The Audience Is The Show
Entertainment isn’t about the production of a clever story with charismatic actors; it’s about capturing the mind of an audience. The producers watch the effect, for further productions or sequels. 🙂
As long as we are watching the show – be it political, religious, sporty, scientific, comical – we lose ourselves, and are unaware that we are even conscious as we oscillate between vacancy and occupancy.
This is how humanity is controlled, as we are encouraged to identify with a story. All media is about having an audience to spread ‘information’ – even this blog – but we have to actually be aware of what’s going on before we can deal with it and be prepared. If we see nothing to deal with, we’re merely acting out our part.
This world is all about entertainment, distracting the mind at all levels – low brow, high brow … makes no difference, as we all identify with something.
When someone gets tricked, cheated or deceived, we say that they ‘have been had’, meaning they’ve been mistreated or dealt with badly. It’s about having power over others by keeping them at a disadvantage.
If we don’t know we’re being had, we will continue paying for it.
When we know, we are free.
BUDDHA IN THE MUD is a blog - a living book based on the Dzogchen teachings. Our teacher is life, and life is karma. We are all Buddhas in the mud of concepts. 
I am interested in the trance state as the source of knowing, worldwide, throughout time. Buddhism, with its meditative emphasis, its chanting, its drums and bells, emptiness/stillness/silence (One thing, not three!) is grounded on trance production as the origin of all it stands for. And, I am curious as to why the regimentation? Why is individuality not more “a thing”? Trance states could be freeing, creative, iconoclastic, states of being, but Buddhism is “by the book” as much as the military is. What?
Hello Someone,
On the contrary, the Buddha said, :Do not take my words for the truth; test it for yourself.”
Enlightenment is an individual’s path, to clear away their confusion.
Meditation is coming out of the trance that we currently live in.
It is up to each individual how they face life, and what they realise as reality.
This is to say, don’t follow anyone, see for yourself. That seeing in the very first instant is pure consciousness.
Tony
I’m not crying! You’re crying! How are we going to decide who is in a trance state and who is seeing clearly? What is reality and what is denial of reality? And who is to say? Who is the authority except those who are self-proclaimed authorities? Duality? Non-duality? Multiplicity? “It’s up to each individual how they face life and what they realize as reality.” I’m all in on that. Buddhists think they have to have a teacher to tell them what to do and when they are doing it right, and to remind them of what the Dharma says.
Your life is your choice.
Tony
Hi Anonymous – you said, “Buddhists think they have to have a teacher to tell them what to do and when they are doing it right, and to remind them of what the Dharma says.”
Have you actually read what’s written on this blog??!! 🙂
Daisy
Hello other Someone,
This blog has over 5000 entries, all about realising the essence of our reality, rather than following the form – the outward appearance.
(Apologies for the name Someone keep appearing, we are trying to sort this out.)
Tony