Powa

RE: Powa

Hi Bodhi

You've taken me back here. I haven't thought about powa for years but I did actually try to do it when my mother was dying in December 2000. I had come back from India to sit with her (she was in a coma) and I couldn't find my copy of the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying so I just tried to do powa from memory, without really knowing the details but only the outline of what I should be doing.

I have also tried, in the past, to do tonglen for my son.

I think these practices are well worth trying.

Much love
sunanda xxx

RE: Powa

I am glad to hear of others that use them
I use it generally when there is a tragedy (such as the london bombing) or when someone I know has died

I just thought if others are interested, if we get another tragedy in the future maybe a few of us could arrange to do it at the same time

just curious to see what others thought of this

RE: Powa

I hadn't thought about doing it for the victims of the bombings - what a very good idea! (Though I don't remember the technique too clearly now - I shall have to look it up.)

Yes, a collective session would be good.

Love
Sunanda xxx

RE: Powa

I suppose you are a Buddhist. Will you please start a thread on mindfulness? regards.

RE: Powa

Hello Jogeshwar

I imagine you addressed the above post to Bodhi.

I would not call myself a Buddhist but I am interested in Buddhism and Buddhist practices. I prefer not to put a label on my 'religion' but have to say that I am very drawn to aspects of Hinduism also.

Blessings
sunanda

RE: Powa

Hello, sure I can do that
Will try and sort it a little later on today

RE: Powa

I'm curious - could anyone explain (briefly) what a powa is, please? I'm afraid don't have access to the Tibetan book of the dead to find out.

Thanks!

Memphis

RE: Powa

Hi Memphis

Actually the book I read is the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying - sorry can't remember the author and don't havethe book to hand. (This is different from The Tibetan Book of the Dead.) Anyway I hope Bodhi will come along and give a proper definition of powa but as I remember it it's a kind of meditation you do for someone who is close to death whereby you visualise their soul leaving their body and ascending to the next level in order to aid their passing. I know there's more to it than that, with visualisations, but as I said before I don't remember the details.

Tonglen is another practice whereby you visualise all the bad stuff in someone (disease, anger, jealousy etc) solidifying into a really disgusting tarry gunk which you then absorb into yourself and 'eat' - this benefits both you and them, but again I don't remember the nitty gritty stuff.

BTW Tibetan Book of Living and Dying is excellent, given that there is such fear of dying here in the west and such a taboo about speaking of it.

Love
Sunanda xxx

RE: Powa

Hi Sunanda,

Thanks so much for your reply. I realised I'd got the title of the book wrong as soon as I'd posted my message! Doh.

I really like the sound of the powa, I'm not a Buddhist, but funnily enough have actually done similar meditations myself when close ones have been getting ready to pass over. I guess it just came naturally.

I'm not sure I like the sound of the tonglen, but will have to investigate it further now, as I am certainly intrigued! I'm not sure how it would benefit me to 'eat' other people's negative 'stuff'.

I keep finding myself drawn to Buddhist books, practises etc these days. And it's getting stronger, so it's obviously something I should be paying attention to.

Thanks again,

love

Memphisx

RE: Powa

Hi Memphis

I'm not Buddhist either but am drawn to some of their teachings and practices. With regard to tonglen, if you get the book it explains really clearly how it helps you to take on someone else's dark stuff. Believe me, the way it's explained makes perfect sense. With powa I forgot to say that you visualise the soul going into the light, which as you say, is probably what most aware people would do anyway.

I have read a couple of books by Lama Surya Das who is an american Buddhist lama and I found them very easy to read and very helpful. One I remember was called 'Awakening the Buddha within' but there are several others.

Love
Sunanda xxx

RE: Powa

Its spelt Phowa.

RE: Powa

hi bodhi and sunanda,

wonder why this caught my eye... but i am glad it did, thank you.

i like this explanation and guess its not dissimilar to the one you "know", sunanda. actually, its not disimilar to what i would do with reiki and did in fact do for my FIL when i heard of his death, last year and my MIL this year. i dont know if it helped them but it gave me some comfort.

but i do need to practise meditation more... its not something i find easy to do.

... just off to read about what's for lunch <g>!

as an aside, anyone remember Steely Dan singing "bodhisatva"? i wondered for a long time about that!

RE: Powa

Thanks for those links, Rosie. I had a peep but haven';t had a chance for a good read yet.

BTW - I should have mentioned bodhisattvas on your other thread about whether we take birth again after 'enlightenment'. Buddhist belief is that some great souls choose to incarnate again as boddhisattvas: beings of enormous compassion who stay on earth to help and teach and support other seekers. In other words, they turn down nirvana because of their love for their fellow beings.

Love
Sunanda xxx

RE: Powa

'The Tibetan Book of Living & Dying' is by Sogyal Rinpoche.

RE: Powa

I knew that!:D

Thanks, RR. Have you read it? It's an interesting book.

Love
Sunanda x