Inquiry on entities

[NightHawk999]

@KhyungMar

I asked a Ngakpa once (a bon/buddhist practicioner who is practicing Vajrayana) and he said that communication with spirits works via visualisation and energy.

Thank you for this

@KhyungMar

For example, a smoke or incencse offering is visualised as cleansing and purifying the environment, the smoke may transform into good and useful things for the non-physical spirit world in your visualisation and also the practicioners energy and intention is important.

I agree with this 100%, I am glad you brought this up, because it reminds me of one of my favorite memories

@KhyungMar

The energy of giving to those in need without expecting any return is very important in bon and buddhism. This type of generosity is very pure, positive energy.

I think genuine love and compassion, is not lost on these beings, as well as the opposite, if you go in with an agenda, I think they can ‘smell’ that from a mile away. I am so appreciative for you saying all this, it hit home deeply and reminded me of one of my favorite memories, I did not know about this stuff when I did the bridge meditation, but the animal communication book author sounded like she may have absorbed some of these Buddhist teachings when she was living in CA. The biggest take away from the book for me was the technique of merging of minds, and the importance of treating animal [souls] and spirits with deep respect and compassion. Here is the memory:

@NightHawk999

By the 2nd week, I was ready to head home. i was exhausted, had met some really interesting people, made some great memories, and seen places that only deepend my love for the forest.
Being a novice meditator, only about 3 years old, I had recently cracked a technique that took my meditation to the next level. I had heard about the stone Arch monuments out west being sacred to the natives, and on the ‘last’ day of my trip, I decided to go and meditate on a large land bridge that was tucked away in the back woods.
Finding it was difficult, and took a bout 2 hours of hiking. I was amazed when I sat in the middle of it, the stone was worn into a perfect grove that looked like a seat that had been sat on for hundreds of generations. I had read about projecting consciousness in a book on animal communication (crazy I know, buckle up, because it gets crazier). I imagined those who had lived before on that land and projected my mind into theirs (or theirs into mine), while I sent a thank you offering of mental gratitude and one via a peace pipe and small amount of green ‘tobacco’. My intention was to let whoever /whatever had shown me such a good time know how thankful and grateful I was. I saw the smoke billow and was really touched by its beauty with the rays of sunlight hitting it. I expressed a deep gratitude for the memories that forest had given me, and for keeping me safe. In less than a 60 seconds I heard voices.
It wasn’t the ‘tabacco’,

Your words deeply resonated and definitely prompted this memory to my mind.

The visualization I did was bringing to mind Native american Chiefs, or the lead spirits of the tribe and imaging us all sitting in a circle smoking a peace pipe. As I inhaled, I imagined I was them, and was smoking it from their point of view, having our bodies as one.

@fenwizard
On a semi related topic, I met a Muslim friend a few years ago. I told him about my adventures on ‘retreats’, and he later told me it inspired him to get out in the woods and go hunting. He has invited me a few times out west to the Yellowstone areas to hunt, and I declined (even though I really wanted to go!) I have never hunted, on my bucket list, but over the past few years of learning about Buddhist teachings I have become a lot more hesitant. Feeling it would interfere with my connection to animals (I like being able to pet Bison every once in a while )
Long story short, he told me the Native Americans who he hunted with let him join in their ceremonys. Can you guess which type of tobacco was their weapon of choice?!?!?!?

We Have To Talk

We Have To Talk About Weed

@KhyungMar

In Bon, the sang (smoke) offering is usually done in the morning and together with different visualisation the smoke is actually transformed in the visualisation into offerings for all classes of nature spirits.
At midday, the Chutor (water offering) is made mainly for the Naga spirits (water spirits).
In early evening, the sur-chod (fire offering) is done by offering Tsampa (barley flour mixed with other vegetable offerings) into the fire and thus producing pleasant smoke scents. Mainly for the dead. Spirits in transition and - I think - also so-called “smell eaters”, spirits who appreciate pleasant smells.
The Chöd offering (body offering) is usually done in the later evening and the practicioner visualises the offering of his/her own body to the spirits of a wild place.

Did not know about any of this, very cool how its almost an offering to the Elements as well. I have heard of Chod, I think from your teaching of it on this site and in TWRs book.

@KhyungMar

the sang (smoke) offering is usually done in the morning and together with different visualisation the smoke is actually transformed in the visualisation into offerings for all classes of nature spirits.

Is this one the most important offering of the day, or are they all considered to be equally important?