Alex Wilding

I must however admit that while I do treasure that teaching, and I find it inspiring and something that sets a direction for me, these things are so personal that they are hard to use as any kind of yardstick. Maybe we can discuss them with a very trusted teacher, but they're hard to check on even in terms of what's going on in our own minds, let alone judging other people in that light.

I must however admit that while I do treasure that teaching, and I find it inspiring and something that sets a direction for me, these things are so personal that they are hard to use as any kind of yardstick. Maybe we can discuss them with a very trusted teacher, but they're hard to check on even in terms of what's going on in our own minds, let alone judging other people in that light.

Luckily, the tradition itself has something to say about this, so I now want to introduce the all-singing, all-dancing term, samaya. In Tibetan, that's something like damtsig, and it's often translated as sacred bond or as commitment. What a subject this is! Samaya is often said to be the heart, the very lifeblood of the tantric path.

Luckily, the tradition itself has something to say about this, so I now want to introduce the all-singing, all-dancing term, samaya. In Tibetan, that's something like damtsig, and it's often translated as sacred bond or as commitment. What a subject this is! Samaya is often said to be the heart, the very lifeblood of the tantric path.

It refers to our commitment to the vision of ourselves, experience of ourselves as enlightened Buddhas, as is introduced through the Lama's empowerment. In this process, the Lama is seen as the Buddha. He, or occasionally, but pleasingly, she, opens the channel to whatever form the Buddha appears in the practice concerned.

It refers to our commitment to the vision of ourselves, experience of ourselves as enlightened Buddhas, as is introduced through the Lama's empowerment. In this process, the Lama is seen as the Buddha. He, or occasionally, but pleasingly, she, opens the channel to whatever form the Buddha appears in the practice concerned.

A big part of our samaya is to treasure, respect and keep faith with the Lama as the representative of the Buddha through all the teachers and yogis and scholars and practitioners of the lineage that stand behind him or her. The 14 vows that I mentioned a few minutes ago are very much concerned with this aspect.

A big part of our samaya is to treasure, respect and keep faith with the Lama as the representative of the Buddha through all the teachers and yogis and scholars and practitioners of the lineage that stand behind him or her. The 14 vows that I mentioned a few minutes ago are very much concerned with this aspect.

Does this mean that we have to always view our personal Lama as perfect in every respect? and every one of their actions as enlightened activity. Some people do treat it like that, or at least try to. But even without going into detail, my guess is that any listener will already have seen that this can lead to real problems.

Does this mean that we have to always view our personal Lama as perfect in every respect? and every one of their actions as enlightened activity. Some people do treat it like that, or at least try to. But even without going into detail, my guess is that any listener will already have seen that this can lead to real problems.

Frankly though, I don't quite understand why we Westerners should find it so difficult. We have, after all, something parallel with in many ways quite different, but in other ways quite close, in our homegrown Western culture. What am I talking about? I'm talking about love, including romantic fairy tale love.

Frankly though, I don't quite understand why we Westerners should find it so difficult. We have, after all, something parallel with in many ways quite different, but in other ways quite close, in our homegrown Western culture. What am I talking about? I'm talking about love, including romantic fairy tale love.

A young person might truly believe that the object of their love is truly divinely perfect in every way. But people aren't perfect, so it's impossible for that state to last forever. If the love is real, this attitude will have to change. In real love, I suggest the lovers see each other as extraordinary, worthy of love, even as they recognise each other's physical, emotional and other faults.

A young person might truly believe that the object of their love is truly divinely perfect in every way. But people aren't perfect, so it's impossible for that state to last forever. If the love is real, this attitude will have to change. In real love, I suggest the lovers see each other as extraordinary, worthy of love, even as they recognise each other's physical, emotional and other faults.

Where would Hollywood be without stories of love for imperfect partners? So here is one of the first ways that so-called samaya can go wrong. If we're criticizing our lama and harping on their thoughts or mistakes, gossiping to others about it, then this truly is a breach of samaya. Yet, pretending that everything they say or do is literally perfect is a recipe for trouble.

Where would Hollywood be without stories of love for imperfect partners? So here is one of the first ways that so-called samaya can go wrong. If we're criticizing our lama and harping on their thoughts or mistakes, gossiping to others about it, then this truly is a breach of samaya. Yet, pretending that everything they say or do is literally perfect is a recipe for trouble.

For the practitioner, this is going to lead to cognitive dissonance, where they try to think too... incompatible things at the same time. And for the Lama, it paves the way to potential abuse. The word is also used in a lightweight sense. For instance, you might hear people saying something like, Oh, I have a Samaya to say mantra XXX at least 108 times a day. Nothing wrong with that.

For the practitioner, this is going to lead to cognitive dissonance, where they try to think too... incompatible things at the same time. And for the Lama, it paves the way to potential abuse. The word is also used in a lightweight sense. For instance, you might hear people saying something like, Oh, I have a Samaya to say mantra XXX at least 108 times a day. Nothing wrong with that.

It's part of the range of meanings that the word Samaya has these days. And I don't call that a misuse of the word. It's simply using it in the sense of commitment or promise. There is, however, another quite serious misuse of the word as an argumentative ploy. In this case, it often turns up as an attempt to coerce agreement with a certain point of view.

It's part of the range of meanings that the word Samaya has these days. And I don't call that a misuse of the word. It's simply using it in the sense of commitment or promise. There is, however, another quite serious misuse of the word as an argumentative ploy. In this case, it often turns up as an attempt to coerce agreement with a certain point of view.