Direct experience.

 Although we may know philosophies, and able to repeat the words and experiences of others, they are not a substitute for direct experience. When you ‘know’, then no one can ever lord it over you, or try to pull the wool over your eyes again.

 When one goes to Dharma centres, there are often some strange unspoken rituals going on. It’s mainly westerners ‘being’ spiritual! Newcomers might feel that they have to follow along…they don’t, although of course, one respects others’ formal expression. All you need is direct experience of the nature of mind, and then whatever others do, is up to them. Direct experience will put you in the right place at the right time, with the right conduct.

 Direct experience gives you confidence in realising that’s it: there is nothing more. Others will have different ways of describing the same thing, which, in the final analysis, is beyond description.

With direct experience, compassion wells up, and one can let others be the way they want to be.

So what is direct experience? It is shockingly simple!

 You are aware of reading these words. —-Take a moment to be aware of this awareness. —-The eyes and senses are wide open. —-One does not interfere with this awareness. —-Just let it be. —-One becomes aware of spaciousness. —-In this space there is nothing happening. —-That ‘nothing happening’ is the empty quality of pure awareness – pure perception – essence. —-Do not try to hold onto it, as that conceptualises it. —-Practise short moments many times. Whether you are tired, drunk, sick, full of mental chatter, this pure awareness is always there. —-Just notice and let be.

This primordial purity, this wisdom – this luminous awareness free from elaboration – is your true nature. Pure and simple. Its expression is Love, Compassion, Joy and Equanimity.