Dear Drolma....What's it like having grandchildren ?
They are sweet kids (14 & 12 years old boys)
pretty independent now...
they're just happy when i cook for them and cater to them...
funny that i have teens and my grandchildren are teens ....
i had my last 2 children when i was in my 40's :crazy:
my daughter had her children when she was a teen (16)
i was very fortunate none of my kids ever gave me a hard time
they were all easy & mild mannered sweethearts
i loved being a mom to them
i stayed home always when they were small
never had a babysitter
as much as i loved raisng my children...
i feel so sorry for all children in this world now
if i could do it all over again.....i wouldn't
this world is a scarey place
i wish i realized that before....

_/\_

by Kunga Lhadzom Tue Feb 24, 2009 4:27 pm

muni wrote:Whatever we get on our shoulder: remain aware.
The tricky game of concepts in mind projections are the wild horse to tame. Then I will not be a fearful worrying paper boat on the big ocean but dwell in freedom. This is my daily practice now.

Kunga, Drolma: :grouphug:

Hi Muni

so what you are saying.... is what we see is just the illusion....and to try taming your mind to realize that.... so you can be free ......?

yeah...it is extreamly difficult to realize that all is just illusion....all we eat, drink and sleep is illusion......

HOW EXACTLY DO YOU UNDO THE ILLUSION ??????????

Don't we need to function properly in this illusion ?????

How do you do it ????

_/\_

by muni Tue Feb 24, 2009 5:41 pm

Kunga Lhadzom wrote:
muni wrote:Whatever we get on our shoulder: remain aware.
The tricky game of concepts in mind projections are the wild horse to tame. Then I will not be a fearful worrying paper boat on the big ocean but dwell in freedom. This is my daily practice now.

Kunga, Drolma: :grouphug:

Hi Muni

so what you are saying.... is what we see is just the illusion....and to try taming your mind to realize that.... so you can be free ......?

yeah...it is extreamly difficult to realize that all is just illusion....all we eat, drink and sleep is illusion......

HOW EXACTLY DO YOU UNDO THE ILLUSION ??????????

Don't we need to function properly in this illusion ?????

How do you do it ????

_/\_

Last years pushed me really with my nose on practice. geek

Not words or sit-moments could give directly help (it made it only a bit easier), but to bring the practice in daily life became a must. Also that is the my aim, isn't? By that I could have storm over me and remain on my feet. Haha.
You know dear, when things run difficult is there the help of practice. The insight of own conceptualization, empty thoughts which give birth to emotions when we allow it and are mindless. Each time when tears are rolling I say this: okay Ego in action. And then I realize that it are the emotions which are the hammer on my head. So only one way to go: the way of insight and compassion for those who are not "sweet". ( I cannot conquer them all Smile

)As otherways there is just grasping. Grasping to a better situation in samsara. Grasping and cry. But that is not the way. Then the ping pong emotions by change remain.
Like that I see all like magical display. Also thought what are coming "inside". Let them run.
In "difficult moments" I make the click to exist on dependency of so many things and change is just display. That is so relax. Otherways there is an inherent solid one who is permanent swimming in pain. And sometimes I say: you stupid woman! That helps as well. :dance: Hehe. Empty thing in empty nature!
I make mistakes! I am very good in mistakes. :truce:

by muni Tue Feb 24, 2009 6:35 pm

Be there for others. There are a lot. No desire. _/\_

by Kunga Lhadzom Wed Feb 25, 2009 2:24 am

ok....if we didn't see The Illusion.....what would be there instead ?

For instance....you notice your ego/emotions/grasping......so if we didn't have those ego/emotions/grasping...what would we be doing instead ?

nothing ?
would we be just like a piece of wood ?

_/\_

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