We Gain Certainty Through Practice

But what practice?

Real practice – real Dharma practice – is gaining confidence in just being,
rather than excelling at repeating texts and chanting mantras.

Just being is esoteric realisation.
Being good at a practice is exoteric realisation.

For realisation, we do not have to become ‘spiritual’.
We just have to be aware that we are the very essence of consciousness.

The very essence of consciousness is what we all are,
and therefore, we are nothing special.

We gain certainty through spiritual practice when this results in genuine, skilful kindness; otherwise, our practice remains pointless and argumentative. Just look at Buddhist forums 😀

There is no way to realisation other than genuine empathetic compassion; this is not only the means to an end, but it also stops us becoming arrogant.

It does not matter what we have read or heard, the practice that matters is observing our behaviour, understanding mind and gaining confidence, rather than feeling superior.

Authentic spiritual practice is the generosity, patience, morality, discipline and concentration of selfless kindness. This will lead us to transcendent wisdom.

Alternatively, we realise transcendent wisdom, and selfless kindness naturally follows.

Transcendent wisdom is the knowingness of pure consciousness. As long as the way in which we work results in skilful kindness, this means we are facing in the right direction, and are of true benefit to others.

When we are truly confident,
we can never take offence

We put ourselves right
before we can put others right.

Matthew 7:4

“How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’
while there is still a beam in your own eye?
You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye,
and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine.
If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.…”

This has to be repeated, generation after generation,
otherwise society will fall apart.