Don’t learn it – live it.

 The Buddha dharma is not a belief system: it is a description of our true nature, which can be experienced. It is a complete system that can be clearly understood from beginning to end.

In fact, it is said, “In knowing one, one knows everything.” That ‘one’ is Essence.

 Even if you prefer to call it God, you still need to recognise your own awareness first in order to recognise Essence/God. Without this, nothing can be known. And that is not a belief, it’s a fact!

 At present, we live in a bodymind prison. It may be a harsh prison, or a comfortable prison…it’s still a prison. This is not what we truly are, so we have to find a way out, and we need a key.

 There are Buddhist paths/methods to liberation to suit all temperaments: this blog leans towards Vajrayana-Dzogchen…with Compassion thrown in (Mahayana).

 There are three requirements to being a suitable vessel: the accumulation of merit, purification of obscurations, and blessings. Simply put, merit is good intention, purification is practice and blessings come from an authentic teacher.

Merit is having a spiritual attitude to everything.

Purification is the practice of effortless effort.

Blessing is the virus we catch from the teacher: it is likened to a flame. A flame needs a candle, which is created by our merit and practice. Then our candle can be lit by the blessings from the teacher. If our merit and practice is not strong, the light will flicker and not last.

 First we have to recognise we are suffering and in prison. We can get carried away with how wonderful life is, but we need to get out of this temporary, mistaken, illusory existence! Our true nature is not to be a prisoner. We have the key, and we are the jailer. All beliefs create bars. The key is dropping all beliefs. Unlock the bars and go into the bright light.

 In Dzogchen, there is the pointing out instruction = passing on the flame.

In the Vajrayana, there are the preliminary practices = the accumulation of merit, and purification These are called the Ngondro and consist of 4 x 111,111,111 practices – whether these work on not, depends on the individual. I’ve completed them: I can’t say one way or the other, but it does focus one’s commitment to a state of non-commitment where you just do them.

To get to enlightenment

one merely clears away

the obstacles.

Slowly or quickly.