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Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

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2. To remember death, which comes at no certain time.<br />

This foundation connects well with the meditations on<br />

death <strong>and</strong> impermanence.<br />

3. That causality is inexorable: "As a man sows, so shall<br />

he reap." The meditations on dependent origination are<br />

connected here.<br />

4. That in samsara, only pain is experienced: The<br />

correspondence with the Four Noble Truths <strong>and</strong><br />

mindfulness of feeling is plain to see.<br />

I am very sorry to note, however, that for most tantric<br />

rituals <strong>and</strong> doctrines, there is only talk of the necessary<br />

preliminary practice of the exoteric yanas <strong>and</strong> very little<br />

practice of them. Too many Vajrayana gurus are<br />

inclined in this way; they talk too much <strong>and</strong> practice too<br />

little. They could well learn from the Hinayana where<br />

practice is that while many scholars are seen, there are<br />

few sages now. If the Vajrayana laid more stress upon<br />

these four foundations <strong>and</strong> the meditations connected<br />

with them, then it would be much easier for people to<br />

gain realization in the disciplines of the Diamond Way.<br />

There is a proverb in Tibet that says:<br />

"Among any ten sages,<br />

Nine belong to Taklung-kagyu;<br />

And of these ten sages,<br />

Nine out of ten are poor."<br />

307

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