Chod, the Cutting Through

 "Chod belongs to both sutra and tantric teaching; it's origins are in the prajanaparamitra teaching."  -- Unbounded Wholeness by authors Klein and Tenzin Wangyal, Rinpoche

The authors continue, addressing the notions of expectation and disappointment they say are central to the teaching. Chod follows the 'fourth presentation' in which emptiness and clarity are represented in the 'middle way.' The integration of these elements is indispensable to comprehension of one's own nature. Chod practice is a powerful form of 'merit' through the offering of one's own body. Dzogchen training includes emptiness as a central theme.

Many misinterpret emptiness. It is more akin to the idea "to be empty is to be full." It is Sunyata.
While this seems contradictory, it is so that without space there is no fullness nor is there emptiness. Dzogchen teaches just that, the middle way, and emptiness as one of its vehicles. Its aim is to probe deeply into a sense of "just-this-ness." The present moment, is a moment unhindered by any other. "To recognize that indefiniteness and 'confidence in oneself during practice' are in fact, splendidly complementary, is to move towards a clearer understanding of the magical inclusiveness attributed to unbounded wholeness."

Unbounded wholeness is indefinite. Arising from the Bon comes the notion that open awareness is not a union of clarity and emptiness. However, the base that is open is unity. "Emptiness is not separate from the clarity of awareness." And the base itself, is unbounded wholeness. This base, as it is spoken of, is a part of eastern philosophy which states that for anything to have awareness, it must also have observation and a thing to observe.
Observation, to focus on a thing requires effort; yet open awareness is free of effort. It is likened to the 'Buddha-mind" itself. Since Buddha nature is viewed as the first, open, primordial nature, then Dzogchen seeks to teach that the openness of awareness is to be the first, the original self, an unbounded wholeness.

Now that this all has been written, and words may be the source of misunderstanding, a caution to you, the reader: In discovering who you are through meditative principles, you may find what words cannot adequately express--you are most simply yourself, unbounded. Yours to discover.

Diwali Day and Other Hindu Festivals

Many of us who share many traditions don't often stop to think about what holidays and festivals others celebrate. If we are not exposed to other views and other customs it may come to seem that without our usual calendar, there is nothing else out there in the world. Yet the calendar in many places is filled with holidays virtually unknown in the west.

Let's Know Hinduism: The Oldest Religion of Infinite Adaptability and Diversity by R. C. Dogra, Urmila Dogra is a simple and interesting book about the ways of India, especially the major festivals celebrated by Hindus. He writes that Hindus celebrate hundreds of festivals, many of them with spiritual and cultural importance. They often involve dance, food, ritual, devotions, processions and feeding the poor. He details most of the occasions observed by most Hindus.

In the month of October-November falls the Festival of Lamps, or Diwali/Deepavali. In some places the festival is two days or as many as five. Celebrating Lord Rama return from exile. For some Hindus, the occasion commemorates the victory of Dharma and Ahisma over injustice and violence. In many areas there are events commemorating various aspects of the scripture regarding Lord Rama and the Goddess Lakshmi. Here in the United States more and more, Diwali day is being celebrated in communities small and large. Areas where there are growing numbers of  Indians are likely to have observances. It is also customary to wish friends and neighbors, Happy Diwali Day!