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Archives
- QUESTIONING TRUTH April 4, 2026
- BEYOND A SHADOW OF DOUBT April 4, 2026
- THE WONDER OF BEING A LATE DEVELOPER April 4, 2026
- WOUND MEANS SUFFERING April 4, 2026
- PREDICTABLE SUFFERING April 4, 2026
- NATURE (BUDDHA-NATURE) VERSUS NURTURE (MARA-NATURE) April 3, 2026
- BEING BUDDHIST IS BEING ORDINARY April 2, 2026
- A LUCKY ESCAPE April 1, 2026
- SUDDENLY NOT FEELING WRONG April 1, 2026
- REALISATION COMES FROM DROPPING THE MEDITATION March 31, 2026
- WE CANNOT NOT COMMUNICATE March 30, 2026
- WE’VE BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY ALTERED March 30, 2026
- WHAT IS OUR ULTIMATE REALITY? March 29, 2026
- OUR COLLECTIVE PROBLEM March 28, 2026
- IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD March 27, 2026
- WHEN NEWS IS PROPAGANDA March 27, 2026
- IMPURE CONSCIOUSNESS AND PURE CONSCIOUSNESS March 26, 2026
- WHY DOES BUDDHISM GO ON ABOUT SUFFERING? March 25, 2026
- UN-REINFORCING THE I March 24, 2026
- “THE ODDS ARE STACKED AGAINST US” March 24, 2026
- DO YOU FEEL MONACHOPSIS? March 23, 2026
- ONE LIGHT OR MANY LIGHTS? March 23, 2026
- WHAT IS OUR COMMON GROUND? March 23, 2026
- DON’T LET DAMAGE CONTROL YOUR LIFE March 23, 2026
- BE THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY March 22, 2026
- BELIEVING AND DEBUNKING March 22, 2026
- THE MOST IMPORTANT WORDS March 21, 2026
- GROUPS ARE CONFORMITY March 21, 2026
- PRACTICAL PRACTICE TO PRACTISE March 21, 2026
- WHO BENEFITS FROM CHAOS? March 20, 2026
- IS THERE A HIERACHY ON EARTH? March 20, 2026
- WORLD EVENTS CHANGE OUR THINKING March 20, 2026
- THE ANSWER TO LIFE March 19, 2026
- SPIRITUAL MATERIALISM March 18, 2026
- EVIL TRANSFORMS INTO WISDOM March 18, 2026
- THE COMFORTABLE DECEPTION March 18, 2026
- IT’S AN ANCIENT TRICK March 18, 2026
- WHAT ARE MORALS? March 17, 2026
- A POSITIVE OUTLOOK March 16, 2026
- REGRETS ARE MEMORIES March 16, 2026
- THE TWO VEILS OF UNHAPPINESS March 15, 2026
- WHAT IS SUCCESS? March 15, 2026
- KARMA IS OUR MANUAL FOR LIFE March 15, 2026
- DZOGCHEN March 14, 2026
- WE ALL GIVE OFF SIGNALS March 14, 2026
- INSTITUTIONAL INSANITY March 14, 2026
- CLARITY IS VIVIDNESS March 13, 2026
- WE INHERIT MEMORIES March 13, 2026
- FINDING EGO March 13, 2026
- HOLDING ONTO ANGER March 13, 2026
Category Archives: Uncategorized
THE WISDOM OF UNCERTAINTY
The Wisdom Of Uncertainty Life is about change: everything is impermanent. When we believe things to be solid and lasting, we restrict our ability to deal with change. We suffer because we are holding on to ‘how it was,’ or … Continue reading
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Tagged dealing with change, emptiness, impermanence, uncertainty, wisdom
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THE REAL POWER OF OM MANI PEME HUM
The Real Power of OM MANI PEME HUM is in the realisation of not applying it! Buddhism is not for the complacent: it’s for those who investigate everything. In Buddhism, compassion is highlighted through the practice of the mantra of … Continue reading
PHRASEOLOGY, NOMENCLATURE, PARLANCE, TERMINOLOGIES
Phraseology, Nomenclature, Parlance, Terminologies can go over our heads and make us feel that we will never understand. 😀 😀 😀 ‘The indistinguishability of samsara and nirvana’…? ‘Thought and dharmakaya are a unity’…? It’s like this: Water and wetness are … Continue reading
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Tagged Dharmakaya, inseparability, nirvana, Samsara, spiritual terminology
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THE DHARMA IS DANGEROUS
The Dharma Is Dangerous The teachings of the Buddha are absolutely true: we can test and prove them for ourselves. They teach about the true nature of reality – pure awareness – and the obstacles of defilements – desire, fear … Continue reading
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Tagged Dharma in modern times., the Buddha said, The Dharma Is Dangerous.
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AUSPICIOUS MOMENTS
Auspicious Moments Auspice – a divine or prophetic token. An abstract feeling can arise, and synchronistically, we pick up a text and find a description that fits. Spiritual life is funny that way: even something annoying is auspicious. Actually, everything … Continue reading
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Tagged auspicious, compassionate motivation, signifiant events
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WE ARE MAGICIANS
We Are Magicians We can make our self disappear and reappear. Now you see me, now you don’t. It’s all done with mirrors! We (empty, uncontaminated essence – witness to all things) have conjured up a self, by mistake! We … Continue reading
WHY WE LOSE INNER PEACE
Why We Lose Inner Peace Doubt! And doubt kills love. Doubt makes us more critical, and we lose inner confidence, joy and…compassion. It is an imbalance of emptiness and cognisance – pure awareness – that affects our natural view of … Continue reading
WHAT DO WE VALUE, AND HOW MUCH?
Q. What Do We Value, and How Much? A. It has to be truth, above all other. If we value ‘this’ and ‘that’ above our true nature, then we are caught in a realm of trivia, and are of no … Continue reading
THE DEVIL IS A MYTH
The Devil Is A Myth The word ‘devil’ is synonymous with supernatural evil. Evil is banal as it is simply selfishness. Banal: lacking in originality. Evil is gaining and maintaining status and wealth that causes suffering to others, or following … Continue reading
WHEN THE LIGHT DIMS, THE DARKNESS BEGINS
When The Light Dims, The Darkness Begins This is how distraction occurs. When the emptiness of clarity dims, our attention ‘surfs’! This is from Fearless Simplicity by Tsoknyi Rinpoche: “I just explained how distraction occurs: the next subject is how … Continue reading
TRUTH DOES NOT DEFY REASON
Truth Does Not Defy Reason It does not matter whether we call ourselves theist, atheist, Buddhist, scientist, a person in a cafe who says “I don’t know”, when we are asked whether we are aware, none of us can say, … Continue reading
ABLE TO MEDITATE BUT NOT LIBERATE
Able To Meditate But Not Liberate Meditation is not liberation: it is the path to liberation. Meditation is a wonderful method to focus the untamed mind (the flibbertigibbet, the idle chattering), and so tame it. But meditation practice itself can … Continue reading
Q. WHERE IS CONFUSION?
Q. Where is confusion? A. It is in the conflict between essence and ideas. Programme: coded instructions for the automatic performance of a task – pre-written. Karmic formation: conceptual imprints in the mind that create reactions – pre-written. Through continually … Continue reading
TO CONFORM OR TO DIFFER?
To Conform Or To Differ? Once We See, We Cannot Not See The light’s on! Conform: comply, abide by, obey, follow, keep to, hold to, adhere to, stick to, cling to… Differ: deviate from, depart from, run counter to, contradict, … Continue reading
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Tagged Buddhas, HUMAN CONFORMITY., HUMAN LOVE v SPIRITUAL LOVE.
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SMASHING THE PROGRAMMING
Smashing The Programming Even though we try to break out of this mental maze of concepts that we have adopted – and which has been pumped into us since childhood – we are using the very same programme to achieve … Continue reading
LOSING FAITH WITH RELIGION?
Losing Faith With Religion? We are naturally spiritual, but not religious. Spirit is the experience of awareness the moment before expressing thought or sound. It’s natural to all creatures. We are naturally spiritual, but not religious. Religion and philosophy are … Continue reading
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Tagged Buddhas, Losing Faith With Religion?, Religion and Spirituality.
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TWO STEPS TO UNDERSTANDING
Two Steps To Understanding Step one: all appearances are seen in the mind. Step two: the nature of mind is emptiness. Step one helps us to see the cause of suffering: our reacting and clinging to appearances in the mind. … Continue reading
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Tagged Appearances in the mind., Communication spiritually., Inner voice.
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HOW MUCH DO WE LEARN IN A LIFETIME?
How Much Do We Learn In A Lifetime? Not much! Q: In a lifetime, how many discover anything meaningful about their true reality, and the persona – the mask – adopted to obscure that reality? A: Very few. We are … Continue reading
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Tagged Buddha's teachings, Dharma, How much do we learn?, Spiritual personas., What am I?
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WHEN IS A MYSTERY NOT A MYSTERY?
When Is A Mystery Not A Mystery? When the knowingness is present Although our absolute essential nature cannot be described, it may be indicated directly. If one is not looking and seeing, then, of course, this unique nature will remain … Continue reading
THE IMPORTANCE OF LINEAGE
The Importance of Lineage Even though we practise on our own, the support of a lineage can help us with discipline and enthusiasm. There is a power in words/mantras and practices that has been built up through the centuries by … Continue reading
THE INNER VOICE OF SILENCE
The Inner Voice Of Silence Pure awareness . . . . . . . .NB. This phrase came to mind yesterday in a reply. Interestingly, I just looked to see if anyone had used this phrase before, and someone had … Continue reading
ANY QUERIES?
Any Queries? Just like you, I’ve spent years searching for the truth: going on retreats, attending teachings in different traditions, reading books, talking to teachers…they were all helpful, but I felt that something was missing. So I stopped to see … Continue reading
NEGATIVE NEGATIVITY
Negative Negativity It’s something to look out for. We would all like things to be better. This creates reactions, and emotions arise in the mind from a sense of compassion, but it becomes personal, and so we get involved. Through … Continue reading
EMPTINESS
Emptiness To elaborate, examine or meditate upon emptiness does nothing but add concepts… …what can one say? .
REALISING SAMENESS
Realising Sameness Song 20 Flight of the Garuda by Shabkar Tsokdrug Rangdrol “When appearances and emptiness are inseparable, that is the time of having actualised the view. “When dreams and being awake are without any difference, that is the time … Continue reading
TALK ABOUT NEGATIVES OR TALK ABOUT POSITIVES?
Talk About Negatives Or Talk About Positives? There are two sides to spiritual progress: one is our true nature (the positive) and the other is the collection of obstacles that prevents the realisation of our true nature (the negatives). Whether … Continue reading
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Tagged spiritual negatives, spiritual positives, Togal, Trekcho, unity of the two truths
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THAT OLD SELF
That Old Self Even though we may be learned in philosophies and have glimpses of meditative experience of our true nature, our old quirky self is still around. The way we talk, walk, sit…all indicate previous programming created by our … Continue reading
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Tagged habitual, not too loose, not too tight, spiritually weird, that old self
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SPECULATING ABOUT WHAT TO CALL IT?
Speculating About What To Call It? Is it God-consciousness, Christ-consciousness, Buddha-consciousness, Krishna-consciousness…? Is it consciousness or is it wakefulness? Accepting and rejecting both increase thought involvement. Depending on context, the words ‘consciousness’ and ‘awareness’ can be interchangeable: there are various … Continue reading
MEDITATIONAL EXPERIENCES ARE TOYS
Meditational Experiences Are Toys One of my teachers said, “Meditational experiences are toys.” We can become caught up in subtle experiences, and so lose the pure view. It shows good practice, but not the real thing!
THINKING CLEARLY
Thinking Clearly We are allowed to think! Thinking clearly is seeing clearly. Obsessing about the thought is distracting and confusing, and gives rise to negative emotions. We fixate, and so don’t see clearly, and this brings us down. It also … Continue reading
EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING
Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining There are simple sayings in every language that reveal truth. Some may sound simplistic but have hidden depths. This clearly illustrates the different yanas or levels of understanding – same words, exalted meaning. At … Continue reading
ADVERSITY IS OUR BEST FRIEND
Adversity Is Our Best Friend Our enemy is our best friend. Those who annoy us are our best friends. Why? They reveal what we are holding onto. They make it easier to be detached. They help us show compassion. Of … Continue reading
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Tagged Adversity Is Our Best Friend., compassion, Deluded planet.
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GOLD IN THE MUD
Gold In The Mud Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche “Although buddha nature is present in everyone, we fail to recognise it. This ignorance is the main cause for wandering in samsara. Due to the ignorance of not knowing their own nature, sentient … Continue reading
NO QUESTIONS = NO INTEREST
No Questions = No Interest A closed mind has closed answers. A closed heart does not care. Questions open the mind. Interest opens the heart.
TELLING PEOPLE TO BE HAPPY
Telling People To Be Happy Telling people to be happy doesn’t make them happy. Telling people that they are already happy doesn’t make them happy. Explaining to people how happiness arises doesn’t make them happy. Happiness is seen in the … Continue reading
WE LIVE IN A CONUNDRUM
We Live In A Conundrum – a riddle, a joke! We are misinformed by pareidolia! Pareidolia: a psychological phenomenon wherein the mind perceives a familiar pattern of something where none actually exists. Here’s a conundrum…Me! We meditate, but there is … Continue reading
WHEN DOES A CULTURE BECOME A CULT?
When Does A Culture Become A Cult? This is a delicate subject, and there is no intention to divide. When we take on anothers’ culture, we are doing something that is not natural to us. It’s important to be clear … Continue reading
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Tagged Guru Yoga, Tibetan Buddhism, When Does A Culture Become A Cult?
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WHAT IS BUDDHISM?
What Is Buddhism? It is awakening. Buddhism starts with awareness and ends with awareness. We start with awareness of being unhappy and dissatisfied: we are, in fact, suffering. This suffering ends when awareness itself has been realised: this is direct, … Continue reading
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Tagged Awakening., BUDDHISM, Sky dancers., SPIRITUAL AWAKENING, What Is Buddhism?
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A DOUBLE TAKE ON EMPTINESS
A Double Take On Emptiness Emptiness = clearness, lack of adornment In Sanskrit, the word ‘shunyata’ means emptiness. But what is emptiness? We first need an intellectual understanding of emptiness, and then we can recognise the experience. Emptiness is non-grasping … Continue reading
HUMAN ANTICS AND SPIRITUAL ANTICS
Human Antics and Spiritual Antics Antics = amusing behaviour, foolish behaviour, monkey tricks! We are very subtle, sensitive beings, embodied in very sensitive human form, and that’s why we can become so easily distracted by trinkets and displays. Once we … Continue reading
CLARIFYING TEACHINGS
Clarifying Teachings Teachings can be about learning – that’s the slow way. Teachings can be about clarity – that’s the fast way. This blog is about clarifying. In all walks of life, teaching is guiding a student from A to … Continue reading
THE THREE SHOCKS OF CHANGE
The Three Shocks Of Change We want the world to change, in order for it to be a better place for all. Realistically, this is lunacy because of mass, collective karma which is constantly reinforcing a mistaken view of reality. … Continue reading
REMEMBERING WE HAVE FORGOTTEN IS ATTAINMENT
Remembering We Have Forgotten Is Attainment There is a delicate balance between knowing and not knowing distraction and non distraction wakefulness and dreaming. “Not too tight and not too loose” is the unity of the two truths, and awareness remains … Continue reading
FEELING COMPLETE
Feeling Complete There is a natural progression when investigating and realising our spiritual essence. Looking, seeing and letting be creates space for intelligence and wisdom – our relative and ultimate nature – to be recognised. Letting be is easier said … Continue reading
WHEN THE LIGHT’S ON, THE LIGHT’S ON!
When The Light’s On, The Light’s On! Terminology can be, and is, confusing. The realisation of this can be, and is, a shock. Mipham Rinpoche explains shamata and vipashyana perfectly. From A Lamp to Dispel Darkness by Mipham Jampal Dorje: … Continue reading
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Tagged Mipham Jampal Dorje., Shamata Vipashana Trekcho Togal.
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TOSSED AROUND BY KARMA
Tossed Around By Karma Karma: the result of a cause. Things don’t just happen, even though they may seem to. There is pain behind reactions. Sometimes (make that all the time!) both fortunate and unfortunate situations hit us, and it’s … Continue reading
WHAT SHOULD I BELIEVE?
What Should I Believe? Nothing. Belief: an acceptance of an idea without proof. The Buddha’s teachings are totally logical. We can follow them step by step. We do not have to believe in what he said: we just have to … Continue reading
MEDITATION IS A MEANS TO AN END
Meditation Is A Means To An End Devotion is a means to an end Compassion is a means to an end Direct recognition is a means to an end …of confusion. Washing the car is a means to an end. … Continue reading
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Tagged BUDDHISM, Devotion compassion., Meditation Is A Means To An End.
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TIBETAN BUDDHISM
Tibetan Buddhism To practice Tibetan Buddhism is to realise our true nature of pure awareness, to recognise the obstacles that prevent the realisation of that true nature, and to acknowledge that these very same obstacles are the path to realising … Continue reading
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. 