An Analogous Rapture
The Rainbow Body. In Vajrayana Buddhism, practiced by Tibetans, there is the potential of attaining what is known as the Rainbow Body. At the time of death of certain highly evolved Tibetan Masters, rainbows appear in the sky and the body of the Master disappears into radiating light, often releasing a beautiful fragrance and sometimes accompanied by beautiful celestial music. As they die, they enable their body to be reabsorbed back into the light essence of the elements that created it, and consequently their material body dissolves into light and disappears completely. See http://www.snowlionpub.com/pages/N59_9.php
“Based on the Tibetan terms 'lus' (that which is left behind, ordinary body) and 'ja' (rainbow, rainbow hue), the Rainbow Body …is not so much a "body" but rather a vortex of energy into which certain adepts can apparently transform themselves on dying. Rather than leaving a corpse behind that needs to be cremated or chopped to pieces, highly accomplished men and women rather pass away in a mass of rainbow light. To use a Tibetan phrase, they "dissolve into space like a rainbow"; a process which - curiously enough - is reported as leaving the practitioners hair and nails behind as physical remnants.
…Those who will attain the body of rainbow light…, who - in other words - undergo the great transformation of the rainbow body…must have learned to cease all grasping and to have exhausted all fixations. This inner cleansing of all attachments, so difficult to realize for human beings, is at the core of the practice known as Thogal or Tögal (Thod-rGal), the "All-Surpassing Realisation" that is part of the Concealed Instructions Series of Dzogchen teachings.” http://www.yoniversum.nl/dakini/rainbody.html
"[T]he Buddhist concept of the 'rainbow body,' [is] the penultimate transitional state of meditation in which matter begins to be transformed into pure light. It is said to be the highest state attainable in the realm of samsara before the "clear light" of Nirvana. As the spectrum contains within itself all possible manifestations of light, and thus of color, the rainbow body signifies the awakening of the inner self to the complete reservoir of terrestrial knowledge that it is possible to access before stepping over the threshold to the state of Nirvana. http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/symbols/color.htm
Throughout the advanced practices of Dzogchen, accomplished practitioners can bring their lives to an extraordinary and triumphant end. As they die, they enable their body to be reabsorbed back into the light essence of the elements that created it, and consequently their material body dissolves into light and disappears completely. …This process is known as the "rainbow body" or "body of light", because the dissolution is often accompanied by spontaneous manifestations of light and rainbows.
… The Body of Light represents a complete and total and radical transformation of one's status of being, a rediscovery of what was primordially present, and this condition is permanent. It is Awareness itself (rig-pa nyid) and is dependent on nothing else. This may be compared to the various Christian notions of transfiguration, resurrection, and ascension; but in the case of Dzogchen, the methodology of how this is accomplished, namely the realizing of the Body of Light, is presented in precise terms.” http://www.meaningoflife.i12.com/buddha-rainbow.htm
For a thangka image of the rainbow body go to http://www.tibetantreasures.com/tthtml/deitypho/phrbgr.sl.htm
Practice and Discipline. Unlike the Christian Rapture, which happens in the “twinkling of an eye” to all those who have professed a love of Christ, the Rainbow Body is achieved through a diligent practice of Dzogchen. Literally "great perfection," Dzogchen is a meditative practice that is based on the idea that all appearances are creations of mind (which is said to be an entity of luminosity and emptiness). The goal of Dzogchen practice is to remain in the clear, un-deluded state of the nature of the mind, unconditioned by thoughts -- which is not the same thing as not having any thoughts. Dzogchen is considered the fast track to enlightenment, making it possible to attain in one lifetime.
Dzogchen as a study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism has been until recently a highly secret and guarded vehicle of Buddhist activity. Its adherents believe that these teachings are the highest and therefore that no other means are necessary. The Masters say that, as our primordial nature, Dzogchen has existed since the beginning of time and is pointed to by various masters throughout the universe. It is the innermost Tantra, which transcends ritual and symbol. Important to the practice is faithfulness to the Buddhist vows, purity of life, and the importance of cultivating compassion. This ancient tradition and belief is still alive and well in Tibet. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dzogchen
End Times Parallel. “Buddha predicted that his teachings would disappear after 500 years. According to the Sutta Pitaka, the "ten moral courses of conduct" will disappear and people will follow the ten amoral concepts of theft, violence, murder, lying, evil speaking, adultery, abusive and idle talk, covetousness and ill will, wanton greed, and perverted lust resulting in skyrocketing poverty and the end of the worldly laws of true dharma. During the Middle Ages, the span of time was expanded to 5,000 years. …[A] new Buddha named Maitreya will arise to renew the teachings of Buddhism and rediscover the path to Nirvana.
… The decline of Buddhism in the world, and its eventual re-establishment by Maitreya, are in keeping with the general shape of Buddhist cosmology. Like Hindus, Buddhists generally believe in a cycle of creation and destruction, of which the current epoch represents only the latest step. The historical Buddha Shakyamuni is only the latest in a series of Buddhas that stretches back into the past.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eschatology#Buddhism
“Maitreya is a bodhisattva who Buddhists believe will eventually appear on earth, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure dharma. The Maitreya Buddha will be the successor of the Gautama Buddha or Shakyamuni Buddha. He is predicted to be a “world-ruler,” uniting those who he rules over. Maitreya is comparable to second coming prophecies in other religions, such as the coming of Kalki, the final avatar of Vishnu, in Hinduism, the return of Jesus or the enthronement of the final Pope, Peter the Roman in Christianity, or of Saoshyant in Zoroastrianism.
… The Maitreya’s coming is characterized by a number of physical events. The oceans are predicted to decrease in size, allowing the Maitreya to traverse them freely. The event will also allow the unveiling of the “true” dharma to the people, in turn allowing the construction of a new world. …Some of the events foretold at the coming of the second Buddha include an end to death, warfare, famine, and disease (and ostensibly rebirth) as well as the ushering in of a new society of tolerance and love.” http://www.apocalypse-soon.com/buddhist_eschatology.htm
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