Despondency

Sometimes, life just doesn’t turn out as we might have hoped. This could happen in our spiritual life as well. We might feel, “It’s not working.” We become aware of feeling jaded or disheartened.

There is much in Tibetan Buddhism I feel is not explained: we are left wondering. We may wonder how on earth can we find out about something which is only hinted at: it can get unnecessarily complicated! The conclusion can be, “Well, I suppose I’m just not good enough.”

Having a teacher – or teachers – is important, as they can instruct us. Having a meditation group for support is also important. However…politics and competitiveness do creep into organisations. We may try to fit in, and for most, this is possible and acceptable (and for some, it is impossible!). We have also to realise that the teacher or lama is usually super-busy, and that we cannot get a close relationship with him or her.

Over-dependency

We can become over dependent. We can hang around waiting for more teachings, but we have to realise that the teachings are very simple, based on one point…pure awareness. However, we have many obscurations and so there are ways to combat these. These methods are those “more teachings”.

Once we understand the basics, all we have to do is practise. We need to get into the “right frame of mind” which is clarity of mind: being aware of mind’s activities. And what does that? Pure awareness!

It can even note the mind feeling fed up, or despondent.

Some people will want to melt snow with their bodily heat, leave imprints in rocks, and walk on water, but these maybe not for us (although I must admit to fancying levitation! 🙂 but karma hasn’t brought anything this way, and I don’t need to).

When one realises the simple truth of the Dharma – that everything arises within emptiness, and that the expression of that is compassion – what more does one need?

If you want more, just look deeper.
Better still, not so much! 🙂

Once pure awareness is recognised,
wakefulness has arrived.

Looking for something more
is looking for something else 😉  

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