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Why Practice?
The 5 Stages:
1 - Accumulation
2 - Preparation
3 - Insight
4 - Meditation
5 - Perfection
Tantra
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THE PREPARATION STAGE
Looking for a Vase inside of the Vase
The first focus is on the selflessness of the person and the understanding of the selflessness of outside phenomena comes about mostly once we get a glimpse of our own selflessness and begin to see similar signs in the outside world.
However, there are a couple of examples of phenomena that are given in order to get a clearer picture of what we mean by selflessness.
If we look at a vase (See example) , we can see that there are many things that make up this thing that we call a vase. It is usually made of clay or glass. It is hollow in the center. For this to happen the clay or glass must be heated, then manipulated and finally cooled. If it were flatter, one might consider it a bowl, and so it needs to have a certain shape. This shape has to fit its function which is to hold and preserve flowers. Also, if we used the word "vase" to a non-english speaking person, they would not have the same image appear to their mind as we would. Even with us, in order for the word "vase" to be associated with a container made of these materials, in this shape, with this function, we had to learn to make that association. As well, we are totally unaware of the existence of this vase, until we arrive at the place where it is and we notice it with our eyes and minds. All of these circumstances must be combined together in order for a "vase" to exist. If any single one of these circumstances is missing, then, for us, the vase does not come into existence. So to act as if or to say that a vase is an independent, fixed, solid, and permanent entity is a foolish mistake.
Another example is a wagon. Without wheels, or without a steering handle or sides, it is just a flat piece of wood. It is no longer a wagon. We tend to look at the pieces as solid as well, but we know that they are all made of atoms and molecules and space. Also, if you remove one part of the wagon, it can no longer perform the functions of a wagon. If you change the configuration of the wheels, it could become a Wheelbarrow. So all of these conditions have to exist together and all of these pieces assembled in this manner for an object to be called a wagon. Yet, when we see a wagon, our automatic reaction is not to think of all of these conditions that need to come together for the wagon to exist. Our automatic reaction is to think of the wagon as solid, and as if it was always present, and was always present in this form. This is the difference between the ordinary appearance and the true reality of objects.
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