Alex Wilding

To be honest, I would tend to avoid the word wife because it's liable to bring in its wake the whole Western Christian superstructure of, indeed, Christian marriage. And that's a superstructure that does not apply. The thing here is that there is no secret in the normal sense involved in such a case.

To be honest, I would tend to avoid the word wife because it's liable to bring in its wake the whole Western Christian superstructure of, indeed, Christian marriage. And that's a superstructure that does not apply. The thing here is that there is no secret in the normal sense involved in such a case.

So we need to leave aside the idea that secret always means secret in the sense of being unknown to others. It can mean that, but that side of the meaning can be almost irrelevant. This issue does get deeper. There is a structure, as opposed to the word we might use is a trope, that's used ever and again in Tibetan Buddhist liturgy, meditation instructions, commentary, and so on.

So we need to leave aside the idea that secret always means secret in the sense of being unknown to others. It can mean that, but that side of the meaning can be almost irrelevant. This issue does get deeper. There is a structure, as opposed to the word we might use is a trope, that's used ever and again in Tibetan Buddhist liturgy, meditation instructions, commentary, and so on.

And that is the structure of outer, inner, and secret levels, which are applied to both understanding and to practice. In other words, the secret level is even closer to you than the inner level. This scheme can be applied in a range of ways. But one example could be that, for instance, Outwardly, one maintains proper ethical behaviour.

And that is the structure of outer, inner, and secret levels, which are applied to both understanding and to practice. In other words, the secret level is even closer to you than the inner level. This scheme can be applied in a range of ways. But one example could be that, for instance, Outwardly, one maintains proper ethical behaviour.

Inwardly, one is motivated by compassion and by the understanding of emptiness, the Bodhisattva path, in other words. And that secretly, one maintains the tantric vows, holding to the vision of oneself as an enlightened Buddha and to the surrounding world as the mandala. This trope also appears with a fourfold expression, outer, inner, secret and ultimate.

Inwardly, one is motivated by compassion and by the understanding of emptiness, the Bodhisattva path, in other words. And that secretly, one maintains the tantric vows, holding to the vision of oneself as an enlightened Buddha and to the surrounding world as the mandala. This trope also appears with a fourfold expression, outer, inner, secret and ultimate.

The idea here is much the same, but in this case, the ultimate inexpressible recognition of the empty radiant clarity of the mind essence is, as it were, split off from the secret level to give it more emphasis. This fourfold version, with that extra emphasis on the ultimate level,

The idea here is much the same, but in this case, the ultimate inexpressible recognition of the empty radiant clarity of the mind essence is, as it were, split off from the secret level to give it more emphasis. This fourfold version, with that extra emphasis on the ultimate level,

is therefore particularly useful in the traditions that emphasize Mahamudra or Dzogchen, the two approaches focusing on resting in the recognition of that non-conceptual wisdom that's at the heart of the highest levels of practice. This scheme is used for theoretical discussion, but the theory here is the theory of practice rather than of any rarefied philosophy.

is therefore particularly useful in the traditions that emphasize Mahamudra or Dzogchen, the two approaches focusing on resting in the recognition of that non-conceptual wisdom that's at the heart of the highest levels of practice. This scheme is used for theoretical discussion, but the theory here is the theory of practice rather than of any rarefied philosophy.

The outer aspect includes the obvious things like lifestyle and ethics. The inner aspect involves the cultivation of compassion and the wisdom of emptiness, referred to as bodhicitta. The secret aspect now particularly refers to tantric practice with visualisation, mantra recitation, Breath control, perhaps, and also perhaps physical yogas in which the internal channels and winds are manipulated.

The outer aspect includes the obvious things like lifestyle and ethics. The inner aspect involves the cultivation of compassion and the wisdom of emptiness, referred to as bodhicitta. The secret aspect now particularly refers to tantric practice with visualisation, mantra recitation, Breath control, perhaps, and also perhaps physical yogas in which the internal channels and winds are manipulated.

Exciting stuff. The ultimate level, then, on the basis of the inner practice, is Mahamudra or Dzogchen. In other words, practice based on the essence of mind. I want to emphasize again that this is a scheme that can be applied in ways other than those I have just mentioned.

Exciting stuff. The ultimate level, then, on the basis of the inner practice, is Mahamudra or Dzogchen. In other words, practice based on the essence of mind. I want to emphasize again that this is a scheme that can be applied in ways other than those I have just mentioned.

You can, for instance, have an outer section of a practice that involves the visualization of a deity, rather than being concerned with ethics in ordinary life, followed by an inner section involving a modified form of that deity, and a so-called secret section with a third form,

You can, for instance, have an outer section of a practice that involves the visualization of a deity, rather than being concerned with ethics in ordinary life, followed by an inner section involving a modified form of that deity, and a so-called secret section with a third form,

Perhaps then there might even be an ultimate section that does not involve visualisation, or at least only peripherally. So when we say something like, the teachings in this 500-page, brocade-wrapped book is a secret teaching, what does this really mean? It means that the teaching covered in this large text operates at the secret level.

Perhaps then there might even be an ultimate section that does not involve visualisation, or at least only peripherally. So when we say something like, the teachings in this 500-page, brocade-wrapped book is a secret teaching, what does this really mean? It means that the teaching covered in this large text operates at the secret level.