Being Our Own Spiritual Protector

Being Our Own Spiritual Protector

We all have faults; that’s why we are sentient creatures and not fully enlightened Buddhas. These faults arise from our mistaken self identity; we react by becoming aggressive towards others in order to defend and maintain this self identity. This exposes our own weaknesses. Our reactions say more about us than they do about that to which we are reacting… and we lose our inner peace. On an ultimate, level life is our teacher, and so our supposed enemies are our helpers towards our goal!

It’s not going to work ๐Ÿ˜€ if we think that being rotten to others will be the cause of their enlightenment! If that was the case, we’d all be enlightened – NOW!!!

The only faults we should focus on are our own. There are two ways of looking at that – conventional and ultimate. On a conventional level, if we pay attention to our own faults, we will appear less confrontational; we’ll be nicer, and more empathetic. On an ultimate level โ€“ if we are truly practising spirituality – we are aware of the continuity of practice after death. We will not let a moment’s inattentiveness pass unnoticed. This is why some practise in isolation so as not to be distracted.

Although we may think that our incarnations are limitless and so we can just keep on going the same old way, if we consider that this may be our last incarnation …we won’t want to spoil it, would we?!

Not reacting ends karmic production. When we are no longer ambushed by likes and dislikes (at an ultimate level), we are free. The responsibility for this is in our own minds. No one can do it for us – not even a Buddha. If that was the case, we’d all be enlightened NOW!!! ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

SPIRITUAL THERMOMETER

Spiritual Thermometer
(wasting subtle energy is so easily to do)

Negativity wastes precious energy – if we over-react. Subtle energy transforms into gross energy.

When we over-react to something we have read, heard, seen, touched or smelled, the inner ‘wind’ in the subtle body (the nervous system) rises and we experience a ‘gut’ reaction. This may then rise to the heart, throat or head, and we feel a sensation of tension in those areas, and lose a little sanity (and our immune system may also be affected).

There is some material that we read or hear that can be so overwhelmingly negative that it has the effect of dragging down the subtle energy into gross energy, and we really do feel the effect of this. That is when the inner wind is rising โ€“ a bit like a spiritual thermometer ๐Ÿ˜‰

It takes understanding to be able to deal with such negativity, and transform it into positivity; this is what Gampopa means by โ€œconfusion dawning as wisdomโ€.

There is a problem with listening to the same old wisdom every day; we stop hearing, and look for something new. But it’s not the ‘same old wisdom’ – which is ancient wisdom: with the clearing of obstacles (dare I say it โ€“ letting go), a refinement takes place.

The more the profound, the simpler it gets.
It’s what Buddha in the Mud is all about.

There is no Mud and there is no Buddha:
just pure awareness.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

SPIRITUAL HOLIDAY

Spiritual Holiday

‘Being spiritual’ can be such a headache for all concerned! We can sometimes give off vibrations of trying too hard, of being โ€œpresentโ€, of being really keen and awake…and it can make others feel uncomfortable.

Retreats can be like that, with lots of big starey scary eyes! ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€
Unfortunately earnest people become quickly upset.

Take a holiday today. Be laid back and relaxed. Today, we are not going to get up tight and nothing will upset us…and we are not going to project ‘our’ spirituality ๐Ÿ™‚
It’s actually a holiday for others! A holiday is a relief from methods.

Traditionally, there is view, meditation and conduct.

View is pure awareness โ€“ non-meditation – non-doing โ€“ the holiday.
Meditation is any method to remind us of pure awareness โ€“ and entails doing – work.
Conduct is the continuity of pure awareness โ€“ the expression of the holiday.

Give others a break and take a holiday
…and relax.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

“I JUST WANT TO BE ME!”

โ€œI Just Want To Be Me!โ€

..and what is that?

This is like trying to designing an animal;
it will have bits of everything
that we’ve ever seen…

..and never be quite right!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

7 BILLION IN ‘THE DEVIL’S’ FOCUS GROUP

7 Billion in ‘the Devil’s’ Focus Group

โ€œDon’t wander, don’t wander, place mindfulness on guardโ€

Mass surveillance of our likes and dislikes
tells ‘the devil’ how to control us.

โ€œAlong the road of distraction, Mara lies in ambush.
Mara is this mind, clinging to like and dislikeโ€

Looking for happiness is the cause of suffering.
Recognising suffering is the cause of happiness.

โ€œSo look into the essence of this magic, free from dualistic fixation.
Realise that your mind is unfabricated primal purity.โ€

Of course we all want to be happy;
that means we think we are not happy.

โ€œThere is no buddha elsewhere; look at your own face.โ€

Life might seem like a pile of poo,
but a temporary pile of poo.

There is nothing else to search for; rest in your own place.
Non-meditation is spontaneous perfection, so capture the royal seat.โ€

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t wander, don’t wander, place mindfulness on guard;

Along the road of distraction, Mara lies in ambush.

Mara is this mind, clinging to like and dislike;

So look into the essence of this magic, free from dualistic fixation.

Realise that your mind is unfabricated primal purity.

There is no buddha elsewhere; look at your own face.

There is nothing else to search for; rest in your own place.

Non-meditation is spontaneous perfection, so capture the royal seat.

Drubwang Tsoknyi Rinpoche 1

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

WHAT TIBETAN LAMAS REALLY DON’T KNOW

What Tibetan Lamas Really Don’t Know

For decades, psychoanalysis has ruled America – to rule the world

This is a very difficult subject to write about as it may be upsetting to some. We are basic goodness, but have been separated from that goodness by an idea of goodness: this not easy to recognise as we are arrogantly โ€œknee deepโ€ into ourselves. Psychoanalysists believe we are irrational demons that have to be controlled. Funnily enough, this isn’t too far fetched, but their methods are diabolical!

We can either study a thousand facts to understand the one essential principle, or we can understand the one essential principle in order to understand the thousand facts. That one principle is the code breaker! In Tibetan Buddhism, this is pure awareness.

Tibetan Buddhism can sound complex, full of thousands of teachings and facts, but it all comes down to one thing and that is pure awareness, for without that, nothing would be known. All Tibetan lamas know this. This is why the Dzogchen (Maha-Ati) teaching is so valuable, as it starts with the code – pure awareness. We are Dzogchen โ€“ pure awareness. All we have to do now is live it!

However. Tibetan Lamas are at risk of arrogance when they see us (modern people) as speedy and irrational… โ€œunreasonable, illogical, groundless, baseless, unfounded, unjustifiable, unsound; absurd, ridiculous, ludicrous, silly, foolish, senseless, nonsensical, laughable, idiotic, stupid, wild, untenable, implausible, unscientific, arbitrary, crazy, mad.โ€ This could be said to be reasonable because, as sentient beings, we are all of the above ๐Ÿ˜‰ but if this idea is held onto, there is a danger of fixation.

So what is it that the Lamas don’t know?

The answer lies in the reason why we (modern people) are all caricatures of the above. Of course, it comes down to an identification with a mental image of ourselves, forgetting that which is aware of this nonsensical image.

Lamas (well, the ones I’ve met) do not recognise how modern life came about: they fail to understand that we are all caught up in an insidiousness of corruption about our true nature. There are those who wish to gain from our ignorance, and keep us ignorant by our consent – crazy! We do not see this because we are the problem โ€“ we are the main course! The problem for lamas is that they are surrounded by those who are too willing to please, and who readily submit to being seen as inferior (which is, of course, contrary to the teachings).

I once attended a retreat where we met in groups of four to discuss what we felt about the Dharma; this was termed โ€œHarvestingโ€ ๐Ÿ˜‰ . At the end, we fed back to the main group what had been said. I was shocked at the regurgitation of platitudes, and very pleased to have managed to have got in the phrase โ€œneurolinguistic programming!โ€ The Lama gave me such a look ๐Ÿ˜€ !

The teachings are perfect. The only escape from attitudes is being aware.

Tibetans have not studied the history of western society in depth (actually, most westerners haven’t either!). They do not understand that there is an ‘elite’ (the very arrogant) who have been using psychoanalysis in America for decades, and who see humans as irrational and potentially dangerous. Modern psychoanalysis ruled America, and now their principles rule the world.

As shown in the four documentaries below, this idea came from the Austrian Sigmund Freud, whose theories were taken up by his nephew Edward Bernays and Freud’s fanatical daughter, Anna Freud. They were incredibly influential within American corporations and governments, and this influence continues through those who continue the work. Society was โ€œengineeredโ€ to conform so that corporations and governments could profit from human desire. To make profit on such a massive scale, one needs control on a massive scale. What happened was – and is – incredible.

These documentaries show the effect psychoanalysis has controlled and influenced the modern world, from the top right down to street level. They are also interesting for the reason that they were commissioned by the BBC in the first place, as they reveal how the media works, and how psychology is used to manipulate people’s thinking. All one has to do is take glimpse at one of the films to get an idea of what has been, and is still, going on.

The first video is entitled, โ€œThe Happiness Machineโ€.
The second – โ€œThe Engineering of Consentโ€ – shows the build up to the 1950s.

โ€œThere is a policeman inside all our heads: he must be destroyedโ€ is the third in the series, and reveals what was behind the Californian pseudo-spirituality of self help therapies (I’ve met Lamas who have laughed at these Californian mystics, but do not understand underlying causes).
The fourth video – โ€œEight People Sipping Wine in Ketteringโ€ – is about how those in politics make use of these theories.

There is much more to all this, but I’ll stick to the videos for now. Like Buddhism, all one needs is the one principle which can then multiple itself. So it started with โ€œLook good – feel better!โ€ and then developed into โ€œExpress who you are!โ€ One controlled the body consciousness and the other, the mind consciousness, and they both make money. You have to pay to be you?!

We can smile at the videos, thinking, โ€œHow stupid people were!โ€, forgetting that we are part of it right now! We are dinner! There is no hiding place. Policemen have been placed in our mind.

We do not need complexity. Within us all is simple goodness, not a deep underlying danger as Freud suggested. Evil is banal. It is superficial. The demons within us are our wisdom: they are nothing to be afraid of. Fear is looking at things the wrong way round through a dirty lens.

โ€œLook good – feel better!โ€ and โ€œExpress who you are!โ€ are deceptions to make people identify only with the mundane. We are sold the idea that we are unique and individual, but this is merely conventional self indulgence.

Unless we truly understand that evil is a banality, we will merely continue to act out this banality through demonstrations of superficial love, rather than expressing our ultimate true nature of love and pure awareness. We are being conned at every turn.

The very understanding of this is an enhancement of our daily practice;
it brings energy and dynamism, and gives a reason to practice.
Everything is banal.
Everything is nonsense –
except the pure awareness that is aware of the banal and the nonsensical.
Once aware, we are free.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2j2sfp_the-century-of-the-self-part-1-of-4-happiness-machine

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2j2xh9_the-century-of-the-self-part-2-of-4-the-engineering-of-consent

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2d2l6u_the-century-of-the-self-part-3-of-4-there-is-a-policeman-inside-all-our-heads-he-must-be-destroyed_school

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2j38dj_the-century-of-the-self-part-4-of-4-eight-people-sipping-wine-in-kettering

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

WELL-BEING AND CRITICAL THINKING

Well-Being and Critical Thinking

A feeling of well-being is when our mind and body are at peace with the way we are, but not docile.

We need a balance of being open to change while being vigilant against being engineered.

There are many influences in the world trying to make us consent to follow. If we don’t follow our own conscience, we feel constantly guilty.

Our spiritual welfare is maintained by intelligent awareness.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

ANTIDOTES ARE NEVER ENDING

Antidotes Are Never Ending

Antidotes are a temporary measure โ€“ the ‘problem’ will repeatedly return. Understanding that the ‘problem’ is temporary reveals the true nature of the ‘problem’ โ€“ that it is empty of any true existence. So there is no need to rely on antidotes!

Antidotes take time and money.

On a relative level, we feel empty and so we look for an antidote to occupy us โ€“ to pass the time.
On an ultimate level we are empty, and so are aware of antidotes occupying us โ€“ there is no time… to waste!

The Tibetan word for meditation also means ‘to cultivate’. Meditation is an antidote to confusion about ourselves. Once the confusion is recognised, the antidote is no longer needed; we are familiarising ourselves with – and cultivating – spacious awareness

But let’s be honest,
we still like to be occupied;
best to keep meditating!

Better still, break the meditation.
Short moments, many times.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

THE WRATHFUL MIRROR

The Wrathful Mirror

We normally think that a wrathful situation is something in which we find ourselves. However, it may be that we are the wrathful mirror to others!

In general, wrathful situations are challenging, and can be painful: it’s a very shiny mirror! Even if we try to put things ‘right’ it seems that nothing works. This could mean that an association has run its course and it’s time to let go or move on.

For ordinary people, this type of situation can cause much suffering, as we don’t like change. Spiritually speaking, wrathful situations cut through dilemmas and have a releasing quality; they are part of our evolution. When this is experienced as a healing event, we can then empathise with others.

There is no point in talking to people who barricade themselves in a mud castle of a ‘peaceful’ docile life. They wouldn’t know what on earth we were talking about! For such people, WE are the wrathful situation! Many spiritual people fall into that trap, claiming to have compassion but quickly moving away when a seemingly wrathful situation is standing right next to them.

The more we look within ourselves, the more we see, the faster we catch our own reactions, and the clearer the mirror becomes. This is just too uncomfortable for some, who want to cover up their fear of change. People quickly panic to ‘fit in’ so as to be seen to have acquired ‘the answers’, preventing any refinement from taking place as ‘the answer’ has become a barrier. Whatever we say or do seems a threat to them and their way of life โ€“ in such a case, we are the seemingly wrathful mirror, and all we want to do is love…but it’s too much. This could be one of the reasons for old friends turning away as we develop and change.

When looking closely at others (and this is very important), we are not condemning them, but understanding them. We don’t over analyse them, as they have to do this for themselves. A mirror merely reflects.

The four enlightened activities of compassion deal with ego’s games through pacifying, enriching, magnetising and destroying*. There is nothing that we do. Merely listening reflects something of the four activities. If the mirror is clear and bright, others may see their own reflection…or not. The reflection may be too much and they turn away: that is their path.

Skilful compassion is conduct – the continuity of meditation.

* Put four enlightened activities into search for details.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 3 Comments

KARMA IS OUR TEACHER

Karma Is Our Teacher

Life brings up all sort of situations, and our minds bring up all sorts of reactions to those situations. These are all products from our past actions; karma. Karma is our collection of confusion about ourselves and the world in which we dwell. Undoing our confusion is our path. And so, our karmic confusion is our teacher. A physical teacher merely shows us how to look.

We learn from every situation through observing our reactions, looking closer, and closer still. Stopping reacting puts an end to the production of karma; when karma is exhausted, there is no more learning and we have arrived at fruition. Fruition is realising that the confusion was just a collection of ideas that never truly existed in the first place. The whole thing has been an illusion to which we consented…following everyone else.

We may find ourselves in peaceful or wrathful situations, or a bit of both! I once replied to someone about happiness and that person โ€œwent crazy at meโ€ ๐Ÿ˜‰ . Was there a right or wrong? We were both learning from our karma. How much we learn may depend on how much we can put up with ๐Ÿ˜€ We can’t please everyone, and have our own karmic load to deal with.

We receive many knocks and wounds in life, and if we are skilful, they can be our guides โ€“ our teachers: โ€œMay confusion dawn as wisdom.โ€

It’s nice to meet with peaceful deities, but it’s faster meeting wrathful ones…if we are ready for them.

Compassion in peaceful company is easy. It takes a massive amount of compassion and empathy to maintain balance in wrathful company. That โ€œmassive amountโ€ is a boost …if we are ready for it.

When we get used to this boost, we find we stop reacting. There is still a mental reaction, but it is now a massive boost of clarity in the mind. That’s the light of wisdom.

The Four Dharmas of Gampopa

Grant your blessings so that our mind may follow the Dharma.
Grant your blessings so that the Dharma becomes the path.
Grant your blessings so that the path dispels confusion.
Grant your blessings so that confusion dawns as wisdom.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

DEMONIC AND WISDOM ASPECTS OF HOPE AND FEAR

Demonic and Wisdom Aspects of Hope And Fear

Two Sides Of The Same Coin

In a demonic realm, we are attracted to hope, and repulsed by fear.
In a wisdom realm, hope is symbolised by the qualities of peaceful deities, and fear by wrathful deities.

Both hope and fear (desire and aversion) are controlled by ignorance: these are the three poisons. However, these very same poisons are, in actuality, wisdoms. This is the one thing that the demonic realm does not understand, and we spend all our time distracting ourselves from the reality of the nature of the three poisons.

If we want to understand what is controlling us as a population, we merely have to look into our own minds; as in the part, so the whole.

That which governs our minds also governs the world: ignorance, desire and aversion, the main villain being ignorance of our true nature of pure awareness.

Through ignorance, we are controlled by:
deceit, terror and fear
and/or
deceit, pleasure and hope.

Just look at the world now. If a newspaper is available, so is control! This is how modern society is governed by violence and pleasure.

However, this can easily be turned on its head through the wisdom of peaceful and wrathful deities – once we know. Knowing dispels ignorance!

mahakala_detail

Avalokiteshvara/Chenrezi is a peaceful deity representing compassion. His other aspect is Mahakala. the wrathful side – intense love. We can easily understand the peaceful aspect, but what of this wrathful aspect? If we miss the value of compassion and resting in inner peace, then we have to be woken up! That is when we need the piercing eye of the wrathful teacher, who will not let us go to sleep or be distracted. This is especially valuable in the BARDO (the state after death) but is also relevant now; that is why the disruption in the world has to be seen in the light of wisdom.

The intense evil in the world of deceit, terror and pleasure is a waking up call, and can serve as a wrathful deity. It is obvious that the world is now in darkness, and getting darker.

The antidote for the three poisons of ignorance, desire and aversion is the three kayas: Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya and Nirmanakaya – Emptiness, Awareness and Compassion.

The following is from an article I wrote entitled The Reptilian Brain โ€“ Beauty and the Beast. For the full article go toย https://buddhainthemud.com/2013/07/27/videos-for-reptilian-brain-beauty-and-the-beast/


This is how they correlate.
Desireโ€จ – Emptiness
Aversion โ€“ Awareness
Ignorance – Compassion

Our essence is emptiness: pure sacred space. Desire arises, creating concepts which fill this sacred space. Emptiness get filled with fixated ideas.

Our nature is awareness: a knowing quality. Aversion arises when awareness creates an โ€œIโ€ by forgetting its essence, emptiness, and we start judging.

Our expression is unconfined compassionate energy: joy of being. Ignorance arises when empty awareness forgets its own true nature โ€“ emptiness and awareness โ€“ which is also that of others. So we lack love = ignorance.

A devil cannot understand wisdom.
:D- :D- :D-
If it did, it would be enlightened!
:D- :D- :D-

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

IT’S NOT COMPLICATED

It’s Not Complicated

โ€œThere is no division between perception and field of perceptionโ€; there is no separation โ€“ no time gap. This bypasses thinking, which arises from judgement and reference/memories.

Step one.
Shamata.
Perception is one with the breath;
not separated โ€“ no time gap.

Step two.
Awareness and perception are one;
not separated โ€“ no time gap.

Step three.
Awareness of awareness;
not separated โ€“ no time gap.

Step four.
Emptiness of awareness;
not separated โ€“ no time gap.

Step five.
If step four is not clear, go back to step one!

(This can happen in a moment, or can take years. In a moment is cheaper! ๐Ÿ˜‰ )

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

SPONTANEOUS WORKS OF ART

Spontaneous Works of Art

There is no division between perception and field of perception โ€“ awareness and the field of awareness. There is no judgement or reference, merely pure perception โ€“ pure awareness.

Normally, we see through a haze of judgements and reference points, following a mechanical routine. Pure perception can scan for previous information, but is not affected by it. Our practice is the continuity of pure perception, not deviating from timeless awareness.

Art is spontaneous presence.
We are spontaneous works of art
expressing acts of uninhibited inspiration.
The continuity of little deaths and rebirths.

It may seem a little crazy
but it makes us smile!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

HOW SIMPLY AMAZING

How Simply Amazing

Dzogchen is just everyday life itself, being totally open to everything, natural and spontaneous, accepting and learning from everything that comes our way.

There is no division between perception and field of perception. There is no need to behave in any special way or attempt to attain anything above and beyond what you actually are. There is no feeling of striving to reach some amazing goal or advanced state.

Simply in the moment now,
free from doubt, boredom or excitement,
is enlightenment
…not being in the dark!

Surprised?
What else is there?!

(If this is good enough for HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, then it’s good enough for us ๐Ÿ™‚ )

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments

THE TEACHER IS THE OUTCOME OF MEDITATION

The Teacher is the Outcome of Meditation
the level of sensitivity we experience

Meditation is being aware of awareness. Realising that there is nothing other than awareness, the realisation of our true nature takes place – pure awareness โ€“ nothing doing.

Our personality is an expression of the balance between ordinary awareness and pure awareness. It is what we work with; after all, on a conventional level, we’re not ‘non-people’, are we? Our personality can range from ‘heavy’ to ‘light’ (we mustn’t assume that we know what the terms ‘heavy’ and ‘light’ mean, as this will depend on whether we are working in ordinary awareness or pure awareness).

Reactions arise within us from external stimuli: the noticing of these reactions is our teacher. In themselves, reactions are neither good nor bad, and it’s a matter of how skilfully we respond to them to bring about balance; not too tight, not too loose.

On the conventional level, a heavy personality is dogmatic* and monopolises space, whereas a light personality is flexible and spacious**.

When compassion is present in pure awareness, both of these aspects may be employed; not too tight and not too loose. Empathy is constantly balancing the four enlightened qualities of pacifying, enriching, magnetising and destroying; not too tight, not too loose.

The outcome of meditation is compassion.
The teacher is empathy.

.

*There seem to be two qualities to the word โ€˜dogmaticโ€™, one being clarity and the other, fixated clarity:ย assertive, imperative, insistent, emphatic, adamant, doctrinaire, authoritarian, authoritative
or
domineering, imperious, high-handed, pontifical, arrogant, overbearing, dictatorial, uncompromising, unyielding, unbending, inflexible, rigid, entrenched, unquestionable, unchallengeable; intolerant, narrow-minded, small-minded

For example, the idea of ‘dogmatic’ can mean a person is very precise: a few of my teachers have described their teachers as being ‘quite scary’. With some teachers, one has to be careful of the questions one asks as they don’t bend at all, and one as to do exactly what they say! This is something we westerners can struggle with ๐Ÿ˜‰ It’s said that such teachers had a high level of clairvoyance.

** Likewise, ‘light’ has two qualities, one being a light, sensitive touch and the other being a lack of substance, flighty, easily swayed.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

MASS MIND CONTROL

Mass Mind Control

An seemingly innocuous idea
can control populations for generations.

โ€œThe Light of Wisdomโ€ and โ€œThe Torch of Freedomโ€.
It all depends who is using these words.

The โ€œLight of Wisdomโ€ is the clarity of the nature of mind; our enlightened nature, which liberates the mind from innocuous, controlling ideas.

The โ€œTorch of Freedomโ€ is a cigarette, a ‘penis’*, manipulating the population for generations through suggestion, and innocuous, controlling ideas.

A lie gains power by its element of truth.
We all want freedom, but freedom from what?

I keep bringing back Edward Bernays, the father of propaganda, to remind us of the influences we are under. The ‘elite’ wanted him to turned need into desire, training the mass mind.

This is the great experiment that began in America, and that rules the world โ€“ the consumer world: It creates the haves and the have-nots, which in turn divides and creates dissatisfaction.

The great experiment of over-indulgence creates hatred in the world.
This creates extremism.
So consumerism creates terrorism and the raping of the planet, turning it into a mental and physical cesspit.

This is all brought about by mass mind control.

Why is this so important?
Because it only takes a small percentage of the population to consent.
Because we need to be aware that it can creep into spirituality as well.

The Happiness Machine: the work of Edward Bernays

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xyxlxj_the-century-of-the-self-1of4-happiness-machines_shortfilms

*Smoking was regarded as a male-only activity, and it was frowned upon for women to smoke. Bernays was employed by the tobacco corporations to lure the other half of the population into enjoying cigarettes, by calling them ‘the torch of freedom’, linking it to the Suffragette movement and the Statue of Liberty.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

IMPRISONED IN A CONFUSED, DUALISTIC REALITY

Imprisoned in a Confused, Dualistic Reality

The confusion…
Who am I?

There are two realities; one that is told to us, and the other…!!!
The reality we are told is a deviation, a diversion.
The other is what we actually are; pure awareness โ€“ an is-ness…!!!

For a deviation to be believed, it must contain an element of truth to make it credible. This sets up a dualistic confusion which, if not properly identified, leads us to consent to believe this confused idea because it sort of works, but leaves us frustrated as it isn’t the complete picture. It shifts our consciousness to that which we are being told, rather than that which we know instinctively…!!!

The problem is that we are so far down the road of deviation that it has become our instinct, our familiar habit, our norm. That’s how this prison works.

Our true nature is on holiday all the time! A holy-day is a break from being caught up in the mundane; ‘holy’ is resting in moral and spiritual excellence. And that is having fun in the simplicity of everything, without excess and over excitement.

We are told that a holiday is a rest – a short break from our usual business of excessive, over-excited activity. But in fact, the holiday turns out to be just more excessive and over-excited activity ;-)… and we find we’re still imprisoned. Here’s our thinking: โ€œIf a little bit of what you fancy does you good, then a lot of what you fancy is even better!โ€ ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€

Once we recognise that we are imprisoned by others’ reality, we can return to resting in moral and spiritual excellence. And that’s just simple fun…!!! It doesn’t take much to make us smile because we are looking more closely, and experiencing more of the richness of everything…!!! A mere smile has so much potential…!!!

Who am I?
Who asks the question?
What is…!!! is the answer.

There is no prison:
by consent, we have been the jailer all along…!!!

PS all the !!! in this represent indescribable joy…!!! ;D

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

OVER-CONFIDENCE, CONFIDENCE OR A LACK OF CONFIDENCE

Over-Confidence, Confidence or a Lack of Confidence

Another touchy subject!

Separation <—connection—> separation.
โ€œNot too tight and not too loose.โ€

When we appear over-confident, others want to bring us down.
When others appear over-confident, we want to bring them down.

When we lack confidence, we become aggressive.
When others lack confidence, they become aggressive.

Both over-confidence and lack of confidence have no empathy for others as it’s
‘all about me’.
Confidence is empathising with the situation and with others, neither accepting nor rejecting.

It gets worse ๐Ÿ˜‰ !
Over-confidence and lack of confidence are pride and inverted pride; both are rooted in arrogance (self importance).

People with pride feel themselves special, and better than others.
People with inverted pride (upside down) feel special because they are a victim, and less fortunate than others.

Pride monopolises the conversation with how wonderful, and how much more deserving and special we are: me first!
Inverted pride monopolises the conversation with self-condemnation, insisting that everyone else go first!

Both attitudes are all about me, me, me with little consideration for the rest of humanity. There is no recognition that other people also have their own good qualities and shortcomings.

It gets worse ๐Ÿ˜‰ !
We are talking here about both forms of narcissism:

  1. Excessive preoccupation with or admiration of oneself.

  2. A personality disorder characterised by self-preoccupation, a need for admiration, a lack of empathy, and unconscious deficits in self-esteem.

Confidence is being relaxed with how we are,
and never gets touchy.

Everybody knows this.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

THERE ARE THREE CONSTANTS IN THE UNIVERSE

There Are Three Constants In The Universe
Space, pure awareness and formula.

There is order in chaos.

In the teachings, much is spoken about the constancy of space and pure awareness – but formula? Nothing! I have brought this subject up many times in teachings and all I get is a blank look from the teacher โ€“ and from the students, who think I’m going off-topic because they haven’t heard the teacher say this. Dare I say it…their reactions are sometimes even hostile.

โ€œWho is this strange fellow, talking about formula?โ€
โ€œIt’s not in the text!โ€
Exactly.
And actually, it is!

I’ve lost count at the put downs I’ve had to endure, because students become caught up in the idea that things are an illusion, and in the acquisition of answers*. Of course things/phenomena are impermanent and have no reality, and are therefore an illusion.

But. Things will always come about through causes and conditions = formula!

The 3 poisons.
The 3 kayas.
The 6 realms.
The 12 links of origination.
The 8 consciousnesses.
The 5 skanda.
The 84.000 types of confusion.
A biscuit.
Suns and planets.
Emotions.
E=MC2.
…the list is endless.

Everything comes about through formulae. The thing itself is an illusion; the formula is not. We use the formula to discover a thing’s basic nature. For me this is important, as then we start to recognise the formula in others and ourself. Personality is a programme, a formula: push the right button and off the formula goes.

You don’t know until you try it.
Just like the Buddha said.

*Before I bought my first 35mm camera, I went to several shops asking questions and receiving answers, so that at the next shop I would be armed with an intelligent question, and so on. Finally returning to the original shop with full info on a particular camera, I now sounded like an ‘expert’… and I hadn’t even used the camera yet! Going to teaching is a bit like that ๐Ÿ˜‰

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

DON’T BELIEVE A WORD THE BUDDHA SAYS

Don’t Believe a Word the Buddha Says
…even the Buddha said that!

Don’t believe a word your teacher says.
Don’t believe a word I say.

I say, โ€œYellow and black make a great greenโ€.
You don’t know that
until you try it.

You may come back and say,
โ€œWell, the type of green I get
depends on whether I use lemon or cadmium yellow.โ€

Now you know!!!

.

(This brings us to the next article…formula.)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

WE ARE OXYMORONS

We Are Oxymorons

Paradox, contradiction, inconsistency,
incongruity, anomaly, conflict,
absurdity, oddity, enigma, puzzle,
mystery, conundrum,
oxymoron.

We are enlightened beings
in a sentient body,
forgetting that we are enlightened beings.

We are all Buddhas in the mud.

Buddhism is being aware that we are covered in mud/enthusiastic ideas; these become emotions, which are very enthusiastic ideas. The moment we re-cognise this enthusiasm is the moment of knowing awareness; we remember our pure nature – pure awareness – and the mud drops off. The wisdom is to see that the mud never existed in the first place.

Oxymorons.
Get used to it!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

NOT EMPTINESS BUT MELTING-NESS

Not Emptiness But Melting-ness

One of the problems I find in Buddhism is its formulaic approach, which can appear rather cold. We chant many prayers that are meant to melt us – and I’m not talking about sentimentality – but they don’t seem to work…well not from what I’ve seen. Rows of people – including myself – sit up straight on our special cushions, becoming more and more indifferent to those around us. We’re in our own emptiness ๐Ÿ˜‰ but this is just a phase we are going through at this stage of our development.

The prayers may be descriptive and mention many past Tibetan masters but these do not mean much to a different culture that is not so ostentatious, even though we have tried to engender a feeling for this for many years. Our practice can become prosaic (unimaginative) in the sense of lacking empirical/first hand inspirational experience.

Texts do inspire in a ordered way, but because of their formality, they can lack true melting-ness of love; it is usually ‘my melting-ness’.

It’s not just Buddhists. We all have the same problem looking for the exotic when the middle-way is right under our nose. The escape route! We have become so indifferent that we don’t notice the beauty on the toilet door. What?

The โ€œDesiderataโ€ has become a pretty poster to pin up on the back of the toilet door to feel good for a while, when in fact it could change our lives completely. It is a beautiful instruction on how to live, but we can miss the whole point and become narrow minded even though we chant high minded prayers.

This poem was written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann, and only became famous after his death; I guarantee you will melt. Read it slowly as it’s not an academic piece; you are meant to join in the sentiment, without becoming sentimental. The word โ€œvisceralโ€ is apt here – relating to deep inward feelings rather than to the intellect.

โ€œDesiderataโ€*

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be atย peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann

* Desiderata: Latin for ‘desired thing’.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

CROSSROADS OF CONFLICT

Crossroads of Conflict

โ€œWhen in doubt, do nowtโ€*

A conflict occurs when we know something, but don’t know how to express it. This is happening all the time, but we don’t notice it because we fall back into the self-programme; we may find that we revert to โ€œbusiness as usualโ€ and do or say the same old things, returning to habits.

If we have a question, that means that what went before no longer satisfies and, more to the point, we are looking โ€“ this is a crossroad.

Spiritual practice is breaking out of this cycle of existence. We just have to be aware that we may be ‘doing spiritual practice’ to make our life better; this is either wanting a better habit, or โ€œby opposing, end themโ€.

Within the mind is all the knowledge we need; maybe this is the akashic record. An all-pervading field in the ether in which a record of past events is imprinted โ€“ but then this can only be known through an observant mind! It’s all in the mind.

The trick is to hold the question in space…or emptiness. โ€œWhen in doubt do nowtโ€ and be at peace. This brings about clarity. โ€œKnock and the door shall openโ€ – synchronicity can occur – but don’t be in such a hurry!

These crossroads are a change in levels of capacity. The synapses are joining up, and everything looks different. Eureka!

This is what meditation is all about.
The crossroads of conflict are like little deaths and rebirths.

Things are much simpler than we think!
When knowing is present, not knowing isn’t!
Knowing the process builds confidence in every moment.

This is how we are own teacher.

*nowt = nothing

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

MODERN PSYCHOLOGY AND BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY

Modern Psychology and Buddhist Psychology
Consciousness and subconsciousness

The words ‘consciousness’ and ‘subconsciousness’ can be confusing to most of us; to be honest we are not even bothered with such terms. However, they are actually our programming, or bias โ€“ that which makes us do or not do things. There is much we do not want to look at about this acquired self, and this is the reason why we cover up our ‘presumed’ faults by projecting an image of ourselves because we feel incomplete. Complicated isn’t it?! This is only because, due to hope and fear, we try to belong to a collective mind rather than realising true liberation ๐Ÿ˜€

Dictionary definition:
Consciousness: awareness by the mind of itself and one’s surroundings.

Subconsciousness: part of the mind of which one is not fully aware but which influences one’s actions and feelings.

Subconscious could be said to be where we are unconscious or unaware, but that would depend on the individual. It’s that which drives us, or rather, controls us. We can assume the posture of light and fluffy, but our ‘buttons’ can be pressed at any time and off we go, whirling around in samsara.

Buddhist definition:
Consciousness: faculty of mind made up of eight elements – five are the senses, 6th is perception, 7th is judgement and 8th is memory. Very subtle consciousness could be said to be pure awareness – the 9th consciousness which is beyond conventional consciousness.

Subconsciousness: 7th (judgement) and 8th (memory) consciousnesses (these may be deep seated feelings that we don’t want to admit).

This is a delicate matter as we believe we are what we think; this is incomplete and so we constantly defend ourselves and that which we believe. This gives rise to subtly aggressive reaction; what is lacking is honesty. It’s honesty that is the delicate matter. We may appear to be ‘nice’ Buddhists but underneath we are still tricksters projecting, merely rewriting our programming rather than breaking out of it.

In actuality, we can’t be honest in a collective mind as it’s too threatening; this is the reason we need courage and skilful compassion.

The core of the mind is subtle consciousness.
The core of subtle consciousness is pure awareness.
The core of pure awareness is emptiness.
The core of emptiness is love.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

ROBOTS AND HUMANS

Robots and Humans

Do robots resemble humans, or do humans resemble robots?

Sentient: capable of feeling, aware, responsive, reactive.
Conscious: aware of and responding to one’s surroundings.
Programme: a series of coded software instructions to control
the operation of a computer or other machine.
Origin:โ€œbefore writtenโ€.

What do robots and humans NOT have in common?
Humans have the ability to break out of โ€œbefore writtenโ€.
Robots merely repeat โ€œbefore writtenโ€.

Can a robot be spiritual?
They can appear so.

๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

GOD AND PURE AWARENESS

God and Pure Awareness

God is an idea in the mind.
Pure awareness isn’t.
Therefore, God is pure awareness,

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 3 Comments

DZOGCHEN IS NOT AT ODDS WITH ANYTHING

Dzogchen Is Not At Odds With Anything

Dzogchen is pure compassionate awareness,
in which anything may arise
while pure awareness remains uncontaminated.

A Pure Garden
where anything may grow
and the garden remains pure.

This is a Buddhist Dzogchen site and as such, has a flavour and language describing our essential nature as pure emptiness – naked awareness – primordial wakefulness. There are many other Buddhist traditions that have slightly different methods for arriving at the same conclusion. These differences are not at odds with each other; they reflect one another. We all follow the path that suits us the best. Within these traditions, there are many levels or yanas and it is here that we have to be careful because it’s easy to talk at cross purposes as our understanding of the same word may differ; each may be correct in itself but as perception changes, so does the meaning.

As an example, Dzogchen and other Buddhist traditions use phrases such as โ€œthe three kayasโ€:

Dharmakaya = Empty essence (absolute truth)
Sambhogakaya = Cognisant nature (relative truth)
Nirmanakaya = unconfined Compassionate energy (the union of the other two)

Confusion arises due to our capacity to perceive, and how closely we look in practice – how we see things in genuine experience as opposed to philosophical discussion. Dzogchen is not concerned with philosophical debate: it is how we are. If we are looking down a microscope, we have to be clear what we are looking at; it could be matter, or it could be the space between matter. It is said that we can’t follow two paths at the same time; that would be like sewing with a two headed needle, and we’d just become confused. Much depends on whether we are using ordinary perception or pure perception, and whether we are being literal or metaphorical/symbolic.

Let’s look at the Garden of Eden through Dzogchen eyes:

In a spiritual sense we could say that our true nature is a pure garden of all we need, as it is eternal and beyond desire and aversion. Our problem arose when we turned aside from dwelling in the metaphysical* and wanted a literal dwelling. This strong desire created an identification with a body and mind, and the contaminated quality of our desire determined a corresponding body form and mind (this is the karmic effect). Although we may be born into unfortunate circumstances, this could be karma playing itself out; it could be our final piece of karma as karma is finite.

Our pure garden became impure, contaminated. This happened when we โ€œate the appleโ€ by wanting to know, instead of being knowingness itself. Thus we discovered judgement – this and that, good and evil. We became this and that, good…and evil!

When we are no longer satisfied with merely naked awareness, we look for something extra – and we’re still doing this. We have separated ourselves from pure, naked wakefulness. Embarrassed, we cover ourselves up in conceptual justifications, and have condemned ourselves to lifetimes of looking for home – the pure garden.

Our path home is our own confusion.
Eliminate the confusion and we are home.

Our conflict is what we have become as opposed to what we are;
this conflict is a metaphysical battle across space and time.

Returning to who we are is beyond
a metaphysical battle across space and time.

*Metaphysical: the essentially metaphysical question of the nature of mind. Transcending physical matter or the laws of nature: Good and Evil are inextricably linked in a metaphysical battle across space and time.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

UNITY WITH SOURCE

Unity With Source

This is not a phrase one would hear in Buddhism, but there is no reason why not. There are many ways to look at and translate experience, depending on one’s taste. If we have one taste, then it’s all the same; it’s all one!

The word ‘Source’ is a new word introduced into the language as an alternative to the word ‘God’, but by definition, God must be pure, timeless and unlimited awareness. All we need to do is follow the steps in taking anything apart to see what is left, rather than jumping to assumptions.

A psychological confusion occurs when we describe this ‘Pure Timeless Awareness’ or ‘Source’ย as separate or different from ourselves, our ‘essential nature’, our ‘essence’.

The word ‘mysticism’ is a good starting point:

Dictionary:
Extraordinary experiences and states of mind. In modern times, “mysticism” means the aim at the “union with the Absolute, the Infinite, or God”.

Wikipedia:
‘Mystic’: a person who seeks by contemplation and self-surrender to obtain unity with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute, or who believes in the spiritual apprehension of truths that are beyond the intellect.

The interesting word here is ‘unity’ or ‘union’; an understanding of this will depend on how we translate the experience of ‘union’. We can see this as either something we join, or something that we are already. In the first case, two become one and in the second there were never two in the first place.

The question is, โ€œWhat are ‘we’ and what is ‘it’?โ€ Here, I am talking from a Buddhist perspective. We are awareness, for without awareness (some might call this consciousness) nothing would be known. All creatures have awareness. However, this awareness is contaminated by a belief in a self image – a mental construct โ€“ and so this awareness is limited.

When this awareness truly looks inward on itself, it finds nothing but awareness. This finding nothing but awareness is pure awareness. That is Essence, Source, Union, Oneness of relative and absolute reality.

It’s that pure and simple.
If there was an external source,
it would have to be pure and aware.

If we say that God is all-knowing,
we can say the same about the enlightened state.
It’s that pure and simple.

‘Union’ or ‘unity’ is not that there are two separate things that become one: rather, the nature of one reflects the nature of the other. A belief in an external creator and the idea that we are the creators are not compatible, and therefore there comes a time when we have to choose which path we are taking, otherwise there will be conflict and confusion, lacking clarity.

Which is the right one? The one that is right for you. Any stance can be refined.

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

TRANSFORMING CONSCIOUSNESS

Transforming Consciousness
into timeless primordial awareness

This could sound scary! We are not dropping consciousness yet; that would be enlightenment. We are in the process of transforming it into a pure state. This is something the ‘I’ will not want to do, as the ‘I’ is made up of consciousness, and transformation is a threat to its existence – that is the reason ‘we’ feel threatened. We have to take these steps carefully in order to be convinced at every stage that we are still suffering. Knowledge is only practical when it has an effect, and that is realising wisdom.

This is also why it is very difficult to talk to others about actual experiences, as it can bring up all sorts of reactions from them. I’ve experienced this, especially when talking to other Buddhists. It’s uncomfortable to realise how much we are holding onto ‘our’ consciousness – our version of reality – our version of self!

Selfism = Autism*
Who is and who isn’t autistic is a complex, touchy subject.
Maybe we are not as ‘normal’ as we like to think!
We are all caught in the same web, more or less.

*Autism: a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterised by great difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and restricted and repetitive behaviour.

ORIGIN early 20th cent. (originally with reference to a condition in which fantasy dominates over reality, regarded as a symptom of schizophrenia and other disorders): from Greek autos โ€˜selfโ€™ + -ism.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

LIGHT AND FLUFFY

My wife said, โ€œYou should write something light and fluffyโ€.

I know what she means.
Something ‘light’ meaning clarity, yes.

Unfortunately, there is too much evil brainwashing in the world
for fluffiness.

Brainwash: pressurised into adopting radically different beliefs by using systematic means – both forcible and subtle – to indoctrinate, condition, re-educate, persuade, propagandise, influence, drill, pressurise. Indoctrination can take place at an early age often through over-stimulation: these children become adults and have children of their own.

We can become so traumatised by life that we reject society and become ‘spiritual’ in order to escape, separating ourselves from the rest. This is intentional brainwashing as we do it to ourselves.

โ€œHappy-clappyโ€ does not relieve suffering.
Some of us are just not fluffy

๐Ÿ˜€

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 3 Comments

WASTING LIFE IN BEING DIFFERENT

Wasting Life in Being Different

There are two aspects to meditation: focused attention and panoramic attention. In meditation terms, these are Shamata (watching the breath) and Vipassana (insight of awareness). During the early stages, we are still trying to change, to be different to the way we are and, though necessary, this creates a separation from the activity as we are ‘doing something’. These are the steps leading to the non-meditation of non-duality โ€“ not being different or separate from the activity – when partial turns to impartial; emptiness in action.

In this ‘not being different from the activity’, there is a detachment of ‘self’ doing the ‘activity’ ; there is merely the activity taking place. We all get a sense of this sometimes.

A misunderstanding can occur when we speak of the unity of the two truths of the conventional and the absolute. At first, we do have to separate them to see them individually in order to identify the effect of each, and then we can realise their unity and that one is created by virtue of the other. This is why spiritual guidance is vital; without it, we are banging our head against a brick wall.

The opposites to focused and panoramic attention are vacancy and occupancy, which are our usual states.

In the practice of focused meditation – Shamata – we are ‘one’ with the breath. When this basic practice is introduced into daily life, this focus can make us more efficient but there may be a claiming involved as the quality of emptiness is lacking. We can see this in spiritual gatherings where unfortunately the teacher hasn’t taken the students to the next level, and that is when we see the behaviour of ‘being different’ with wide eyes and an exaggerated manner; this is merely a stage of wooden-ness that we all go through.

In the practice of panoramic meditation – Vipassana – we are ‘one’ with awareness. However, if the clarity of emptiness is not present, this awareness can be spaced-out, scattered and dull, and may become sentimental.

Both focused and panoramic attention are upgraded when emptiness is present; that is clean, pure activity without any residue.

In daily life, alternating between focused and panoramic attention helps us to be efficient, while finding inner peace at the same time. We are focused on the action and then release into panoramic awareness of emptiness, coming to rest and therefore not fixated. This means we can be more creative!

In totally ‘not being different’ (this is the opposite of indifference) there are no judgements; we just get on with what needs to be done. That, of course, is after observing what needs to be done, which entails judgement, discernment and balance in order to adjust; โ€œNot too tight and not too looseโ€!

We waste our precious life trying to be different/better while at the same time causing ourselves suffering by claiming an activity, so giving rise to emotions. In not trying to be different, we are different. Rather than living a set of ideas from a collective consciousness, we are in fact returning to our origin โ€“ now, that is being original!!! Oneness is being one with our relative and absolute nature…the same potential of every creature in the universe.

If we were all one, then when one was enlightened, we would all be enlightened. It doesn’t happen like that, does it? Of course, there can be a oneness with another in total silence, but that is short lived, if it happens at all. We can’t expect too much from friends and associates!

Two zeros make a zero.
Then one zero says something like, โ€œThis is niceโ€
and a separation occurs.

We are funny creatures. ๐Ÿ™‚ ๐Ÿ™‚ ๐Ÿ™‚

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

EMPTINESS IS NOT BEING DIFFERENT

Emptiness Is Not Being Different

Emptiness is like a mirror, reflecting everything. The mirror and the reflection are inseparable – not different. Not being different, there can be no judgement. Sounds, appearances and awareness are inseparable from emptiness.

How is this practical?

When communicating with another, we are just an empty, clear mirror with no judgements, remaining in non-duality. If clarity can be brought to the situation, all well and good. If not (as we don’t have enough data) all well and good; at least we haven’t made things worse!. We are not going to solve the world’s problems in an instant. Everyone at some time will find their own mirror-reality.

Being so simple, we give this no value because we expect more, as our habit is to seek pleasure in complexity in order to gain something. Of course, judgements will arise within our mind, but we communicate with these in the same way, as they are mere reflections.

When doing anything, we (pure awareness) are not different from the action. We are one with the action. This is oneness – or rather, zero-ness – in complexity: the inseparability of our empty essence and appearances, which are mere reflections. This applies to both others and the reactions in our own minds.

This takes practice and familiarity. The more we practise, the quicker we return to our true nature.

Not putting up barriers and just listening is what love and compassion is all about. We’d want this for ourselves after all. There is a saying, โ€œGive what you think you lack.โ€

In that reflective listening, there is a recognition that the other does not have the capacity to listen at that moment. There is nothing to be gained, only given. Unfortunately, this is not a listening world as it is full of projected, preconceived ideas. This is where we pass from alone-ness into a one-ness. We no longer need to be part of a group, as we can rely on our own resources without making demands on others.

โ€œI want someone to listen to meeeee!โ€
is the reflection talking.
The mirror just hears.
The simplicity essence is aware of the complexity of the reflection.

Two birds in the self-same tree:
one pecked the fruit
and the other sat and watched.

This is the unity of mind and mind essence.
Listen to yourself.
Things loosen and drop away with a sense of relief.
No one outside can do that for you.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

KHYENTSE YESHE IN RUSSIA

Khyentse Yeshe in Russia

I am so pleased to present this video of YESHI NAMKHAI (Khyentse Yeshe), the Italian-born son of Chรถgyal Namkhai Norbu.

Please note the ordinariness of his presentation; no brocade, no throne, no robes, just ordinary language. It may be a little difficult to follow because of accent and style, and having to wait for the translator, but it’s very worthwhile. The gist of what he is saying is that we get more pleasure out of complexity and so miss the simplicity of the enlightened attitude. The video is called โ€œWhat is Enlightenment?โ€, but maybe it is more to do with the enlightened attitude.

Here are some (rough) notes taken from the video which give a feel of what was spoken about. The main points are in CAPS and bold type. If you don’t get to the end of the video, he likes mango ice cream…at the moment!

We are the centre of our universe, but our universe is unstable. As this universe is in our mind and our mind is full of perceptions, judgements and memory, it is also unstable. We are always right in our mind. Traditionally, this is called ego. We believe inside of us is true and outside of us is never true.

Why do I have a question? Why am I here as opposed to there? Once we ask a question, it is impossible to separate this from the answer. First of all, I am searching for something. If we are discussing what is outside, then I already know some possibilities.

Our reflections can be positive and also negative. We can decide whether this reflection is good or bad, we like it or don’t like it. We are here, looking for reality. We discover that the answer is already in front of us. Being conditioned by the mind, we believe that everything that appears is the truth.

There cannot be any action without a thought in the mind; all we have to do is observe our actions. All our actions have some kind of emotion. Before this emotion, there is some kind of idea, some kind of judgement, a structure in our mind.

Just to do an action with an empty mind is very difficult. We have to go back in our mind for the essence of our existence.

Having the truth presented in front of us – the truth, the answer – we will never find it.

The manifestation of the mind is our own manifestation, and this is always true for us. We only care about ourself โ€“ we don’t care about others. We give pleasure to the mind.

Knowledge is what one can observe oneself; understand that this is an activity of the mind. So knowledge is presence. In that moment is to know it’s ice cream; I don’t feel a separation between this ice cream and myself. I have a tongue to feel what is nice. I have 5 organ senses to feel pleasure. I can have fear of interruption of this pleasure.

I can have the idea that another flavour exists in time and space. It is the capacity of mind to work in time and space. We cannot taste two flavours at the same time. Mind always has knowledge of change. It knows very well that all things must die. We see that there is nothing to judge.

Through this understanding, we can be more happy (not wondering what is over there!). We all have this recognition. We should be in the presence of this knowledge, but this knowledge does not give something special; just like enlightenment, it doesn’t have a special feeling. No interesting characteristics. It has no quantity. It has nothing to do with personal feeling.

The problem comes when I feel different. In my mind there doesn’t appear the feeling of difference. I am not different from others. I am happy not because I feel higher than others. I DON’T HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING JUDGEMENT because I do not have the idea of conceiving difference. Everything is connected and discovered within oneself. Just remain instantly present in our present condition.

BEING SO SIMPLE FEELS IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY VALUE. Because whatever we observe is very complicated and has a lot of construction of the mind, when the mind is engaged there is pleasure of the mind. THE MORE THERE IS COMPLICATION, THE MORE THERE IS PLEASURE.

We are constantly looking for satisfaction, but we are the user of this knowledge. Everything becomes more easy, more joyful, more free.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpZ9AkV-KAU

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

IS BUDDHISM A RELIGION OR A PHILOSOPHY?

Is Buddhism a Religion or a Philosophy?

This all depends on to whom one is talking. It’s actually neither. One could say that Buddhism is a series of steps to realising extremely subtle awareness โ€“ pure reality. This is Dzgochen/Mahamudra, and the same as Advaita* in the Vedic tradition.

The trouble lies within the series of steps โ€“ the path – which is our confusion. As we gain incomplete information and knowledge which is partial, we may find that we act in strange ways. One of the ways in which this reveals itself in thinking that the knowledge we have acquired is more important than the person standing in front of us. This is when we get stuck in a religious or philosophical attitude, and lack wisdom.

Extremely subtle awareness – pure reality – is loving compassion with wisdom.
There are no disagreements here; ‘isness’ just ‘is’.

On the path of our confusion – the series of steps – there are all sorts of exotic names.
Within ‘isness’, there are no names.

Chemistry is chain reactions of matter.
Mind is chain reactions of ideas.
Wisdom is cutting through chain reactions.

 

 

* โ€œVedantic doctrine that identifies the individual self (atman) with the ground of reality (brahman). Traditionally Buddhism does not recognise an atman or brahman.โ€ But reason says, this is meaning of the two truths โ€“ non-duality. The same as God and God-consciousness. Disagreement is only at the stage of the series of steps. ๐Ÿ™‚

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

TRUST YOURSELF

Trust Yourself
Trust pure perception.

Trust the judgements of pure perception and how it feels,
without exaggerating and elaborating.

Ultimately it is all one taste.
Relatively, we have to decide what is beneficial.

If we put on something smooth we feel, โ€œHow nice.โ€
If we put on something rough we feel, โ€œHow scratchy.โ€
If we look at people we feel, โ€œHow exaggerated.โ€
If we look at the earth we feel, โ€œHow beautiful.โ€

Before these judgements there is merely pure perception, empty of judgment. Relatively speaking, those judgements are valid. Having identified that a person exaggerates, just leave it alone. Trust that perception has noted an imbalance, and remain in pure perception. Condemning and admiring only serve to make perception impure, although desire and aversion may also be paths to liberation; this is wisdom in action.

When we do not trust ourself (pure perception) we engage in an impure world of emotions, and lack confidence. Whether it is warm or cold is neither good or bad. We live in collective self-serving world, this is a fact. And there is nothing we can do about that – it’s the Age of Strife!

Just note and remain in pure perception, and be happy.
If we are not happy, then we allow others to rule our life.

NB We have to know the difference between perception and pure perception. According to Tibetan Buddhism, perception is the sixth consciousness, following the five sense consciousnesses. The seventh is judgement and the eighth is memory. One could call the ninth consciousness pure perception, although it is beyond consciousness.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

NEUROLINGUISTICS AND THE DHARMA

Neurolinguistics and the Dharma

Neurolinguistics: the relationship between language and the structure and functioning of the brain.
Words affect our brain.

Ultimately, we are beings of pure awareness. Relatively, this pure awareness is locked into appearances in the mind to which it relates! There is a tenuous connection between our glimpses of pure awareness and the brain/mind being able to express this experience clearly; we are rather like stroke victims where connections have been broken, and we must make effort to rewire the brain (or become resistant and not bother).

When someone seems to be wilful, dogmatic or troll-like, this merely shows their lack of capacity in expressing themselves. We all know, but are locked into limitations of expression, ‘cherry picking’ to make a point which never stands up to ultimate reasoning. It stays at a relative level of ‘I’ โ€“ it’s all about me. The more understanding we have of this process, the more empathy and compassion we can apply.

The term ‘neurolinguistic programming’ is generally perceived as subversive suggestion. Advertisers, the media, politicians and propagandists use this method all the time; read up on Edward Bernays and Goebbels. We hear and we obey! If we hear a phrase enough times, we start to believe it. This is an outside source rewiring our brains; hence, we don’t have an original thought in our heads. Someone, somewhere, puts an idea into the collective system and it spreads like a virus. It’s meant to! This is clearly evident in social media where people are winding one another up all the time.

โ€œDivide and ruleโ€.

A few days ago, I wrote that genuine experience is beyond words, but that was after 45 years of personal study. So reading and studying does have an effect on the brain and mind, and gives us a code or formula to unlock this prison mind. This is how the Buddha’s teachings help us to see our complete picture. This is opposed to ordinary, everyday neurolinguistic programming that affects the way in which we relate to everything…they get inside your head!

So studying text and commentaries from the Buddha’s teachings makes a connection for us to express reality, put it to the test and gain confidence. We always have a choice whether to become biological parroting* robots or free spirits.

Unfortunately there is one other point in spiritual neurolinguistics, and that is sentimentality regarding the Buddha’s teachings, or rather, the guru. Smiley faces can hide a multitude of emotions. Realise the essence of the teachings and watch out for trappings** They aren’t called ‘trappings’ for nothing – we can become spiritual robots as well.

Spirituality is all about liberation from fixations.

*To parrot: To parrot slogans without appreciating their significance: repeat mindlessly, repeat mechanically, echo, say again.

** Trappings: trimmings, frills, accompaniments, extras, ornaments, ornamentation, adornment, decoration; regalia, paraphernalia, apparatus, finery, frippery, livery, fittings, accoutrements; appurtenances, appointments, equipage, equipment, gear, effects, things, panoply; baggage, impedimenta; informal bells and whistles, stuff, bits and pieces, bits and bobs

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

STILL NOT CONVINCED?

Still Not Convinced?

The answer is so simple, and our confusion is so complex. We buy hundreds of spiritual books and go to teachings and retreats because we keep doubting. When we keep doubting, we play the role of pauper, having no wealth. Maybe it’s just our synapses habitually mistrusting others and ourselves. It’s as if we are continuously walking to the end of the road and finding ourselves at the beginning again.

We imagine that the exotic has the answer,
when the answer is quite ordinary
without ornamentations.

We will not find the answer to ultimate truth anywhere else in the universe (in any universe) but in our own pure nature โ€“ pure knowingness. The problem is that we might expect the universe to suddenly change (go transparent ๐Ÿ™‚ ) and all our karma to instantaneously disappear. We still have work to do by relaxing. Loosening. I have to remind myself of this all the time.

The more we want to know,
the less we will know.

We are not trusting in
our own knowingness.

We keep finding ourselves
back at the beginning, doubting.

Doubt is our jailer
and doubt gets expensive!

Our wealth is within us
and nowhere else.

You are Rinpoche:
Precious One.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

PERCEPTION AND REFLECTION ARE INSEPARABLE

Perception And Reflection Are Inseparable
This is the realisation of the two truths โ€“ non duality.

For most of us, what usually happens is that perception gets caught up in the reflection of perception (the object). This creates a subject (me perceiving), and a separation occurs and is maintained.

When perception identifies with a reflection, perception becomes caught in a deception. This is mara activity – demonic activity โ€“ and nothing more than that! Of course, this identification sounds harmless enough, but it is the precursor to stifled or exploding emotions. These like-and-dislike demons are always lurking, ready to pounce when we consent.

We can easily miss the point of spiritual activity, by getting caught up in the practice or wandering off. I do this all the time. The point is to be honest and not pretend that we are practising; rather, if we analyse the experience/problem, we then find the solution. Remember; our spiritual evolution is in our own hands. We do the refining. The problem is usually that we are more interested in our habitual interpretation of reality than in reality!

An example:
Chanting mantras or prayers is used as an extension of pure perception, and can help inspire us – but it can also become a distraction. We may be ‘involved’ in visualisations or chanting at speed. Unfortunately this can also hold us down in the reflection, as ‘we’ are ‘doing’ the practice. That is a separation, a duality.

Much depends on who told us what to do and why. Teachings are generalised and are at a certain level. We have to be careful not to be too literal with someone else’s intention at that moment. Some advice is just expedient.

Remember the Buddha’s words; โ€œNot too tight and not too looseโ€, and โ€œDon’t take my word for it.โ€ We have to follow what feels right for us, gain confidence and act compassionately.

When chanting, merely hear the sound of the voice.
Hearing is totally open like the other senses.

This is mere perception.
Perception and reflection are inseparable.

During practice, when taking a breath there is a silent emptiness.
Perception and emptiness are inseparable.

This is always present.

This goes for any spiritual practice. Once we get the hang of this, it goes for any activity. In this way, whether we are engaged in a ‘high’ practice or washing the floor, there is no difference.

Perception and reflection are one continuity of our essential nature.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

COMPOS MENTIS

Compos Mentis
Having full control of one’s mind.

Normal
Conforming to a standard.

Conventionally, we conform to a standard set for us. This conforming controls the mind to stay within limits โ€“ ‘normal compos mentis’. We consent to self imprisonment. We repeat words and phrases, and therefore ideas. These neurolinguistics affect the structure and functioning of the brain, and therefore how we see things. This has a hypnotic effect, inducing a sleeping consciousness that loses the power of voluntary action and becomes highly responsive to suggestion.

In other words, we become highly addicted. 3.9 billion people on earth (half the planet) are addicted to football* – and that’s just football!

Insane statement
โ€œI am normal, therefore I am in control of my mind.โ€

Sane statement
โ€œAwareness, aware of itself, wakes up.โ€

 

 

 

*http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2011/10/28/a-football-competition-and-a-headline-about-a-global-audience-of-billions-and-yet-its-actually-true-what-on-earth-is-going-on281002/

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

THREE REASONS TO MEDITATE

ย Three Reasons To Meditate

To be aware of distracting thoughts.

To be aware of the awareness
of distracting thoughts.

To be aware that the awareness
of distracting thoughts
is free from distracting thoughts.

That’s clarity for you!

๐Ÿ™‚

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

SENTIENT BEINGS ARE CREATURES OF HABIT

Sentient Beings Are Creatures of Habit

We are creatures of addiction, dependence, craving, compulsion, fixation, enslavement; monkey-see money-do. It’s our weakness. It’s ‘what’s best for me’. We have our routine – orders from our karmic repository. Habit is our personal programme. When we live in our world of ‘me’, compassion for others beyond ‘me and mine’ is rare. It’s a little unpleasant to say the least, as it gives rise to so many negative emotions. We become an imitation, a stereotypical caricature of exaggerated characteristics giving rise to comic, grotesque effects which seem normal.

Screen Shot 2015-05-28 at 08.25.55 Screen Shot 2015-05-28 at 08.28.31

Loving compassion really does change all this.
We become aware of others more than ourselves
as there is no knowing what may turn up.

One of the causes of suffering is change – we don’t like it!
In genuine confidence, we are open when change occurs.

In compassionate confidence there is nothing to defend
as nothing is expected.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

MORE INTERESTED IN THE MANIFESTATION THAN THE TRUTH

More Interested In The Manifestation Than The Truth

An image is a reflection in the mind.
This image can either awaken us or divert from the truth.
The truth is the pure perception, not the thing perceived.

Screen Shot 2015-05-27 at 08.31.31

Screen Shot 2015-05-27 at 08.30.49

The funny thing is, perception and reflection
cannot be separated!

Screen Shot 2015-05-27 at 09.07.22

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

HOW DID THE BUDDHA BECOME ENLIGHTENED?

How Did The Buddha Become Enlightened?

He became unstuck.

Letting go is not being stuck on any thing or idea – or even a personal identity โ€“ and therefore our nature stays pure. Of course, we are not enlightened yet, but we can still appreciate this principle.

‘Ego’ is a fabrication of acquired, fixated ideas and has no reality.

‘Egolessness’ doesn’t mean we cannot do anything. We can be very creative but we just don’t need to cling to self-importance, as it limits experience.

Ego: a person’s clinging to a sense of self-importance, from Latin, literally โ€˜Iโ€™.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 4 Comments

FEELING SMOTHERED WITH OTHER’S FIXATIONS…

Feeling Smothered With Others’ Fixations…

This a feeling of being stifled by collective consciousness. We may feel despondent and in low spirit, and it’s important to acknowledge what is going on. People are governed by their karma of fixated ideas. They want to fit in, and are merely acting to type, becoming caricatures.

Unfortunately – and fortunately –
the more we see,
the more we see!
And that is the answer;
get used to it.

Now There’s a Feeling Of Loneliness…

This a feeling of not being stifled by collective consciousness. We may feel despondent and in low spirit, and it’s important to acknowledge what is going on. We are governed by our karma of fixated ideas. We want to fit in, and act to type, becoming caricatures.

Unfortunately – and fortunately –
the more we see,
the more we see!
And that is the answer;
get used to it.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

LIGHT AND ITS REFLECTION

ย Light And Its Reflection

The source of light/clarity is more powerful
than the reflection upon which light/clarity shines.

We – the light/clarity – are inseparable
from the en-light-ened state.

So what went wrong?

Light/clarity believed more in its reflection than its true nature,
and so separated from its true nature.

And so this brings us to the question of God…

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

EUGENICS v ENLIGHTENMENT

Eugenics v Enlightenment

Eugenics: the science of improving a population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics.

Enlightenment: the wisdom of spiritual insight attained through awareness which frees a person from ignorance of desirable heritable characteristics.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

THE DILEMMA OF SECRECY

The Dilemma Of Secrecy

The Dharma teachings are vast, simple and complex, and all centre around one point; pure compassionate awareness.

Some regard the finer aspects of the teachings as secret. In fact, there is a very compassionate reason for this. Some regard the teachings as self secret, as people can only understand what they understand, the rest sounding like gobbledygook.

Here is the dilemma:

If people are introduced to high teachings and ‘don’t get it’ they may switch off from any further progression, thinking it is far too difficult. On the other hand if they think, โ€œI get itโ€, they may also switch off from progressing to deeper stability, as they remain in a concept of the teachings.

We have to be aware of these possibilities. And – this is very important – when communicating with others we have to be mindful of saying too much or too little. People can become easily upset, and that can turn to hatred. However, we can’t please everyone โ€“ even Buddhists!

Compassion is a very skilful activity.
As the Buddha said, โ€œNot too tight and not too loose.โ€
He really did know what he was talking about!

Gobbledygook: language that is meaningless or is made unintelligible by excessive use of technical terms.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

ARE WE LOOKING FOR MORE?

Are We Looking For More?

If so, we have gone too far;
we need to back up and review what we already know.

One of the purposes of this blog is to share experiences of how the mind can work for us, so that we may clarify our own understanding. The mind actually does become our teacher – it reflects what we need to know! That’s the meaning of the unity of the two truths; seeing imbalance, balance is restored.

For the last few days, I’ve been having a problem with the idea of โ€œrainbow bodyโ€ where, at death, some are said to leave the body in rainbow light. Some leave behind just nails and hair, some a 3cm relic or white pills. Exciting stuff, but my mind just goes blank at such things. How relevant is this to us at this moment? If there are those who can do this, they are highly advanced practitioners: we are not. Like you, I’ve only read of such stories.

Everything must go step by step. This is how we progress. We uncover the true meaning. The simplest sounding teachings are extremely powerful. As our perception changes, so does the value of the very same teachings โ€“ same words, exalted meaning. That is what we can miss if we want something outside our present understanding. All we have to do is look, and the dots join up by themselves.

Let’s take again the Buddha’s advice:

Do good
Do no evil
Train the mind.
We could take this as:

Pat the dog
Don’t kick it
Break the habit of kicking!

Or

Share your chocolate.
Don’t keep it all for yourself.
Train in generosity…hoping she’ll give you some of hers!

Or

Remain in non duality.
Don’t move away from non duality.
Remain in purity of non duality.

This last one is relevant if we are in total isolation for a long time, and have proper instruction and understanding; those practitioners could possibly achieve a rainbow body.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

BE HAPPY WITH YOUR SELF

Being Happy With Your Self

This is so important!

We are pure awareness.
Your self is ordinary awareness’s confused projection.
It is by virtue of this confused projection
that pure awareness is realised.

Gradually, confusion refines
and dawns as wisdom.
So be happy with your self!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

WE ARE BEINGS COVERED BY WORDS

We Are Beings Covered By Words

โ€ฆ!…

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment