"CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY ACORN MEDIA" "HELLO." "I'M SUSAN SARANDON." "IN THE PREVIOUS PROGRAM OF "MYTHOS"," "JOE CAMPBELL USED THE SYMBOLS OF KUNDALINI YOGA" "TO TAKE US UP TO THE STAGES OF CONSCIOUSNESS" "WE PASS ON THE WAY TO ILLUMINATION," "FROM OUR ANIMAL INSTINCTS TO THE EXPERIENCE OF GOD." "IN THIS, THE FINAL PROGRAM ON EASTERN PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION," "JOE TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO TIBET." "AS YOU MAY RECALL," "BY TRANSLATING OUR EXPERIENCE OF LIFE" "INTO A SPIRITUAL EXERCISE," "KUNDALINI YOGA BROUGHT US FINALLY TO IDENTIFICATION" "WITH THE DIVINE," "THE MOMENT OF ILLUMINATION." "THE TIBETAN BOOK OF THE DEAD, HOWEVER," "TRANSLATES THE EXPERIENCE OF DEATH INTO A SPIRITUAL EXERCISE." "IT STARTS AT THE POINT OF ILLUMINATION" "AND FOLLOWS THE PATH OF THE KUNDALINI DOWNWARD." "BEFORE STARTING THIS INWARD JOURNEY," "JOE TAKES US BACK TO THE PLACE AND TIME" "WHEN BUDDHISM WAS CARRIED BEYOND THE BORDERS OF INDIA." "I WANT TO MOVE NOW UP TO THE NORTHERN AREA." "AND INSTEAD OF GIVING US A TOUR OF THE COUNTRY," "I WANT TO GIVE US A TOUR OF THE PSYCHE." "AND I'M GOING TO DO THIS BY WAY OF THE TIBETAN BOOK OF THE DEAD." "AROUND 100 B.C.," "A ROAD IS OPENED FROM ROME THROUGH THE NEAR EAST" "ACROSS THE GREAT DESERTS AND ALL" "TO CH'ANG-AN, THE CAPITAL OF CHINA AT THAT TIME." "AND IT BRANCHED OFF IN NORTHWEST INDIA DOWN INTO INDIA," "AND THE BACK AND FORTH TRAFFIC THERE." "AND YOU MIGHT SAY THAT ALL THE WORLD IS SHARING" "ONE GREAT MYTHOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY." "WITH DIFFERENT LOCAL INFLECTIONS." "AND NOW I WANT TO SHOW YOU A SURPRISE." "IN THE FIRST YEARS OF THIS CENTURY," "THERE WERE A NUMBER OF GERMAN SCHOLARS" "WHO LEARNED ABOUT THESE ROADS AND DECIDED TO GO OUT" "AND EXPLORE AND SEE WHAT THEY WOULD FIND." "THERE WAS A BEAUTIFUL EXHIBIT IN THE METROPOLITAN LAST YEAR" "OF WHAT WAS FOUND." "IT'S STUNNING." "WHEN THE MUSLIMS CAME IN, THEY CUT THOSE ROUTES," "AND THE SANDS POURED OVER, AND THE CIVILIZATION WAS WIPED OUT." "SO HERE'S ONE OF THE EXPLORERS GOING THROUGH THE DESERTS." "THAT'S THE KIND OF DESERT HE CROSSED." "HERE IS HIS CAMEL TRAIN CROSSING THE DESERT." "YOU KNOW, THEY'RE BACTRIAN CAMELS, 2-HUMPED CAMELS." "BY THE WAY, CAMEL CIGARETTES HAVE A PICTURE OF A DROMEDARY," "AN ARABIAN DROMEDARY," "WHICH IS A RACING CAMEL" "WITH ONE HUMP." "AND DROMEDARY DATES HAVE PICTURES OF BACTRIAN CAMELS." "[LAUGHTER]" "THIS IS HIS TEAM OF CAMELED MEN." "THIS IS LOP NOR." "LOOK ON THE MAP, SEE WHERE WE ARE." "THERE'S NOTHING BUT DESERT, DESERT, DESERT." "HERE IS ONE OF THE MONUMENTS HE'S GOING TO EXCAVATE." "THEY EXCAVATE IT." "BUT WHAT'S INSIDE?" "SOME MURALS." "ISN'T THAT A JEWISH ANGEL?" "[LAUGHTER]" "DEFINITELY THIS IS A NEAR-EASTERN FIGURE." "IT'S A CAUCASIAN PERSON." "AND THE WINGS-- THAT'S A WESTERN IDEA." "THE WINGS REPRESENT SPIRITUAL FLIGHT." "BUT IN INDIA, YOU DON'T HAVE WINGS." "YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN SPIRITUAL FLIGHT." "THIS IS WESTERN ART, AND THAT'S A WESTERN MAN." "ANOTHER." "I TOLD YOU WHERE WE WERE, OUT IN LOP NOR." "JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT MUST HAVE BEEN GOING ON" "ON THOSE ROUTES." "THE MANACHIANS, THE CHRISTIANS." "THERE'S THE BUDDHA AS A CAUCASIAN." "AND THE MONKS." "YOU CAN SEE THOSE NOW IN ANY OF THESE ASHRAMS." "THIS IS A CHRISTIAN MURAL." "PALM SUNDAY, WITH THE PALMS." "THE RELIGIONS ARE RIGHT TOGETHER THERE." "AND THE DATES HERE ARE B.C." "AND FIRST 2 CENTURIES A.D., THAT PERIOD." "LET'S SAY 2 CENTURIES B.C., 2 CENTURIES A.D." "MIX IT BACK AND FORTH." "THESE CENTURIES," "THE FIRST 5 OR 6 CENTURIES," "ARE THE CENTURIES" "OF GREAT BUDDHISM IN ASIA." "NOW, BUDDHISM CAME TO TIBET RATHER LATE, 9th CENTURY OR SO," "8th AND 9th CENTURIES." "THERE WAS A KING WHO HAD 2 WIVES." "ONE WAS CHINESE AND THE OTHER WAS INDIAN," "AND BOTH OF THEM WERE BUDDHIST." "AND HE BEGAN SENDING TO INDIA FOR TEACHERS." "AND ONE AFTER ANOTHER, VERY GREAT TEACHERS" "FROM THE INDIA OF THOSE CENTURIES, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th CENTURIES." "AT THIS TIME, BUDDHISM WAS IN ITS MOST ELABORATE DEVELOPED WAY" "OR PHASE." "THE MUSLIMS CAME IN STARTING AROUND 1001" "AND GO ACROSS THE NORTH OF INDIA, SMASHING." "AND BUDDHISM IS EXTINGUISHED IN INDIA AT THAT TIME." "SEE, YOU CAN WIPE BUDDHISM OUT BY KILLING ALL THE MONKS." "BUT THE LEADERS OF HINDUISM WERE THE PRIESTS AND THE FAMILY MEN." "AND HINDUISM SURVIVED, BUT BUDDHISM WAS EXTINGUISHED." "WELL, BUDDHISM HAS BEEN EXTINGUISHED AGAIN" "WITH THE CHINESE INVASION IN 1959." "THAT WAS THE END OF IT." "BUT, UH..." "IN THE INTERVAL..." "THERE WAS PRESERVED IN TIBET, AS THOUGH IN A PICKLING JAR," "THE BUDDHIST FORMS OF THE HIGHEST, MOST SOPHISTICATED" "TANTRIC DEVELOPMENTS." "AND I WANT TO GIVE A SENSE OF THAT" "IN THIS AFTERNOON'S TALK." "NOW THE MYTHOLOGY OF DEATH AND BIRTH" "IS A REINCARNATION." "AS I'VE SAID, I THINK ALREADY, REINCARNATION IS THE COUNTERPART" "IN THE ORIENT OF PURGATORY IN THE WEST." "THAT IS TO SAY, IT'S A CHANCE TO LIVE AGAIN" "AND LIVE OUT THE EXPERIENCES" "THAT SHOULD HAVE ILLUMINATED YOU." "PURGATORY, AS I LIKE TO SAY," "IS A POST-GRADUATE COURSE." "IF YOU DIE UNILLUMINATED," "UNREADY TO BEHOLD THE BEATIFIC VISION" "WHICH WOULD SMASH EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE" "IF YOU HAVEN'T OPENED," "IT'S THERE TO PURGE YOU." "AND SO IN THE ORIENT, YOU COME BACK FOR ANOTHER LIFETIME." "NOW THE NOTION IS THAT BETWEEN THE MOMENT OF DEATH" "AND THE MOMENT OF RECONCEPTION, 49 DAYS PASS, 7 TIMES 7 DAYS." "AND DURING THE COURSE OF THIS," "ONE HAS GONE THROUGH ALL THE WORLDS OF THE CHAKRAS." "THE CHAKRA SYSTEM THAT I INTRODUCED THIS MORNING" "IS THE ONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO REVIEW TODAY," "EXCEPT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION." "THE NOTION IS THAT AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH," "YOU EXPERIENCE THE GREAT LIGHT." "CAN YOU STAND IT?" "HAVE YOU PREPARED YOURSELF TO DISSOLVE?" "IF YOU CAN'T, THERE'S IMMEDIATE PULLBACK," "PROTECTION, THAT STARTS YOU DOWN." "NOW, THE FAMILY OF THE ..." "WOULD HAVE SENT FOR A LAMA, A PRIEST," "PROBABLY THEIR FAMILY CHAPLAIN AND TEACHER, TO BE PRESENT." "AND HE WILL SEE TO IT THAT THE PERSON ABOUT TO DIE" "TAKES THE POSTURE OF THE BUDDHA" "FOR THE POWER OF NIRVANA, THE LION POSTURE." "AND THEN HE WILL HAVE HIS HAND ON THE JUGULAR VEIN" "OR SOME PULSE," "SO THAT HE WILL KNOW AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH" "THE PERSON HAS DIED," "AND HE WILL THEN BEGIN TO INSTRUCT." "NOW, YOU MAY ASK," "WHAT'S THE POINT OF INSTRUCTING SOMEBODY WHO'S DEAD" "ABOUT THE JOURNEY THAT THE SOUL IS ABOUT TO TAKE?" "THERE ARE 2 ASPECTS TO THIS." "ONE IS, DOES THE PERSON DIE COMPLETELY, ALL AT ONCE?" "OR IS THEIR NOT A JANGLING DYING OF THE NERVES?" "THE BODY DIES NOT ALTOGETHER LIKE THAT, APPARENTLY." "THE IDEA IS, THIS STEADYING VOICE" "OF ONE WHO HAS BEEN ONE'S TEACHER" "WILL HELP ONE TO SURVIVE" "THAT JANGLING MOMENT OF DISINTEGRATION OF THE SPIRIT," "AND SO THE ONE THAT HOLDS THIS SPIRIT" "AND KNOW WHERE ONE IS ALONG THE WAY." "THE OTHER VALUE IS THAT THE FAMILY IS PRESENT." "AND THIS IS A MEDITATION ON DEATH." "THIS IS A GOOD THING TO HAVE HAPPEN." "YOU HAVE COME IN YOUR FAMILY LIFE" "TO AN IMMEDIATE AND INTENSE EXPERIENCE" "OF ONE OF THE GREAT EXPERIENCES" "THE EXPERIENCE OF DEATH AND ITS MEANING" "OR ITS SENSE FOR YOUR LIFE." "AND THE LAMA WILL, CONSEQUENTLY, BE USING THIS" "AS A MEDITATION MOMENT FOR THE FAMILY," "NOT JUST SITTING AROUND TALKING" "ABOUT HOW HE WAS IN THE OLD DAYS." "SO AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH, THE LAMA WILL SAY," ""YOU ARE NOW EXPERIENCING THE MOTHER LIGHT." ""BETWEEN YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS AND UNIVERSAL CONSCIOUSNESS" ""NO OBSTRUCTION." ""TRY TO HOLD THAT." "[SNAP]" "MISSED IT."" "SO YOU HAVE STARTED AT THE TOP." "AND BEING UNABLE TO HOLD, YOU COME DOWN NOW HERE." "AND THE LAMA WILL NOW SAY, "TRY TO BRING INTO YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS" ""THE IMAGE OF THE LORD" "THAT HAS BEEN OF YOUR WORSHIP THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFETIME."" "THIS MAY BE ANY GOD," "SO LONG AS THAT GOD HAS BEEN UNDERSTOOD TO BE" "THE SUPREME IMAGE OF THE POWERS" "OF THE ENERGIZING ENERGIES OF THE UNIVERSE" "AS THEY HAVE OPERATED IN YOUR LIFETIME." "MAYBE A BUDDHA IMAGE OF ONE OR ANOTHER," "AS WE'LL SEE," "IT MAY BE ONE OF THE HINDU GODS." "IT MAY BE SOME NOTION OF ALLAH." "IT MAY BE YAHWEH." "ANY DEITY THAT'S BEEN YOUR TOP DEITY," "THIS IS THE PLACE TO CONTEMPLATE IT." "HE'S SECOND." "HE'S NOT TOP." "HE'S SECOND." "THEN IF YOU CAN'T HOLD THAT," "THERE COMES A VERY INTERESTING SERIES OF EXPERIENCES" "AT THIS CHAKRA HERE, THE 5th." "THIS IS ONE WHERE THERE ARE 2 STAGES," "ONE BEFORE YOUR EGO HAS SOLIDIFIED." "YOU ARE OPEN TO THE RADIANCE IN DESCENDING SERIES" "OF THOSE 5 BUDDHAS THAT REPRESENT THE CENTER" "IN THE 5 DIRECTIONS." "AND THEY WILL BE EXPERIENCED IN SEQUENCE." "FIRST THE BUDDHA OF THE CENTER, AND THEN THE BUDDHA OF THE EAST," "SOUTH, WEST, AND NORTH." "AND IF NONE OF THESE RADIANCES HAS BEEN ABLE TO HOLD YOU," "BUT YOU HAVE BEEN FRIGHTENED OF ALL," "THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL HOLDING MUCH TOO TIGHTLY" "TO YOUR EGO." "THESE SAME 5 BUDDHAS WILL TURN INTO" "WHAT'S KNOWN AS THEIR WRATHFUL ASPECT," "AND THEY'LL SEEM HORRIFIC." "THEY'LL SEEM TERRIFYING." "THEY'LL BE THERE TO SMASH YOUR EGO WITH TERROR." "IF THIS DOESN'T WORK," "WE COME DOWN STILL ANOTHER STAGE." "WE'RE STILL AT THIS CHAKRA HERE." "AND THERE COMES WHAT IS CALLED" ""THE KNOWLEDGE HOLDING" ASPECT OF THESE DEITIES." "NOW, SOME PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO EXPERIENCE RADIANCE," "BUT THEY CAN LISTEN TO A LECTURE." "[LAUGHTER]" "I THINK IT WAS OSCAR WILDE WHO SAID, "AN AMERICAN," ""IF HE WAS GIVEN A CHANCE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN GOING TO HEAVEN" ""AND HEARING A LECTURE ABOUT HEAVEN," "HE'D GO TO THE LECTURE."" "[LAUGHTER]" "AND SO YOU'VE BEEN UNABLE TO EXPERIENCE HEAVEN." "SO PERHAPS YOU'LL TAKE A LECTURE ABOUT IT." "AND MAYBE THAT WILL SAVE YOU." "NOW, DOWN TO THIS POINT," "YOU HAVE BEEN BEYOND THE LEVEL OF FEAR OF DEATH." "THAT COMES AT THE HEART CHAKRA." "THEN YOU COME INTO THE PLACE OF THE 2 TRIANGLES," "UPWARD AND THE DOWNWARD POINT OF TRIANGLES," "PLACE OF DECISION AND CHOICE." "THIS IS THE CRITICAL ONE." "AND THE LAMA WILL BE TELLING YOU WHERE YOU ARE ON THE WAY DOWN" "AND WHAT TO HOLD TO AND TO TRY TO DO IT." "AND HERE YOU ARE DISINTEGRATING," "TRYING TO HAVE THIS REALIZATION" "THAT WILL RELEASE YOU FROM ANOTHER BIRTH." "AND FINALLY, WE GET DOWN TO THIS CHAKRA HERE." "NOW COME THE TERRORS OF DEATH." "BEFORE THIS, DEATH HAS BEEN THE ORNAMENT OF LIFE," "WHICH IT IS." "LIFE WITHOUT DEATH, AND IT'S NO LIFE AT ALL." "YOU'RE JUST A FIXTURE." "BUT IT'S THE PROCESS OF DEATH IN YOU THAT IS LIFE," "THE BURNING." "AND SO, DOWN TO HERE," "DEATH HAS BEEN CELEBRATED." "...BE SAYING, "KILL, KILL, KILL." "OH, WOW." "ISN'T THIS WONDERFUL? "" "AND THEN DOWN HERE, IT ALL CHANGES." "THIS IS THE MOMENT OF INDECISION." "AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT GOES ON THERE WHEN WE GET THERE." "IT'S A MOMENT OF TERRIFIC TERROR." "AND THE LAMA WILL SAY, "DO NOT BE AFRAID." ""THESE POWERS THAT ARE TEARING YOU APART AND ALL THAT" ""THEY'RE JUST FIGMENTS OF YOUR OWN IMAGINATION." ""THEY ARE IN THE FIELD OF TIME, FIGMENTS." ""HOLD." "THERE'S NOTHING TO LOSE." ""THERE'S NOTHING TO DO." "HOLD THE STILL POINT, STILL POINT WITHOUT MOVING."" "[SNAP]" "YOU'VE LOST IT, AND WHEN YOU'VE LOST IT," "GREAT CLIFFS CLOSE BEHIND YOU, AND THE UPPER REGIONS ARE..." "LOST TO YOU." "AND YOU'RE NOW CAUGHT IN THE DESCENT" "THROUGH THE LAST 3 CHAKRAS." "THE TIBETAN BOOK OF THE DEAD IS, IN A SENSE, A MAP" "REPRESENTING THE STAGES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIENCE" "TURNED UPSIDE-DOWN." "WE WENT UP THE TRACK WITH THE KUNDALINI." "NOW WE ARE GOING DOWN." "THE MOMENT OF DEATH IS ALSO THE MOMENT OF ILLUMINATION" "THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU LET GO OF EGO, IDENTIFY WITH THE DIVINE," "AND ARE RELEASED FROM THE CYCLE OF BIRTH AND REINCARNATION." "BUT FOR MOST, RELEASE IS NOT TO BE." "AND SO THE CHALLENGE BECOMES TO STOP THE DESCENT" "AT THE HIGHEST PSYCHOLOGICAL STAGE." "THIS ALLOWS YOU TO BE REBORN AT A HIGHER LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS" "THAN THE LIFE YOU HAVE JUST LIVED." "THIS IS THE BODHISATTVA AVOLAKITESHVARA," "WHICH WE'VE COME TO KNOW." "AND HE IS THE BODHISATTVA OF INFINITE COMPASSION." "HIS COMPASSION REACHES TO THE ABYSS OF HELL." "THERE'S NO BEING AND THERE'S NO DEED" "THAT IS BEYOND THE REACH OF HIS COMPASSION." "AND THIS IS THE BODHISATTVA WHO IS LIVING AMONG US..." "INCARNATE" "IN THE DALAI LAMA." "HE IS REGARDED AS AN INCARNATION" "OF THE BODHISATTVA AVOLAKITESHVARA," "OF INFINITE COMPASSION." "NOW, I'VE HEARD THE DALAI LAMA WHEN HE WAS OVER HERE" "GIVE LECTURES," "AND HIS ACCENT ALWAYS, IN HIS TALK ABOUT BUDDHISM," "IS ON THE..." "FORCE OF COMPASSION AND MERCY AND LOVE." "THERE ARE MANY WAYS, BUT THIS IS THE WAY OF THE BODHISATTVA" "AND THE WAY OF THE TRADITION THAT WE'RE NOW TALKING ABOUT." "THIS IS A 17th-CENTURY DALAI LAMA." "WHO IS AN INCARNATION OF THE BODHISATTVA." "AND HE SITS THERE WITH THE LOTUS." "THE BODHISATTVA AVOLAKITESHVARA LOOKING DOWN IN MERCY" "AT THE LOTUS OF THE WORLD." "THIS IS THE POTALA, THE PALACE," "WHERE THE DALAI LAMA LIVED." "IT'S ON A HILL." "THIS IS THE COUNTERPART OF OLYMPUS," "WITH THE PALACE OF THE GODS ON THE TOP." "THIS IS THAT MYTHIC IMAGE OF THE WORLD AXIS," "WHERE HEAVEN AND EARTH COME TOGETHER," "AND THE BODHISATTVA REPRESENTS THE INCARNATION ON EARTH" "OF THE QUALITY OF DIVINE MERCY FROM HEAVEN." "AND PEOPLE IN THE OLD DAYS USED TO TAKE THEIR WALKS," "THEIR DAILY WALK--THEY WEREN'T JOGGING IN THOSE DAYS." "BUT THEY'D TAKE A WALK AROUND THE PALACE" "IN THE CLOCKWISE DIRECTION, CIRCUMNAMBULATION." "AND THEY'D TAKE WITH THEM THEIR PET LAMBS AND DOGS" "SO THAT THEY, TOO, COULD BUILD UP MERIT" "BY CIRCUMNAMBULATING," "BECAUSE IT'S THE ONE LIFE THAT INHABITS THE WHOLE WORLD." "THAT'S SUCH A LOVELY THING." "THE ANIMALS ARE LITTLE FELLOWS COMING ALONG," "AND THEY'LL BE UP THERE LATER." "THIS IS TRUE OF THE TREES AND GRASS AND EVEN THE ROCKS." "WELL, THAT'S NOW FINISHED." "IT'S A MUSEUM, I'M TOLD." "I'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED THIS." "THESE ARE THE 5 MEDITATION BUDDHAS," "WHOM WE'RE GOING TO ENCOUNTER HERE." "AT THE THROAT, THE ONE OF THE CENTER," "THE EAST, THE SOUTH, THE WEST, AND THE NORTH." "THE BUDDHA AT THE IMMOVABLE SPOT, ILLUMINATION." "THE PIG OF IGNORANCE SLAIN," "AND THE TEACHING COMMUNICATED TO THE DISCIPLES." "THE PERSON WHO'S ABOUT TO DIE..." "THE DALAI LAMA HAS-- NOT THE DALAI--THE LOCAL LAMA" "HAS HIS HAND ON THE PULSE." "AND AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH, HE SAYS," ""YOU ARE NOW BEHOLDING THE MOTHER LIGHT."" "NOW THAT IS ABSOLUTE BRAHMA." "THAT'S UNDIFFERENTIATED CONSCIOUSNESS." "THAT'S WHAT WE'RE INTENDING ALL THE WAY HERE." "YOU MAY SPEAK OF IT AS THE VOID." "YOU MAY SPEAK OF IT AS THE ABYSS." "YOU MAY SPEAK OF IT AS MOTHER LIGHT." "IT IS THAT WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL ..." "THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR IT." "SO HE WOULD SAY, "HOLD IT."" "WELL, IF YOU CAN'T--YOU'RE SLIPPING DOWN NOW FROM CHAKRAS 7, TO 6," "AND HE ASKS YOU TO BRING TO CONSCIOUSNESS" "THE IMAGE OF THE LORD THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN" "FOR YOUR LIFE CONTEMPLATION." "NOW THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL FIGURE." "THIS IS MAHAVAIROCANA, THE GREAT SUN BUDDHA." "IN JAPANESE, DAINICHI NYORAI." "GREAT DAY JUST COME." "THE 5 MEDITATION BUDDHAS ARE IN HIS ..." "AND WHEN I WAS DOING A BOOK-- WHICH IS HERE ON THE TABLE" ""THE MYTHIC IMAGE"," "I HAVE A PICTURE OF THIS BUDDHA," "AND I WANTED TO WRITE SOMETHING ABOUT IT." "AND I THOUGHT, "OH, WHO AM I TO WRITE ABOUT DAINICHI NYORAI?"" "DANTE HAS ALREADY DONE IT." "SO I TURNED TO THE LAST CANTO" "OF THE DIVINE COMEDY OF "PARADISO"," "AND THERE IT WAS." "THE APPEARANCE OF THE TRINITY HERE IN 1 FORM OF THE 5 ASPECTS" "INSTEAD OF 3 ASPECTS-- 1 DIVINE SUBSTANCE, 3 DIVINE PERSONALITIES" "REPRESENTING, YOU KNOW, THE POWER, THE CONSCIOUSNESS," "AND THE RAPTURE OF THE DIVINE," "SEATED OR APPEARING IN THE HEAVENLY ROSE, LOTUS," "WHERE THE ROSE IS." "AND DANTE SAID, "AS I WAS BEHOLDING THE TRINITY," "THE PERSONIFICATION OF THE MYSTERY," "THERE APPEARED BEHIND THEM 3 RINGS OF LIGHT."" "1, 2, 3, RINGS OF LIGHT." "SO I USE THAT AS MY TEXT TO THIS PICTURE." "IN "FINNEGAN'S WAKE", JOYCE HAS THE CYCLE." "THE BOOK BEGINS WITH THE SECOND HALF OF THE SENTENCE" "WITH WHICH THE BOOK ENDS." ""AWAY A LAST A LONE A LOVED A LONG THE."" ""RIVERRUN PAST EVE AND ADAM'S, FROM SWERVE OF SHORE" ""TO BEND OF BAY BRINGS US BY A COMMODIUS VICUS" ""RECIRCULATION BACK TO HOWTH CASTLE AND ENVIRONS."" "WELL, YOU CAN QUIT HERE." ""AWAY A LAST A LOVED A LONE A LONG THE"" "AND FINISH WITH THE BOOK AND OUT." "OR "GEE, I ENJOYED THAT BOOK." "I'D LIKE TO DO IT AGAIN."" "YOU SEE, YOU'RE BACK." "THAT'S REINCARNATION." "SO WE'RE HERE NOW WITH WHATEVER THE BUDDHA IS." "AND WE'RE GONNA DESCEND TO THE THROAT CHAKRA," "AND ONE OF THESE WILL APPEAR, AND THEY'LL APPEAR IN SEQUENCE" "AS THE BLISS-BESTOWING..." "SUCH BLISS AS YOU'RE AFRAID TO ACCEPT." "NOW HERE'S THE REPRESENTATION OF VAIROCANA" "MAHAVAIROCANA, VAIROCANA." "SUN BUDDHA." "THE OTHER WAS GREAT SUN BUDDHA," "SEATED IN MEDITATION DOING NOTHING." "HERE IS THE BUDDHA IN TEACHING POSTURE" "REPRESENTING DOING SOMETHING TO HELP YOU." "YOU HAVEN'T GOT THERE." "YOU HAVEN'T REACHED THE TOP." "BUT YOU'RE PRETTY CLOSE..." "AND A WORD OF INSTRUCTION, THEY DO IT FOR YOU." "SO THIS IS THIS THROUGH YOU." "AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THESE:" "AKSOBHYA," "RATNASAMBHAVA," "AMITABHA," "AND THEN AMOGHASIDDHI." "AND THIS EAST, SOUTH, WEST, AND NORTH." "NOW WE COME TO AKSOBHYA." "THE WORD "AKSOBHYA" MEANS "CAN'T BE PUSHED AROUND"," "CAN'T BE MOVED." "IS THAT THE IMMOVABLE SPOT?" "HE HAS ILLUMINATION," "AND THE TEMPTER CANNOT MOVE HIM." "IN HIS HAND, HE WILL HAVE THE THUNDERBOLT." "AND YOU'LL SEE HIS ..." "THIS IS THE TURNING ABOUT OF THE ..." "IS ADDRESSED TO HIM." "NOW, THE QUALITY HERE IS TENACITY." "[AHEM]" "THE NEGATIVE ASPECT OF TENACITY IS STUBBORNNESS." "NOW, IF YOUR VIRTUE IS STUBBORNNESS, HOLD IT." "DON'T LOSE IT." "THIS IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS OF RENOVATING YOUR CHARACTER." "[LAUGHTER]" "DO YOU REMEMBER THE PLAY "EQUUS"?" "THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEM THERE, WHICH THE PSYCHOLOGIST REALIZED" "WAS "WHAT HAVE I DONE WHEN I HAVE DEPRIVED A MAN OF HIS GOD?"" "I THINK IT'S NIETSZCHE WHO SAYS SOMEWHERE, "BE CAREFUL," ""LEST IN CASTING OUT YOUR DEVIL YOU CAST OUT THE BEST THING" "THAT'S IN YOU."" "AND SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PSYCHOANALYZED" "ARE LIKE FILLETED FISH." "THE CHARACTER IS GONE." "UH, IF YOU'RE NASTY, BE NASTY." "UH..." "BUT THE ENERGY, THE SHAKTI," "IS TO BE TURNED AROUND" "IS KNOWN AS THE TURNING ABOUT OF THE SHAKTI." "THE STUBBORNNESS, IF THAT IS ALL YOU'VE GOT" "AND YOU HAVEN'T TURNED IT AROUND," "YOU WILL BE REBORN IN THE REALM OF THE STUBBORN," "AND THAT'S HELL." "HELL IS THE PLACE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE STUBBORN" "ABOUT THEIR INDIVIDUATIONS" "AND WHAT THOSE INDIVIDUATIONS MEAN TO THEM" "AND THEIR PERSONALITIES AND THEIR WISHES" "AND NOTIONS OF GOOD AND EVIL AND SO FORTH." "SO THIS IS YOUR VIRTUE AND THIS IS YOUR VICE." "THIS IS FUDO." "THIS AKSOBHYA IN THE ASPECT OF IMMOVABLE IN FIRE." "THIS IS A JAPANESE REPRESENTATION." "REMEMBER THE VIETNAM MONK THAT HAD HIMSELF SET ON FIRE?" "THE PICTURE IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES" WAS A PICTURE OF FUDO." "THERE HE WAS SEATED, IMMOVABLE IN FIRE," "WITH THE FLAMES GOING UP." "OF COURSE, IF HE HAD MOVED, HE WOULD HAVE LOST MERIT." "I MEAN, THE WHOLE THING WAS THAT HE HAD SO TRANSCENDED THE BODY" "THAT HE COULD DO A THING LIKE THAT." "AND IT'S IMPUDENCE TO DO THAT WHEN YOU CAN'T DO THAT." "AND HERE HE IS, HOLDING ONTO THE THUNDERBOLT OF ILLUMINATION." "IF YOU ARE RESPONDING TO VAIROCANA'S TEACHING," "AND YOU ARE STILL TO BE REBORN," "YOU WILL BE REBORN INTO HEAVEN." "IF YOU'RE STUCK WITH YOUR STUBBORNNESS," "YOU'LL BE REBORN IN HELL." "THERE HE SITS," "EARTH-TOUCHING POSTURE." "THE BUDDHA AT THAT MOMENT, WHERE LIFE IS SPEAKING TO HIM" "IN ITS LOUDEST VOICE," "AND HE IS DEAF TO IT, AND HE'S GOING TO THE FATHER," "THE CRUCIFIXION." "AND NOW WE GO TO THE SOUTH." "THIS IS THE MOST CHARMING OF THESE BUDDHAS." "HIS NAME IS RATNASAMBHAVA, BORN OF A JEWEL." "HIS QUALITY IS BEAUTY." "AND WHAT'S THE VICE?" "PRIDE." "NOW, IF YOUR PRIDE IS IN YOUR BEAUTY," "HOLD TO IT." "BUT TURN IT ABOUT SO THAT THE BEAUTY THAT YOU'RE PROUD OF" "IS YOUR SPIRITUAL BEAUTY," "AND THEN YOU WILL CULTIVATE THAT." "DO NOT GET RID OF YOUR VICE." "IF IT'S PRIDE, MAKE THE PRIDE WORK TO YOUR ILLUMINATION," "NOT TO YOUR DEGRADATION." "THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO THIS." "SO IF YOU'RE REBORN," "UNDER THE SIGN OF THIS DEITY," "YOU WILL HAVE A HUMAN REBIRTH." "I'VE GOT 3 OF THE REALMS OF REBIRTH:" "THE HEAVEN, THE HELL, AND HUMAN REBIRTH." "LORD OF THE SOUTH." "NOTICE THE BEAUTY OF THE ATTITUDE." "..., GENEROSITY." "THE PROUD AND THE BEAUTIFUL ..." "THIS IS THE FAVORITE BUDDHA OF THE EAST." "THIS IS AMITABHA-- SANSKRIT "AMITABHA"." ""AMITAB" MEANS IMMEASURABLE;" ""HA" IS RADIANCE." "THE BUDDHA OF IMMEASURABLE RADIANCE." "NOW, THERE'S A LEGEND ASSOCIATED WITH HIS NAME." "WHEN HE WAS ON THE VERY THRESHOLD OF ILLUMINATION," "HE MADE A VOW." "HE SAID, "I WILL NOT ACCEPT ILLUMINATION FOR MYSELF," ""UNLESS THROUGH MY ILLUMINATION I CAN BRING TO ILLUMINATION" ""AND RELEASE ALL BEINGS WHO PAY ME WORSHIP." "WHO HONOR MY NAME."" "AND SO, WHEN HE ACHIEVED ILLUMINATION," "THERE BROKE OUT BEFORE HIM A GREAT LAKE." "AND IT WAS A LAKE OF BLISS." "AND ON THIS LAKE WERE LOTUSES." "AND ANYONE WHO DURING HIS LIFETIME HAD EITHER GREATLY" "OR IN A LESS GREAT WAY PAID DEVOTION TO AMITABHA," "WOULD NOT BE COMMITTED TO ANOTHER LIFETIME," "BUT WOULD BE REBORN ON A LOTUS IN AMITABHA'S LOTUS POND," "CALLED SUKHAVATI, THE PLACE OF BLISS." "IF THE PERSON WAS NOT EVEN NEARLY ILLUMINATED," "HIS LOTUS WOULD BE CLOSED." "HE'D BE IN A CLOSED LOTUS," "AND HE'D BE FLOATING ON THIS LAKE," "WHICH WOULD BE WATER OF THE 5 COLORS." "OF THE 5..." "ELEMENTS." "AND, UH..." "AS THE WATERS RIPPLED..." "HE WOULD HEAR..." ""ALL IS IMPERMANENT." "ALL IS WITHOUT A SELF." "ALL IS IMPERMANENT." "ALL IS WITHOUT A SELF."" "AND AROUND THE COUNTRYSIDE WOULD BE--AROUND THE LAKE" "WOULD BE THESE JEWELED TREES WITH JEWELED BIRDS SINGING." "AND THEY WOULD BE SINGING," ""ALL IS IMPERMANENT." "ALL IS WITHOUT A SELF."" "AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS IN THE AIR WOULD BE PLAYING," ""ALL IS IMPERMANENT." "ALL IS WITHOUT A SELF."" "...HE GET THE MESSAGE." "MEANWHILE, THE RADIANCE OF THE BUDDHA HIMSELF," "LIKE A SETTING SUN ON THE WESTERN HORIZON," "WOULD BE PENETRATING THE PETALS," "AND THEY WOULD OPEN." "AND THERE HE WOULD BE SITTING AS A BUDDHA IN MEDITATION," "FLOATING ON THE LOTUS POND." "AND PRESENTLY, IN HIS MEDITATION, HE WOULD DISSOLVE" "INTO THE RAPTURE OF TRANSCENDENCE." "NOW, THE QUALITY OF THIS BUDDHA IS MERCY, COMPASSION." "THIS IS THE BUDDHA, WHOSE LIEUTENANT IS AVOLAKITESHVARA" "AND WHOSE INCARNATION ON EARTH, THEN, IS IN THE DALAI LAMA." "THE, UM..." "QUALITY IS COMPASSION." "WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE THE VICE WOULD BE?" "ATTACHMENT" "ATTACHMENT TO THAT BEING FOR WHO YOU FEEL LOVE." "AND IF YOU DIE WITH THAT ATTACHMENT," "YOU WILL BE REBORN IN THE WORLD OF THE HUNGRY GHOSTS." "THE HUNGRY GHOSTS HAVE RAVENOUS BELLIES AND PINPOINT MOUTHS," "AND THEY CAN NEVER BE FED WHAT THEY DESIRE." "AND NOW WE COME TO THE 4th OF THIS SURROUNDING BUDDHAS," "THE ONE OF THE NORTH." "THAT'S THE OMINOUS DIRECTION." "HIS NAME IS AMOGHASIDDHI," "HE WHO WILL NOT BE TURNED FROM THE ACHIEVEMENT OF HIS AIM." ""SIDDHI" IS AIM, ACHIEVEMENT;" ""AMOGHA", NOT TO BE DISTRACTED FROM IT." "AND YOU SEE WHAT'S HAPPENED IS, AS WE'VE COME DOWN," "WE'VE LOST, AS IT WERE, THE ..." "THE FIRST ..., THAT WAS THE ..." "HAND." "AND NOW WE'RE IN QUEST OF THE ..." "SO THERE'S A DESCENDING SERIES HERE." "THE VIRTUE HERE IS TENACITY OF PURPOSE," "NOT JUST HOLDING TO WHERE YOU ARE," "BUT AN INTENTION." "AND THE NEGATIVE ASPECT IS BELLIGERENCE." "AND IF YOU DIE IN THIS CONTEXT," "YOU WILL BE REBORN IN THE REALM OF THE ANTIGODS," "THE DEMONS." "THE FIGHTING GODS." "THERE HE SITS." "DON'T BE AFRAID." "AND HERE'S ANOTHER FINE PICTURE OF HIM" "WITH THE DOUBLE ..." "IN HIS HAND." "THIS IS THE GREAT TIBETAN REPRESENTATION" "OF THE ..." "WITH THE YANG/YIN IN THE CENTER." "YOU GET A CHINESE AND HINDU COMBINATION HERE." "FOR THE DYING PERSON, THE WORLD IS TEEMING WITH SPIRITS," "BOTH BENIGN AND TERRIFYING." "BUT AS THE TIBETAN LAMAS KNOW, AND JOE CAMPBELL EMPHASIZES," "THESE SPIRITS ARE BUT PROJECTIONS" "OF OUR OWN FEARS AND DESIRES." "THE TIBETAN BOOK OF THE DEAD HAS LITTLE CONNECTION" "TO OUR MODERN WAY OF SEEING THE WORLD." "BUT REMEMBER, THIS GUIDE FOR THE DYING" "ALSO HAS SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE LIVING," "AND, JOE MIGHT ADD, TIBETAN OR OTHERWISE." "NOW WE COME TO THE ..." "STEP" "TO THE REALM OF THE KNOWLEDGE-HOLDING DEITIES." "THEY'RE HAVING A BALL." "I ALWAYS THINK OF IT AS A KIND OF COLLEGE PROM." "AND THEY'RE SHOUTING, "DEATH, DEATH, DEATH,"" "AND THEY'RE WAVING BANNERS MADE OF FLAYED HUMAN SKINS." "THEY'RE BLOWING TRUMPETS MADE OF THIGH BONES," "OF HUMAN BEINGS, AND SO FORTH." "DEATH IS THE ORNAMENT OF LIFE." "THEY'RE NOT AFRAID OF DEATH, AND THEY'RE RIGHT ON THE EDGE," "STILL EXPERIENCING THE EXCITEMENT OF DYING" "AND SO FORTH." "THIS IS THE WAY THEY LOOKED." "THIS IS THE MANDALA." "IT'S A TERRIFIC AFFAIR." "THESE ARE THE GODS THAT WERE FORMALLY THE BENEVOLENT:" "VAIROCANA, AKSOBHYA, AND SO FORTH AND SO ON." "NOW, THIS IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THEY'RE DANCING WITH." "THIS IS KNOWN AS THE DAKINI." "THAT'S A SPACE FAIRY." "I ONCE SAW ON 42nd STREET AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR A MOVIE," ""FIRE WOMEN OF OUTER SPACE."" "THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE." "AND IN THIS HAND IS A FLAYING KNIFE" "WITH A THUNDERBOLT HANDLE." "HERE IS A STAFF WITH HEADS ON IT" "AND A THUNDERBOLT," "NECKLACE OF SKULLS AND SO FORTH AND SO ON." "THIS IS THE KIND THAT YOU MEET AT THESE PARTIES." "THIS IS THE LION-HEADED DAKINI," "SINGHA DAKINI," "TRAMPLING THE MERE ANIMAL NATURE." "IN FACT, EVERY TIME ONE DOES ACCEPT THE PARTNER LIKE THAT," "ONE HAS TRAMPLED ON ONE'S OWN ANIMAL NATURE." "COMPASSION HAS TAKEN OVER." "THIS IS THE GREAT ONE, ... DAKINI," "THE DAKINI, OR FAIRY GODDESS OF ALL THE BUDDHAS." "AND WHAT IS SHE DRINKING FROM?" "THAT'S THE TOP OF A SKULL." "AND WHAT IS SHE DRINKING?" "BLOOD." "AND SHE'S WEARING THIS KILT HERE MADE OF HUMAN BONES CARVED." "AND THERE'S THE THUNDERBOLT FLAYING KNIFE," "AND SO FORTH AND SO ON." "THESE ARE THE PARTNERS IN THIS DANCE," "THE DANCING PARTNERSHIP WITH LADY DEATH," "AND YOU DON'T MIND." "HERE IS THE INSPIRATION FOR MANY OF THESE IMAGES." "THIS IS KALI THE HINDU GODDESS," "OF THE SAME POWER, DRINKING FROM THE SKULL." "THIS HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER IN THE BUDDHIST SYSTEM" "BY THESE DAKINIS." "NOW HERE IS A SKULL WITH A NICE SILVER BORDER," "AND HERE IS SUCH A SYMBOLIC FLAYING KNIFE." "KILT OF HUMAN BONES THAT HAVE BEEN CARVED." "SYMBOLIC IMAGES." "HUMAN THIGH BONES USED FOR TRUMPETS," "AND HERE IS A MONK BLOWING SUCH A TRUMPET." "HERE IN ONE OF THE MONASTERIES AROUND DELHI," "WE HAVE THE DANCE OF THE MONKS AS SKELETONS" "AROUND WHAT IS PRETENDED TO BE A DEAD BODY." "HERE IS A CROWN OF 5 SILVER SKULLS." "DEATH IS BEING CELEBRATED AT THIS STAGE." "AND THEN LOWER THAN THAT" "COME THE DEITIES IN THEIR FEROCIOUS ASPECTS," "THE WRATHFUL ASPECTS OF THE DEITIES," "AND THIS DESCRIBED." "AND THE LAMA AT THE BEDSIDE WOULD BE SAYING," ""THE DEITIES WILL BE COMING TO YOU" ""WITH EVERY HAIR OF THE HEAD RADIANT." ""WITH FIRE, AND THEY'LL BE MAKING STRANGE SOUNDS" "CLAH, CLAH, CLAH," AND SO FORTH AND SO FORTH." "TERRIFYING, TERRIFYING." ""DO NOT BE TERRIFIED."" "THESE ARE BUT THE VIOLENT ASPECTS" "OF YOUR OWN CONSCIOUSNESS..." "THERE'S ONE OF THEM." "THERE'S ANOTHER ONE OF THEM." "RAMANA, THE LORD DEATH." "ANOTHER--THE WHOLE BEING IS JUST TERROR AND FRIGHT." "AND THE LAMA WOULD BE SAYING, "DO NOT BE TERRIFIED." "DO NOT MOVE."" "THIS IS THE SECOND TEMPTATION OF THE BUDDHA," "TEMPTATION OF FEAR AND TERROR." ""BE CALM."" "NOW THIS IS WHAT IS KNOWN AS YAMANTAKA," "THAT ASPECT OF THE POWERS THAT KILLS IN YOU THE FEAR OF DEATH." ""YAMA" IS THE LORD OF DEATH, THE FIRST MAN WHO DIED;" "AND "ANTAKA" MEANS END-- THE ENDER OF THE FEAR OF DEATH," "THE ENDER OF THE LORD DEATH." "AND HE IS SURROUNDED HERE BY VARIOUS POWERS." "THIS IS A FEMALE FIGURE WHO IS A CONVERT TO BUDDHISM," "AND SHE GOES OUT TO CONVERT EVERYBODY ELSE." "YOU KNOW HOW CONVERTS ARE." "A LITTLE BIT INSECURE, AND THEY WANT TO REASSURE THEMSELVES" "BY CONVERTING EVERYBODY ELSE," "AND PEOPLE WHO WOULD NOT SUBMIT SHE FLAYED." "HERE NAME IS LHAMO, L-H-A-M-O." "THE FIRST PERSON SHE COULD NOT CONVERT AND SO SLAYED" "WAS HER OWN SON." "HERE'S A REPRESENTATION OF HER IN SUCH A FURY" "THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE HER." "BUT THIS PEACOCK-FEATHERED PARASOL IS HER SIGN." "AND HERE ARE FLAYED CREATURES THAT SHE HAS" "IT'S TRYING TO GIVE YOU THE SENSE OF THE VIOLENT ASPECT" "OF THE POWER TO BREAK THE EGO." "AND HERE IS VAJRADHARA, THE THUNDERBOLT HOLDER" "A GOD WITH A FLAYING KNIFE AS THE CROWN OF HIS TIARA" "AND THE BOWL OF THE SKULL AS HIS DRINKING VESSEL." "WE'VE COME DOWN NOW FROM THE TOP CHAKRA THROUGH THE 6th." "WE'VE COME DOWN TO CHAKRA 5 HERE." "THE SYLLABLE IS "HA"." "AND NOW WE'RE COMING DOWN TO THE 4th CHAKRA," "WHERE THE SYLLABLE IS "YAM"," "THE LEVEL OF THE HEART AND YOU SEE THE 2 TRIANGLES." "THIS IS THE PLACE OF DECISION." "IF YOU DON'T..." "SIGN OUT HERE, YOU'RE GONNA COME DOWN THE REST OF THE WAY." "IT'S THE PLACE OF THE MOON." "THE MOON IS BOTH BODY AND LIGHT." "AND SO ARE YOU BELOW THIS LEVEL." "NOW ARE YOU GONNA IDENTIFY WITH THE BODY, THE VEHICLE?" "OR ARE YOU GONNA IDENTIFY WITH THE LIGHT?" "THE LAMA WILL BE SAYING, "YOU HAVE COME TO THE REALM" "OF THE LORD DEATH, THE JUDGE OF THE DEAD."" "SEE THE LUNAR HORNS," "MONSTER BUFFALO FACE." "AND HIS MINIONS WILL COME AT YOU," "AND THEY'LL TEAR YOU APART." "HERE IS A TANKA REPRESENTING THIS." "HERE IS THE LORD DEATH." "HERE ARE PEOPLE BEING JUDGED," "AND WE LOOK AT THEM STEP BY STEP." "HERE IS THE HELL TORCHES." "ALL OF THIS NOW IS WHAT'S COME UPON YOU." "HERE ARE THE WEIGHING SCALES WHERE GOOD DEEDS ARE WEIGHED" "AGAINST BAD DEEDS." "AND THEN PEOPLE ARE ASSIGNED TO THE DIFFERENT WORLDS." "AND IF YOU DIE CAUGHT UP IN THE DANCE," "INSTEAD OF IN INSIGNIFICANCE," "YOU WILL BE REBORN AS AN ANIMAL." "NOW, MY WIFE JEAN HAD A STUDIO ON FIFTH AVENUE," "A DANCE STUDIO ON THE SECOND FLOOR." "AND ON THE FIRST FLOOR WAS A PET SHOP." "AND THIS WAS THE LESSON." "IF IN YOUR DANCING ALL YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT ARE YOUR MUSCLES," "YOU'RE GOING TO BE REBORN AS AN ANIMAL." "THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT." "BUT THERE WERE PIPES COMING UP FROM BELOW," "AND MICE USED TO CLIMB UP THERE." "AND THOSE ARE ASPIRANTS TO THE NEXT STAGE." "[LAUGHTER]" "HERE NOW ARE PEOPLE WITH THEIR LIVES BEING WEIGHED." "AND HERE ARE THOSE WAITING TO BE WEIGHED," "AND THEY CERTAINLY LOOK ANXIOUS ABOUT IT." "BUT THEN COMES THE HELL." "THESE ARE THE ONES THAT TEAR YOU APART." "AND YOU SEE PEOPLE BEING CHOPPED TO PIECES," "PEOPLE BEING DRAGGED TO HELL." "THIS IS THE PLACE OF THE FREEZING HELL." "HERE THEY'RE BROILING." "NOW THIS, MY DEAR FRIENDS, IS A BOOK." "AND THESE ARE MONKS WHO SKIPPED PASSAGES IN THEIR PRAYER." "[LAUGHTER]" "MORE HORRIFIC SCENES." "THIS FELLOW WITH A HEAVY ROCK ON HIS BACK" "IS A PERSON WHO LIKES TO KILL INSECTS." ""DO NOT BE AFRAID."" "NOW I THOUGHT WHEN I WAS READING, AS I DID IN 1960," "OF SOME OF THE AFFAIRS THAT HAD OCCURRED IN TIBET IN 1959," "WHEN THE MONKS WERE BEING TORTURED." "AND THEY COULD TORTURE A MAN FOR 7 DAYS WITHOUT KILLING HIM" "AND BEING TORN APART." "AND I THOUGHT OF WHAT THE MONK HERE WOULD BE SAYING" "TO THE PERSON DYING WITH THESE SUBTLE TERRORS." "NOW WE HAVE THE GROSS TERRORS OF AN ACTUAL TORTURE SCENE." "THOUSANDS OF MONKS ARE KILLED," "JUST AS WHEN THE MUSLIMS CAME INTO NORTH INDIA." "THOUSANDS OF MONKS KILLED." "THOSE MONASTERIES AROUND LHASA HAD 6,000, 8,000 MONKS." "THEY'RE WIPED OUT." "AND I THOUGHT IF THE MONK THERE HAVING ALL THIS HAPPEN" "COULD THINK "NOTHING IS HAPPENING." ""IT'S MERELY THE FIELD OF TIME." "THE STILL POINT IS HERE."" "HE WOULD ACHIEVE ILLUMINATION." "IT WAS, UH..." "HALLAJ, THE GREAT SUFI MYSTIC-- AND THIS IS REPORTED OF HIM" "THAT WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TO BE CRUCIFIED AND TORTURED," "AS JESUS WAS, HE UTTERED A PRAYER." "AND THE PRAYER WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN" ""O LORD, IF YOU HAD REVEALED TO THEM" ""WHAT YOU HAVE REVEALED TO ME," ""THEY WOULD NOT BE DOING THIS TO ME." ""IF YOU HAD NOT REVEALED TO ME WHAT YOU HAVE," ""THIS WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO ME." "O LORD, PRAISE TO THEE AND THY WORKS."" "THAT'S BIG STUFF." "AND THEN HALLAJ-- HIS SUPPORTERS SAID," ""THE FUNCTION OF THE ORTHODOX COMMUNITY" "IS TO GIVE THE MYSTIC HIS DESIRE."" "SO THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT." "THAT'S A HEROIC WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT." "THIS IS THE FINAL PICTURE, THEN, OF THE LORD JUDGE OF THE DEAD." "THE BULL WITH THE MOON HORNS AND THE TERRORS AND ALL." "AND IF WE CAN GET PAST THAT, WE ARE RELEASED." "IF WE CAN'T, THERE CLOSES BEHIND US A GREAT CLIFF," "AND THE SUBLIME IS NO LONGER OURS." "AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAR NOISES." "AND THOSE ARE THE NOISES OF THE WORLD." "AND WHEN WE HEAR THESE NOISES," "TRY SOMETIMES NOT TO THINK OF WHAT IS BEING SAID," "BUT OF WHAT IS TALKING." "AND WHAT IS TALKING IS IGNORANCE, LUST, AND MALICE." "AND THIS IS THE HUB OF THE WORLD AS IS EXPERIENCED" "BY PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL IN FEAR OF THE LORD DEATH." "THE WORLD AS WE EXPERIENCE IT IS A WORLD OF THE FIRST 3 CHAKRAS:" "IGNORANCE, LUST, AND MALICE." "REINCARNATION--SOULS GOING UP, SOULS GOING DOWN," "AROUND AND AROUND." "AND THE BOUNDARIES OF OUR WORLD IS THIS RIM HERE" "WITH 12, WHAT ARE CALLED "MUTUALLY ARISING CAUSES"." "THIS IS THE BOUNDARY BEYOND WHAT WE DO NOT SEE" "BECAUSE WE ARE IN FEAR OF THE LORD DEATH." "NOW THIS MANDALA IS NEVER ON THE INSIDE OF A MONASTERY." "IT'S ON THE OUTSIDE, OUTSIDE WALL." "AND SO, WE'VE SLIPPED." "WE'RE ON THE LAST 3 CHAKRAS NOW." "AT THIS HERE, CHAKRA 3," "YOU BEGIN TO SEE COUPLES EMBRACING." "AND THE LAMA AT YOUR SIDE WILL BE SAYING," ""TRY NOT TO GET BETWEEN THEM."" "SO WE'VE COME TO THE LEVEL OF DR. FREUD." "BELOW THAT, UM..." "WE HAVE GOT BETWEEN THEM." "WE'VE GONE TO GET BORN." "AND WE WILL BE BORN EITHER AS MALE OR AS FEMALE." "AND IF WE'RE TO BE BORN AS MALE," "WE WILL FIND OURSELVES HATING OUR FATHER" "AND LOVING OUR MOTHER." "IF IT'S GONNA BE FEMALE, IT WOULD BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND." "THE OEDIPUS AND THE ELECTRA COMPLEXES." "AND SO THE FINAL JOB OF THE LAMA" "IS TO GET YOU BORN IN A DECENT ENVIRONMENT" "WHERE YOU'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO RECEIVE BUDDHIST INSTRUCTION" "FOR ANOTHER LIFETIME." "AND TO SAVE YOU FROM BIRTH, LET'S SAY, IN THE EGG OF A FLEA" "OR THE WOMB OF A MOUSE, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT." "ALL OF THESE ARE POSSIBILITIES." "AND THEN WHEN IT'S BORN," "THIS FRIGHTENED LITTLE TERRIFIED THING" "WHO'S JUST HAD A GREAT FIGHT THROUGH THE BIRTH CANAL," "AND HIS EYES OPEN TO THE SURFACES OF THINGS" "AND HE HAS BEEN THROUGH THE WHOLE INWARD MYSTERY" "AND HAS FORGOTTEN." "AND PLATO IN THE "TIMEA" SAYS," ""THE ONLY THING ONE CAN DO FOR ANOTHER" ""IS REINTRODUCE HIM TO THOSE FORMS OF THE SPIRIT," "THE MEMORY OF WHICH WAS LOST AT BIRTH."" "AND SO WE'RE IN THE SAME CLUB THERE." "NOW THIS IS A MANDALA THAT WAS MADE BY ONE OF JUNG'S PATIENTS." "AND YOU HAVE THE 6 WORLDS-- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6." "IN THE MIDDLE, SHE IS SHOWN READING," "UNDOUBTEDLY READING JUNG." "[LAUGHTER]" "THIS IS PANCHARATHA, THE PATRONESS OF BOOKS," "OF COMING TO ILLUMINATION THROUGH READING SCRIPTURE." "THIS IS THE SAME MANDALA THAT WE'VE SEEN," "WITH IGNORANCE AND MALICE AND LUST IN THE CENTER." "WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN LED BY SCRIPTURE" "NOT TO FEAR DEATH ANYMORE," "THAT WORLD WHICH SEEMS SUCH A HORROR" "IS TRANSFORMED INTO A WORLD OF BUDDHA CONSCIOUSNESS," "BUDDHA EVERYWHERE." "AND IT'S THROUGH SCRIPTURE THAT ONE HAS BEEN LED TO THIS." "NOW, THIS FIGURE, THIS PANCHARATHA," "IS CALLED A YIDAM." "THE SANSKRIT IS, UM..." "THE, UM..." "CHOSEN DEITY." "THE YIDAM IS THE DEITY THAT YOU, YOURSELF, HAVE CHOSEN." "ISHTADEVA OR ISHTA DEVATA," "THE WISHED-FOR DEITY." "THIS IS A VERY SOPHISTICATED IDEA." "THIS DEITY HAS NO EXISTENCE." "IT'S A PICTURE." "IT'S TO PUT IN YOUR MIND THE IDEA OF A DEITY." "AND IT WILL ACHIEVE LIFE INSOFAR AS YOU MAKE THIS YOUR DEITY." "AND THEN THIS DEITY, THE DEITY OF READING SCRIPTURE," "BECOMES THE GUIDE OF YOUR LIFE." "NOW, I SPEAK OF THIS FIRST, 'CAUSE IT HAPPENS TO BE MINE." "EVERYTHING I KNOW I'VE GOT FROM READING." "AND WHEN I MEET..." "BUDDHAS" "AND YOGIS AND WHATNOT," "I INTERPRET THEM IN TERMS OF MY READING." "I PUT THIS RIGHT ON THE FACE OF THE BUDDHA HIMSELF." "AND THIS IS WHAT HOLDS YOU." "OTHER PEOPLE WILL HAVE OTHER ISHTA DEVATAS," "OTHER CHOSEN DEITIES," "BUT STICK TO YOUR CHOSEN DEITY." "IT'S YOUR WAY." "AND THE WHOLE BUDDHA WORLD WILL COME TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE" "THROUGH WHATEVER YOUR DEITY IS." "THIS IS KALACHAKRA, ANOTHER ISHTA DEVATA OR YIDAM." "KALACHAKRA MEANS "THE WHEEL OF TIME"." "EVERYTHING IS BUDDHA." "THIS IS THE WORLD, WHICH, WHEN YOU'RE IN FEAR OF DEATH," "IS SUCH A HORRIBLE PLACE." "NO HORROR CAN SURVIVE" "THE RADIANCE OF THESE KNOWLEDGES THAT COME." "THIS IS CHAKRASAMBARAJA, THE ALL-EMBRACING LORD..." "AND THAT'S HIS MANDALA." "I HAD A VERY INTERESTING EXPERIENCE ABOUT THIS." "I HAVE A TANKA--WE HAVE A TANKA HANGING IN OUR FOYER" "IN OUR APARTMENT." "IT'S THIS ONE." "AND I WAS HELPING A TIBETAN MONK TO WRITE HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY." "AND AS HE WALKED OUT OF OUR APARTMENT," "HE SAW THIS THING IN FRONT OF HIM." "AND HE SAID, "WHY, THAT'S THE ISHTA DEVATA," "THE YIDAM, OF MY MONASTERY."" "AND SO IT CAN BE NOT SIMPLY A PERSONAL CHOICE," "BUT THE WHOLE MONASTERY." "THAT IS THE POWER THAT IS INFORMING THE EXERCISES" "OF THAT SPECIFIC MONASTERY." "I CALL THESE THE MOST SOPHISTICATED NOTIONS OF DEITY" "ANYWHERE THAT I KNOW OF" "THE NOTION OF CHOSEN DEITY THAT'S GOING TO BE YOUR GUIDE." "AND SO WE COME NOW TO THE CONCLUSION OF THIS STORY:" "HOW THE LORD WITH HIS SHAKTI TURNED ABOUT" "COMES TO TRANSCENDENCE." "EACH OF US, SOUL." "AND HERE'S THE FINAL ONE." "THE BUDDHA, IMMOVABLE, TEACHING THE WORLD." "THAT'S IT." "WE'VE COME TO THE END OF JOE CAMPBELL'S TOUR" "OF THE EASTERN WAY." "USUALLY AT THIS POINT, THE HOST WOULD SUM IT UP," "MAKE SOME CONCLUDING STATEMENT WHICH PUTS IT ALL" "IN A NICE, NEAT PACKAGE." "BUT THERE IS NO SUMMING UP JOE CAMPBELL," "AND NO NEAT PACKAGE FOR THESE IDEAS." "AS JOE WOULD SAY," "THEY ARE TO BE EXPERIENCED NOT EXPLAINED." "I HOPE THESE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN A REWARDING EXPERIENCE FOR YOU." "CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY ACORN MEDIA"