Theos-Talk Archives (December 1998 Message tt00034)

Nicholas, I agree with your post. But you do raise some
interesting issues.

>  Somewhere in the Mahatma Letters(?) one says that we
>occidentals can try to practice a little study of metaphysics and try to
>meditate -- but that is all.
>

James Long once told me that the Western constitution is not
suited for practicing Eastern techniques. I believe that he got
this idea from Judge. Well, it certainly isn't suited to me. I had
to devise my own techniques.


>Twenty or 25 years ago Je Tsongkhapa's tantric stages of the path treatise
>was two-thirds translated.  It is still in print.  The titles were
>changed, but I think they are: TANTRA IN TIBET & YOGA OF TIBET.  Both had
>comments by the present Dalai Lama.  Also a reliable version of
>TSONGKHAPA'S SIX YOGAS OF NAROPA and READINGS ON THE SIX YOGAS OF NAROPA
>have just come out from Snow Lion; translated by Glenn Mullin.
>

I highly recommend Mullin as it condenses a lot of information
into one small book. I am not sure how it will go down with
someone who has no background in the subject, but I thought
it is an excellent book.


>I think it was a disaster for the Tibetans' to introduce tantra to the
>West.  The Stages of the Path and Mind Training teachings they have are
>adequate for 99.9 per cent of us.


Well, I personally thank them. I do not practice it, but I love
the theory. One of the central ideas behind Tantric practice is
to see yourself as a deity and your world as a mandala. This
comes from the assumption that we are already spiritual and
perfect and just need to recognize it. If the practice is successful,
then we can identify with our inner divinity instead of just talking
about it. However, a newbie has to get a really good book on the
subject or else face serious misunderstandings.

Jerry S.