Alex Wilding

It's true that that does mean that practitioners are not, and indeed should not, going to talk about it with outsiders. But the reason they shouldn't do that is that it is too precious, too special, too deep, too intimate, too private for idle chatter.

It's true that that does mean that practitioners are not, and indeed should not, going to talk about it with outsiders. But the reason they shouldn't do that is that it is too precious, too special, too deep, too intimate, too private for idle chatter.

I'm sure that most listeners would not normally go into detail in casual conversation about what they get up to in private with their spouses and intimate partners. The secrecy of the teaching may therefore indeed mean that it is not immediately easy for an outsider to pry into the particular prayers, visualizations, mantras and practices described in the text.

I'm sure that most listeners would not normally go into detail in casual conversation about what they get up to in private with their spouses and intimate partners. The secrecy of the teaching may therefore indeed mean that it is not immediately easy for an outsider to pry into the particular prayers, visualizations, mantras and practices described in the text.

The fact is that if the outsider digs around enough, especially in these days of the Internet, they probably can find an awful lot of that out. But would this do the outsider any good? Probably not a lot, beyond perhaps a bit of curiosity being satisfied. Because, without the profound personal connection to these teachings...

The fact is that if the outsider digs around enough, especially in these days of the Internet, they probably can find an awful lot of that out. But would this do the outsider any good? Probably not a lot, beyond perhaps a bit of curiosity being satisfied. Because, without the profound personal connection to these teachings...

a connection that's brought about through empowerment, explanation, and what we call the blessing of the lineage, coming through the personal teacher, and without being actually engaged in the practice, then the outsider will not have the connection at the secret level that gives the practice power and meaning.

a connection that's brought about through empowerment, explanation, and what we call the blessing of the lineage, coming through the personal teacher, and without being actually engaged in the practice, then the outsider will not have the connection at the secret level that gives the practice power and meaning.

For the practitioner, on the other hand, the practice and all its associated methods are profound and sacred. I don't know how well I'm getting this point across, so I want to give you a couple of contrasting cases. The first one is a misunderstanding of secret, although probably a rather harmless one.

For the practitioner, on the other hand, the practice and all its associated methods are profound and sacred. I don't know how well I'm getting this point across, so I want to give you a couple of contrasting cases. The first one is a misunderstanding of secret, although probably a rather harmless one.

In an internet forum a few days ago, a user posted a picture of a rather odd-looking Dorjean bell. The design of the bell was rather unusual, but the doge even more so. In the place of the lotus petals that almost invariably, or I would have said invariably, emerge from the central sphere and support the prongs, there was a ring of what looked to be pieces of turquoise.

In an internet forum a few days ago, a user posted a picture of a rather odd-looking Dorjean bell. The design of the bell was rather unusual, but the doge even more so. In the place of the lotus petals that almost invariably, or I would have said invariably, emerge from the central sphere and support the prongs, there was a ring of what looked to be pieces of turquoise.

I couldn't say whether it was real or synthetic. I wouldn't know how to judge. These pieces are embedded like a mosaic in some kind of compound or other. The poster was asking for opinions as to whether this was, so to speak, serious, or whether it was something that had been made for the tourist market. One respondent then expressed the opinion that it's for tantric practitioners.

I couldn't say whether it was real or synthetic. I wouldn't know how to judge. These pieces are embedded like a mosaic in some kind of compound or other. The poster was asking for opinions as to whether this was, so to speak, serious, or whether it was something that had been made for the tourist market. One respondent then expressed the opinion that it's for tantric practitioners.

Their use, display and discussion are supposed to be fully secret. The implication seemed to be that posting the photograph and talking about it was, in the view of that respondent, very, very naughty, possibly involving a breakage of tantric vows, and who knows what consequences follow from that. Don't like to think. This kind of thinking, I'm sure, is far too literal.

Their use, display and discussion are supposed to be fully secret. The implication seemed to be that posting the photograph and talking about it was, in the view of that respondent, very, very naughty, possibly involving a breakage of tantric vows, and who knows what consequences follow from that. Don't like to think. This kind of thinking, I'm sure, is far too literal.

To be sure, one's Dorjean bell, one's mala, and all the other ritual things one may have, are secret rituals. One does not display them casually to all and sundry. They are kept, in whatever sacred corner or room is used for practice, away from the eyes of passing visitors.

To be sure, one's Dorjean bell, one's mala, and all the other ritual things one may have, are secret rituals. One does not display them casually to all and sundry. They are kept, in whatever sacred corner or room is used for practice, away from the eyes of passing visitors.

But this is because they are special and sacred, not because they are something that other people should not or cannot know about. Oh, by the way, you may know that I usually include a few technical terms that you might want to look up in the notes to each episode, and you'll see the picture of the unusual doji I've been talking about there.

But this is because they are special and sacred, not because they are something that other people should not or cannot know about. Oh, by the way, you may know that I usually include a few technical terms that you might want to look up in the notes to each episode, and you'll see the picture of the unusual doji I've been talking about there.