EarlyTibet.com

This site struck me as kind of strange. Maybe it's just the use of language, referencing "spells" and "magic." Any thoughts are appreciated.

:foilhat:

In the early ages there where many magic practise not like todays, magicians could create illusions lasting for days or even weeks, milrepa in his early days was under the tutalage of a dark magician.
People may not beleive in the existance of such literal magic, but just because you have not experienced it doesnt mean it cant be as real as your experience now.....appearence to mind.

peace

xxx

Yes, thanks for the reminder about Milarepa, Caz. Maybe because I think occult activities are generally harmful, I tend to not associate them with buddhism. I know in many religions exorcism still takes place which is understandable. But why would early Tibetan Buddhism involve spells of any sort? Is this author confusing Bon with Buddhism?

:namaste:

Drolma wrote:Yes, thanks for the reminder about Milarepa, Caz. Maybe because I think occult activities are generally harmful, I tend to not associate them with buddhism. I know in many religions exorcism still takes place which is understandable. But why would early Tibetan Buddhism involve spells of any sort? Is this author confusing Bon with Buddhism?

:namaste:

Well it depends by what you define as the occult its still very apparent thoughout tibetan buddhism today for example one could consider the pehar or nechung oracle part of the occult as that is a renowned spirit, well as you state perhapes they could be confusing tibetan buddhism with bon as it was the dominate form of spirituality before buddhism arrived in tibet, to my knowledge tibetan buddhism has never in this instance been involved in any black magics at all, in past times possessions, demonic manifestations and such where regular occurence still in some places of the world they can be found today where do you think all these myths and legends come from of creatures such as vampires and such, in the tara sadhana there is a verse about her subdueing zombies ! buddhas have no reason to deceive us, i think perhapes that due to certain differences of opinion that tibetan buddhism to those who do not do their research correctly can be identified heavily with bon as there was apparently much influence upon the bon from buddhism for example i apparently they adapted many images of buddhas and such into their religion so i beleive, so this is where general confusion could arise....some people even view bon as the 5th tradition of tibetan buddhism, but this is a very deluded view as entitled as they are to freedom of religion the supernatural force behind bon are the worldly spirits, gods and naga's and these are no appropriate objects of refuge....mostly likely you are right sometimes the line between bon and buddhism can seem to be very fine if you dont know your onions.

peace

xxx

Very nice points. Especially the reminder about zombies in the Tara sadhana. I wonder if Zangpo-la will swoop in with any history lessons. My interest is mainly academic, though I'll admit that I have a small aversion to black magic, occult, etc. and I'm hoping any relationship between those things and Buddhism is very frail.

I like the story of Milarepa because to me it's a story of recovery. He was involved in dark arts and had the karmic fruit to bear because of it, but he developed siddhis, and you know the rest of the story. If you've ever had trouble with other-realm stuff you know to avoid it like you'd avoid an infestation of fleas. At least that's been my experience.

Drolma wrote:Very nice points. Especially the reminder about zombies in the Tara sadhana. I wonder if Zangpo-la will swoop in with any history lessons. My interest is mainly academic, though I'll admit that I have a small aversion to black magic, occult, etc. and I'm hoping any relationship between those things and Buddhism is very frail.

I like the story of Milarepa because to me it's a story of recovery. He was involved in dark arts and had the karmic fruit to bear because of it, but he developed siddhis, and you know the rest of the story. If you've ever had trouble with other-realm stuff you know to avoid it like you'd avoid an infestation of fleas. At least that's been my experience.

The other day i sat through a wishfufilling jewel session, some of the things in their that you are granted protection from are mind boggleing, vampires ! zombies ! forgetful makers ?! ect.....very strange just goes to show everything is an appearence to mind.
From my experience i have come into contact with a few evil spirits at the worst, when on a ghost walk they followed me and my father back home many miles away.....funnily enough i was reciting tara mantra all throughout it lol....i always though it wouldnt be to difficult to take care of the negative energy they carry the best way to clear out the host of mara's would be to invoke vajrapani or dharma protectors.

peace

xxx

Heres a good story cannot remember the name of the master but here goes....
A local master was doing a Jetsongkhapa guru yoga retreat in the local mountain cave in the town rumour had spread of this masters arrival and those troubled by a local behar spirit went to him and asked him what to do as everytime this spirit came it would possess their son....the master told them to take one of his beads from his mala and put it at the door entrance when the spirit entered the house and then to call him once they had done so.....so when it happened they did and to their suprise the spirit became very frightened and desperate to leave the house creating all sorts of mayhem....the spirit saw the bead of the mala as yamantaka due to the master having attained a state of union with jetsongkhapa which is the same as having attained the state of union with yamantaka .....and the master said to him " Oh spirit how can you cause pain to these living beings when you cannot even stand pain to your self, if you do not cease your tormenting ways yamantaka will not let you go..." to which the spirit replied that it was the cheif behar spirit that had ordered him to harm these people and that he would be inturn harmed by the lord behar if he did no do as he had said, the master then said to him you must promise not to harm anyone who recites the Migtsema mantra, the spirit did so and so the Migtsema mantra provides protection from spirits.

peace

xxx

Thanks for that sherab, although it seems either tale , underlines the importance of migtsema mantra and Tsongkhapa guru yoga.

peace

xxx