We followed the exposition by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche in Pure Appearance: Development and Completion Stages in Vajrayana Practice. The first three discussions (Part One) covered the three samadhis, vivid appearance, pride of the deity, and recollection of the meaning.
In this sequence we will continue with the exposition of the Four Binding Forces, as set forth by Khyentse Rinpoche, Petrul Rinpoche, Sechen Gyaltsap, and other masters of the Nyingma tradition. The four binding forces are the force of appearances as the deity; the force of mantra and prana; the unchanging view; and application of activities.
Since some of these instructions are general principles, we look at these instructions as they are elaborated in our Vajrayogini and Chakrasamvara transmission from the Vidyadhara and the Kagyu tradition.
The first session leads off with contemplation of ‘the binding force of appearances as the deity. Page references from Pure Appearance (1991 edition) are:
- On clear appearance, the meaning of the symbolism and pride of the deity, pp. 69 – 95
- On the binding force of appearances as the deity, pp. 97 – 103
- On the binding force of mantra and prana training pp. 103 – 114
- On the binding force of the unchanging view pp. 114 – 119
- On the binding force of activities, pp. 119 – 121
Please see the Curriculum Documents within the course for additional class resources and page references.