Comments on: Further adventures of an aspiring (but tired) Bodhisattva http://www.bodhipaksa.com/archives/further-adventures-of-an-aspiring-but-tired-bodhisattva random thoughts of a western buddhist Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:43:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: bodhipaksa http://www.bodhipaksa.com/archives/further-adventures-of-an-aspiring-but-tired-bodhisattva/comment-page-1#comment-74902 bodhipaksa Sat, 25 Jul 2009 08:49:57 +0000 http://www.bodhipaksa.com/archives/further-adventures-of-an-aspiring-but-tired-bodhisattva#comment-74902 I know that Kamalashila is writing a book on the six elements, but I'm not sure what his angle is -- whether it's about the elements themselves, or whether it's a practical manual to learning the meditation practice, or something else. My own is more of an extended reflection on the elements, following the schema of the meditation practice without seeking to teach it. In essence I want the experience of reading the book to be a kind of meditation in its own right. I haven't actually come across Ngakpa Chogyam's book, but I'll check it out. Unfortunately it doesn't have a "look inside the book" feature on Amazon, so I can't tell whether it would be useful or not. The fact that it's Tantric puts me off a little, because the tantric take on the six elements strikes me as being very different from the Buddha's. But there might still be useful material there. Interesting that it has the word "rainbow" in the title, because I've just been writing about rainbows as part of the exploration of the Air element (looking at various metaphors where Air phenomena are used to convey impermanence and insubstantiality). Anyway, it seems I can pick up a copy for 60c on Amazon, so I should just get a copy and see! I know that Kamalashila is writing a book on the six elements, but I’m not sure what his angle is — whether it’s about the elements themselves, or whether it’s a practical manual to learning the meditation practice, or something else. My own is more of an extended reflection on the elements, following the schema of the meditation practice without seeking to teach it. In essence I want the experience of reading the book to be a kind of meditation in its own right.

I haven’t actually come across Ngakpa Chogyam’s book, but I’ll check it out. Unfortunately it doesn’t have a “look inside the book” feature on Amazon, so I can’t tell whether it would be useful or not. The fact that it’s Tantric puts me off a little, because the tantric take on the six elements strikes me as being very different from the Buddha’s. But there might still be useful material there. Interesting that it has the word “rainbow” in the title, because I’ve just been writing about rainbows as part of the exploration of the Air element (looking at various metaphors where Air phenomena are used to convey impermanence and insubstantiality). Anyway, it seems I can pick up a copy for 60c on Amazon, so I should just get a copy and see!

]]> By: Nagapriya http://www.bodhipaksa.com/archives/further-adventures-of-an-aspiring-but-tired-bodhisattva/comment-page-1#comment-74901 Nagapriya Sat, 25 Jul 2009 08:31:13 +0000 http://www.bodhipaksa.com/archives/further-adventures-of-an-aspiring-but-tired-bodhisattva#comment-74901 Just caught up with your blog. My you are prolific. A book on the six elements seems very interesting. I had thought Kamalashila was writing one on this theme. Do you know anything about that? I guess you have seen Ngakpa Chogyam's 'Rainbow of Liberated Energy' which I enjoyed quite a few years ago. The bodhisattva's work is never done, it seems. Very good luck with your current project - I shall have to try and keep up somehow! Best wishes Nagapriya Just caught up with your blog. My you are prolific. A book on the six elements seems very interesting. I had thought Kamalashila was writing one on this theme. Do you know anything about that? I guess you have seen Ngakpa Chogyam’s ‘Rainbow of Liberated Energy’ which I enjoyed quite a few years ago. The bodhisattva’s work is never done, it seems. Very good luck with your current project – I shall have to try and keep up somehow!

Best wishes
Nagapriya

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