Buddhism

Lesson 13
I.    Vajrayana probably appeals to many Westerners because it is considered a "fast track" to enlightenment, and in fact a practitioner can become enlightened in one lifetime.  Westerners like speed.  In Vajrayana Buddhism, everyone is born with the Buddha nature.  To reach it, one strips away hindrances that prevent getting to it.  One hindrance is the belief in limits that must be overcome.  Instead of suppressing negative energy it is transformed to pure energy. 

The Tantra cannon, absent from Theraveda and Mahayana, includes esoteric handbooks and manuals that wil lead the the practitioner to all the steps that will lead to enlightenment.  Tantric practice includes Mantras (sacred sounds), Mandalas (sacred circle or space), and Mudras (sacred hand gestures).  Sex is part of the tantric practices, and as stated in oour lesson, Westerners like sex.  Tantric sex is meant, however, to transform energy quickly and, we are told, should only be practiced by advanced students only after having received permission from a teacher.

II.  There are features that I like about all three paths, but I like Vajrayana best.  It encompasses the concept of Bodhisattvas, and tells us that all can be enlightened, as does

Mahayana.  Rather than considering Buddha nature as a developmental goal, however, Vajrayana tells us we already have Buddha nature.  In addition, there is the Tantric cannon that impels one toward fast track enlightenment.  The faster the enlightenment, the sooner the practitioner can help all sentient beings.  Unfortunately one must find a teacher and that isn't always easy in our Western culture.

III. Practices in Vajrayana that could be considered beneficial to all sentient beings include:

    A.  Recognition that the Buddha nature is within all sentient beings, and this is a starting point, not a goal.

    B.  It is a fast track to enlightenment, and those who achieve enlightenment will sooner be able to help other sentient beings.

Nancy Anderson

aka "Lotus"

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"Don't ask what the world needs.
Ask what makes you come alive,
and go do it.
Because what the world needs
is people who have come alive."
-- Howard Thurman
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