Alex Wilding

One of the problems with Tibetan culture is the unwillingness to criticize anybody who has a higher social or religious status than the speaker, or even has a religious status at all. So when, as sadly has happened on more than a few occasions, a lama is behaving badly or abusively, that lama's followers will often try, because they don't want to think badly of the lama,

One of the problems with Tibetan culture is the unwillingness to criticize anybody who has a higher social or religious status than the speaker, or even has a religious status at all. So when, as sadly has happened on more than a few occasions, a lama is behaving badly or abusively, that lama's followers will often try, because they don't want to think badly of the lama,

So-and-so, what is more, is, directly or indirectly, a llama of your llama. So... 4. You must, therefore, not criticise my llama. Otherwise, you are breaking Samaya. And if you break Samaya, you are bound for hell. You are not really a Vajrayana practitioner at all. You don't know what you're talking about and you clearly don't get the Vajrayana in any case.

So-and-so, what is more, is, directly or indirectly, a llama of your llama. So... 4. You must, therefore, not criticise my llama. Otherwise, you are breaking Samaya. And if you break Samaya, you are bound for hell. You are not really a Vajrayana practitioner at all. You don't know what you're talking about and you clearly don't get the Vajrayana in any case.

You are in fact a horrible person with whom I do not want to associate. Well, you might think that's a caricature. But sadly, it's not, or if it is, not by a very large margin.

You are in fact a horrible person with whom I do not want to associate. Well, you might think that's a caricature. But sadly, it's not, or if it is, not by a very large margin.

So, when somebody starts talking about samaya as they try to convince you to see things in a different light, in particular to ignore what appear to be abuses being carried out by some lama, just do please, please be cautious. Abusing the concept to enforce omerta about a lama's behaviour is in fact corrosive to the flourishing of the dharma in the West. It is a word to be taken with caution.

So, when somebody starts talking about samaya as they try to convince you to see things in a different light, in particular to ignore what appear to be abuses being carried out by some lama, just do please, please be cautious. Abusing the concept to enforce omerta about a lama's behaviour is in fact corrosive to the flourishing of the dharma in the West. It is a word to be taken with caution.

The main point I want to take from this is that this sacred bond is indeed the life force of the tantric path. Feeling that you have a samaya commitment, for example, to perform certain practices or prayers every day is a good thing, although it's not the full measure. The word does mean quite a lot more.

The main point I want to take from this is that this sacred bond is indeed the life force of the tantric path. Feeling that you have a samaya commitment, for example, to perform certain practices or prayers every day is a good thing, although it's not the full measure. The word does mean quite a lot more.

Let's try to remember what Samaya really is or should be and therefore what a real Vajrayana practitioner is beyond the regular daily, monthly or whatever performance of whatever formal commitments there are. Have you or have I, if only obscurely, glimpsed the vision of our own mind as the Buddha? Are you committed to cultivating that vision through the methods you are being taught?

Let's try to remember what Samaya really is or should be and therefore what a real Vajrayana practitioner is beyond the regular daily, monthly or whatever performance of whatever formal commitments there are. Have you or have I, if only obscurely, glimpsed the vision of our own mind as the Buddha? Are you committed to cultivating that vision through the methods you are being taught?

Are you committed to the blissful realization that the Guru wants for you, so becoming a refuge for all beings? In that case, you are a Vajrayana practitioner, a Nagpa. Finally then, do please take a moment to like, subscribe, tell your friends and all that stuff. And remember, what is the one thing that puts Buddhahood in the palm of your hand? It is great compassion.

Are you committed to the blissful realization that the Guru wants for you, so becoming a refuge for all beings? In that case, you are a Vajrayana practitioner, a Nagpa. Finally then, do please take a moment to like, subscribe, tell your friends and all that stuff. And remember, what is the one thing that puts Buddhahood in the palm of your hand? It is great compassion.

Hello, and a warm welcome to my good listeners, students of the Dharma, and those who are just interested. I'm Alex Wilding, this is the Double Doge Podcast, and today we're going to take a look at the super peak, pinnacle teachings of Mahamudra and Dzogchen.

Hello, and a warm welcome to my good listeners, students of the Dharma, and those who are just interested. I'm Alex Wilding, this is the Double Doge Podcast, and today we're going to take a look at the super peak, pinnacle teachings of Mahamudra and Dzogchen.

To be cautious, I will say again that I am not your teacher, let alone for teachings as high as this, but perhaps we can get some sort of handle on what they are about, what difference there may be between them, and how they fit with other parts of Tibetan Buddhism, other streams of Buddhism as a whole, and indeed the spiritual life in general.

To be cautious, I will say again that I am not your teacher, let alone for teachings as high as this, but perhaps we can get some sort of handle on what they are about, what difference there may be between them, and how they fit with other parts of Tibetan Buddhism, other streams of Buddhism as a whole, and indeed the spiritual life in general.

That's a ridiculously big ask, but we can have a nibble at it. Both the Mahamudra and Dzogchen systems present themselves as having the utter simplicity of direct realization at their heart. Both claim that the whole elaborate tantric system and procedure is not strictly necessary, that it's all a skillful means that might help us not to lose our way in the trackless vastness of the clear light.

That's a ridiculously big ask, but we can have a nibble at it. Both the Mahamudra and Dzogchen systems present themselves as having the utter simplicity of direct realization at their heart. Both claim that the whole elaborate tantric system and procedure is not strictly necessary, that it's all a skillful means that might help us not to lose our way in the trackless vastness of the clear light.