Fall 2013 Shamatha and the Bodhisattva Way of Life B. Alan Wallace

Follwing the silent meditation, Alan gets to a few remaining questions, including one about his experience with Shambala and Kalachakra. A fascinating discussion and series of stories follows.


Meditation starts at: 0:05

Before the silent meditation, Alan mentions a few points about Bodichitta.

After the silent meditation, we go back to the last few aphorisms of the Lo-Jong. We finish the Seven Point Mind Training with a quote from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche... and then go back to the very first aphorism of the Lo-Jong: the preliminaries.


Meditation starts at: 03:21 (silent, not recorded)

Before the session's meditation, Alan raises the issue of retreat and expedition for after the retreat is over.

After the meditation, there are a few questions about the relevance of doing short-term retreats in Dzogchen/Mahamudra/Vajrayana; is it worthwhile to chase after lamas, teachings and empowerments? How to live in the modern world after a long term retreat?


Meditation starts at: 22:48 (silent, not recorded)

Meditation front loading: The porousness of the mind. It is possible that influences can go both into and out from the mind. Like when praying to your guru and getting a response. Does the response come from the guru or from a deeper aspect of your own mind? All that matters is that the advice is taking you further along the path. So in practice of tong len, using the power of the mind, it is possible that we are providing genuine relief from suffering.

Post meditation: Covering the following aphorisms in the seven point mind training text. Cultivate three things without letting them deteriorate. Maintain three things inseparably. Meditate constantly on the distinctive ones. Do not depend on other factors. Now practice what is important. Alan also answers questions on why tulkus still require training in this life, the karmic responsibility of mental afflictions and if Shamatha is required for higher realisations.


Meditation starts at: 11:30 (silent, not recorded)

Silent session, followed by one question regarding the origin of people within a lucid dream. They all stem from the substrate consciousness. Even when lucid, they are not puppets on your string. As the relative dharmadhatu has no clear boundaries, it is porous so it is possible for a visitation to occur. There are accounts of people having visions of tara, padmasambhava etc. It is hard to say if these are actually tara or some figment of your imagination. But if a teaching leads to enlightenment, who else but a buddha could have taught them. The Theravada believe in metaphysical realism, the world is really out there, the self does not exist, but the world does. This is rejected by the mind only and middle way schools, there is no real world existing out there. So what was occurring on vulture's peak was pure perception. Just as you might walk right through Shambhala and not see it unless your body and mind are purified. So if the perfection of wisdom teachings are true, if teachings like the Kalachakra designed to lead to buddhahood in one life time, if they work, who else but a Buddha could have taught them.


Meditation starts at: (silent, not recorded)

From the seventh point of Atisha's mind training: 'Adopt the three principle causes'


These causes are:

1. Following a qualified mentor

- Alan told the story of the first person to encounter the Buddha.

- Alan taught that we should see through the person and not reify them (or ourselves). Seeing all teachers equally whether it be as a emissary of the Budhha, like a Buddha or as a Buddha.

- If there is one with an inner heart connection, a root guru, see that guru in the centre and other teachers as emanations of that one.


2. Devoting ourselves to all stages of the practice

- Have a panoramic vision of all the teachings but focus primarily where you have traction.


3. Cultivate the outer and inner conditions for fruitful practice.

- One of our greatest freedoms is to choose our environment

- Inner conditions are the 5 faculties that when cultivated and developed become the 5 powers.


Meditation started immediately with no 'front loading'