Doubt.
I doubt.
It is not the I that doubts –
there is no I to doubt.
Doubt reveals the confusion.
Doubt is both wise and silly.
With doubt, we know that something is wrong, so that’s good. But let’s be clear here: the I is Truth looking outward and mistaking mind’s reflections for itself.
The moon looked into the puddle
and assumed the reflection to be it’s self…
but wasn’t totally convinced!
Truth has two aspects; awareness and emptiness. If one is recognised without the other…there is our problem. Our eternal problem. It is the awareness without emptiness that is confused, and doubts, precisely because the empty aspect is not present. Conversely, emptiness without awareness leads us into a vacant state.
Awareness is relative truth.
Emptiness is absolute truth.
Together they are Truth.
Compassion is born of Truth.
Awareness without Emptiness
is eternalistic– everything is solid and real.
Emptiness without Awareness
is nihilistic – spaced out and pointless.
So, it’s right to doubt, because what is seen has no reality: the reality is in the seeing itself. The recognition of doubt is very important. Why? The moment that awareness is aware of doubt, there is a recognition of recognition taking place.
The moon is stirring in the dream of reflections:
that awareness of recognition looks inward this time,
and finds…nothing…emptiness…wisdom…
Awareness unites with emptiness…non duality!
The moon now sees the true nature of the reflection – and itself.
Without this recognition,
Truth gets dragged down
into the puddle of doubt,
deeper into the puddle of confusion…
…silly!
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. 
Hello Tony
What a subtle subject you’ve raised here. It seems that we doubt ourselves -and don’t realise that we are doubting what’s in our mind. We forget that which sees the doubt. Does that make sense?
I was wondering whether you would agree that doubt seems to be a catalyst that can set off a chain of other emotions. Or, as I just wrote that, I suddenly wondered whether it’s actually the reverse – that doubt is a manifestation of another underlying emotion… I suppose it can be both of those.
Isn’t it strange that we try to have confidence in our transient, insubstantial minds: how can we ever have true confidence in such a fleeting thing? Doubt must surely be constantly present – and that explains the condition that I think probably all humans live with…insecurity.
Thanks!
Daisy