Deconstructing Yourself Vajrayana as a Living Practice, with Ken McLeod
Jul 20, 2021
Ken McLeod, a seasoned teacher and author in Tibetan Buddhism, shares his deep insights into Vajrayana as a living practice rather than merely a pursuit of enlightenment. He discusses the significance of lam khyer, or 'living practice,' and critiques transactional approaches to Buddhism. McLeod highlights the power of prayer, distinguishing between petitionary and aspirational types, while emphasizing the need for nurturing spirituality in secret. He also explores modern challenges in integrating traditional practices within Western culture and the importance of intimate relationships with personal deities or yidams.
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Practice As A Way Of Life
- Ken McLeod reframes spiritual practice as choosing a way to live rather than aiming solely for enlightenment.
- Letting go required to live that way is what people often call enlightenment.
Fragmented Spiritual Heritage
- Modernism and historical events fragmented the integrated religious, magical, and ritual life that earlier cultures held.
- This disruption makes recreating a living, full spiritual culture in the West particularly difficult.
Live The Path, Don't Just Practice It
- Treat the Eightfold Path as a way of life you evolve into through practice, not as a separate list of exercises.
- Use practice to cultivate the letting go needed to live that path, rather than seeing the path itself as practice.
