Tantra Lives

Towards, A Deeper Conscious & A higher mind ! Art, 4:20 & Passions of the Body, Mind & Soul.! M40 Most posts are the rightful artworks of the respective artists.

[maureen2musings]

Black-capped Chickadee & Downy Woodpecker showcasing winter fashion by donning a snowflake accessory

jocelynandersonphotography

[the-night-picture-collector]

Yoshinori Mitzutani, Birds

[apocalypse-polakiewicz]

tozozozo

[wondrousworld]

A wild cat and a fox isn’t the usual pair of best friends but this duo was discovered by fishermen on the shores of Lake Van in Turkey and have been together for over a year. Locals say their inseparable. Article.

[snailspng]

Nepalese fungus mask (made from the Lingzhi mushroom) PNGs.

(1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.)

[moonandserpent]

Museum of carriages and sleighs, Marstallmuseum, Nymphenburg Palace, Germany, 2019.  © Moon and Serpent

[langelito]

Incredible work by @gabrielagoniphoto on Instagram.

[aestheteasteria]

seeking, yearning, reaching hands

[mahayanapilgrim-deactivated2025]

THE INCOMPARABLE GAMPOPA

The Ten Things to be Understood.

Understand that outer appearances are unreal because they are illusion.

Understand that inner mind is empty because it is devoid of self-entity.

Understand that thoughts are momentary because they appear due to conditions.

Understand that both your body and your voice are impermanent because they are conditioned.

Understand that consequences of your actions are inevitable because all pleasure and pain of sentient beings result from karma.

Understand that pain is your spiritual friend because it is cause of renunciation.

Understand that pleasure and happiness are the demons of attachment because they are the roots of samsara.

Understand that many engagements are obstacles for merit because they hinder spiritual practice.

Understand that enemies and obstructors are your teachers because obstacles are inspiration for spiritual practice.

Understand that everything is of equal nature because all phenomena are ultimately devoid of self-nature.

These are the ten things to understand.

[jareckiworld]

Mauro Ariel Koliva — Friction Fields (pen with gel ink on canvas, 2015)

[aspvre-deactivated20160914]

[talonabraxas]

Libra ⚖️ Cosmic Balance Talon Abraxas

The energy of your Sun sign motivates and drives you. It's who you are learning to become. Those born with the Sun in Libra are learning to take action around principles of fairness, justice, and equality and have an urge to create harmony in one-to-one relationships.

Libra Sun Sign Astrological Basics Astrological signs have many things that give and refine the definition of each.

The Scales The word "Libra" means scales in Latin. The scales are the only inanimate symbol of the zodiac. They symbolize perfect equilibrium.

The symbol dates back to Babylonian astrology, a time when scales were used in marriage rites by the bride's family to weigh the silver and gold presented to the groom.

The scales symbolize Libra's need to create balance, beautiful consonance, and restore equilibrium to all affairs.

Libra's Glyph Libra's glyph is a simplified drawing of the setting sun, as it falls below the horizon at dusk.

In Egyptian astrology, Libra was displayed as a disc above a bowl-like shape, said to represent the setting Sun above the Earth.

It also resembles the mathematical symbol for "equal".

Libra and the Seventh House Libra corresponds to the seventh house of an astrological chart. The Descendant is the cusp of the seventh house. At dusk each day the astrological Sun falls below the Descendant. The seventh house is opposite the first house and places focus on significant others. A Libra's identity and satisfaction in life are highly dependent on how others relate to them.

Libra's Modality and Element Libra's modality (mode of operation) is Cardinal (initiating, new, birthing.) Its element is Air (mental.) These indicate that Libra initiates on an intellectual level.

Libra's Planetary Ruler Libra's ruling planet is Venus. Venus is the Roman goddess of love, beauty, sexuality, abundance, desire, fertility, and finances. But she is also the goddess of prostitutes and has a wild side that favors excess, vanity and materialism. The Babylonians called Venus the double-phased Ishtar, the morning star of war and the evening star of love. Venus as ruler of Libra defines many Libra traits.

Libra Sun Sign in Depth | LoveToKnow

The energy of your Sun sign motivates and drives you. It's who you are learning to become. Those born with the Sun in Libra are learning to

[the-night-picture-collector]

/ Wayne Miller, USA, 1947

[orchidopium]

“Slow is often overlooked in rushed culture. Its’ oracle is not acknowledged, properly understood, or respected. The slow breath. A slow first kiss. Slowly disrobing in front of a lover. Slow lovemaking. Slow to get up out of a warm bed. Slow stretching. Slow yoga. Slow bathing. Slow and steady. Slowly walking through an airport to catch a flight. Slow decision-making. Slow crockpot cooking. Slow eating. Slow creativity. The pause before we speak. When we give ourselves (our cells) permission to slow down, our whole system is met in a magical place where regeneration and rejuvenation naturally begin to occur without any effort from us.”

— India Ame’ye, Author, Energy of Gods (via eatmangoesnekkid)

[thoughtkick]

“Don’t let the concept of change scare you as much as the prospect of remaining unhappy.”

— Timber Hawkeye

[merovingian-marvels]

The actual meaning of Runes

When dealing with runes, their name should be analyzed first. The alphabet is called “Futhark” based on the beginning letter of the first six runes’ names.

“Runes” aren’t a singularity. There’s the Elder Futhark and the Younger Futhark, also called Futhork. Than there’s also regional varieties such as the Nordic runes, Frisian runes, Anglo-Saxon runes and varieties due to changes through time. Something that looks like a rune but isn’t is called a “tectiform”.

Etymological there are plenty of Germanic varieties of the word. Rún is Old Norse/Nordic, Old Saxon rūna, Middle Dutch’s rune or ruin and rúna in Gothic. In Finnish runo means “poem”.

The word “rune” in essence means “secret” but is also a word used for “confidential conversation/writing”, “concealment” but also “counseling”.

The meaning of the word was held literally. It was not meant for basic administration, conversation or education. Few people actually knew how to read or write runes. It was reserved for a select but also elite part of society.

This brings us to Odin. The tales tell how he hung himself from the branches of Yggdrasil for nine days to gain the knowledge of runic wisdom. This makes him the god of the hanged (Hangagud), god of runes (Rúnatyr), father of magical songs (Fadir Galdrs) and wise one (Svidur). Knowing runes was viewed as knowing (some of) Odin’s magic and/or power.

Runes were used for “runic magic” a not very specified kind of magic in the Eddic texts. Individual runes were given names, such as the first rune, Fehu which means cattle or wealth. Naming individual characters is a common historic practice. These are not to be taken literally, but often are in modern esotericism and fantasy. Germanic Runic spells however are a weird thing. There are mystical inscriptions on the back of brooches, stones, wooden artifacts, etc. We know what they say, but not what they mean.

Mostly runes aren’t actually that far fetched. They are found on grave/memorial stones or a craftsman’s signature on an object. An example of this is the Nolby stone; “Bergsven and Sigfust and Fride raised this stone in memory of Bure, their father. Fartägn carved this stone”.

[mahayanapilgrim-deactivated2025]

Ngakpas

Ngakpa (Tib. སྔགས་པ་, Wyl. sngags pa ) are both healers and practitioners of the highest levels of Tantric Buddhism in the Himalayan regions.

The origins of Ngakpas is connected to Guru Rinpoche who, in Tibet during the 8th century, divided the Sangha into two branches: the red sangha of monastics with shaven-heads and the saffron robes (Wyl. rab byung ngur smig go see) and the white sangha of Ngakpas with white clothes and long, plaited hair (Wyl. gos dkar lcang lo’I see).

A realized Ngakpa can perform ceremonies to pacify illness, disease and help in other worldly activities and be a master of the inner levels of Tantra and Dzogchen practices dealing with liberation on others. However, many people confuse them as 'shamans' or just 'lay practitioners' and often times they were belittled by those who are unaware of their history and importance as the torchbearers of an ancient Indian tradition.

As Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche said, “for the ngakpa the purpose and final goal is enlightenment in order to liberate others and self. Usually in the shamanic tradition no one talks of enlightenment.”

According to Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche,

There are two types of ngakpas – those of family lineage (rigs rgyud) and those of Dharma lineage (chos rgyud). Ngakpa family lineages are passed from father ngakpa to their sons from generation to generation. At present, these are family lineage holders such as the great lamas of the Nyingma tradition, Minling Trichen Rinpoche and Sakya Trizin, the throne holder of the Dharma Potrang lineage

Ngakpas, known in Tibetan as "སྔགས་པ" (sngags pa), play a significant role in the spiritual and healing traditions of the Himalayan regions. Their origins are deeply intertwined with the profound teachings of Guru Rinpoche, who, during the 8th century in Tibet, initiated a division within the Sangha, the Buddhist monastic community.

Guru Rinpoche's division resulted in two distinct branches. The first is the "red sangha," composed of monastics who wear shaven heads and saffron robes. The second is the "white sangha" of Ngakpas, characterized by white clothing and long, plaited hair. This division reflects the diverse paths to spiritual realization within Tantric Buddhism.

Ngakpas are highly regarded for their unique roles as both healers and practitioners of the highest levels of Tantric Buddhism. A realized Ngakpa possesses a deep understanding of Tantric and Dzogchen practices, which focus on inner transformation and the path to enlightenment. Their abilities extend beyond the conventional boundaries of spiritual practices, allowing them to perform ceremonies aimed at pacifying illness, disease, and assisting in various worldly activities.

Contrary to common misconceptions, Ngakpas are not shamans or mere lay practitioners. They are torchbearers of an ancient Indian tradition with a distinct focus on achieving enlightenment for the benefit of both themselves and others. In this sense, they are more aligned with the traditional Buddhist goals of liberation and awakening.

Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche eloquently summarizes this distinction when he emphasizes that for Ngakpas, the ultimate purpose and goal are enlightenment, a goal rarely discussed in shamanic traditions. The focus on spiritual realization sets Ngakpas apart from practices primarily concerned with worldly or material concerns.

Furthermore, Ngakpas come in two main categories: those of family lineage (rigs rgyud) and those of Dharma lineage (chos rgyud). Family lineage Ngakpas inherit their role from their fathers, passing down the tradition through generations. Prominent figures within this tradition include the great lamas of the Nyingma tradition, such as Minling Trichen Rinpoche and Sakya Trizin, the throne holder of the Dharma Potrang lineage.

In conclusion, Ngakpas are a unique and essential part of the Himalayan spiritual landscape. Their roots in the teachings of Guru Rinpoche, their dual role as healers and practitioners, and their dedication to the path of enlightenment distinguish them from other spiritual traditions. It is crucial to recognize and honor the history and importance of Ngakpas as preservers of an ancient Indian tradition and torchbearers of the quest for spiritual awakening and liberation.