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THE MAHASIDDHA TRADITION IN TIBET by Vajranatha
The Higher Tantras could not be a congregational practice of monks because Tantric sadhana, as well as celebrations of the High Tantric feast or Ganachakrapuja, required partaking of meat, wine, and sexual intercourse. At the very least the latter two would force a monk to break his vows. And so what came about in the eleventh century was a change in the external style of practice; the Anuttara Tantras, many of them freshly brought from India and newly translated into Tibetan, came to be practiced in the style of the lower Yoga Tantras. Although there is a great deal of ritual in the Yoga Tantras, there is nothing there that would require a monk to violate his monastic vows. The presence of a woman or Dakini is require at High Tantric initiation and also at the Tantric feast of the Ganachakrapuja, but in the eleventh century reform the actual Dakini physically present was replaced by a mind-consort (yid kyi rig-ma), a visualization of the Dakini. One did the sexual practice only in visualization, not in actuality. In this way the practices of the Higher Tantras could be taken into the monasteries and incorporated into the congregations practice and liturgy of the monks known as puja. Unlike the Zen Buddhists of Japan, Tibetan monks customarily do not practice group meditation. That is something done in the privacy of one's room or in a retreat situation. The typical congregational practice of Tibetan monks is puja which may involve the chanting of liturgies and the making of offerings for many hours.
Partaking of a little wine or meat during Ganapuja is allright because in the course of the ritual they have been mystically transmuted into nectars, and the holy red and white substances in the skull cup have been replaced by symbolic substitutes.
But if one were to read the text of the liturgy, they are filled with the activities of wrathful deities which are both sexual and sanguine. But otherwise, everything is perfect monastic decorum. This was so successful a solution to the dilemma that all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism almost exclusively practice the Anuttara Tantras, to the neglect of the Yoga Tantras. Nonetheless, the Yoga Tantra transmissions have been preserved, especially in the Sakyapa school which is quite fastidious about preserving all of the authentic Indian Tantric transmissions. Among the Nyingmapas, who preserve the traditions coming from the early period of the spread of Buddhism in Tibet (7-9 cen. CE), practitioners of the Higher Tantras who do not take monastic ordination and become monks are known as Tantrikas or Ngagpas (sngags-pa), meaning "those who use mantras (sngags)". They are typically married Lamas. A Lama, though functioning as a priest and teacher, is not necessarily a monk.
fraterormus
Originally posted by kingswillquiver
I have never taken the 33rd Degree myself, so I cannot speak from personal experience, but the 33rd Degree Initiation Ceremony described in the book "33Rd Degree Freemason Initiation-Deadly Deception by Jim Shaw, wherein the following is described:
One of the Conductors then handed the "candidate" a human skull, upside down, with wine in it. "May this wine I now drink become a deadly poison to me, as the Hemlock juice drunk by Socrates, should I ever knowingly or willfully violate the same" (the oath). He then drank the wine. A skeleton (one of the brothers dressed like one - he looked very convincing) then stepped out of the shadows and threw his arms around the "candidate." Then he (and we) continued the sealing of the obligation by saying, "And may these cold arms forever encircle me should I ever knowingly or willfully violate the same."
Text Maroon
May I, then, take it to mean that you are a Freemason/Mason, or were?
If the this is true, then anyone who confirms or denies that a candidate drinks from a human skull is violating the same oath that he has taken upon himself never to reveal, and is therefore tempting this fate to befall him.
I wish to point out, at this point, that there have been many things written about Freemasonry. Even among those who are, or were, Freemasons, there are inconsistencies and inaccuracies meant to deceive, inveigle, and obfuscate the rituals that are performed by the candidate as well as the initiated.
The skull and cross bones, while often associated with Freemasonry, has been used by many other groups, such as the alleged skull and bones, as well as pirates. There are many other clandestine symbols used by members to identify themselves.
I seem to recall that Anton LaVey, in his book The Satanic Bible, details a ritual which supposedly comes from the Templars. In this, the initiate lays in a coffin which already contains a nude woman. The suppose it significance of this ritual is to impress upon the candidate that he should not fear death but should embrace it, as she embraces him in the act of coitus. However, I should point out that the late Mr. LaVey was a very accomplished performer and was more than able to create his own rituals and significance to them. In fact, a local motorcycle club has a very similar initiation rite of their own which may have been inspired by Mr. LaVey's 1966 rite.
I suspect, however, that the true nature of these rituals has been lost throughout the ages, if they were ever known to groups that merely claim to have access to the knowledge of those who have gone before them.
oxford
reply to post by ST3V3nice
Geronimos Remains - Skull and Bones Sued
Drinking out of peoples skulls . . . well it just isn't normal is it, it is what it is but it is not what it is intended for! The whole concepts still wins the creepy award in my book, maybe its a boy thing, going to stick with my girlie chalice for the time being me thinks.
What do they toast? Divine Poison
thelonious2
They drink wine from a skull in the Knight Templar degree in the York Rite.
thelonious2
Real human skulls are used, and I have no idea where they get them. Or how.
AugustusMasonicus
thelonious2
They drink wine from a skull in the Knight Templar degree in the York Rite.
Yeah, a plastic one as has been pointed out already.
Thanks for showing up late to the party.
edit on 7-12-2013 by AugustusMasonicus because: networkdude has no beer but if he did he would drink it from a skull