Spiritual Practice School

However, there is another, broader meaning of the term Mahayana. It turned out that Mahayana can be practised even at the stage of Hinayana. Moreover, it turned out that if a person has not yet attaned the level of a Bodhisattva, but nevertheless practises what a Bodhisattva should do, their speed of spiritual progress increases by an order of magnitude. Thus, Mahayana in the broad sense is the path of saving all souls. Adepts of Mahayana initially strive to attain enlightenment for the sake of saving all souls. This approach is based on the development of bodhicitta. Bodhicitta (literally “awakened consciousness”) is the conscious choice and resolve of the adept – regardless of whether they are already an Arhat or not – to dedicate themself entirely to saving all souls.

Mahayana, in this broad sense, unites all the other vehicles. It is practised by both monks and laypeople. Within schools of Mahayana, there is often a mistaken belief that mahanirvāṇa differs from small nirvāṇa in that one enters small nirvāṇa individually, while one enters mahanirvāṇa collectively. This is not the case. Both are achieved individually (instances of simultaneous collective awakening are practically non‑existent). The difference between the two lies in the spiritual level. The practice of the Six Yogas of Naropa and the six Buddha bodies is also part of Mahayana.

● Tantrayana (literally "secret vehicle", tantra translates as "connection, thread, sequence") is a secret, esoteric vehicle. Tantrayana is included in both Mahayana and Vajrayana. In Tantrayana, non‑trivial means are used to achieve the goal: magic, borderline states (of life and death), psychotechniques, and sociotechniques. Tantra is understood as the practice of achieving the final result (“fruit”) – the state of Buddha – by any possible means. The word “tantra” is understood as the unbroken continuity of cause (basis), skillful means (path), and fruit. In tantra, rituals, mudras, meditations, and yantras are practised. All tantra practices are secret; one must not speak of them to anyone, otherwise there will be no effect from the practice. An important detail of tantra is the Bodhisattva vow: the adept, without fail – regardless of whether they are an Arhat or not – must take a vow to save all living beings. Also an important condition of tantra is taking a vow to attain the state of Buddha in order to later save all or as many souls as possible. Tantra is considered the shortest and at the same time the most dangerous path. For a tantra adept, it is very important to find a good teacher, who must also be thoroughly vetted.

Tantra transforms the adept into a divine being. Identification with a deity (or deities) occurs through mantras, mandalas, meditations, and rituals. Signs and symbols acquire special importance in practice, particularly words written in Sanskrit characters (which quite resonates with Orthodox discussions about the need to recite prayers in Church Slavonic, and which inevitably creates a special existential perception – although it is more than obvious that the lag of church language behind the modern one is a natural regularity). Tantra is characterised by an expansion of the list of practices, departing from traditional Buddhist meditations and rituals, and allowing borrowings from other religions – such as yoga, Christianity, Sufism, paganism, and Taoism. Physiology is studied as a subject of organism transformation. Techniques for activating sexual energy are used. A rule is introduced for the work of consciousness: there are no failures in practice – that is, any failure is not a failure but, on the contrary, a success, a necessary event for development, a lesson that must be studied in order to avoid repeating the mistake. A repentant sinner is higher in spiritual level than a righteous person. Moral and ethical norms are re‑examined.

It should be especially noted that there is a significant difference between genuine tantra and what amateurs commonly mistake it for. A large number of so‑called tantrists who have appeared recently (in the early 21st century), practising in the tradition of Rajneesh or Andrey Lapin, in fact have nothing to do with genuine tantra. They are merely engaged in highly sophisticated group sex, using esoteric, magical, and energetic techniques – all of which they practise for the sake of obtaining ever more sophisticated pleasure. As a rule, in these orgies there is not even any talk of what spiritual growth means.

● Vajrayana (literally "diamond vehicle") is the path of forming an indestructible consciousness. The main aspect of Vajrayana is unshakable devotion to the guru. “Indestructible consciousness cannot be formed; it can only be copied”. In Vajrayana, very high demands are placed on the spiritual level of the guru. In Vajrayana, the guru must be at least a Buddha or a Bodhisattva very close to supreme awakening. Vajrayana is considered the highest vehicle. It is not hard.

Commandments

Commandments are instructions indicating what a person who has embarked on the path of spiritual awakening should not do. The higher a person’s spiritual level, the fewer mistakes they make on their own, and the fewer commandments they have to observe. A person who is spiritually perfect, for example someone like a Buddha, has no need for commandments. The lower a person’s spiritual level, the more mistakes they involuntarily make in the course of their life, and the more commandments they need to observe in order to hold themselves back from falling. Almost all commandments are formulated negatively: do not do this, do not do that. Therefore, a commandment such as “I am God” – which exists in Christianity and Judaism – falls outside the definition of proper commandments (unless we take into account the explanatory subtext “you shall have no other gods”, which, in fact, also falls outside, since it is more of a manipulation than a commandment, insofar as there is no specific criterion by which this particular “God” is distinguished from any other “god”).

Commandments work best if there are no serious omissions in the list of commandments, if everything that could destroy a person is covered as much as possible. To cover as many possibilities as possible, Buddhists took into account that a person can commit three types of actions: actions of the body, actions of words, and actions of the mind (actions of the mind also include actions of the soul, such as feelings, emotions, and states). And furthermore, sages of various religions noticed that a person tends to fall under the influence of one of three universal energies: the three gunas (sattva, tamas, or rajas). And these three attachments in Buddhism came to be called the three poisons. That is, it turns out that almost any wrong action can be seen as a consequence of being caught by one of these three poisons.

When considering the division into three poisons and three types of deeds, the following results: rajas at the body level is murder. Tamas at the body level is adultery. Sattva at the body level is theft. Rajas at the speech level is slander. Tamas at the speech level is lying. Sattva at the speech level is calumny. Rajas at the mind level is hatred. Tamas at the mind level is ignorance. Sattva at the mind level is greed. It is believed that actions of the mind are more important, that all other transgressions stem from actions of the mind. Therefore, these three – greed, hatred, and ignorance – were named the three root poisons. And they were held responsible for all the sufferings a person has to face in life. That is, the cause of all suffering lies in the three root poisons: greed, hatred, and ignorance. If a person eradicates these three poisons within themselves, then they will attain liberation from all suffering, and then they will achieve true spiritual liberation.

Three poisons multiplied by three types of actions gives nine. It turns out – nine fundamental commandments. One more commandment for speech was added and it turned out to be ten fundamental commandments. These ten commandments, with minor modifications, are preached in all religions.

What is very important to keep in mind here? One must understand that any of the ten commandments must be understood both in a narrow and in a broad sense.

For example, the commandment “do not kill”. As a rule, Christians believe that to observe this commandment it is enough to refrain from killing another person. This is a mistake. One should not treat sacred writings so superficially. It is naive to believe that if a person merely does not kill their fellow humans, they will avoid falling into the hell realm. No. This is not so. By not killing people, a person avoids accumulating only the heaviest, most dangerous karma. However, to not accumlate hell karma at all one must observe the commandment “do not kill” not in the narrow, but in the broad sense. And what does this mean? This means the following: do not cause anyone physical pain, do not kick, do not push, do not hit, do not swing, do not frighten, do not kill people, animals, fish, and insects, do not engage in terrorist activity, do not commit terrorist acts, do not threaten with terrorist acts, do not kill or beat someone who disagrees with you, do not kill or beat someone with a different worldview, do not kill or beat someone of a different religion; since the production of almost any food involves the killing of living beings, therefore do not eat not only fish or meat, but also try to eat as little of any other food products as possible, and likewise try not to feed other people or other living beings (unless it is done to save a life), do not eat or damage seeds, do not damage plants, do not dig the earth, do not mow, lend a helping hand in trouble, do not cause offence, do not take revenge, do not mock, do not oppress, do not be intrusive, do not have an abortion, do not help have an abortion.

The commandment “do not steal” in the broad sense means the following: do not steal, do not rob, do not appropriate by force, do not appropriate secretly, do not ride without a ticket, have a minimum of possessions, do not borrow, do not lend, do not allow non‑payment of debts, do not delay debt repayment, do not take someone else’s things without permission, do not use other people’s things without permission, whenever possible do not use other people’s things, do not appropriate other people’s items or items of common use, especially do not appropriate alms meant for others, do not take what is poorly guarded, do not throw away any food, including leftovers, do not throw away what is edible, do not speed, do not indulge in luxury, do not go on sprees, do not live a life of excess, do not lead a dissolute life, live in poverty, be simple, do not withhold a worker’s deserved pay, do not appropriate surplus value, do not appropriate others’ labour, do not live off the results of others’ labour, do not engage in commerce (an activity whose goal is to earn income), do not appropriate income, spend on yourself (or your loved ones) from the income received only an amount equal to the effort invested, do not appropriate someone else’s property, do not appropriate public property, do not appropriate income from the sale of public property, do not gamble on the stock exchange, in bets, in casinos and the like, do not gamble for money, do not play lotteries, do not use insurance, do not speculate, do not abuse scarcity, invest any excess income obtained due to scarcity fully into eliminating that scarcity, do not attend corporate events, do not appropriate unearned money, do not receive a salary that exceeds the effort you have invested in that work, make donations, do not own more than one house for living, do not accept unearned bonuses or prizes, refrain from excessive consumption of food and drinks, practice intermittent dry fasting.

The commandment “do not commit adultery” in the broad sense means the following: refrain from any sexual activity, do not lose sexual energy in any form, do not have lovers, have intercourse only for the sake of having children, do not cheat on the father (mother) of your child, do not divorce the father (mother) of your child, remain faithful to the father (mother) of your child even after being widowed, do not touch people or other living beings, do not keep animals at home, do not entertain yourself with dancing, music, or attending other entertainment events, do not play computer games, do not play other games or entertain yourself in any other way, do not consume intoxicating substances, do not smoke, do not use drugs, do not use perfumes, cosmetics, or other adornments, do not host feasts, do not use luxurious, large, or soft beds, do not interact with the opposite sex (for the sake of interaction), do not seduce people of the opposite sex, do not have seductive conversations, do not look at people of the opposite sex, do not sleep in the same room with the opposite sex, do not bathe, do not take a shower, do not take a bath, and do not steam with the opposite sex, do not lie on your stomach, maintain your posture, do not entertain yourself, do not enjoy, do not get caught up in taste, sight, smell, hearing, touch, sensation of movement, delicacies, gluttony, satisfy yourself with plain food, do not watch love movies, do not read obscene books, do not read fiction, do not read frivolous and unspiritual books, do not look at shameful images, do not watch erotica or pornography, refrain from seeking impressions, refrain from contemplating interesting things, do not show curiosity, do not admire, do not do empty, meaningless deeds.

The commandment “do not slander” in the broad sense means the following: not a drop of cold, sharp, or evil; do not use foul language; do not swear; do not engage in negative conversations; do not get indignant; do not scold; do not shout; do not argue; do not speak in a raised voice; do not reprimand; do not issue reprimands; do not condemn; do not mention unclean forces; do not insult; do not contradict; do not utter abusive, cruel, or cutting words; refrain from blasphemous statements; do not threaten; speak with reverence and respect; maintain silence in the face of those who offend you; stop feuds and discord in the family (and beyond); do not speak ill of others; do not scold someone to their face; do not speak ill behind someone’s back; do not curse; do not blame other people or circumstances for your own failures or problems; listen to another person when they share their problems with you; do not silence another person; give them the floor; give them an opportunity to speak; do not block anyone on forums or in other social networks, and do not delete other people’s messages (except in cases where those people themselves violate the commandment “do not slander”); report on the deletion of other people’s messages; report on blocking in networks to anyone who asks; answer for your words; answer for your actions; be responsible.

The commandment “do not calumniate” in the broad sense means the following: refrain from criticising anyone (unless absolutely necessary); keep other people’s secrets; do not disclose personal information about others without permission; do not suspect; do not mock; do not make fun of others; do not speak mockingly; do not exalt yourself above others; do not assert yourself at the expense of others; do not become arrogant; do not defend yourself verbally; do not speak haughtily; do not talk about loving yourself; do not speak based on self‑love; be modest; be impartial; do not seek fame; do not seek honours; do not boast; protect the innocent and the righteous.

The commandment “do not lie” in the broad sense means the following: do not lie; do not tell falsehoods; do not be cunning; do not deceive; speak directly; do not idle talk; do not engage in empty talk; do not flatter; avoid jokes; speak only to the point; silence is golden; do not engage in seductive conversations; do not leave another person in error; keep your promises; do not make promises unless absolutely necessary.

One should ensure that the commandments concerning speech are not violated in written or electronic form either.

The commandment “eradicate anger” in the broad sense means the following: do not allow thoughts based on hatred or anger; do not violate the commandment “do not slander” in your thoughts; do not contemplate violating the commandment “do not kill”; especially do not allow yourself maniacal malice; do not get angry; do not allow negative thoughts; stop thoughts of revenge; endure offences; keep your heart from fury; avoid letting your heart be stirred up in rage; forgive offences; love those who offend you; love your enemies; transform innate egoism and self‑love into altruism; abandon the cult of self‑love; do not wish evil; eradicate coldness and indifference; do not fear death; do not kill love; let your love for your neighbours be brotherly, pure, equal to all, impartial, joyful, burning equally for friends and enemies; have the desire to crucify yourself like Christ; do not explode in anger; do not allow your mind to be clouded by malice; stop bitterness; stop irritability; stop obstinacy; stop suspiciousness; stop suspecting evil intent; stop suspecting violations of norms; stop suspecting bad qualities in another person.

The commandment “eradicate greed” in the broad sense means the following: do not allow thoughts based on greed; do not violate the commandment “do not calumniate” in your thoughts; do not contemplate violating the commandment “do not steal”; especially do not allow yourself maniacal greed; do not envy; do not love money; do not desire to become rich; do not think about means of enrichment; do not dream of wealth; do not consider income your property; do not be mercenary; do not be stingy; do not love possessions; do not have a desire to receive gifts; do not become attached to property, real estate, money, or savings; do not have thoughts of ownership of anything in your mind, not even of personal belongings, clothing, or your own body; eradicate the desire to have a nice thing; eradicate the desire to appropriate someone else’s thing; eradicate the desire to take something that is “poorly placed” (easily accessible for theft or lost); hate luxury; do not pursue sciences or arts for the sake of earthly fame; do not despise your neighbour; do not put yourself above everyone; eradicate pride; eradicate the desire to maintain your own life; dedicate yourself entirely to the Absolute.

The commandment “eradicate ignorance” in the broad sense means the following: do not allow thoughts based on ignorance; do not violate the commandment “do not lie” in your thoughts; do not contemplate violating the commandment “do not commit adultery”; especially do not allow yourself maniacal lustfulness; reject hedonism; do not entertain yourself; do not enjoy; do not nurture tender feelings (towards your own activities, conversations, socialising, being in company, resting, clean water, delicious food, food in general, good weather, pleasant experiences, change of surroundings, travelling, tourism, experiences, beauty and the sublime, music and songs, news, anything new); do not show interest in animals; do not have greed for sleep; do not sleep in complete darkness; do not do anything for the sake of outward appearance or beauty; do not touch the altar or other sacred objects without the appropriate ceremony; refrain from ceremonies and actions with the altar or sacred objects that are to be performed only with the left hand; do not damage or throw away icons and mandalas, sacred objects, or portraits of saints; honour saints from all religions; do not give in to ignorance (for example: “it’s no big deal if I’m a bit lazy”, or “it’s no big deal if I relax a bit”, or “it’s no big deal if I break a commandment”, or “it’s no big deal if I lie in bed a bit longer”, or “it’s no big deal if a child does not live with both biological parents”, or “it’s no big deal if a child lives and is raised in a state institution”, or “it’s no big deal if I have an abortion”, or “it’s better to have an abortion than to later abandon your child”, or “it’s no big deal if I go for a walk a bit”, or “it’s no big deal to dream about sensations and desires of the body, soul, and heart”, or “there’s nothing wrong with enjoying lustful thoughts”). Maintain chastity in thoughts; do not put a loved one above the Absolute; do not put an agreement with a person above an agreement with the Almighty; do not put any agreement above the Truth; do not put any foundations above the Truth; do not put any knowledge above the Truth; do not show laziness (the energy of tamas); do not give in to tamas; do not allow agnosticism (thoughts denying the possibility of scientific knowledge of the Absolute, God, the Holy Spirit, nirvana, and other such spiritual foundations); do not deny the existence of the law of karma and reincarnation; do not allow thoughts that deny the Truth (the necessity of eradicating worldly desires, the necessity and benefit of spiritual practice, and other foundations of spiritual practice); inactivity of bodily senses; silence of the mind; repentance; awareness of one’s fall; feeling of poverty of soul and spirit; desire for prayer, solitude, obedience, humility, confession of one’s sins; careful observation of all your deeds, words, thoughts, and feelings; distrust in your own mind; fear of the Almighty; humility; constant self‑accusation and self‑reproach; rejection and forgetting of false customs; abandonment of erroneous traditions, vows, and rules; recognition of one’s own weakness of mind. Suppress the following: sadness, despondency, distress, melancholy, abandonment of hope for your own spiritual growth, doubt in promises, ingratitude towards heaven for everything that happens, cowardice, impatience, lack of self‑reproach, grumbling, renunciation of the feat of laborious spiritual life, inclination to leave your path, evasion of the burden of the cross – the struggle with passions and sinfulness; laziness towards every good deed (especially spiritual ones); abandonment of religious or prayer rules; loss of memory of the Absolute; abandonment of constant prayer (mantra) and soul‑beneficial reading; inattention; haste; negligence; idleness; carelessness; debauchery; indulgence of the flesh through sleep, lying down, and all sorts of ease; seeking effortless salvation; moving from place to place in order to avoid hardships and deprivations; frequent walks and visits to friends; abandonment of bows and other spiritual feats; forgetting your own sins; forgetting the commandments; lack of diligence; self‑justification through being captive to passions; distraction; non‑fulfilment of promises; despair; changeability of temper; indulgence in passions; lack of conscience; becoming like demons in habits and life; lack of zeal; negligence in the spiritual upbringing of children; self‑love; self‑will; hardening of the heart from successes in spiritual growth; reliance on God’s long‑suffering; hypocritical or cunning repentance; sinful life.

Intermittent Dry Fasting

A practice characterized by periods of complete abstinence from both food and any liquids, including water, alternating with periods of normal eating and drinking.

Exercise or the gym – this is, of course, wonderful. Physical exercise allows you to burn excess fat. Sport activates a vigorous metabolism and balances the vitamin levels in the body. That is, it is often the case that the body feels bad precisely because there are too many of some vitamins in the body, while there is a catastrophic lack of others. And sport corrects this imbalance.

Sport burns excess substances in the body and thus brings the body back to a normal state. That is, sport compensates for overeating. A person eats something tasty; as usual, one always wants to eat more of something tasty. And then one has to go to the gym or for a walk, and everything that was eaten in excess of what is necessary has to be burned off. Otherwise, there will be complications, there will be illness, or you will feel very bad. However, one might think: what’s the problem? You eat – you overeat – you do some sport – you solve the problem. And that’s it. That’s it? Yes, not quite. The problem is that with such a turnover of substances, a person wears out their body faster. And most of all, with such a scheme, a person wears out their heart. Because during sports, it is the heart that bears the highest, most wearing loads.