In this lecture, we explore the dizzying heights of Buddhist philosophy and practice, tracking the development of ideas starting with the profound insights of one of India's greatest teachers, the Shakyamuni Buddha 2600 years ago all the way to their development into the Tantrik forms of Vajrayana/Mahayana/Dzogchen as well as their more austere forms, Hinayana and Zen.
To celebrate Buddha Purnima, we explore the story of a young prince, living a life of luxury, sheltered away from the realities of life. Eventually the young prince feels the superficiality of pleasure, as we do in the quiet lull of the party. He leaves his pleasure garden and encounters old age, sickness and death, realities we pretend will not happen to us. This inspires him to take up a genuine spiritual inquiry culminating in the most profound insights of Indian philosophy.
You see, the story of the Buddha is the story of us. It is the story of our own Buddha-nature and our journey of relaxing into what is already here now for us.
May you have a blessed Buddha Purnima, Saggitarius full moon and Lunar eclipse!
May you be a lamp unto yourself.
May you awaken to your Buddha-nature daily!

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