ZenLife Blog
The Four Dignities: Path of a Spiritual Warrior (Bodhisattva)
Some years ago, I did a series of four paintings on what are known in the Shambhala tradition as “the four dignities”. This tradition which was developed by one of my teachers, Chogyam Trungpa, used these rich metaphors to represent the path of a spiritual warrior (bodhisattva). I am writing this blog to share these paintings and some of the teachings the accompany them…
In the Buddhist tradition, the path of the Bodhisattva is well laid out. In the Shambhala teachings Chogyam Trungpa spoke of this as the path of a spiritual warrior. Part of this practice uses four metaphors known as the Four Dignities. These are the Tiger of Meekness, the Snow Lion of Perkiness, the Garuda of Outrageousness and the Dragon of Inscrutability.
What is to Give Light Must Endure Burning
“What is to endure light must endure burning”
Viktor Frankl (1905-1997) Austrian neurologist, pychologist, philosopher, and Dachau survivor
I’ve heard August called the dog days of summer. This could mean that it’s so hot, all you want to do is lie around like a dog. It could also mean that you’re up against something hard, a challenge, something scary that you’d rather not deal with at the moment, if at all and that you’re lying around like a couch potato.
When this happens there are two major options for you. There are more of course but they fall into these two big categories.
Tiger of Meekness (Part I of Four–Part Series)
Meekness is not a word we often associate with strength, but in fact, the spiritual warrior's strength arises from gentleness, not arrogance. It's about being simple, grounded and embodied.
An Appropriate Response – The Four Dignities
In the Buddhist tradition, the path of the Bodhisattva is well laid out. In the Shambhala teachings Chogyam Trungpa spoke of this as the path of a spiritual warrior. Part of this practice uses four metaphors known as the Four Dignities. These are the Tiger of Meekness, the Snow Lion of Perkiness, the Garuda of Outrageousness and the Dragon of Inscrutability. These four metaphors can help guide us in discerning an appropriate response.
The Power of Forgiveness
Forgiveness is connected to the Buddhist virtue of equanimity, a steadiness of mind that is the ground for wisdom and the protector of compassion. Forgiveness is related to the third Paramita of patience that helps us work with our own aggression and irritations. For when anger visits us and stays too long, it takes up residence in our heart as resentment.