The Buddha within ‘me’.

 I am a Dharma student, who wishes to share experiences as they come along. At each step on the path, perception changes: we may use the same words, but the meaning refines. It is an ongoing process. The purpose of analysing an experience is so it is assimilated and clarified, and confidence is gained beyond doubt or beliefs. To say, “I rest in what is,” is merely a concept.

A few years ago, while on an intensive retreat, I realised that the three kayas (the three qualities of our being – Emptiness, Awareness and Compassion) were none other than the three so-called Negative emotions (Desire, Aversion and Ignorance) in their pure form. This was a incredible breakthrough.

 It was one of ‘those’ moments…after much frustration.

 I find writing clarifies the experience of external and internal events. Nothing and no one can affect our true being – the three kayas. However, our mind – or consciousness – is confused, so it is useful to take the confusion apart, in order to see exactly what is going on…and so alleviate suffering.

 Once we have had a glimpse of our true nature, then when an emotion arises (because there is some level of “I” still present), the mind brightens. At that moment we clearly see the movement or disturbance that clouds our true nature, and simply return to stillness by not re-acting. If we do react, we allow the emotions to take control and the world turns into darkness…again!

 The negative emotions do not truly exist. They are a manifestation of an essence identifying with an embellished self image.

 To find the Buddha within oneself, means to come out of the illusory-embellished-self-imagined-dream: all one needs is to recognise awareness. Awareness is the key to looking either outwards or inwards.

 When awareness looks outwards, it is caught and held by phenomena. When awareness looks inwards, it finds only awareness. That ‘only awareness’ means there is nothing else: it is empty of other. That is called Emptiness, or Essence, or non duality, or Shunyata, or Dharmakaya…or anything you wish!

The Buddha within me is me –
Pure Compassionate Awareness
– nothing else!

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