OR2K custom silk menus, vegetarian restaurant, downtown, Kathmandu, Nepal

OR2K custom silk menus, vegetarian restaurant, downtown, Kathmandu, Nepal, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Plastic octopus thrown back by the Pacific Ocean at Gray Whale Cove, California Coast, USA

Plastic octopus thrown back by the Pacific Ocean at Gray Whale Cove, California Coast, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Lake bottom, bicyclist, Jalisco, Ixlan, Mexico

Lake bottom, bicyclist, Jalisco, Ixlan, Mexico, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Spruce and hemlock trees, turquoise waters of Detroit Lake, Breightenbush, Marion County, Oregon, USA

Spruce and hemlock trees, turquoise waters of Detroit Lake, Breightenbush, Marion County, Oregon, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

A little patch of hillside, veins of the earth, stone, trees, Breightenbush, Marion County, Oregon, USA

A little patch of hillside, veins of the earth, stone, trees, Breightenbush, Marion County, Oregon, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Dharma Salon, Ridgefield, Washington, USA

Dharma Salon, Ridgefield, Washington, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Tantra

The tantric path includes the following steps:

Lamrim ( literally, stages of the path ) These are indispensable topics for reflection and contemplation and also the meditations and activities that should naturally follow on from them.

The Lamrim embodies the necessary prerequisites for tantra. It is set out as a progressive set of steps.

Relying Upon a Spiritual Guide ( learning from someone already on the path )

The Preciousness of Human Life ( the importance of using life for something valuable )

Death and Impermanence ( uncertainty of death and the unsatisfactory nature of this world )

The Danger of being Reborn in a Lower Realm

Taking Refuge from Samsara ( the cycle of endless grasping and eventual disappointment )

Karma ( the law of cause and effect which works in this world as well as at esoteric levels )

Developing Renunciation for Samsara ( integrating spiritual understanding and values )

Developing Equanimity ( accepting, and seeing past, both good and bad experience )

Recognizing that all Beings are as Precious as our Mothers ( the beginnings of bodhichitta )

Remembering the Kindness of Others

Equalizing Self and Others ( realising that we all want, and deserve, to be happy )

The Disadvantage of Self-Cherishing

The Advantage of Cherishing Others ( loosening the hold of ego through caring )

Exchanging Self with Others ( this is the core practice for developing bodhichitta--it involves developing the wish to voluntarily take on others' problems and freely give them one's own happiness in exchange.

A sketch of the technique is as follows: breathe in others' woes as black smoke--let it settle into the heart, then breathe out all one's own happiness as white light--let it expand to fill all the cosmos.

A practitioner should imagine and rejoice at the effect of both the in- and out-breath. For, on the in-breath, the reality and weight of all the problems in this world sink into the heart and help to dissolve the ego. Likewise, the out-breath brings relief and joy to all others. )

Developing Great Compassion

Taking Responsibility to Relieve Others' Burdens ( "exchanging self with others" in action )

Sharing One's Own Good Fortune with Others

Bodhichitta ( the desire to attain full enlightenment for the sake of all beings )

Tranquil Abiding ( developing advanced stages of concentration )

Superior Seeing ( developing emptiness--that is, non-identification with the personal ego )

Common Preliminary Tantric Practices
These are the beginning activities that are unique to the Vajrayana path.

Prostrations ( physical prostration, visualisation and prayer for taking refuge )

Vajrasattva Meditation ( visualisation and mantra recitation for purification )

Mandala Offering ( visualisation and prayer for developing surrender and gaining merit )

Guru Yoga ( visualisation, mantra recitation and prayer for developing devotion and receiving blessings)

-Daniel Reyes

Da ma ru - a small hourglass-shaped hand drum. Two cloth-wrapped pellets attached to the drum with string strike the drum heads when the instrument is rotated. The dril bu and da ma ru are played by one player. Tibetan Buddhist ritual music.

Da ma ru - a small hourglass-shaped hand drum. Two cloth-wrapped pellets attached to the drum with string strike the drum heads when the instrument is rotated. The dril bu and da ma ru are played by one player. Tibetan Buddhist ritual music., a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Dung dkar; a Counch shell trumpet with a small hole for a mouthpiece. Used in Tibetan Buddhist rituals and religious music. Suzzallo Library, University of Washington, Seattle, USA

Dung dkar; a Counch shell trumpet with a small hole for a mouthpiece. Used in Tibetan Buddhist rituals and religious music. Suzzallo Library, University of Washington, Seattle, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Dril bu and Rdo rje; the dril bu is a copper alloy handbell with an iron clapper and brass handle, and rdo rje is an hourglass-shaped brass ritual scepter.

Dril bu and Rdo rje; the dril bu is a copper alloy handbell with an iron clapper and brass handle, and rdo rje is an hourglass-shaped brass ritual scepter., a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Rgya gling: a wood oboe with a metal alloy bell, head, and mouthpiece. A series of link chains run from the bell up to the mouthpiece, which is encircled by a disc and holds a double reed. The decorated body has seven finger holes and one thumb hole.

Rgya gling: a wood oboe with a metal alloy bell, head, and mouthpiece. A series of link chains run from the bell up to the mouthpiece, which is encircled by a disc and holds a double reed. The decorated body has seven finger holes and one thumb hole., a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Rgya gling: The rgya gling is a wood oboe wiht a metal alloy bell, head, and mouthpiece. A series of link chains run from the bell up to the mouthpiece, which is encircled by a disc and holds a double reed. The decorated body has seven finger holes and one thumb hole.

Rgya gling, played in pairs, play a 'debs-style melody (a patterned sequence of distinctly separated pitches combined with patterns of longer and shorter rhythmic values).

Used in Tibetan Buddhist rituals and religious music

Dung dkar and Rkang gling; dung dkar is a Conch shell trumpet with a small hole for mouthpiece, the rkang gling is a short trumpet made of copper alloy with brass-work decorating the center portion. The bottom of the bell is scalloped in the front.

Dung dkar and Rkang gling; dung dkar is a Conch shell trumpet with a small hole for mouthpiece, the rkang gling is a short trumpet made of copper alloy with brass-work decorating the center portion. The bottom of the bell is scalloped in the front., a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Sbub 'chal - The sbub 'chal is a pair of metal alloy cymbals with a large central boss. A cloth or leather strap is attached to the top center of each cymbal. Rhythms played on the cymbals by the Dbu mdzad (leader-director) form the core

Sbub 'chal - The sbub 'chal is a pair of metal alloy cymbals with a large central boss. A cloth or leather strap is attached to the top center of each cymbal. Rhythms played on the cymbals by the Dbu mdzad (leader-director) form the core, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Light well, library, stairwell, Coke vending machine, University of Washington School of Law, William H. Gates Hall, Seattle, Washington, USA

Light well, library, stairwell, Coke vending machine, University of Washington School of Law, William H. Gates Hall, Seattle, Washington, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Zen style after - Painted stone fireplace makeover with flat black slate inlayed hearth, pillows, Buddha candleholder, original art, rocking chair, Ikea curtains, Seattle, Washington, USA

Zen style after - Painted stone fireplace makeover with flat black slate inlayed hearth, pillows, Buddha candleholder, original art, rocking chair, Ikea curtains, Seattle, Washington, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Later complete Zen makeover - white sofa, barrel tables, lounge chair, green pillow, painted fireplace, refinished floor, slate hearth, interior design, original art, cushions, simple lamp, ficus plants, sisal rug, windows, Seattle, Washington, USA

Later complete Zen makeover - white sofa, barrel tables, lounge chair, green pillow, painted fireplace, refinished floor, slate hearth, interior design, original art, cushions, simple lamp, ficus plants, sisal rug, windows, Seattle, Washington, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Lakeside Patio Dining 3 bears, custom painted sign, Detroit Lake, turnoff to Breightenbush, Marion County, Oregon, USA

Lakeside Patio Dining 3 bears, custom painted sign, Detroit Lake, turnoff to Breightenbush, Marion County, Oregon, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Countryside gas station, biker setting up to leave, working on a ladder, log siding, turnoff to Breightenbush, Detroit Lake, Marion County, Oregon, USA

Countryside gas station, biker setting up to leave, working on a ladder, log siding, turnoff to Breightenbush, Detroit Lake, Marion County, Oregon, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Mary Gates Hall, commons, Study hall at the University of Washington, iSchool, Seattle, Washington, USA

Mary Gates Hall, commons, Study hall at the University of Washington, iSchool, Seattle, Washington, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

Thank you Bill!

Last Gas to Sisters, best roadside wooden deck lake view, Detroit Lake Exit to Breightenbush, forest colored forest, Marion County, Oregon, USA

Last Gas to Sisters, best roadside wooden deck lake view, Detroit Lake Exit to Breightenbush, forest colored forest, Marion County, Oregon, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

THE INNER PATH, Slippery When Wet or Frosty, Breightenbush Hot Springs, Breightenbush, Marion County, Oregon, USA

THE INNER PATH, Slippery When Wet or Frosty, Breightenbush Hot Springs, Breightenbush, Marion County, Oregon, USA, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.