Engaging the senses in the Tibetan tantric 'major practice session' (sgrub chen)

It is well-known that tantric Buddhism takes a different approach towards sensual pleasures than mainstream Buddhism. While accepting the analysis of the problematic attachment and aversion resulting from indulgence in sensual gratification, the tantric spiritual discipline involves enlisting bodil...

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التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
المؤلف الرئيسي: Cantwell, C
مؤلفون آخرون: Bischoff, J
التنسيق: Book section
اللغة:English
منشور في: Lumbini International Research Institute, Nepal 2019
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author Cantwell, C
author2 Bischoff, J
author_facet Bischoff, J
Cantwell, C
author_sort Cantwell, C
collection OXFORD
description It is well-known that tantric Buddhism takes a different approach towards sensual pleasures than mainstream Buddhism. While accepting the analysis of the problematic attachment and aversion resulting from indulgence in sensual gratification, the tantric spiritual discipline involves enlisting bodily experiences, and transforming ordinary body, speech and mind into their enlightened counterparts. The ways in which the senses are used in a "Major Practice Session", a communal ritual lasting for some ten days or so, is explored in this chapter. In such a practice session, the meditations and ritualised performances are led by the principal lama and his team of expert meditators and ritualists, while the larger assembly need not necessarily actively join in. It is enough if they sit receptively and engage their senses - watching the performance, listening to the chanting and music, smelling the incense, touching the ritual implements, and tasting the consecrated pills. Thus, they can develop the "pure vision" of the world as an enlightened "mandala". The emphasis on sensual experience rather than on expressions of belief, or active congregational participation in the liturgy, means that attendance is relatively open, with Buddhists of other schools, and non-Buddhists, able to participate.
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spelling oxford-uuid:b26b82d1-3de5-466d-abb1-eef3669c1bf62024-02-21T11:36:45ZEngaging the senses in the Tibetan tantric 'major practice session' (sgrub chen)Book sectionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_3248uuid:b26b82d1-3de5-466d-abb1-eef3669c1bf6EnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordLumbini International Research Institute, Nepal 2019Cantwell, CBischoff, JMaurer, PRamble, CIt is well-known that tantric Buddhism takes a different approach towards sensual pleasures than mainstream Buddhism. While accepting the analysis of the problematic attachment and aversion resulting from indulgence in sensual gratification, the tantric spiritual discipline involves enlisting bodily experiences, and transforming ordinary body, speech and mind into their enlightened counterparts. The ways in which the senses are used in a "Major Practice Session", a communal ritual lasting for some ten days or so, is explored in this chapter. In such a practice session, the meditations and ritualised performances are led by the principal lama and his team of expert meditators and ritualists, while the larger assembly need not necessarily actively join in. It is enough if they sit receptively and engage their senses - watching the performance, listening to the chanting and music, smelling the incense, touching the ritual implements, and tasting the consecrated pills. Thus, they can develop the "pure vision" of the world as an enlightened "mandala". The emphasis on sensual experience rather than on expressions of belief, or active congregational participation in the liturgy, means that attendance is relatively open, with Buddhists of other schools, and non-Buddhists, able to participate.
spellingShingle Cantwell, C
Engaging the senses in the Tibetan tantric 'major practice session' (sgrub chen)
title Engaging the senses in the Tibetan tantric 'major practice session' (sgrub chen)
title_full Engaging the senses in the Tibetan tantric 'major practice session' (sgrub chen)
title_fullStr Engaging the senses in the Tibetan tantric 'major practice session' (sgrub chen)
title_full_unstemmed Engaging the senses in the Tibetan tantric 'major practice session' (sgrub chen)
title_short Engaging the senses in the Tibetan tantric 'major practice session' (sgrub chen)
title_sort engaging the senses in the tibetan tantric major practice session sgrub chen
work_keys_str_mv AT cantwellc engagingthesensesinthetibetantantricmajorpracticesessionsgrubchen