Dharma = Relaxation

It is difficult to find words to convey a certain meaning: “Relaxation” here means at rest, not busy, dignity of inner peace, wisdom, not hurrying, effortless, barely aware. In the modern world, we are very alert – our consciousness darting everywhere, looking, wanting, judging, referring …’-ing-ing’ all over the place. The mind cannot keep still. And so we have to relax.

The Dharma is the teaching of relaxation.
Meditation is the method to relax.
The Fruition is relaxation.

Even in meditation practices we can forget to relax; “Am I doing it right?” Visualisation practices are extremely complicated, and some things are not explained clearly. The preliminary ngondro practices, which are done before visualisation practices (111,111 prostrations, recitations of Vajrasattva mantra, mandala offerings and guru yoga) are complex and time consuming, but do help with a feeling of relaxation, which is helpful for future practices. I once heard a fellow student begging to do 12 million recitations of a certain practice. Let’s hope it helps him relax. My reaction was, “Sod that!” 😉

We don’t have to make it so complicated, if we can just relax in practice. Could it be that we like complication because we are easily bored? Hm…boring? Now that’s interesting! Interesting? Now that’s boring!

As Trungpa Rinpoche said, “We need cool boring.” Just aware. Merely being present. Sitting back. Perfect relaxation. As the Native American chief was named Sitting Bull – unshakeable!

The effect of being relaxed will manifest in how we speak, how we sit, how we feel, the muscles in our body – everything about us. We reside in the space of dignified relaxation.

Our being is plain and simple – pure awareness.
It’s worth remembering to relax.