Mahakala

[stevencaldwell]

" Each shadowy layer is a coat of informational and experiential impressions of the distorted and repressed areas of life. The Great-Black-One feeds off of our shadows as we offer them. He turns them into a mansion of rainbows. '"

Healing Image - The Great Black One by Walter Stablein,page 38

Any comments or clarifications you would care to offer,

Comments

with respect

[seer0000]

for the man's credentials -
mahakala does not reduce to a jungian shadow archetype.
he is a dharmapala.

I have not read the book.

Re: with respect

[stevencaldwell]

Hmmm... I'm reading the book and trying to glean some knowledge too. I put the quote up as a question, really. There is precious little in English about the Dharmapala, Mahakala. He has been with me in various ways for two years of my practice and I am trying to learn more about why he has chosen me.

As to the author's credentials, other than being a Fullbright scholar who has practised the Mahakala sadhana since the 1970's and written the only English language book on Mahakala I don't imagine he probably has little so say on the subject. ;-)

Thanks for reminding me that not everything can get traced back to archetypes.

Re: with respect

[seer0000]

Can I ask about your tradition of practice. Because obviously the ideal route to take would be through your lama, or more directly through extended protector sections of sadhana, if you've been provided with them.

I am much the same way with Ekajati so can commiserate.
She is not a "Crone". She isn't! :c) It's not so simple.

The problem isn't that western sources may not be "correct", right -
but that they may be interpolating in various ways outside of the tradition.
Age is sometimes counter-intuitively deceptive in such instances.
We've left behind some odd obscurations over the last few decades.

Re: with respect

[stevencaldwell]

I am training to be ordained into the Western Buddhist Order which is an ecletic tradition. Sadhanas are given to those who are ordained into the WBO; that being said, I am a Green Tara devotee and do puja for her reglarly.

I spoke to my teacher (and our founder)Sangharakshita a month ago and he was unable to assist me. Dharmapalas don't feature much in the order as far as I am aware.

I am interested in knowing how these cultural representations can be integrated into my life in Sydney without needing to learn Tibetan. I've practised extensively in temples and was no closer to freedom from my samskaras than before.

[toolheadjdg]

How strange! I was just randomly, out of the blue, thinking of Mahakala yesterday. I mean it just hit me suddenly and I've been removed from Buddhism for about 2 years now.

[stevencaldwell]

I'm curious, why are you 'removed' from Buddhism?

[toolheadjdg]

Lonnnngg story, but I'll give you the brief version

[stevencaldwell]

That all seems very clear and very very Conditioned! Isn't it awful the way that politics and power and hierarchies spoil something so liberating.

I'm glad that you have a strong faith which inspires you. Go into it even more deeply and who knows where you'll end up.