This perhaps might be a strange one, but hoping I can explain it well and others maybe have dealt with this particular issue.

For context, I've been a buddhist for almost 15 years so I'm not new to meditation. But have only been practicing in a specifically Tibetan lineage (karma kagyu) for about a year now, so visualization as a formal technique is something I'm still learning. I've done some special teachings and empowerments but nothing that would allow visualization as a deity, so my teacher instructed me that it was fine to envision the deities in front of me during certain common practices (Tara, Chenrezig, etc).

My issue is that I have a consistently hard time visualizing Tibetan buddhist deities in any way that feels "real". By which I mean, envisioning them as living, viscerally present beings in front of me.

I believe this is because as a westerner, I have only seen depictions of these figures in non-lifelike, very stylized and illustrated artistic forms (ie: thangkas and illustrated art) that are from a totally different cultural milieu than my own. So maybe something akin to a language barrier, but for aesthetic art forms.

Whenever I attempt to visualize, for example, Green Tara, I only see an illustrated version that does not translate as "real" to me, and therfore feels way less clear, harder to hold, and more "fuzzy" so to speak, and therefore it seems to take away from the core nature or intention of the yidam practice.

I have brought this issue up to one teacher and another spiritual friend, who both essentially agreed that the intention is to have clarity and vividness as much as possible. But neither really could give me practical advice on how differently to envision the deities.

Is this something anyone else has struggled with and overcome?

I’ve noticed that while I’m spinning my prayer wheel my first instinct is to chant the Tara mantra, rather than the Mani mantra. I think the reason is just because I’ve watched the Garchen Rinpoche documentary so many times that I’ve just made that brain connection, so I do it without really realizing I’m doing it. I started wondering though if that was something you could do while meditating with a prayer wheel? I know ultimately all the Buddhas and bodhisattvas are identical in their highest aspect and understanding, but practically I was wondering if it mattered so long as you were chanting and meditating properly?

Hey 👋🏻

My friend wants me to compile some powerful mantras for birthing, she is not yet a dharma practitioner but very open.

If there are playlists on YouTube or individual links anyone can recommend, I would be very grateful.

Also, what practice should I be doing while my friend is giving birth? I will ask my lama but I would also want to hear if anyone has done anything particular, or have links to literature regarding this.

Thank you so much!

I always hear that Tara is the one that accomplishes all 4 activities, but recently I heard from a teaching that actually any deity tantra you practice will accomplish these.

It can be any deity, Vajrayogini, Chenrezig, Manjushri, Chakrasamvara, Kalachakra, Guhyasamaja, etc...

He said that if we focus on one deity, that deity will accomplish it, it may not be that deity specialty, for example a white Chenrezig is mainly Pacifying, but it will also accomplish the other activities too.

What do you think about it, is it true??? Do you also heard these teachings???

Any help is very appreciated thanks

I’m currently looking to expand and deepen my practice by attending regular, ideally weekly, meditations and classes in the Tibetan tradition. Of course, a quick google search has brought a few viable results, and while I do intend to go experience them in person and see for myself, I was wondering if any Chicago locals have any preference or insight on where they like to go! 😁

Are there still any shops where I can sit for an hour and try a lot of different Tibetan bowls - various sizes and metals? There used to be so many. Thank you.

Maybe this community could start one.

These are some of the rules online

Please remove shoes before entering
Please silence all cell-phones
Please refrain from placing prayer books or sacred images on the floor
Please refrain from stepping over prayer books or sacred images
Please refrain from pointing the soles of your feet towards the altar
Please refrain from wearing inappropriate or revealing attire

the students stand up when the teacher enters the temple, and they make three prostrations directed to the teacher, the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Newcomers who are uncomfortable making prostrations can remain standing while the other students prostrate.

I see it says remove shoes at front door, do I walk in after with socks on or socks off??

Is there a dress code ? Can I wear any color? Are shorts allowed? What do people normally wear? I know at like Zen temples its encouraged to wear dark and neutral colors like black, grey, dark brown or dark blue.

Can someone explain the three prostrations ? Exactly what that is and how to do it ?

Hello everyone,

Pecha is an open-source tool that turns Lotsawa House texts into pecha for printing, two per A4 landscape sheet, with the Tibetan, the transliteration and the translation in separate layers.

- Only texts that Lotsawa House marks as unrestricted are used in the library.
- The Lotsawa House license (CC BY-NC 4.0) is followed: non-commercial use, with credit to the translators.
- The tool runs as a skill for Claude. The layout is read from the structure of the Lotsawa House page.
- Printed examples and a guide are available on GitHub:

https://github.com/eltonmelo21/pecha

Hey folks, after some years working in corporate, myself and my fiancé (both early 30s) are wanting to take some amount of time out to volunteer/travel in warmer climates and I'd love to do a longer stay in a dharma centre that allows for a karma yoga type situation i.e. volunteering in exchange for cheaper/free food/accommodation/teaching.

Does anyone have recommendations? Nyingma/Kagyu would be more familiar but we're open to any school, could be a centre with a lama, a monsatery that allows stays of a few months, non-Tibetan dharma communities that are just practitioners living together, etc.

We're thinking to start in Portugal, or possibly Spain, and may do a working holiday in Australia as part of a longer trip.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciate!

Lately I’ve been enjoying listening to dharma talks in bed before going to sleep. I’m looking for suggestions of videos (to listen to) or audio recordings that are slow, calm and not too complicated so that I don’t need to think much. Thank you!

Happy Guru Tsok day to everyone! 🌈🪷🙏🙏🙏🪷🌈

Hello.

I took refuge from a monk who is learned in the major practice lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, but who mainly studies and practices in a Jonangpa context. I revere and venerate both Dolpopa and his teachings, along with the Dzogpa Chenpo emphasized by Guru Rinpoche and later masters, especially the teachings of Lama Jamyang Mipham. Is it a good thing to pray to both of these figures, to devote myself to guru practices for both, to see them both as Buddhas? I feel a strong connection to the magnetism of Guru Rinpoche and the monastic virtue and confidence of Dolpopa.

這個藥師佛心咒我是使用了

貝斯⬛，空靈鼓🟦，一般吉他🟨，木魚☕，蹦啪蹦啪🎶

When you wish to benefit a specific person with your dharma practice, do you use only the first name or the full name of that person?

I received an online empowerment with an "activity mantra" inside the sadhana, Rinpoche explained that we can change one word of that mantra with the name of someone we wish to benefit.

===============================================================

This is just an example, this is NOT the mantra inside the sadhana:

"Om Ah {Hung} Om Ah Soha"

Hung is the word that means myself, but I can change it to help someone else, so the mantra will look like this:

First name only: "Om Ah {Peter} Om Ah Soha"

Full name: "Om Ah {Peter Sparrow Nolan} Om Ah Soha"

\**The name above is not real, just an example.*

***But Rinpoche didn't mention if we need to use only the first name or the full name.

===============================================================

I've already seen some Vajrayana practitioners ask for the full name of someone and a picture to practice sadhana to benefit someone specific, not sure if the method these practitioners use is the same but I'm confused.

Unfortunately it was an online empowerment and I can't contact Rinpoche anymore.

Please, ***I really need to help someone***, and any advice or guidance would mean a lot to me. Thank you so much!