Progress Is Letting Go
To take a step forward, we have to release the previous step.
Progress isn’t an accumulation of teachings with strange exotic names; those are merely reminders.
To ascend the levels, we have to drop previous acquisitions – it’s all noise.
This is about an open mind (willingness) and open heart (consciousness). There is a shock in realising that we have been relying on theories, beliefs and assumptions – which is what our thoughts are made
of … filters!
It’s easier to be negative than positive.
Negativity just spreads doubt, a feeling of why bother, hesitation,
indecision, confusion, lack of confidence … and it’s obstinate.
Being positive takes generosity, patience, discipline,
morality and concentration, leading to wisdom.
Positivity spreads confidence.
Be a light-house and shine.
😀
BUDDHA IN THE MUD is a blog - a living book based on the Dzogchen teachings. Our teacher is life, and life is karma. In this way, Dzogchen is practical - no bells and whistles required. 
Think this is true in so many levels. For me its even true on the more subtle levels of meditation. Sometimes i catch myself going through certain techniques I’ve learned as though I have to tick certain boxes in order to have ‘meditated’ 😂😂 Sometimes that’s my whole practice and it feels a bit like a pointless mechanical exercise …like I’ve gone to the equivalent if the gym and gone through the motion of lifting weights without really doing it. Othertimes it out of nowhere I experience something more subtle and genuine…like I suddenly become aware of the ‘thing’ that is seeing my mechanicalness and for a brief while I go beyond the mechanical into something more real. It’s a good lesson though in that it teaches me training is good because techniques and some knowledge is useful but once the training is done we have to drop it. I remember my king Fu teacher telling me something along the lines of ‘if you ever get into an actual fight, forget everything I’ve told you and just fight’ – think he had a point
Hello Mark,
This come under the umbrella of “happening”, an improvised spontaneous occurrence.
In other words the Art of Life.
Tony
When I used to fence, we’d train and hone techniques in the gym, but in competition, you fight!
Meditation is training; life is the meditation in action!
Tony