Caught between two ignorances

Traditionally, from a Buddhist perspective, these ignorances are our misunderstanding of our true nature, and the maintenance of that misunderstanding – conceptual and co-emergent ignorances. Delusion and double delusion. So, the traditional explanation is that it’s all our fault (because we are grasping) and we have to do something about this.

But we can only do something about it if we know what it is we have to do! Most people are caught in a loop of misunderstanding, and habitually maintaining that misunderstanding. It’s called Samsara – the vicious cycle of existence.

It is this maintenance that we have to look at: our conduct. As human beings, we reside in a ‘community’ of collective karma, where we are all maintaining the same illusions. As such, we are caught in a situation of nature and nurture: our personal confusion and the preoccupied confusion of others, which has an effect on us. Together, whether as tribe or planet, we maintain this confused state. To put it another way, “Birds of a feather flock together!” describes collective karma.

However, we can break out of this collective hive mentality, and just deal with our own karma. Until our karma has acquired some good merit (having altruistic tendencies of self disinterest and selfless concern for the wellbeing of others), we will not have the opportunity to find the way to break out of this groupthink. Until then, we will remain buddhastuckinthemud.com! 🙂

It is because of good merit that we will meet with instruction from a teacher. It is startling that most people on this planet are imprisoned by their mental, self-cherishing, emotional state and cannot even begin to hear about truth. Just listen in to practically any conversation…

It is here that we must take a closer look at nurture – our environment.

Traditional Buddhism says it’s all our fault. Well it is…and it isn’t. Sure, we always have the choice – that is, if we know we have a choice. More people could be on the path to enlightenment, if only they didn’t perceive the subject as being ‘airy-fairy’.

Our over-reactive world is not geared up for peace of mind – it’s geared to invade our peace of mind! Our minds are full of ‘space invaders’!

By way of the media, governments and corporations invade our minds with propaganda of fear of some sort… “Those pesky enemies are out to get you!” juxtaposed with “Aaah, look at the pretty kitten up a tree!” You know the sort of thing – and we fall for it every time! Anything can create a reaction in our minds, thereby affecting us spiritually by distracting us from pure awareness and compassion for others. They (governments) are always looking for enemies, which creates big business! This keeps us (the people) on the alert, bound in the reptilian mind… “Fight?”…“Flight?”… “Freeze?”

Politicians and Corporations do not get killed in wars. Politicians and Corporations do not go hungry. Politicians and Corporations do not find it difficult to keep warm. Politicians and Corporations maintain this pretence of caring, by “greasing the palms” of minions below them. And of course, through our ignorance, we too want a ‘piece of the action’, which in turn maintains our subservience to ignorance.

Wikipedia has a new word ‘corporatocracy’ , referring to critics of the current economic situation: those who believe that corporations control governments. It is suggesting that this is conspiracy talk, but corporations are for lifetimes, whereas politicians come and go. You work it out!

In consenting to maintaining our collective ignorance, we lose our sanity by maintaining insanity, which affects our mental health (for which we do not need more pills!).

All we have to do is recognise
the natural wisdom within,
beyond karmic effects.

The true nature of mind
is unconditional happiness.
Know what is real,
and what is the cause of suffering.

Most people are asleep to this fact
and will do anything but look.

This is why we must be spiritual warriors.

All we have to do is look.
We are what we seek.