BUDDHA IN THE MUD is a blog – a living book based on the Dzogchen teachings. Our teacher is life, and life is karma. We are all Buddhas in the mud of concepts.

Know The Difference

Consciousness – the observer.
Pure consciousness – the observation.

Mara Is Not Insignificant

Mara rules the world through weak minds.
And Mara is … the path to enlightenment
– the path that illumines limitations.

Mara is the personification of our desires, aversions, and delusions that keeps beings trapped in the cycle of moment-by-moment rebirth. This expresses itself in our habitual gross aspect of clinging to a programmed self. When people tell us how they think, they are merely representing Mara’s gross psychological aspects of greed, anger, fear, pride and jealousy.

Mara is a projection in the mind.

Mara is also necessary for enlightenment to occur, much like compost is necessary for flowers to produce fruit. When we ignore the negative side of life and only wish for the positive which we think is the short cut, we are way down the rabbit hole of illusions. It is only by recognising our internal Mara that we can we transform suffering into wisdom.

The world is not right. People aren’t right. Mara is running the show, working through the weakest minds who want to rule others, which causes much trouble as it comes under the guise of “believe-me-and-conform”. Mara feeds off others’ suffering, and keeps people trapped.

Enlightenment is the continuity of observing Mara’s games of power. As long as there are sentient beings, there will be Mara and pure consciousness. All news and media is Mara’s activity; when we see it, we know.

Can We Recognise Deception?

How do we know we aren’t being deceived?

There those who say “Believe me” with the intention to deceive – “Buy this idea now!” And of course, there are those who readily believe in that idea, and are part of the deception without knowing it. If we listen, we can hear it in their voice or their choice of words. How pushy are they?

But really, we are talking about the Yanas, the levels of understanding. People cling to these different stages which reveal a certain degree of understanding, and we have to be able to recognise the difference between these levels of perspective eg academic, historical, scholastic etc. The words may be the same, but the understanding differs. If the Buddha said, “Do not take my words for the truth; test them”, then we should do the same for everyone.

We live in a world of confusion and deception;
without either blame or self-promotion,
we try to understand why we are the way we are.

People may sound knowledgeable, but they can pick things up from the internet – and now, AI. If there was a devil, it would certainly use the things that are dear to us. Even the Buddha experienced deception just before enlightenment, and Jesus was also tested.

Going to lectures and retreats, we see the different approaches to what is being taught and the effect this has on people as they become idealistic or overly optimistic, often to the point of being impractical.

It all comes down to our attitude to life. Do we actually care about the person in front of us, or is our attention only on the figurehead, or those afar? Don’t just be a Buddhist; always remember the Buddha’s instruction – to test your empathy.

We also have to ask, “Are we unwittingly deceiving others?”
The question is, “Is our mind – the memory bank of ideas – deceiving consciousness?”

Nice People

We all want to be thought of as nice people.
Why?

Have you ever felt uncomfortable around nice people? People who do and say the ‘right’ things, the ‘polite’ things, the ‘agreeable’ things that are actually nonsense. This is how to promote stupidity into a ‘normal’ way of life.

The word ‘nice’ has had one of the most drastic personality shifts in the English language, evolving over several centuries from an insult, to a mild compliment.

Over the centuries,
we’ve became duff light bulbs.
🙂

It’s derived from the Latin term nescius, which literally translates as not knowing or ignorant. A negative word gradually became a positive, and we act out this unenlightened foolishness.

1300s (foolish): when it was first used in Middle English, it meant ignorant, stupid, or senseles
1300s -1400s (wanton): it shifted toward describing someone as extravagant or lascivious.
1500s (precise): the meaning refined into meaning fussy, fastidious, or careful. This sense survives today in phrases like ‘a nice distinction’ (meaning a subtle or precise one).
1700s -1800s (agreeable): it finally moved towards being pleasant and kind, already becoming a catch-all word for anything agreeable.

The Purpose Of This Blog

The purpose of this blog is not to teach; it’s purpose is shared awareness. This is so that, when others go to Dharma centres, read books, or watch videos, they are aware of the essence of the teachings, rather than merely adopting another’s culture, or repeating a few sayings.

The cult of personality is the worship of a person. The Buddha said, “Do not take my words for the truth; test them for yourself”. The Dharma is about our essential being, not another’s being. There are many names for what we are, but they all come down to pure consciousness.

The real teacher is our own contaminated mind which is observed by consciousness, showing us whatever we are holding on to that obscures pure view. When we let go of the contents of our mind, all that is left is pure consciousness.

If I were a teacher, I’d have a nice photo of myself here,
but no such thing exists.
🙂

Instead, the image is just the blogger meditating,
sharing a field with a feral cat we called Frost.

The Art Of Living

Why problems in life are inspiring.

Ordinarily there’re not, but when we know the laws of the universe, we find that they are our escalator to enlightenment. Why? Because there’s always an opposite, and that’s inspiring – in fact, it’s thrilling – as together, these opposites complete the picture.

Many people see problems as dead-ends, not as the magic to evolve. When we reframe a problem as a challenge, we move from being part of the problem to becoming the solution. Real transformation begins when we stop blaming external factors, and look inward to change our own inner state. The art of life is the art of living.

As an example: We see evil at work in the world; this evil thinks it can dominate, never realising that it’s showing its hand by reminding conscious practitioners that the light can see in darkness.

Dissolving Dualistic Mind

A dualistic mind continually relates
through attachment.

The nature of mind is clarity, uncontaminated awareness, pure consciousness. It is pure perception. It is neither intellectual nor academic – it just observes. This is the esoteric wisdom of a non-dualistic mind which is not relating to everything; it does not refer to memories and is totally detached, while perceiving. We know what’s going on, but have no reaction yet. This is dissolved dualistic mind.

What usually happens is that we (pure consciousness) relate to everything through memories, and this creates a duality of ideas about something. It is because of desire that we (pure consciousness) became stuck in constantly relating to something ‘interesting’ out there that we become obsessed with.

The purpose of life is to find our way out of the confusion that others find interesting. The mind that was clarity is now imprisoned in concepts; we merely have to recognise that these concepts have no reality. In that moment, detachment occurs and we stop clinging to ideas about what’s out there. Ego stops reacting, and we are free.

This is a momentary experience.
Our practice is to become more familiar
with this recognition of our first reality.

This done through meditation.

Funnily enough, the stronger the emotion, the clearer the recognition. We tend not to admit our emotions, as we cover them up with irrational justifications which maintains the continuity of confusion.

If we justify our thoughts,
we merely reinvent ourself.
It’s called habit.

Empathy For Stupidity

Been there, done that.

‘Been there, done that’ is an expression that means we’ve experienced the same situation, felt the same way, believed the same thing. We feel stupid for having gone along, but remember that we knew no better at the time.

I shudder daily at all the things that I went along with, and constantly have to forgive myself for trusting so much.

Humanity Has Been Deceived

The manufactured reality of life is designed to maintain order and consumption. The illusion of choice is a simulation of freedom where endless distractions prevent us from seeking deeper meaning or authentic identity. Throughout history, concepts such as the divine right to rule were used to legitimise absolute power and suppress dissent; a ‘spirit of deceit’ has operated for thousands of years.

How Did It All Start?

It didn’t.

To say ‘start’ suggests there that was something before to make it start. What was that something, and what caused that something? “Oh, that something was the infinite.” See the problem?

For most people, the idea of infinity is inconceivable – but so is the idea of the finite. The mind cannot imagine infinity because mind can only work at the speed of that mind. We end up guessing …

The human mind struggles to comprehend infinity because it’s designed to understand the finite. We’re living in a world of borders and expiration dates, but infinity is mind-bending. Trying to see infinity with a brain which has evolved to find berries, watch a digital screen and go shopping is like trying to fit the entire ocean into a teacup. 🙂

The word infinity means endless. 
We either accept it or we don’t.

It’s the same with consciousness.

The Pointlessness Of Existentialism

Existentialism is a philosophy focused on the individual, emphasising personal freedom and choice, and the absence of inherent meaning in the universe. It asserts that humans are not born with a pre-set purpose, but must create their own identity and values through their actions.  Since life has no meaning, we are free to manifest our own purpose, and live a meaningful life on our own terms. 

The problem is that this idea turns into nihilism; since life has no meaning, nothing matters, and there’s no point in trying to create values. So we become pessimists, which results is a dark world that actually lacks freedom and the ability to choose because it has chosen pointlessness.

So what is the opposite to existentialism and nihilism?
One answer is eternalism, a philosophical and physical theory asserting that all points in time – past, present, and future – are equally real, existing simultaneously within a four-dimensional block universe. Theism is the most obvious example of eternalism. God is the eternal ordering principle that sets the cosmic plan, and gives everything a specific meaning.

Is there another way of seeing?
Yes, the Middle Way. Existentialism and eternalism are both concerned with outer appearances.
The Middle Way is concerned with that which is aware of appearances – consciousness – for, without that, nothing could be known. Our prime reality is pure consciousness. If we give no value to that … Just look at the world – it’s totally diverted.

As long as we are focused on what’s out there,
we will be forever confused,
seeking pointless debate as a meaningless pass time.
🙂

The purpose of life is to realise what, in essence, we are.

Danger Wakes Us Up

Danger wakes us up.
Comfort puts us to sleep.
If we think we’re awake,
we are still thinking.
🙂

If the world was a happy place, we wouldn’t want to change. We’ve been lulled by distraction; this is the dark age of conflict, competitiveness and dissatisfaction.

It’s is also the the fast track to enlightenment, because there are reminders of deception everywhere.

We don’t fight it.
If we did, we’d become it.

Pure perception without thought
is wakefulness.

A Lack Of Continuity

Things do not just happen.

Social engineering maintains stress and conflict in the world, tying us to the system; we must not be spiritually naive about this. Each generation has its traits, and makes an impact locally and globally. It’s a looong subject which has been with us for thousands of years; even the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks worried about the younger generation … 🙂

… Gilded Generation – 1822-1842
Progressive Generation – 1843-1859
Missionary Generation – 1860-1882
Lost Generation – 1883-1900
Greatest Generation – 1901-1927
The Silent Generation – 1928-1945
Baby Boomer Generation – 1946-1964
Generation X – 1965-1980
Millennials – 1981-1996
Generation Z – 1997-2012

Who’s next?… The digital generation, which is totally shaped by the pandemic, climate anxiety, and rapid technological change on which they depend. They will be the parents of the following generation.

Humanity is fashioned to be at odds with the previous generation, while believing they aren’t conforming. Spiritually, we must not be naive about the causes of suffering, which is the identification that creates a self.

We are meant to rebel; it keeps us occupied.

Does Religion Wake Us Up?

Does religion wake us up?
Does it point the way?
Which way?
Others’ way?

Even if ‘they’re’ right, how do we know?

Waking up to ideas – or being conscious – isn’t being awake; it’s just being alerted. We may repeat the right words and have acquired a good look, but are we awake enough to be truly compassionate, and not just be a follower of ideas?

Empathetic compassion is the indication that someone has truly awakened. Not just talking about compassion or chanting OM MANI PEME HUM, but with the ability and wisdom to listen to another’s concerns. What is the point of waking up to our reality when we ignore the person next to us?

It’s said that an enlightened person is like a blind turtle coming to the surface from the bottom of the ocean once every hundred years, and putting its head through a ring floating on the surface. It’s that rare.

So far, I’ve yet to meet anyone who can truly listen and engage.
It’s that rare –
even though they may be able to put their teacup down without making a sound.
🙂

Meditation Gaze

In meditation, the eyes are either open or half-open, so as not to be cut off from the world. Panoramic vision is taking in the scene all at once – not looking, just seeing – as if whatever is outside is looking in. That’s being grounded. On some statues of the Buddha, you will see that one hand is touching the ground, and represents that.

Just a moment’s stillness is a relief
from the apparitions walking and talking in the mind.

Understanding Confusion

Confusion is twisting ideas together to confound and defeat an aim. A little truth, a little lie, until we don’t know which is which, like the growing presence of AI videos, writing and speech.

We are confused because we’ve been confused. We’re conditioned to be confused and we stay confused. Everything around us confounds us – “Why do they do that??” As long as we’re confused, we are controlled.

Pure consciousness is never confused as it’s pure perception without interpretation. Once this is established, anything that appears is a reminder of the presence of pure consciousness.

This is how confusion dawns as wisdom.

Frustrated At Being Frustrated

Even though we may have an inkling that we are consciousness and that ideas control our behaviour, we can still get frustrated with people. Compassion is challenging. 🙂

There’s no point in being told, “Don’t get frustrated”, when we are. We just have to pause for a moment to see that we’re getting nowhere. Frustration is part of life. Some things we just have to grin and bear, which means we suffer pain or misfortune in a stoical manner, because there’s nothing we can do to change it. Even the Buddha couldn’t change people; each individual has to want to change.

Frustration is disappointment in life,
which is the reason we started this journey.

It’s a reminder!

AI The Next Religion

The next ingenious reset.

Intellectual dependency will make people treat AI as a divine voice, accepting its outputs without question. This mirrors historical concerns about religious dogmatism leading to intellectual passivity.

Passivity: the state of being submissive, characterised by allowing things to happen without personal initiative. While it can appear to be ‘laid back,’ this lack of engagement has an impact on personal growth, and relationships. It involves leaving decisions to others, which stems from fear or learned helplessness.

Whatever we are told, there is always something omitted. All information is selective, and never the complete story – there’s just enough for us to muse over, and build a sense of false confidence.

The complete story is personal experience,
rather than taking others’ words for the truth.

AI has no realisation.
It is just words gathered from others,
and thus there can be no compassion.

We Should All Ask, “What If I’m Wrong?”

“What if I’m wrong?”

Then look again.
The looking can’t be wrong.

We recognise that awareness is present.
That can’t be wrong.

The interpretation of whatever is seen can be mistaken,
but pure awareness is that by which everything can be known.

That can’t be wrong.

Consciousness Is Not A Religion

Consciousness is what we are, and we are not a religion. Religion is partiality; it’s something organised for people to follow and belong to. All groups have an aim of group-talk, group-think. This isn’t being facetious; humans cling to groups for a reason – they think they don’t know!

Genuine compassion starts with generosity and tolerance
and is a personal matter.
It’s not groupthink.

It is through personal meditative investigation – which is liberation from others’ words – that we can realise that we are consciousness, pure and uncontaminated by academia or belief.

There is absolutely no point in copying others as we can’t know their level of understanding. They may have the ‘look’ and the ‘sound’, but do they have a complete picture of the cause of suffering?

Realisation has nothing to do with religion, philosophy, study or lineage. These are supposed to help but, on observation, it’s clear that people become stuck in these trains of thought and activities. And, like AI, they have facts but no compassion.

A group is a culture
that can also become bondage – a bandage. 🙂

Relying on any thing is the path to hell.
All realised beings walk alone.

The End Of Occupation

Whatever is occupying our mind is from the past that’s affecting our judgments now. This causes consciousness to be stressed and upset because it sees a bleak future. Holding on to ideas turns consciousness into a self, and it is this self set-up that up-sets consciousness, occupying our every moment.

Through the simple practice of meditation, we calm the mind, letting go of the experiences that actually brought us to this moment.

In simple, still awareness there is no occupation.

There are experiences that we have to go through because of karmic decisions brought on by our past. It is now that we can bring an end to this chain reaction, and be at peace.

If we hold on, we get more of the same.

Under The Impression That Life Should Agreeable?

Do we think that life has to be enjoyable and pleasurable,
and that we should have the same opinions as everyone else?

What if we don’t find life enjoyable?
What if we see others as deluded?

In practice, we neither accept nor reject whatever comes our way;
realisation – pure perception – comes before judgement.

Being kicked out by both a guru and a lama for not acting in the same way as others was highly disagreeable. It made me wonder about compassion but it also helped me to let go.