Buddhist Geeks

Author Biography:

Photo by: _william
INTRODUCTION
Maha Ati: Natural Liberation Through Primordial Awareness [1] is a general introductory overview of the path popularly known as Tibetan Buddhist Dzogchen. It is based in the Longchen Nyingthik tradition, Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa’s (1730-1798) revision of Kunkhyen Longchen Rabjam’s (1308-1363) original transmission of Maha Ati. Longchen Nyingthik is rooted in the Nyingmapa or “Ancient School” synonymous with the “Early Dissemination of the [Buddhist] Doctrine” as it found its way to Tibet from India prior to the end of the tenth century CE. The essay also attempts, by way of comparison, to place this tradition side by side with [...]

INTRODUCTION
Considering that Buddhism originated in India, that the Buddha was Indian, perhaps an explanation as to why it may be interesting—and important—to Buddhist Geeks everywhere to have a general introduction to the ancient milieu of scientific, transformative spirituality that India has produced is not necessary. Some Buddhists tend to ignore or denigrate the philosophical matrix out of which Buddhism emerged along the lines of certain Christian and Islamic groups denying the roots of their religions in Hebrew scripture and practice. Indeed, so many Hindu and Buddhist concepts and terms are used interchangeably, that the need for an essential [...]

“Critics have accused me of ‘cherry picking’ Buddhist sources…To this objection I can only point out that it has ever been thus. Each Buddhist school that has emerged in the course of history has done exactly the same. Chinese Buddhists selected the texts that best fit their needs as Chinese, just as Tibetan Buddhists chose those that best fit theirs. If Buddhism is a living tradition for you, one to which you turn for clues about how to lead your life here and now rather than for cold impersonal facts, then how could it be otherwise?” –Stephen [...]