Dream Walker:
Well that makes me curious...tell us what you think of the Vajrayana....I've never gotten into it and would like to hear about it a bit from someone shopping around but not sold yet.
Thanks,
~D
I had a negative experience with a satipatthana group that was quite rigid in their traditions. Another member of the group said he was going back to Vajrayana, and he sold me on trying it out. (* disclaimer: I have a loose understanding of terms at this point, I might be mistaken in calling it Vajrayana, at this point what I'm doing could possibly be called Mahayana, Hinayana, or Tibetan Buddhist meditation.. I'll figure it all out eventually.)
The Vajrayana group, so far, seems more down to earth, and focused on actual practice, not as focused on long periods of chanting and worshipping the Buddha. There is a structured path of study and practice that wasn't there with other groups, there are set courses and course material. Also, a formal relationship between myself and a teacher when I get to that level, and directed teachings on emptiness etc.
Overall, though, it's just the vibe. Satipatthana practice was so austere and had a 2500-yr old feeling. Just sit there and meditate through the pain. This vajrayana group is very positive and open, it seems more guided in areas that I was looking for more guidance in. I wish I could be more specific than that..
William Golden Finch:
Hello,
I had
tried to respond previously, but perhaps it did not go through. I have
recently begun meeting with Reggie Ray. He's a Vajrayana teacher and his
organization is called Dharma Ocean. There are qualified Vajrayana
instructors working there who will meet with you online/personally/phone
and work with you free of charge.
Bill
Thanks for the reply, Bill. Did you get where you wanted to get with vipassana practice and then move to Vajrayana/Dzogchen? Or did you move to Vajrayana because of something you felt was missing from vipassana practice?
I've seen a few Dharma talks by Reggie Ray, and have one of his CD sets.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/auryn/DOF_Path_Structure_April2014b.pdf < This document detailing their path is excellent.