Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism derives in the confluence of Buddhism and yoga which began to arrive in Tibet from India briefly round the late eighth century after which more steadily in the thirteenth century onwards. Indian Buddhism around that point had incorporated both Hindu yogic and tantric practices combined with the classical teachings from the historical Buddha who lived around 500 BC. It acknowledged there were two paths to enlightenment ( complete transcendence of identification using the personal ego ). One path was that taught within the sutras according to the historical teachings. One's heart of sutra practice took it's origin from morality, concentration, and wisdom ( not identifying using the personal ego ). Another path, that has become the cornerstone of Tibetan variations, was tantric. This practice blended the sutra teachings in manners adapted from Hindu systems of yoga and tantra.
Tantric systems transform the fundamental human passions of desire and aversion with regards to spiritual development. Instead of denying such primal urges, tantra purifies them into wholesome and helpful forces. It's very much like attempting to deal with an outrageous horse charging in your direction. One way is denial: set up your hands and shout out, "stop, stop!" Probably you'll be bowled over through the animal. Another, more clever, approach would be to step aside after which jump on its back because it charges past you. When this occurs, you have a opportunity to start coaxing it to maneuver in certain directions, and also over time you might be able to direct it right into a stable. Truthfully, you need some skill both in self-control and acceptance if your are to be successful with tantric work.
Tibetan Tantra ( also called the Vajrayana ) incorporates the main aspects of both Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhist teachings. It's basically an esoteric extension on these themes. Hinayana and Mahayana are two schools of Buddhist practice which have basically similar goals and methods but somewhat differing philosophies. For example, Theravadin Buddhism ( known for its Vipassana meditation ) is really a Hinayana teaching and Zen Buddhism is really a Mahayana teaching. Tantra itself has various schools which may be grouped through the relative emphasis they put on working with exoteric and esoteric practices.

Mission Chinese Food in San Francisco

I can't remember how I first heard of Mission Street Food or Mission Chinese Food -- perhaps it was the cookbook published by McSweeney's, perhaps it was from Bon Appetit's list of Best New Restaurants 2011 -- but a great story sticks in your head.
The short version of the story is that first-generation Chinese-American Anthony Myint (parents immigrated to Virginia by way of Burma) took a trip eating his way around the world, came back, moved to San Francisco, and started running a food truck with his wife.  After that came a pop-up restaurant inside an existing Chinese restaurant Lung Shan in SF's Mission district.  Mission Chinese Food went from one night a week to guest chefs to now basically existing as a restaurant inside a restaurant.

I loved it the second I walked in; I loved that they hadn't changed the old-school wood-paneled decor, that they had a New Year's parade dragon hanging from the drop ceiling, that the staff were all pictured family-style on the top of the menu.  I believe it was "Auntie" who brought us menus.
I really wish it was more than just Redneckhunter and myself, because I wanted to order one of everything on the menu.  We opted instead for one cold dish, one hot dish, and one noodle dish. Our cold dish was Savory Egg Custard with Sea Urchin, Cured Trout Roe, Rice Wine and Shiso.  The egg custard was the perfect smooth texture like silken tofu, the urchin and roe were wonderfully fishy.  Not sure why there was a ninja next to this one on the menu, but I liked it!

I was so disappointed when the noodle dish I wanted was not available -- Numbing Lamb Face Biang Biang Mien, so we opted for Thrice-Cooked Bacon with Rice Cakes, Bitter Melon, Tofu Skin, Scallion, Black Bean and Chili Oil.  For those Chinese readers, it was like niang gao crossed with hui-guo ro, but with the interesting addition of ku gua -- a much more traditionally Chinese dish than the egg custard.

Our last dish was Pork Belly with Soy-cured Egg, Ginger Scallion Rice Noodles, and Cucumber (pictured on top).  I think I would have preferred the pork belly to be slow-braised like dong-puo ro rather than fried, but I can't complain too much about pork belly.  But mostly I like the deconstruction of this dish from its traditional antecendents, with a more Western-style presentation, yet all the great Chinese flavors.  And, it was great to have a soy egg that was soft-boiled. Mission Chinese Food will definitely be one I return to next time I'm in San Francisco I'm far more into this place than his fine dining establishment Commonwealth (though I do like how both restaurants donate a percentage of their profits to charity).