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.

One of the main obstacles in our own minds is not seeing clearly,

due to negativity, which tends to involve others.

We blame others for what is happening in our own minds.

As like attracts like we end up in a very negative atmosphere.

We can only break this vicious cycle of existence by not reacting

out of programmed habitual patterning.

The other obstacle is being over positivity, to the extent of being righteous.

As like attracts like we end up in a righteous group who condemned others.

This too is a vicious cycle of existence,

by reacting out of programmed habitual patterning.

To ordinary sentient beings this is our normal pattern of behaviour.

When our existence is based on our likes and dislikes, we are easy to

control and deceive. Of course we will have preferences,

but that does not involve causing suffering to others.

An open mind and an open heart involves seeing clearly.

The funny thing is, we all know this!

But we constantly fall prey to our own programming.

By dropping it, dropping it, dropping it, clarity arise.

When clarity arises we do not need to conform to the standards other have set.

When JESUS said, “First look at the dust in one’s own eye”.

It really makes sense.

I don’t see pure awareness!

 Oh, but you do: you simply do not notice it.

I enjoy writing because I like to share experience, and to give a flavour of “what’s it all about”. It took me years to understand what the teachings meant, and when I finally got the message, I found that I had known it all the time…just like you!

Another reason for writing (which is a new found skill that just appeared) was that, when going to teachings and reading books, it was not always clear what the essence of the teachings was. This is especially true if one gets stuck in Shamata practice (which is meditation with support – eg watching the breath, and without support – an I, resting in the stillness) for years.

There are times when one has to move on – ‘go to the end of the book’ – to find out what’s it all about.

Look

Recognise

Drop

Sit in your normal meditation position: eyes open, aware of peripheral vision, senses wide open, face muscles relaxed. Look for awareness, recognise it, and drop any attempt to hold onto it.

And rest.

That is pure awareness.

This is non meditation. Meditation, is now the continuity of resting in this clear view. However, you do not do anything, simply re-cognise!

 Reading this on a page will not have the same effect as hearing the instruction from someone you trust, but you get the ‘feel’.

 When we forget, we use mindfulness to recognise that we have moved away from this pure view. We recognise that…and rest! Simple.

 This pure view is what we are, in all activities. Of course, it needs practice until it is constant, or rather, there are fewer distractions. The distractions (which are obstacles that obscure this pure view) are now clearly seen, so they serve as reminders to re-cognise. To re-know!

 In a sitting session, the secret is “short moments many times”, so that it is always fresh, and we do not try to hold onto the experience. We just have to accept that in an hour’s session, this clear view may only be present for a couple of minutes. This may sound silly, but we need to become more familiar with ‘our natural state’ and be aware of how far we have moved away from naturalness.

We oscillate: “Now you see it, now you don’t”.

The outcome of all this is a life is worth living. We become more spontaneous and more creative, and experience a great sense of relief…there is nothing more. Everyday will be different!

Oh, there is one more thing..love others more than yourself!

You now have all the love you need.

Always your friend,

Tony

What is not true?

 EVERYTHING!

 This may need some further explanation. Everything may seem real, but is not real. This may need some further explanation. Everything in the universe, is made of subtle matter. Matter being particles that are attracting and repulsing. So everything is energy existing through causes and conditions by actions and reactions. Everything in the universe has a beginning, a dwelling stage, and dissolves back into subtle matter.

 So nothing actually constantly permanently exist…does it?

And that’s the truth.

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Look for that which never changes,

and that is truth.

Oh! So what is looking?

What if it is both? Self cherishing and engineered: we know how easily humans get distracted, over react and protect a self image.

Distractions, over reacting and self image are the obstacles (and tools) to spiritual development. What if the corporations use these very same spiritual human frailties in order to deceive people?

Propaganda is used to…change our minds!

Ordinary human existence is called Samara in Sanskrit. It is a vicious cycle of existence: there is a creation of a self image, the maintenance of that self image and the protection that self image. What if there were powers that enhanced this Samsara into a ‘Super Samsara’? Then distraction, reaction, self image would play a major part in the control of an entire population.

Is the world stupid, or subtly orchestrated? There are wars, financial collapses, poor health, poor education, poor work prospects, less freedom…and the idea of too many people. Are these naturally occurring, or unnatural? If the world is stupid, then we’d better wake up. If the world is subtly orchestrated, we need to wake up even faster.

It all comes down to consciousness: either we have control of our own consciousness, or someone else is doing it for us.

Though distractions, reactions, and self image are obstacles in the mind, they are also tools. This ‘Super Samara’ can actually enhance our practice! The reactions in the mind are easier to spot…if we are looking!

All the best to us,

Tony

Crazy Mind

How do we recognise a crazy mind,

when a crazy mind is crazy?

Tricky!

We all assume the mind is normal,

when a normal mind is crazy.

Tricky!

Being aware that the mind is crazy,

is …

 …the trick

Being intelligent.

If we believe everything we hear,

the mind becomes…cluttered…and chatters away!

The problem is stopping the chatter-clutter.

The clearer the mind the clearer we see.

Intelligence is clarity.

We only need is a simple principle.

Let go.

.

Tony

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Reacting.

Reaction is re-enacting,

playing out a script that we wrote,

due to our stored re-enactments.

A reaction comes from our past.

It only re-presents itself in the present moment.

If we simply re-act,

we are doing it all again.

It’s business as usual.

To stop re-enacting we stop the re—action.

Stopping the re—action changes everything.

The business has just collapsed.

Being original is returning to our origin.

Just being aware.

When are we just being aware,

new potentials open up.

Like the path to enlightenment!

 There are many cross roads in life,

Tony

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Being Awake.

 Being awake is being just aware.

Just means nothing else.

More than just is, is back in the dream.

Being Asleep.

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Dozing,

Tony

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Karma.

Karma is an imprint in the mind.

It is the result of mind clinging.

It’s our attitude.

Lose the attitude.

Lose the karma.

.

Tony

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Happiness

Happiness is.

What is is?

Is is being.

When being is known,

Happiness just is.

.

tony

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“I”

“I” is being something.

.

Tony

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Recognising the death process.

This is a Tibetan Bardo supplication by Kunga Paljor. Translated by Gerardo Abboud.

 This is a short prayer, describing the process of so-called death, the intermediate state and reincarnation. It is basically is a reminder for practitioners of what to lookout for. This will give you a general idea of the Bardo experience.

 We have all been through this many times before but simply forget. We forget because we still believe and hold onto everything as being real/solid. It is that simple. There are those who have gone through this experience and have not forgotten.

Namo mahamudraya,

 1. Comprehending all phenomena as illusory,
Free from impure illusion, you discovered the pure kayas.
Leader who guide illusory beings,
To your illusory form I go for refuge.

 2.Lord, who has an illusory body,
Bless me and all beings tricked by illusion,
So that, undeceived by illusory phenomena,
We recognise the nature of illusion.



3. At the time of discarding this transient illusory body,
Bless us so that by cutting all ties of attachment, aversion and grasping,
And resting naturally in unfabricated mind essence,
We take death as the path.


 4.At death, outer phenomena cease:
Sight and the rest of the five senses gradually stop,
And forms and the rest of the objects dissolve one by one.
When this happens, bless us to recognise the stages of dissolution.



 5. As earth,water,fire and air dissolve into consciousness,
Vitality wanes, one is thirsty and mouth ans nose dry up,
warmth fades, breathing shortens and rattles.
At that time, bless us to take the pain of dying as the path.



 6. Consciousness dissolves into luminosity and the outer breath stops,
While the inner breath continues during the four instants:
Appearance, increase, attainment, and great luminosity.
Bless us to recognise them, one by one.


 7. The inner sign of appearance is smoke like, the outer sign the rising moon,
And the thirty-three concepts deriving from aggression subside.
Bless us that, at this time,
We remain clear, alert and determined.

 
8. The inner sign of increase, is like fireflies, the outer sign the rising sun,
And the forty concepts deriving from passion subside.
Bless us that, at this time,
Aware and mindful, we recognise them.


 9. The inner sign of attainment is like a burning lamp,
The outer is blackness, like an eclipse,
And the seven concepts deriving from ignorance subside.
Bless us that, at this time, we recognise all with perfect attention.



 10. When the fourth instant, the great luminosity, dawns,
The inner sign is like a cloudless sky,
And the outer sign is like the break of day.
Bless us that, at this time, mother and child luminosity merge.



 11. If consciousness does not rest there but instead shifts
To the navel, in between eyebrows, cranium, nose, ears,
eyes urinary tract, anus or mouth,
Bless us to block these nine and open the one exit.



 12. Gods of desire, form or formless; or gods, jealous gods,
Humans, animals, hell beings or hungry ghosts;
Bless us that we close the doors to rebirth as these,
And dakas and dakinis welcome us in the celestial realms.



 13. If consciousness were to wonder in the bardo,
Then, not knowing we are dead, we will despair of relatives and friend,
Who don’t respond even though we want to relate to them.
Bless us that , at this time,the ties of attachment and aversion are severed.



 14. When, endowed with full sense faculties and miraculous karmic power,
One may go anywhere unimpeded,
Except to Mount Meru, Vajrasana and one’s mother’s womb,
Bless us that we know it all to be an illusion.



 15. Sun and moon are invisible and the body casts no shadow.
Just by thinking, one can go around the billion solar systems,
Helpless, like a feather blown about by the wind.
When this happens, bless us to master our own minds.



16. One feeds on smell, and the mind rapidly flickers.
When myriad deluded experiences occur,
And afraid and sad we become depressed,
Bless us that we recognise these as delusions.



 17. At times, remembrance is extremely clear,
But immediately one forgets,
And one doubts whether one is dead or alive.
When this happens, bless us to know we are unequivocally dead.



 18. Three and a half days after death,
One realises one is dead,
And, depressed and disheartened, seek a refuge.
Bless us to know, at that time, our own awareness to be the refuge.



 19. When we realise that state is the bardo,
Visualizing our body as the deity, then meditate on luminosity,
And further meditating on their indivisibility,
Bless us that, by this, the pure illusory form arises.



 20. When terrifies at collapsing mountains, raging oceans, blazing forests,
And the sound resembling the howling gale at the end of times,
Roaring together with a thousand thunders,
Bless us to perceive these as the natural sounds of reality.

 21. When the five coloured light rays clash and shine,
And from seeming spheres of light of all sizes,
Appear terrifying wrathful forms roaring orders to strike and kill,Bless us to perceive these, our own projections, as the deity.



 22.When, terrified, we feel we are plummeting
Into the abyss of the whiteness, redness and blackness,
Arising from passion, aggression and ignorance,
Bless us to perceive this, our own projection, as pure.



 23. When the body of our next birth takes form,
And the white, red, yellow, blue and black lights,
Of gods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts and hell beings appear,
Bless us to know these five pathways one by one.


 24. When seeing gods enjoying sensual pleasures in celestial palaces,
Lakes adorned with swans, royal bulls and horses,
And in a mansion our parents in union,
Bless us that attraction, aversion and jealousy are purified.



 25. When, driven by gale, rain, clouds heat and cold,
We approach a cave, a ravine a wooden log, and so forth,
And feel like entering them to find refuge.
Bless us that we know these to be bad places for rebirth.



 26. Seeing house of slaughter, fire or iron,
Attracted to them, we feel like entering.
Bless us to recognise our own nature and be fearless,
And so turn away from these bad places for rebirth.



 27. Envy and jealousy in the case of birth through womb or egg;
Attraction to smell and taste in the case of birth by warmth and moisture;
Or attachment to the places of miraculous birth;
When these arise, bless us to have no desire, aversion and craving.

 28.When seeing one’s parents, or the other modes of birth,
Bless us that, free of attraction or aversion, knowing these to be illusory
And remembering the recognition of the natural state,
Without clinging, we close the door to the womb.
 

29. If, unsuccessful, we are to take birth,
Bless us that, upon remembering,
We are born in Sukhavati, Tushita or Abhirati;
Or as a chakavartin, or in the bramin caste.



30. As soon as we are born, may we remember our previous life,
And have the fortune of practising the Mahayana Dharma.
Through love, may we generate the purely altruistic attitude,
And persevering, quickly attain enlightenment.

31. By the blessing power of the buddhas and bodhisattvas,
The pure nature of absolute reality,
And also our pure wishes,
May we achieve these aspirations as expressed.


(When it talks of the red and white elements, these are the reversing elements of the mother and father seeds. I think the red descends from the throat, and the white ascend from the navel. They meet in the heart centre and that is when a blackness occurs, so from then one is unconscious for three and a half days.)

Feeling jaded?

 There are time when we feel that meditation does not work, or we are getting a little bored with it. That’s OK. Some days are good and some days aren’t so good. Some times we just feel flat -we expected more than this!

 I don’t really have an answer to that, it just seems to happen. Some times we feel, “Oh, I’ve heard it all before…”

 It’s at these times we just have to get on with what we doing as focused and mindful as possible. Read something inspiring, watch to ‘good’ youtube video, or sit with a warm drink and be aware that everything comes to pass…and you are aware of it. Sometimes it’s just a residue of the past catching up with us. This residue can have an effect in the subtle body. These feelings in the subtle body can affect our minds. That may be the time to do ‘lung’ (pronounced loong) practice.

 The Subtle Body

 About three fingers’ width below the navel is a chakra which controls the downward wind and subtle body. Our feelings are not held in the mind, but in the subtle body. When we are apprehensive, worried, or even just having a conversation with someone, we might feel a tension in the gut, heart, throat or head. This downward wind is called lung in Tibetan (pronounced loong), and when it rises, it reveals tension in the body.

 In the west. we get very ‘lungy’ …hot under the collar! We are speedy people.

 The lung has to be brought down to where it should be, below the navel. As a result of our emotions, a residue is left in our subtle body, and it is quite exhausting. It also has other effects such as dry eyes.

 Sometimes in meditation, though we practise, we still do not feel at ease: this is a lung/wind problem. I had all the above problems until I practised with the subtle body. The effect was quite noticeable – ask my teacher! (and the wife…)

 It is a very simple practice of mentally scanning the body from the top down, and taking the attention to below the navel. This is done with the help of the ‘gentle breath’: as you scan, breath in naturally, taking the breath down to below the navel and holding it there for the count of 6-9 seconds (your tummy will fill out a bit, but do not strain).

 Release the breath, but let a small amount remain at below the navel.

 I did this 108 times in one session once a day, for six months. It had the effect of my being at perfect peace. You do not have to do it 108 times – see how it feels. During the day when you feel the lung/wind rising, merely remember to scan and take the breath down a few times.

Now you are really contemplating your navel!!!

Tony

The double edged sword of reality.

We are born with tools, and these may be used in either of two ways – deception or perception.

However, there is a trick to seeing perception in deception, and deception in perception.

The world around us seems solely intent on distracting us from the stillness of our true nature. For the general masses, there are programmes to excite and distract. For the more discerning, there are programmes to quieten and distract.

While both the masses and the discerning are merely entertained, they do not notice the intelligent (but unwise) programming behind it. If we can appreciate the programming, we may better understand how the mind is distracted by intelligent programmers, and how these programmers work! For programmer to be engaged on such works shows that their perception is also distracted.

Pure perception can notice when deception is taking place, because the attention is caught and held on an object. Of course, the same thing is happening with those who consider themselves as superior discerners (including the spiritual). In their refined perception, deception is still taking place: they too are caught and held.

There are always two aspects happening at the same time. In his novel 1984, George Orwell called this “double speak” in their Ministries of Truth (holding two contradictory ideas at the same time). This aims at splitting a group or mind into two factions, one against the other – when all you want is for them all to be distracted from the truth!

Another way to distract people is to get them to love their lives, their slavery, as in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. This creates a distraction of not wishing to change. These programmers utilise our own confusion regarding perception, and enhance our self -deception. Incidentally, it is interesting that these two programmers came from the same programming school!

If we have the intelligence and wisdom to see what is going on, we will be well prepared. We can use deception to know perception. In this age of ever-increasing speed of deception, the observation of this increases perception.

REMEMBER PART OF THIS ‘SEMI-OBVIOUS’ PROGRAMMING IS TO GET PEOPLE TO REACT. Our minds play with this information…”Did it or didn’t it!”

It is sad that not everyone will notice this, because their consciousness is caught and held. This is where we have to ‘know’ what we trust, and allow true empathy and compassion to arise.

“May all beings find happiness and the causes of happiness.

May they be free from sorrow and the causes of sorrow.

May they never lose that happiness free from sorrow.

May they dwell in the great equanimity

Free from attraction and aversion to those far and near.”

Tony

Recognising, deciding and confidence: these are known as the three steps to liberation.

Recognise your true empty nature….free of thoughts.

Decide on this point….that there is nothing other.

Build confidence in liberation…be confident and know freedom.

 Because of being able to liberate thoughts and emotions, we cease to be afraid. We experience a sense of confidence. As we practice in this way, sublime qualities of compassion will emerge naturally from this empty essence and knowing nature.

 This path of compassion arises because we see clearly how all beings are dominated by their afflictions of emotions, as you are now able to be free to a certain extent. Naturally, from this insight, compassion will arise and makes no distinction between enemies or friends, as everyone is dominated by their afflictive emotions.

 These emotions arise because we do not recognise our true nature, and adopt a mentally created “I” through fixating on our thoughts.

 A bitter sweet moment arises– you have found inner liberation and you want to do something to help others– but you are stuck, and so are they. Maybe they don’t want to change, or you don’t have the ability to help. It is important to be skilful in actions, this is something we learn as we go along!

 Another outcome is a sense of delight and appreciation, as we are able to free ourselves of attachments, this appreciation takes the form of devotion and divine pride.

 Pure Essence is knowing.  Its opposite is not knowing. Spontaneously, we start to understand the nature of things – moments of insight will start to pop up as a natural expression of emptiness.

 So how do we do this? Well, one generally starts with sitting meditation. This is so there are fewer distractions. Of course, there are those circling thoughts, but gradually they will subside. This will also prevent emotions from controlling us…however, these will flare up from time to time, but this is just part of the journey…and it makes the path brighter!

 Tony

We are the jewel in the mud.

The mud is conceptual thinking. The mud just needs washing off. The mud clings because we (our consciousness) have got used to holding on to concepts about ourselves, and phenomena in the universe.

Yes, Buddhism is about suffering = the mud! It’s not so much about avoiding the mud: it’s more about understanding the cause of the mud, or the nature of the mud. This mud hurts, dries, fixes, and gets very heavy.

This fixation with our concepts is held in the mind, or consciousness. This is the software on the hard drive…it becomes the karmic store we carry around. This is the filter that we generally see through, and it limits the mind. Because we see through this conceptual filter, we create more of the same.

Even seeing through a filter of good concepts can create suffering, because we wish our good life to last. When something unpleasant comes along, we cannot deal with it.

So what is our true nature? It is pure awareness (called emptiness), where no mud can cling.

That is the jewel! It is selfless, because there are no concepts…of self. It is pure perception…pure experience. There is no fixed experiencer (subject) and no phenomena to experience (object).

Here in this body, we, as pure beings, have learnt to identify only with the body and mind. And so, in this seeming reality, we argue, blame, find fault, fear, fight, desire etc. We get easily distracted. That is why instruction, practice and good company are so important.

This confused state in which we live is called samsara in Sanskrit, and means the vicious cycle of existence. What is appearing now is a ‘super samsara’, a mass of negative activity. However, this very darkness reveals more Light (Light means luminosity of Awareness… Pure Light). Just like the presence of the emotions…you can’t miss it!

This is not without its own problems…people could get too excited and cling to this idea of Pure Light. What is needed is cool boredom! To notice without too much interest. This where the term ‘mere I’ comes in handy. In meditation, one barely notices. If we get too interested, our attention moves outward instead of inward. We need insight!

All the best

Tony

This is a very special prayer. By now you may have a better understanding of what it might mean. Form is emptiness and emptiness is form, meaning the unity of the two truths.

THE HEART SUTRA

Om Homage to the Perfection of Wisdom.

Avalokita, the Holy Lord and Bodhisattva, was moving in the deep course of the Wisdom which has gone beyond.

He looked down from on high, He beheld but five heaps (form, feelings, perceptions, impulses, and consciousness. These five heaps are what makes up a sentient being, they are called the skanda) and He saw that in their own-being they were empty.

Here, O Sariputra,

form is emptiness and the very emptiness is form, emptiness does not differ from form, form does not differ from emptiness, whatever is emptiness, that is form, the same is true of feelings, perceptions, impulses, and consciousness.

Here, O Sariputra,

all dharmas are marked with emptiness ; they are not produced or stopped, not defiled or immaculate, not deficient or complete.

Therefore, O Sariputra,

in emptiness there is no form nor feeling, nor perception, nor impulse, nor consciousness ;

No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind ; No forms, sounds, smells, tastes, touchables or objects of mind ; No sight-organ element, and so forth, until we come to :

No mind-consciousness element ; There is no ignorance, no extinction of ignorance, and so forth, until we come to : There is no decay and death, no extinction of decay and death. There is no suffering, no origination, no stopping, no path.

There is no cognition, no attainment and no non-attainment.

Therefore, O Sariputra,

it is because of his non-attainmentness that a Bodhisattva, through having relied on the Perfection of Wisdom, dwells without thought-coverings. In the absence of thought-coverings he has not been made to tremble,

he has overcome what can upset, and in the end he attains to Nirvana.

All those who appear as Buddhas in the three periods of time fully awake to the utmost, right and perfect Enlightenment because they have relied on the Perfection of Wisdom.

Therefore one should know the prajnaparamita as the great spell, the spell of great knowledge, the utmost spell, the unequalled spell, allayer of all suffering, in truth — for what could go wrong ? By the prajnaparamita has this spell been delivered. It runs like this :

gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha.

( Gone, gone, gone beyond, gone altogether beyond, O what an awakening, all-hail!)

This completes the Heart of perfect Wisdom.

(Translated by E. Conze)

Consciousness and Awareness.

Some cultures and traditions use the same word differently, and this can add to our confusion…it certainly did to mine! The words ‘consciousness’ and ‘awareness’ can be used to mean the same thing, or something different.

Just to clarify.

The word ‘consciousness’ may be used in many contexts: some use this word to mean our highest part. In Buddhism, there are 5 consciousnesses of the body, and 3 faculties in the mind (the 6^th  consciousness, which is perception: the 7^th which is discernment: the 8^th which is the memory store). Some texts describe many more consciousnesses. From a Buddhist perspective, Empty Awareness is beyond consciousness.

It goes like this:

Being – which is Empty Essence, cognisant nature and unconfined compassion – views the external world through the 3 mind consciousnesses and the 5 body consciousnesses

This is one reason why text usually needs a commentary, as one word can have many meanings. It all depends on the context: consciousness and Awareness are only words to describe an experience, so use whatever feels right to you.

However, this is why – even though it is very good to experience many ‘paths’ at some stage  – we have to choose one, and practise within it: it is said that we cannot sew with a two headed needle! Further down the line we will understand that all ‘paths’ are saying the same thing…just slightly differently.

The word ‘path’ describes the confused state we are in at this moment: there is Ground, Path and Fruition.

The Ground is our natural essence.

The Path is our present confused state that does not recognise the Ground.

The Fruition is realising the nature of the ground, and that Path never existed in the first place!

Tony

Nothing ever happens.

I meditated and nothing happened.

I meditated some more and nothing happened

I meditated for many years, still nothing happened.

Then I realised that nothing happens.

 In this dream-like passing world, nothing truly happens. Dream-like phenomena is moved by dream-like consciousness. Each dream-like moment seems to exist and the next moment it has gone, like the frames on a cine film. The only constant is the light of dream-like awareness shining on the film.

 If nothing truly exists, can anything be said to truly happen? It is all held together by the stickiness of consciousness in the form of a dream-like “I”. We have been viewing the dream-like film for so long, we do not recognise the flickering (the cinema used to be called ‘the flicks’!)

We can still enjoy the dream, but be aware of turning the dream into a nightmare. Selfish things are happening in this dreamworld, but the trick is not to believe that they are ultimately real.

When the awareness shining on the film is realised as Pure Emptiness all illusions are seen clearly.

“My dream-like form

Appeared to dream-like beings

To show them the dream-like path

That leads to dream-like enlightenment.”

 Tony

The more we recognise our true nature, the less we want to forget it.

“Do you mean to say, I should be aware of my true essence all the time?! This is mind control! Monks and nuns yes, but I have a life to lead!”

Monks and nuns – and us – are all sentient beings, leading lives, and all have the same access to our true nature. We choose the amount we want to switch off in our lives. We have got so used to switching off that we put ourselves to sleep all the time…with a little help from the corporate world around us!

It is up to us when we wake up. Good spiritual company can then help us to stay awake.

Tony

Awareness seeks itself…and finds nothing.

Finding nothing is Emptiness.

Merely rest, neither modifying nor looking for anything else.

That ‘is’ our pure nature.

We are, what we seek.

Be at peace.

Tony

Beyond death.

This is from the Tibetan Book of the Dead…it’s quite colourful! Facing death and beyond is really a psychological event – it is as natural as birth, so that’s ok.

This is just a brief outline, as I will go into more detail in later. How we view so-called death will influence how we view life. If we think life is just this one chance, then we will get old and die. If we view death like life as an opportunity to recognise projections as having no reality, we will not feel old, but stay young at heart. The body will still get old and die, but we will not believe we are old and die, or give up!

I totally trust these teachings, you will have to make your own mind up.

What we call death is called Bardo in Tibetan, meaning gap..in between. There is the bardo experience happening all the time – it’s part of our psychological make-up. We see life as one continuous event. ‘This is my life’. But it’s more like a cine film with individual frames, held together by karma. Karma is the glue that holds it all together, maintained by ‘consciousness’ at a gross level. Each moment there is a gap for a new life, but we hold on dearly to what we think we are because we are used to it. It’s so familiar it seems real…!?

There are six psychological profiles for sentient beings: human, animal, hungry ghost, jealous God and God realm. These are attitudes we hold. Each has both a wisdom style and neurotic style.

There are six major bardo moments. Bardo of life, bardo of dying, bardo of after life, bardo of becoming, bardo of dream and the bardo of meditation.

Depending on the training one has done in one’s life time will dictate what is recognised in the bardo states. This is why repetition of practice is so important. These bardo moments are moments one can recognise one’s true nature and become enlightened. Or, one can go to a higher realm to complete training. Or (as normally happens to sentient beings) we fear the bright lights and try to escape them, not being able to face the truth.

The so-called death period lasts for up to 49 days or seven weeks more or less. Most of us are driven on by karma – our neurotic style. Practitioners recognise that all projections as have NO reality.

The basis of these six psychological profiles are buddhas wisdoms: they are our essence. But the profiles also have a negative side. These Buddhas are represented by deities of brilliant coloured lights. In the first week after death, each deity will come towards us as a light. These are of peaceful in appearance, and will invite us to recognise the projection as our true nature. If we recognise this, we will become a buddha. At the same time a soft coloured light of our neurosis will appear, but it is inviting us to the lower realm of the negative aspect of the deity.

In the second week the deities return in their wrathful aspect: this is, in fact, intense love, to prevent us from becoming distracted. If you look up Avalokiteshvara (a peaceful deity) and Mahakala (a wroathful one), they are one and the same. We always have a choice. That’s if we know we have a choice.

After that, it’s a matter of choosing a new incarnation – but again, because we practised merely reacting in life, we are driven on by our self-imposed karma. It is said the precious human life is as difficult to achieve as a blind turtle coming up from the bottom of the ocean once every hundred years and sticking its head through a rubber ring floating on the surface.

We can now see why reacting through emotions – fear, pride, anger, jealousy, desire and ignorance – can cause us much suffering, with little or no control.

We need to see that this so-called death process is happening all the time, and it is our consciousness that is holding this illusion together.

Tony

Esoteric secrets.

The body and mind are very delicate instruments. Most of the time we, as ordinary sentient beings, live in a coarse, comical world of caricatures: we write the script, acquire the part, and then act it out.

To be able to understand the nature of reality, we have to grow up, be stable, and be decent human beings. Therefore, the mind has to have clarity, the emotions have to be tamed and our hearts have to be truly open. This is not achieved through guess work, or reading books. It has to be experienced.

The esoteric teachings are secret. They are secret because they cannot be misused. They could damage this delicate mind and body, and so they are secret out of compassion. In fact, they are “self secret”, meaning that even if you heard these teachings, they would be ignored – they wouldn’t register. These teachings need a commentary in order to be understood.

Of course, we all want those sort of teachings, but we have to be ready for them. We have to be prepared. For example, one key element would be seeing the world as a sacred place, and all beings as deities: we therefore give the world the appropriate respect, even though it is all an illusion. Basically it is all Guru Yoga…but we have to fully understand what that is, before we jump to conclusions. A correct understanding of devotion and compassion are essential.

Devotion is the supplication of a greater power than we have at this present moment. We may think we have a storehouse of knowledge, when it may actually turn out to be a junk shop!

If we merely approach this as speculation or entertainment, then we will only get more confused, and we will suffer – and probably cause much suffering for those around us. Working for the benefit of those around us (compassion) overrides our own inclinations!

From Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism. Chogyam Trungpa.

It is important to see that the main point or any spiritual

practice is to step out of the bureaucracy of ego. This means

stepping out of ego’s constant desire for a higher, more

spiritual, more transcendental version of knowledge, religion,

virtue, judgement, comfort or whatever it is that the particular

ego is seeking.

One must step out of spiritual materialism. If we in fact practice it,

then we may eventually find ourselves possessed of a huge

collection of spiritual paths.

We may feel these spiritual collections to be very precious.

We have studied so much.We may have studied Western philosophy

and Oriental philosophy, practiced yoga or perhaps studied

under dozens of great masters.

We believe that we have accumulated a hoard of knowledge.

And yet, having gone through all this, there is still something

to give up. It is extremely mysterious! But unfortunately it

is so. Our vast collection of knowledge and experience are

just part of ego’s display, part of the grandiose quality of ego.

We display them to the world and, in doing so, reassure ourselves

that we exist, safe and secure, as spiritual people…

…instead of beautiful antiques we created a junk shop!

Be prepared,

Tony

Never lose your passion.

 It’s important to recognise the wisdom in the emotions, and not to be afraid of our reactions to the emotions. Emotions are not bad, if they are viewed correctly! It’s easy for others to stir up our emotions, and therefore we need to be able to recognise transcendent wisdom. If it wasn’t for passion, we just wouldn’t get anything done: the ‘rush’ of energy is important – as long as it is for constructive reasons and is done with a good heart. This is quite useful when cleaning the kitchen, toilet, and the mind!

 As I have said before, I used to fence. Fencing, like all sports, is controlled aggression – energy. One uses the energy at the right moment, by not over reacting or giving away one’s intentions to the opponent. It’s also great fun! If the opponent is any good, they will be doing the same thing – controlling their actions. It is such a wonderful feeling to fight someone who knows what you know. At the end of the match, we would whip off our masks, grinning from ear to ear, with much appreciation, respect and a shaking of hands. Did someone win? Did someone lose? Who cares!

 The emotions have another secret, and that is of merit – if viewed in the proper way. Merit is the acquisition of good karma, through patience, generosity, discipline, diligence, concentration and wisdom. These are called the six Paramitas. It is through these Paramitas that we recognise the good qualities in others, and so we gain as much merit as them.

 PRIDE…is the wisdom of equality. Recognise that others can know the same things of which we are proud, and so we can be generous and not so lofty. 

I could be proud of certain knowledge that I have, but it’s important to remember that this was given to me by others.

JEALOUSY…is the wisdom of accomplishment. Jealousy shows that we recognise, admire and appreciate something in others, and in ourselves.

I was once watching a fencing match with a friend, and the words in my mind were, “I envy him.” My friend, unprompted, suddenly said, “I admire him.” I was shocked at my jealousy: it was only through understanding later that I realised we had a mutual appreciation of the skill we had observed, and in that appreciation, one’s own understanding was revealed.

 ANGER …is the wisdom of mirror-like clarity. Whatever we see as wrong is precisely reflected, and in having confidence in that, we can be compassionate. This does not mean we are sitting and doing nothing: at the very least, we are not compounding the problem!

I could be angry at the state of the world, but in seeing the causes and conditions clearly, I can better understand others’ points of view (it doesn’t necessarily mean I condone them!).

 DESIRE…is discerning wisdom. Whatever is desired is precisely felt. This is detached discrimination being objective, without subjective clinging.

When I’m painting a picture, I desire it to be “right”: one has to be objective in seeing what isn’t working, and correct it. It’s spontaneous in the moment, and without desire for appreciation: it is therefore objective. The subjectivity may come later, but isn’t dwelt upon because the next situation arises.

 IGNORANCE…is all encompassing wisdom. Whatever is ignored, and for which we feel indifference, is encompassed within spaciousness. Spaciousness can be a little laid back: we merely have to recognise – not too tight and not too loose.

This is connected with being care-free, and not care-less. Care-free allows everything to take place. Care-less means we are not bothered about what takes place.

When dealing with others, we need to take a few steps back to see a bigger picture, and not get bogged down with time. Sooner or later we will all ‘get there’! This is why the paramitas of patience, generosity, discipline, diligence, concentration and wisdom are so important.

 However, as the universe is infinite with infinite sentient beings, our work will never be completed. Some advance practitioners choose to go directly to the Buddha realms, and do not come back: it’s their choice.

Tony

We have too much ‘interest’ in the karmic bank!

From time to time ego-fixation has to be challenged. If we do not do this, we will not see the ego at work, and we won’t see the need to change anything.

Spiritual practice is a antidote used to eliminate ego clinging and self cherishing. A spiritual practitioner sees suffering everywhere and wishes to remove this suffering. In this modern age, it’s more difficult to see this suffering as we spend all our time covering it up.

Ego-fixation is maintained 24 hrs a day. This is what keeps us in the dream of concepts.

In the normal run of things, we are aware of our body and the world around us through the five sense of touch, taste, smell, sounds and sight. This information is transmitted to the brain, and then to the mind consciousness.

This action builds up a karmic bank of impressions, names and experiences. We hardly notice that we have also built up a storehouse of reactions of likes and dislikes. This “hardly noticing” is called ignorance.

If we look no further, we will not notice that we have locked ourselves into a cycle of existence which is very limited. Therefore, we are imprisoned in our minds and bodies, and we happily maintain this prison… “For we know not what we do”!

These bodies and minds are merely vehicles, and if we give them too much interest, becoming fascinated with them, they can create obstacles for us. We become too attached to them, and over time, believe this body and mind to be us. We reify the body and mind, meaning believing them to have a real permanent existence of their own. These strongly-held beliefs create inner obscurations or obstacles. These inner obstacles have become demons: they obscure pure perception – our primordial purity.

 Shantideva said, “Whatever harm there is in the world, whatever the fear and suffering, all these arise from ego-fixation. That is the greatest demon. There is nothing to fear in outer demons. It is through our ignorance, attachment and aggression – through these poisons within us – that the demons can appear as outside entities.”

 All phenomena are, by nature, lacking in inherent existence. They are all, in essence, empty. By not realising emptiness (or primordial purity), sentient beings are taken over by awareness and focus outwards: as a result, all kinds of phenomena appear.

 Within that sphere of awareness (clarity), it is possible for demons to exist. Everything arises because sentient beings have not realised the true nature of reality. Clarity is consciousness at a high level, but it lacks purity.

 We are so used to clinging to our ‘acquired’ ideas, and are so familiar with our ‘clothing and under garments’ (bodies/minds and chakras) that we do not notice that we are more than meets the eye.

It is very simple to say, “Oh, I know I am a being of light..!” …easier said than done…!

We are all aware, or conscious: that is what ‘being sentient’ means. But conscious of what? Here we have to differentiate between what we have read or heard, and what we actually experience.

Do not be too quick to make claims, as every thing can be looked at much more closely, and taken apart, until it cannot be taken apart any more…like sharpening a knife on a wet stone…until nothing is left of the stone – or knife.

However – there are quicker ways!

Rarely does consciousness look within to find its source. Oh, we will talk about it, but that is merely philosophy speculation. This where we need help: I have never heard of anyone finding their source without help. If there wasn’t external help, you wouldn’t even begin to look.

We can know all the right words and be able to trot out a religious mechanical prayer – and still steal someone else’s meditation cushion….I’ve seen this all happen!

Thinking that everything is so wonderful because we are having a great time, is only putting a plaster on our suffering. Actually, things are wonderful, but they have to include the warts and all, when things are not going so well. This is called the yoga of one taste.

We can go deeper…much deeper.

Going deeper is finding the subtlest quality of consciousness. In truth, consciousness is still in the conventional level of reality. However, through meditation, when looking for that subtlest level of consciousness, nothing is in fact found. At the subtlest level, nothing could ever be found, as we are at the purest level. We are pure awareness, aware of the consciousnesses in the mind.

In absolute reality, nothing inherently exists: everything arises from causes and conditions.

It is in the non-finding that absolute reality is realised.

But remember, this very non-finding means there is still a perception – but it is now pure perception. There is nothing to discuss here, as it is beyond complicated bells and whistles, or ‘nyam’ (meditation experiences).

There is nothing to discuss here, as it is only experienced in meditation…or rather, in non-meditation.

In fact, there can be no experiencer and nothing to experience…there is merely experience, because we are at the origin – a non-state…ordinariness. If this is ordinary, what does this make everything else? A distortion!

All spiritual practices are a means to an end, which is realising one’s true essence.

We have a choice of a long or short journey: if we get too fascinated with the practice, that in itself creates an obstacle. This is why have to be taught to break the practice, so that we do not become attached to it.

As a Zen master would say, the harder you try, the longer your journey. The pure essence, which is empty of any fabrication, is called Emptiness. It is not an empty void, but luminous and radiant, and within it, everything can arise. When the relative and absolute reality are a unity, this gives rise to unconfined compassion. That is when knowledge appears that is not from the outside world, and this is also when we have free will.

There are two forces in the universe – pure and impure. The pure comes from enlightened beings (those who were once sentient), and through their compassion they are sending out blessings. It is said that an enlightened being can create 100,000 emanations, to help sentient beings. All we have to do is ask. That is called supplication.

And so to the impure forces. These forces hate compassion: they do not know emptiness or primordial purity. They feed off the negative emotions that we generate, such as fear, anger, jealousy, pride and aversion.

When we are in one of these negative states, we not only harm ourselves, but we attract the impure beings. Like attracts like! This is how beings are being controlled. We control our own world, but it is also being manipulated by these impure forces. Sentient beings potentially have two sides to their nature, the good and the evil. At an absolute level, such distinctions do not exist…but we live at the relative level, and so they do exist

 Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have the altruistic attitude to benefit sentient beings. They offer a positive “spray” to the world. In the same way, there are other beings who have negative wishes, and who want to cause unhappiness. They do not wish to help beings.

 As we have spoken about before, the nature of reality has the 3 qualities of Empty Essence, Lucid Nature and Compassionate Energy. Demons arises when an “I” is present in the form of the 3 poisons – Desire, Aversion and Ignorance. These ego-created negative forces are the demons.

 If we want liberation, we cannot ignore these facts. This is a relative world of confusion in which we have to work, in order for transformation to take place.

 Speculating, guessing and arguing will only serve to keep us in an habitual confused loop. To get out of this looping will take more than the same old concepts we keep holding on to now. We can’t fight a concept with a concept: we need something much more powerful.

If we think we know more than the ancient esoteric teachings that are here to liberate sentient being from delusion, then we are fooling ourself. Trying to re-invent the wheel is possible, but you will only end up with a wheel!

This is why one needs to test, study and analyse much more closely to verify their reality.

Deep down, we know the truth, but in this age it is obscured…and is constantly being obscured.

The karmic bank that was spoken of at the beginning is obscuring our true ordinary natural essence. 

It is now the filter through which we see everything – and, unfortunately, the bank is now full of mistrust as well!

It is not at all easy to let go, but this peeling away will lead to our bankruptcy, which the ego does not want. Bankruptcy is enlightenment!

Real knowledge is always available to us. All we need to do is keep the tap of deep appreciation for the teachings (devotion) turned on. Blessings of clarity and compassion will flow.

The impure element in the universe wants the tap turned off. The impure forces hate meditators, and will attack them and seduce them. The trick is to be beyond fame or blame, with one taste.

Some practitioner pacify these negative forces and so incorporate them into the practice, as the forces also long for peace, but just cannot help themselves. They are asked to leave, which they do, when they realise this practitioner will not be dissuaded from their practice, as their motivation is the wish to help all sentient beings.

A practitioner is unmovable. This is the path of a Bodhisattva.

Tony

The dumbing down of the population.

We are very intelligent sentient beings who have been dumbed down. We are wisdom holders who are unaware of our true essential nature.

Some of you will have heard this before, and assumed it referred to other people. This dumbing down includes all of us as well…now! Don’t ever “think” you are awake! That message is part of the New Age Dream dumbing down propaganda.

To be awake is to be enlightened – to dwelling beyond thought. We are still sleeping Buddhas, slightly aware we are dreaming. The answer to this dumbing down has been in our own hands since time* existed. All we have to do is not comply with the standards set by the world around us. The world in general is ignorant of its true nature, and there are worldly Mara who are intent on keeping it that way for their own benefit. Mara are demons, and demons are just negative influences, which we feed through our holding onto ignorance, and clinging to like and dislike.

Here is a prayer that describes the situation.

Drubwang Tsoknyi Rinpoche 1st.

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.

Be mindful,

Tony

*Time only relates to things that change, having a beginning a middle and an end, and so are impermanent. Our pure essential being does not change so dwells in timelessness – like the space in front of you. Things may come and go in that space, but the space itself is unaffected.

The true nature of desire, aversion and ignorance.

Desire = Emptiness.

Aversion = Awareness.

Ignorance= Compassion.

Our ‘being’ is Empty, meaning pure sacred space. Desire fills that sacred space with concepts.

Our ‘being’ is also Awareness, meaning has a knowing quality. Aversion arises when an “I” is created and we start judging.

Our ‘being’ is Compassion, meaning confident joy of being. Ignorance arises when empty awareness forgets its true nature, and that of others.

Emptiness = Ultimate truth.

Awareness = Relative truth.

Compassion = the unity of Ultimate and Relative truths.

This is where a balance is needed.

If one remains just in Emptiness, one can become spaced out = Nihilism.

If one remains just in Awareness, things and oneself will appear solid = Eternalism.

There is therefore no chance of real love.

The important point is that, when the negative aspects arise, if one is aware of the quality of one’s true being, these negative aspects immediately remind us of our true qualities

That is wisdom. That is unconditional love.

Tony

There is no such thing as an ego.

 I’ve always had a real tussle with this, mainly because I thought that if Awareness is present, I assumed that ego is as well. Well it is…and it isn’t!

 Ego is Awareness without Emptiness.

Awareness on its own clings, grasps, and holds onto an idea of every thing being real and solid… this is called “ego clinging”. Empty Essence is knowing the true nature of everything as being an illusional reality. There is no thing called ego: it is a made up expression which has become a thing in people’s minds.

 Awareness – when forgetting Empty essence – goes straight to perception (this not pure perception) in the mind, and then into its usual routine of naming and judging…and sticking to that!

 It is the sticking to judgements that turns Awareness into what is called Ego. Ego just does not… NOT… exist. Awareness has merely dimmed and held on to something! When Awareness is united with the Empty Essence, Awareness is bright and lucid…this is pure perception.

 So when people say, “I need my ego to function!” this is ludicrous and limited. It does make one wonder how this idea of ego came about! Was it just to make people feel guilty, and therefore control them? Hmm…? We can see that getting people to identify with an idea, makes them both prisoner and prison officer.

 However, being relative creatures we still have preferences – likes and dislikes. I like grilled tomatoes on toast, but do not care for caviar (true, I have very little sophistication!) We have a body and have to care for it, and maybe because of our upbringing, we have cultural preferences. The body quite often tells us what it needs. If we do not obsess on this, there is no clinging…no ‘ego’ clinging!

 Not obsessing is due to a feeling of spaciousness, of carefreeness, of Empty Essence being present. We all get glimpses of this freedom, when we are not bothered one way or another, and we are happy to fall in with others’ wishes. The preferences of others have no effect on us.

 “The meek shall inherit the earth” is not saying the weak shall inherit the earth. As spiritual warriors, the strong serve the weak: the weak are those who do not know their true nature.

 Until we are Enlightened, there will always be some sense of an “I”, but we can have a mere “i”. As we proceed, we develop a feeling of one taste. Flowers smell, manure smells – it is all just smell…then we make a decision about that smell! Getting obsessed about flowers or manure may obscure the function of creation.

Tony

Spirituality is the psychology of recognising our true nature,

and destroys ego

Spirituality is a belief system of our true nature,

and does not destroy ego.

Fast track or slow track,

we always have a choice.

Tony

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Awareness is seeking itself.

Tony

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Don’t wobble.

 We all fall into doubt or lack confidence in ‘knowing’. We may think it is too high and mighty to claim that we know pure awareness. It’s our natural state – it is just there! It is not an achievement. When you ‘get’ the pointing out instruction of the nature of mind, you will say… “Oh! Is that all? I knew that all along!”

 It is just awareness, pure and simple.

 We make up fancy ideas about it, and hold onto them. We do this because others do it: that is part of neuro-linguistic programming. If you don’t quite ‘get it’, merely be aware of that which is aware of not quite ‘getting it’, and there you are!

 It is just awareness, pure and simple.

 So what is the problem? It’s the world we live in. This world is intent on keeping us entertained, distracted and not ‘getting it’…not knowing.

What is soooo funny, is that in recognising ‘not knowing,’ there is ‘knowing’.

 It is just awareness, pure and simple.

 My teacher always says, “If you don’t ‘get it’, fake it!” This means just assume it is there: it is only waiting to be recognise.

 So don’t wobble or doubt! The dots will connect, and what is no longer needed will drop away.

When we are aware of awareness – pure and simple – we will be better equipped to deal with this fake world. Its true nature is just there, waiting to be recognised.

 If we practise properly, we will become clearer every day.

Tony

Techniques and Practices.

There are lots of them!

 If you go to a Dharma centre you will acquire a whole plethora of chants, mantras, pujas, prayers…things to do. All of them are ways to remembering Pure Awareness.

 I have lots of things to do every morning – a routine of practices to go through – which keeps me disciplined and connected. It is good to have a small shrine area, and gradually we find we acquire text and prayers. It’s our part of the day, although we might find we have to get up a little earlier to fit everything in!

 Sometimes we need a simple routine to keep us focused: I can put a few simple practices up on this site, but all they are are reminders of…Pure Awareness! It is so easy nowadays to not bother, or to wander off to do something more interesting.

 Doing practices precisely and mindfully is important. Most important is genuine intention and an altruistic attitude – to do the practices for the benefit for all sentient beings. To be a better person in order to be able to help all sentient beings is compassion at work. Thinking this way gives the practice real importance, and helps take oneself out of the picture.

 It is all about our conduct, which is the continuity of meditation, and is therefore reveals compassion in action. It’s all very well being scholarly and knowing lots of elitist jargon, but the intention in the heart is what counts.

 The one thing we must not lose is critical thinking: to know why we are doing a practice. It is so easy for practice to become a life-style. Mingling practice with daily life is merely mindful awareness in our conduct, so that the meditation is not lost. This does not mean we are stiff, but very soft and pliable…so make sure you laugh a lot!

 Techniques and Practices are all about being happy in all circumstances. Remember, we are not monks and nuns! We are householders, so everything we encounter is part of our practice…all those rich emotions.

My wife and I might have a disagreement about something, and we talk it out. It seems to get worse. We talk some more. We get exhausted. We give up. We listen. Awareness is just there…the atmosphere lightens…Conflict is something that occurs between our relative reality and our absolute reality.

 Practice and Techniques are toys: the intention is remain in pure awareness, which is naturally present.

Tony

The surgical knife of wisdom.

 As we progress, the surgical knife of wisdom gets sharper: the world and the mind are brighter and more meaningful. We realise that the only person we should be critical of is ourselves. Great care is needed when the knife cuts through the web of ignorance, especially when it comes to others – that knife can be very sharp!

 All phenomena arise within absolute reality – Emptiness. Nothing lies beyond. The clearer we experience this inner pure sacred space, the more we notice intrusions.

 When we wake up, we have to wash and then dress.

The waking is recognising our basic ground.

Washing is clearing our defilements.

Dressing is equipping ourselves with knowledge in order to be of use to others.

Waking up to what is happening in our mind is the first step to realising why the outer world is so chaotic. This waking up is only the beginning. It gives us the ability to observe the defilements that have been (and still are) obscuring our Essence.

 It is easy to get carried away with excitement about waking up. If we are not careful, this excitement can put us back to sleep again! Any distraction has the same effect. Along the path of increasing perception, there is the path of deception…’here there be dragons’…

 “I” know “this” is not the same as “just knowing”.

 The basis of our ground is profound, peaceful, beyond conceptual limitations and lucid.

To gain conviction about the nature of our ground, we need to study, reflect and practise.

Then we start to wake up, realising that emptiness is lucid.

 At the moment, if we look into the mind, we see that there are still emotional defilements of ego, clinging to this and that. We need to be scrupulous in our purification process in order to be of benefit to others, so we have to be as honest as we can with ourselves.

 There are two types of ignorance: one is ignorance of our basic nature, and the other is the maintenance that ignorance. Practice is doing the Washing – cutting through our habitual fixated reactions.

 Dressing is equipping ourselves to maintain a pure view when addressing the outside world: this is called conduct. With knowledge comes clarity. This clarity sees the illusory nature of phenomena, and therefore we can then address the world with loving kindness, rather than separate ourselves from it.

 Maintaining the awakened state means being precise, and therefore not creating further karma. Being of positive use to others is part of washing away of karma – by not reacting. This produces merit, and good karma. However, this too has to be washed away, by simply letting go.

 As we progress, the surgical knife gets sharper…and we realise that the only person to be critical of is ourselves. The world will still be in chaos, but we will deal with it more kindly…and at the very least, hope to not add to the chaos!

 We are all courageous warriors who possessing great humility and love -”The meek shall inherit the Earth.”

Tony

Thought and thinking.

Taking every thing apart simplifies every thing!

 On first observation, thoughts and thinking seem the same. There are thoughts in the mind, due to experience and subliminal programming: these thoughts are stored in our memory bank. This is a filter through which we perceive everything. I know people who think they are the result of their thoughts – “These thoughts are me! I am the acquisition of all my thoughts!”

 This is so funny, because they are actually admitting that they have (possess) thoughts. Remember: we cannot be what we perceive. In this case, the Awareness has gone unnoticed. In general, because awareness goes unnoticed, perception automatically scans the memory bank for similar experience, and then makes a judgement and reacts. This is our normal patterning, and we can see this process of programming and re-programming day in and day out.

 Thinking needs space: we require a conscious effort not to react, but rather evaluate the situation, and consciously scan the mind for information. There is a gap in our normal response. This is still conceptual, but adds intelligent understanding.

 We can upgrade this thinking process by being aware of awareness, of the emptiness of emptiness. At first there are no thoughts, but merely space – Essence. This space is empty awareness, which notices an imbalance through this pure perception. Compassion arises, and we use/scan the mind, to readdress that imbalance using the data from our understanding.

 I sometimes find intense scanning very helpful in stilling the mind, because the mind is inactive but awareness is not! There is an element called ‘the messenger in the mind’ – it is sometimes known as Manas, Mercury or Hermes – which brings forth answers: if these are not satisfactory, merely say “Not this,” and it will re-scan.

 Of course, we need a background of experience and knowledge for this to happen, but sometimes something unexpected arises, and inspires. This could be called “Blessings”. Blessings are the result of supplicating the enlightened ones, the masters who have gone before. This practice is called ‘Guru Yoga’.

 A simplified version of all this is just having a good heart!

Om mani peme hung (Mantra of the Lord of Compassion)

 Tony

Ignorance is not a firm foundation.

 I used to fence foil in the Olympic squad, and a friend said, “Why do you have to have all those set moves? Just fight!” He obviously didn’t like being told what to do (we can all understand that!). But that is equivalent to ignoring established chess openings, and saying, “I don’t bother with that – I just play.” Or ignoring basic chord progressions if one is a musician. That’s fine…if one is a hobbyist.

 One person in a thousand may not need tuition, but the rest of us require a little help with insight. Having a firm understanding of principles not only gets you started properly, but it can take us to the top – like mountaineering…like anything…!

 When I first started fencing, I was all fight and speed…it may have looked impressive, but it lacked substance, and didn’t get me very far. If we hold on to these same old habits, they will be easily spotted by advanced practitioners. So, I had to train and study, and went through a phase of being very wooden. But gradually, when it came to competitions, my natural instincts would come to the fore, and be supported by the technical skills I had learned, which allowed me to deal with all situations.

 Certain disciplines have been honed and refined through the centuries to turn an activity into a science, and then that science into an inspirational art. To merely dismiss these basic principles is foolish to say the least. Skills that have taken many centuries to refine will take some beating: however, if you do find a better method, a master will certainly listen…if it genuinely works!

 Ancient spiritual practices are exactly the same. They do not have to be reinvented, but just understood and practised. They are completely in themselves. As some cultures are quite aggressive, a little adaptation for different cultures may be needed. In addition, you have to find the right teacher. I have been to many good teachers, but it took some time to find the one that suited me. Teachers have to be tested as much as students!

 Nowadays, there is much cherry picking and watering down of teachings, so that students feel they do not have to do anything. This is true in the advanced stages, but at the beginning this can be easily misunderstood and can lead to a volatile mental instability.

 I have heard much from “new agers” who believe that they are being original, when in fact all is based on the ancient teachings, which have been pre-digested into a palatable form. Nothing is “new”! This hallmark of the new agenda is a lack of emotional control: any questions are taken personally. One sees on forums how touchy people are, and how quickly anger arises! As a fencer, that would mean certain death! As a spiritual practitioner that would mean more covering up of our essence.

 Following a ‘path’ doesn’t mean one loses one’s brains. To be able to follow a path, one would have had a pre-existing inclination or attraction towards it (this could come from work in a previous incarnation).

 We take an easy path because we are lazy, and want to create our own reality. Because of this, we get upset and we suffer.

We take a hard path because we recognise, appreciate and value refinement, and want to be free of fixed ideas.

 We all have a natural longing and a good heart: this can either be enhanced or down graded.

Be honest when knowing your mind.

In all forms of Art, one loses one’s self.

  Tony

The secret life of emotions.

You see a wonky picture on the wall. In that very first instance, that is ‘pure perception’- unfabricated pure awareness. The next moment, a judgement comes up: “It should be straight!”

Then anger arises: “It shouldn’t be like that!”

So, from that pure perception which is like a mirror, and is called Mirror-Like Wisdom, anger arises. If we exchange the wonky picture for a wonky person, the anger that arises is even stronger!

Now, here’s the wonderful thing. If you know your true nature, when anger arises and you can catch that first instance of anger, it will immediately reflect the Mirror-Like Wisdom of pure perception. That is the two truths –  relative and absolute – seen as a unity. They are inseparable. One reflects the other: that is the symbolic teacher.

It is the same with all the negative emotions. They each reflect the wisdoms…!

This is so important! It’s worthwhile reflecting upon again and again, as the emotion link to the wisdom Kayas – Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya and Nirmanakaya.

Tony

How can you make a choices if you are not informed?

We can either chase UFOs, chase governments and corporations, or chase the mind. Either way it is all a distraction. First know thy self, then you will know that which is behind UFOs, governments, corporations and the mind. 

Anyone who is sentient anywhere in the universe will have the very same problems as us – knowing or not knowing our true nature.

When is comes to the moment of death, what will be of most value to you?

Your work and your family?  What about the family before this incarnation and the one before that, have you missed them also?

True love is unconditional.

Tony

A view on Depression.

 We have every right to feel depressed, the world is upside down, not you. There is no need to take pills, you are not pill deficient!

However, long periods of sadness can make one feel exhausted and lethargic, and therefore affect our immune system, so we could be ‘out of sorts’.(‘Being out of sorts’ means that the person is not themselves. They are acting differently, such as depressed; very quiet when they generally are bubbly; secretive or not communicating with their family and friends). So maybe we need a fresh approach, better diet, exercise, a chat with a good friend.

 So what is happening?

First of all there is nothing wrong with you. If you are well adjusted to this mad world, then there would be something wrong with you!

 We have a constant inner conflict between our true reality and a seeming reality of everyone else around us. We just cannot fit in…thank goodness! We get to a point where everything seems pointless. I seem to do this every day!

 The great news is if we are aware of this, we are not covering it up.

However, the feeling is – in its most raw state – really mentally painful. We want to do the right thing, but obstacles are thrown in our path at every turn. Funny that!

 Conventional medicine will want to give you something for this inner turmoil. However, this inner confusion is natural to a sentient being who is questioning, it is not a permanent mental disorder.

Of course where a person is “outside the power of reason” and is in danger, perhaps there will be a chemical imbalance, and conventional medicine can be of use.

 If you are feeling depressed, it is most important to talk it through with someone ‘who will listen’.

We all need to become good listeners.

 If we are looking for reality in a fabricated world, we will not find it. It is the only awareness that can see reality. We will always have a inner conflict until enlightenment, so we have to live with this. Conflict can be like rain, pleasantly refreshing…at times! This means that something is shifting, and the ego feels a little uncomfortable about it.

 If we try and make our lives perfect and protect ourselves in every way, then we have taken the pill, to numb the pain.

 I am speaking as someone who has been depressed…I know how self-destructive and aggressive it is – but, to repeat, you have every right to be dissatisfied, and in that, you will find your answer.

All the best

Tony