OUR BELIEFS SENTENCE US

Our beliefs sentence us.

 Our beliefs sentence us to see the world in a certain way, and that in turn has an effect on us. This is the law of interdependence: situations are created by a series of links comprising of causes and conditions. This means that the links in this chain of events can be broken! Once this is understood, we see everything as an illusion, as everything is created by causes and conditions. However, if we dismiss this relative truth, we can end up in the extreme of nihilism, and a fake ’emptiness’. We really do have to understand how relative and absolute truth work together.

 We mustn’t be careless, otherwise we will create more karma – a mental store house through which we see everything – and in turn, this will have an effect on us. That is the vicious cycle of interdependent existence – Samsara. Crudely speaking, we get back what we give. I’m sure that is the real meaning of, “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” Translations can be a manipulative art!

 Our fellow ‘convicts’ have also sentenced themselves through a set of beliefs. Wherever we, as sentient beings, find ourselves – in the world, family, work or leisure – we will always find conflict. Whatever harm appears in the world is a result of our own ego-clinging. The ego-clinging-demons are in our own mind – that’s hell. Our true nature – pure awareness – is heaven. However, if we cling to either of these, this clinging turns purity into impurity. We have both natures, and the ‘impure dark’ will help us right up to the very last moment!

 As we progress, we see more. We become more accurate in translating what is experienced. It isn’t easy to develop the right vocabulary to express real experience. We all need help!

 This is where devotion and blessings come in to play. If we try to express ourselves using the conceptual mind, it is always bound by ego (consciousness clinging to fixated ideas about itself). So we stay in prison of our mental beliefs, and it’s hell!

 If we can get the feeling of pure awareness – just being – then through devotion, blessings come: this is spiritual influence. Then, whatever thought arises is merely an expression of pure awareness. It is here that we have to be very careful, and not careless. Neither accept nor reject: what comes, comes.

 We recognise essence as primordial purity – one taste. When this one taste is directed to the benefit of all sentient beings, inspiration arises – spiritual influence. Any clinging will attract those demons, which are our own likes and dislikes.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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FEAR OF DEVOTION

Fear of devotion.

 In some cultures, devotion exists naturally. In others, it doesn’t. We all have this feeling of devotion, but are afraid of it – or rather, we are afraid of our feelings about it. It is a hidden longing that is innate in us, and has to be enhanced. However, who wants to admit to experiencing goose pimples and tears?!

 Devotion is a feeling of finding home – a sense of relief in finding what you have been looking for. And sadly, and with joy, we realise it’s been there all the time… “What have I been doing?”

 When one starts to understand and realise the main point of the Dharma teachings (and that’s in any tradition), the joy and appreciation that arises is devotion. There is sense of recognising relief, and one simply melts. Hence happy for no reason, and love for no reason…goose pimples, tears and all!

 This is not a sticky, sentimental devotion: rather, it is one of clarity, intelligence and knowledge. Of course, we will experience the sticky kind that becomes conceptual from time to time, but that soon vanishes when the pain starts!

 Devotion is a feeling: a good, emotional feeling. Emotions are generally negative (desire, envy, anger etc) whereas devotion is a good emotion, when it is pure.

 What is the advantage of experiencing devotion?

 We can receive blessings (spiritual influence) in our subtle body and basic consciousness. We have a lot of bonds that tie us up, and devotion melts away this bondage and opens up our subtle body, and we feel right – there is a feeling of well being. Love for no reason.

 In our present state, we have to express what we feel through words and actions, and this creates consequences, and binds us. Devotion is a healthy type of expression without the side effect of binding us.

 We are human. We are not vegetables, and it is part of our nature to express. There are the foolish who like to repeat, “Those that know do not speak.” This is idiotic, and lacks compassion. We have a mind and we think: we can direct our thinking in a positive or a negative way, and it’s the same with emotions.

 In the Dharma, both negative and positive are addressed: since we have to express ourselves because of our emotions, there are guidelines to follow in order to help us. These refer to our conduct and compassion.

 In order to open up,

we have to express.

If we don’t express

we cannot open up.

 Emotion of devotion is the antithesis of other emotions: usually emotions make us more uptight, but devotion releases. If we don’t know what the essence of devotion is, then there is some danger of becoming fanatical. That’s why in the Dharma, it is said that devotion has to go along with intelligence, knowledge and love.

 Many things block the arousal of devotion – in the body there may be physical tiredness or stress, or imbalances in the subtle body, and the mind may preoccupied with hopes and fears. These things will prevent the expression of devotion.

 If we want devotion to arise, this can only happen if our subtle body is free and balanced. We may have trust, faith and confidence at an cognitive level, but at a deeper level, we may not have a heart-felt feeling in our subtle body.

 There has to be trust, faith and confidence, and we probably already have those. We may become hyped up by chanting, recitation, music etc which may make us cry or give us goose pimples. We may feel warm, loving and great afterwards – but is that devotion? Devotion is wisdom, which can ignite compassion.

 We can be great Awareness practitioners but be numb to expression.

 There is a practice of sending Light from one’s heart to the hearts of all enlightened beings: that Light then returns to one’s heart with blessings, and one immediately sends that Light out again to all sentient beings. This repeats in a continuous cycle.

 

 

 Our fear can be a ‘cultural inheritance’.

 

 

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World Food Corruption.

World Food Corruption.

Spiritual people can no longer stick their heads in the sand, ignoring what is happening to their brothers and sisters.

Listen to this video very carefully, it describes a company that is unkind to mankind – and government protected.

This company is a company the ordinary media do not talk about – it seems they are not allowed to. WHY?

Tomorrow the 25 May 2013 there will be protests in forty countries.

The company also formerly manufactured controversial products such as the insecticide DDT, PCBs, Agent Orange, and recombinant bovine somatotropin.

They also make LEDs – California lists gallium arsenide as a carcinogen.

They also own Aspartame – Under the trade names Equal, NutraSweet, and Canderel, aspartame is an ingredient in approximately 6,000 consumer foods and beverages sold worldwide, including (but not limited to) diet sodas and other soft drinks, instant breakfasts, breath mints, cereals, sugar-free chewing gum, cocoa mixes, frozen desserts, gelatin desserts, juices, laxatives, chewable vitamin supplements, milk drinks, pharmaceutical drugs and supplements, shake mixes, tabletop sweeteners, teas, instant coffees, topping mixes, wine coolers and yogurt. It is provided as a table condiment in some countries. Aspartame is less suitable for baking than other sweeteners, because it breaks down when heated and loses much of its sweetness. Aspartame is also one of the main sugar substitutes used by people with diabetes.

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DHARMA AND THE FAMILY

Dharma and the Family!

Now here’s a real challenge for practice, and for keeping one’s sanity! Whether the family is quiet or noisy, there is always a collective attitude – a collective mind – ‘the hive’. Families do have certain traits. I suppose this is based on the law of attraction, but remember, there is also the law of repulsion and the law of indifference.

I have absolutely no credibility in this area: my family gets irritated as soon as I walk into the room. As much as I want to love them, and have a heart-to-heart with them about things…that’s the last thing they want! Families – like people – don’t like change.

To be honest, we can’t do much about other people’s minds, but we can do much about our own. Trying not to be irritating, or irritated, is a tricky business. Still, we can be there for them, to listen to them, as we are part of their karma, and they ours. Arguing only makes a sticky situation even more sticky!

When we grow up and move away from the collective mind – the hive mentality – this can be disconcerting for the family, as anything that does not agree with the status quo is a threat. That is merely collective ego-clinging. Most cling to the corporate ideal…a larger TV, another exotic holiday, or various other status symbols.

Mind you, Buddhists are just as bad…have you seen the size of some of their Buddhas, tantric paintings, shrines, special cushions and mats, bells and whistles?!

For some of us, families can a messy business. If you want to search for the truth and they do not, it is bound to cause conflict, and so tenderness and courage are needed. We all make mistakes in our partnerships, and karmically, we have to see it out – accept it. It is the practice of giving space or expanding love

However, this can also seem to make things worse, or perhaps bring the situation to a head. Once one has decided to know the truth, there is no going back into a dream – someone else’s dream. That person then has a choice to join in the search for reality, or leave. This is why spirituality is tough.

My first wife hated me meditating. If I was in the toilet too long, she’d bang on the door and turn the radio up. I used to go to a local church early in the mornings to meditate, and she’d follow me, sitting behind me chanting, “Mantra mantra mantra!” One of her favourite retorts was, “Of course there’s a God – but you don’t have to bring him into every conversation!” I must have been truly irritating: she couldn’t stop herself, and neither could I, even though I felt sorry for her. That’s karma for you.

She eventually left, taking our daughter away, back to her home country. This was forty years ago, and now, as a consequence, I do not see my three grand children. Spirituality is tougher than we think. However, life has a way of working itself out: I was given space and time to practise.

 

Families press our buttons.

Those buttons make us extra sensitive.

It’s a good way of judging our progress

…or not.

Until enlightenment,

there will always be buttons!

 

( I’ve just come back from a family funeral which prompt these thoughts!)

 

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LIFE IS TOUGH

Life is tough.

 

 No one lives our life for us.

Our senses, mind and spiritual friends

are our tools.

 

Most things we learn

are from those who want us chained

to their life of illusion.

 

Through fear, we rely and comply.

Wake up, and know the nature

of this mistaken reality.

 

We have wonderful senses and mind.

We have wonderful reasoning and logic.

We have wonderful spiritual friends.

 

However, it comes down to us,

using reason, logic and love,

to share our precious gifts with each other.

 

The world is not what we think.

It is so much more.

Trusting in your next step

means leaving the one you’re on.

 

Life is tough.

 

 

 

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Lack of zest or vitality?

IF YOU DO NOT FEEL RIGHT, IT WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT TO MEDITATE AND MORE EASY TO BE CONFUSED.

“Smart Meters” & EMR: The Health Crisis Of Our Time – Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt. “New diseases with no names.”

The second video is a Commons Select Committee Meeting UK (Clip 1 of 6) being told about “Smart meters”.

The representatives from Stop Smart Meters! (UK) share their concerns about adverse health effects from wireless smart meters due to the pulsed microwave radiation that is emitted 24/7 by these meters, up to 190,000 pulses a day – acute effects (insomnia, headaches, nausea, anxiety and depression, fatigue and memory/concentration problems) and chronic effects (including increased risk of cancer, infertility, dementia, immune system dysfunction, damage to fetuses); environmental damage from wireless smart meters – RF radiation affecting bees, plants, trees, birds etc and the inherent energy-inefficiency of wireless technology: cybersecurity problems – leaving homes and communities vulnerable to hacking of their smart meters; privacy issues – concerning the masses of real-time data on energy usage collected by the utility company which gives a detailed picture of family life inside a home with a smart meter, who will have access to that data, and how that data will be used; and the specter of higher bills resulting from smart meters – as has been the experience in Canada where 80% of Smart Meter users complain of higher bills within a year of installation, often more that 50% higher.

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ADVICE FROM PADMASAMBHAVA

Words from Padmasambhava

Ten Signs of Progress

Master Padma (Padmasambhava) said, “When you take the Dharma to heart, there are ten signs.”

The lady (dakini/yeshe/tsogyal) asked, “What are these ten signs?

The master replied,

 “When your grasping decreases, that is the sign of having dispelled the evil spirit of fixation on concrete reality.

 “When your attachment grows less, that is the sign of being free from ambitious craving.

 “When your disturbing emotions decrease, that is the sign of the five poisons being pacified from within.

 “When your selfishness decreases, that is the sign of having dispelled the evil spirit of ego-clinging.

 “When you are free from embarrassment, and holding no reference point whatsoever, that is the sign that your deluded perceptions have collapsed.

 “When you are free from concepts of meditator and meditation, object and never lose sight of your innate nature, that is the sign that you have met the mother of dharmata (the ground luminosity of the natural state, inherent as the enlightened essence of all beings).

 “When any perception arises as unbiased, individual experience, that is the sign of having reached the core of view in meditation.

 “When you have resolved samsara and nirvana as being indivisible, that is the sign that full realisation has arisen within. In short, when you have no clinging to even your own body, that is the sign of being totally free from attachment.

 “When you remain unharmed by suffering and difficulties, that is the sign of understanding appearances to be an illusion.

 “When you have only a minor degree of the eight worldly concerns*, that is the sign of having recognised the nature of mind.

 “In any case, when your inner signs show outwardly, it is like a tree that has sprouted leaves. When the outer signs are noticed by other people, it is like the fruits of the tree that have ripened and can be eaten. 

 “There are many Dharma practitioners without even a single virtuous quality. People with realisation are extremely rare, so it is essential to exert yourself in meditation practice.”

 

*The eight worldly dharmas that seduce the mind are pursuit of gain, praise, eulogy, and joy as well as fear of loss, defamation, ridicule, and sorrow.

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There are still some good people around!

Mike Kelly is one of them.

You can deceive some of the people all of the time, but not all the people all of the time!

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THIS IS A VERY DECEPTIVE WORLD

This is a very deceptive world.

 There are two aspects to our being; essence, which is our pure being, and embodied essence caught up in the temporary, material mindbody. We have to respect this mindbody and keep it healthy, as it is our work place, and the work place of others.

 The mindbody is a deceptive existence, as consciousness clings to mistaken concepts about itself: this is known as ego. It’s just like watching a film or the news, and believing what we see is real, when it is merely an image, as in Socrates’s example of shadows on a cave wall believed to be the real experience.

 If we are practitioners, we train step by step – uncovering the deception of this seemingly solid self and world. We know why we are here, and by taming the mind, we create good karma.

 Of course, this moment-to-moment awareness will not suit everyone: we might find it too much, and so choose to live in a halfway house. We may be interested in truth, but feel we would like to function better in this world. Of course, we should do the best we can, as this creates some good karma. However, our journey will be slower, and may even be counter productive – creating bad karma!

 Our age-old problem is Ego claiming everything. Ego claiming an identity, can be manipulated by others.

There are two reasons why I write this blog. One is to help prepare for the Dharma world, while the other is to be aware of those who try to deceive us, consciously and unconsciously. Unless we know how the mindbody works, we will not notice the subtle deceptions being played on us.

 Excitement and dullness are experiences that happen in the mind, which we can counteract. These states of our minds are generally governed by hope, fear and indifference. If our mind is filled with excitement or dullness, we will not cope so well. If our body’s immune system is low, then it will not cope so well. To follow a spiritual path, we need to be a healthy human mindbody.

 If we are not coping, we may find ourselves relying on drugs or pastimes to cope, and these can be addictive. This is a clue to the way in which society is being engineered, and we are being distracted, spiritually.

 One would have thought that, as so much has been learnt in the world, it should be a better place…it’s not! Our quality of life is poorer, we are sicker, and less able to think logically and creatively. Of course, any individual can say, “Oh, I’m okay!” but that is not looking at the bigger picture…or having any compassion.

 The point of this blog is to see through the deceptions, both internally and externally, and really see that everything is actually okay, when we are aware. This awareness can then extend to kindness, and warmth towards others. We cannot be blind to what is going on, but there are those who hope we don’t notice. It is all about control: there are external forces that are trying to direct our minds into thinking a certain way – to get us caught up in all sorts of machinations and intrigue within this mistaken reality. Control is power. Power is control. Make sure you own your own power and have control. Do not let someone else do it for you! Reacting is conforming to a type.

 We are fed daily news preparing us for coming actions. We are being programmed, and that is generally creating a fear of terrorism. There is so much news about it that the programming is doing the terrorising!

 There are key people in every walk of life taking part in public control, marketing an agenda. The media is just the mouthpiece for governments, who are, in turn, the mouthpiece for the controlling corporations with massive agendas.

 

If we just analyse one incident, we can get a view of the large picture.

 The public are heavily surveyed, and we are told, “If you are innocent, you have nothing to be afraid of.” Fair enough. But now, if the public films a brutal police attack, they could be arrested. Of course, this does not stand up in court…yet! What happened to, “If you are innocent, you have nothing to be afraid of”?

 Many things are happening here. One: the police are seen as dangerous. Two: they are allowed to over-react. Three: the police have no empathy. Four: the law is protecting them. Five: the government knows this is going on. Six: it is only reported on alternative media. Seven: it creates fear when the police come to the next incident. Eight: the public is losing their trust. Nine: they want this information to spread. Ten: the police are acting more like the military every day: bullying and tasers are used too frequently. Videos to follow!

 It is no longer a matter of keeping the peace. It’s about control and money! Private prisons in America are being used as cheap labour…labour camps for the corporations. Is this the way life should be going?

 The quality of food is deteriorating with the spread of dangerous GM crops which the corporation has genetically engineered in order that they can own them, when they used to grow naturally. Because of this bad food, people need more drugs, which they wouldn’t have needed if the food and water were healthy.

A wonderful web-site is Second Opinion by Barry Groves it’s full of important information. He wrote a book called “Trick and Treat”. The food industry trick us with poor quality food , and the pharmaceutical companies treat us… and we pay for it!

 Education methods keep changing, and standards are getting worse. The list goes on, with each political party blaming the other. It is all pre-arranged to control the public, changing common law into UCC law (Uniform Commercial Code – Commercial Maritime Law).

 What can we do about this? Be aware, and do your own research. But don’t get involved with the fear mongering that is compounding the problem. When sheep are spooked, they are easier to control! It is all about the psychology of marketing taken to the finest degree. They are clever, but unwise. The corporations want you think you are just a mindbody entity to serve and pay, thus putting you into more and more debt.

 Two books describe the violence and media-drug control: Brave New World and 1984, which were written as if blueprints for today. They are both all about conformity: the EU is but one example of this, and is putting us into debt, big time.

 

We are free, untouchable essence, playing a part for a short while. We can play our part but not conform to a commercial type, both worldly or spiritual.

 

We always need a reality check.

To check our reality,

we either have Love

or lack of Love.

 

 

PS. I apologise that this is so  long- I’m feeling a bit passionate today!

 

 

 

 

 

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THE PATH

The Path.

 

The spiritual path is that

which removes our confusion.

Our confusion created the path.

The path is our confusion.

 

Although our essence is clear,

mind and brain have confused wiring!

It takes time to ‘fire and wire’*.

 

Keep logical and simple to suit.

Too many texts

can confuse the mind.

If you like complicated,

go deeper.

 

 

 

 

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*http://sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/25/use-it-or-lose-it-and-cells-that-fire-together-wire-together/

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A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION 2

A little more information 2.

 Images and ideas from the past will also arise. Treat them the same way: they are merely images from the past, and they all come to pass. Quite often, we think that meditation should be perfect…it’s not…and it is!

Whatever appears is merely a mirage. The reality is in the knowing. Some days, karmic images are quiet, and somedays days they are noisy – but the knowing, the pure awareness, is always the same.

If we keep this up, someone could get enlightened!

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A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION

A little more information.

 It’s like, instead of looking out of the eyes*, the scene merely comes in as a whole. One isn’t looking for, or at, anything: there is just seeing, and the seeing is not held onto. Everything becomes brighter.

The eyes are merely a surface upon which images rest. This connects directly to the mind, and the mind is still. Then, awareness can either be aware of being aware, and therefore stay in relative reality, or completely let go, realising the empty quality – absolute reality.

We can notice that we can oscillate between these two states. One is holding on, and the other is completely letting be.

Best is short moments many times, as it so easy to get caught, holding on. So, see drop, see drop, see drop. Gradually, those moment join up!

* it’s the same with all the senses.

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NO DIRECT EXPERIENCE

No direct experience.

 Of course, we may not ‘get it’. We just have to be in the right place at the right time. We also have to be aware of our own obscurations – conceptual ideas and emotions, called klesha, that cloud our view. The direct experience is a glimpse of the end of the book. Now we have to look at our own fixations and attitudes that obscure clarity, so we can sustain the clear view.

This is why we have to do purification practices such as, breathing meditation, insight meditation, chanting, analytical meditation, and supplications.

Now we know what to look for, we can be open to the whole book!

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DIRECT EXPERIENCE

Direct experience.

 Although we may know philosophies, and able to repeat the words and experiences of others, they are not a substitute for direct experience. When you ‘know’, then no one can ever lord it over you, or try to pull the wool over your eyes again.

 When one goes to Dharma centres, there are often some strange unspoken rituals going on. It’s mainly westerners ‘being’ spiritual! Newcomers might feel that they have to follow along…they don’t, although of course, one respects others’ formal expression. All you need is direct experience of the nature of mind, and then whatever others do, is up to them. Direct experience will put you in the right place at the right time, with the right conduct.

 Direct experience gives you confidence in realising that’s it: there is nothing more. Others will have different ways of describing the same thing, which, in the final analysis, is beyond description.

With direct experience, compassion wells up, and one can let others be the way they want to be.

So what is direct experience? It is shockingly simple!

 You are aware of reading these words. —-Take a moment to be aware of this awareness. —-The eyes and senses are wide open. —-One does not interfere with this awareness. —-Just let it be. —-One becomes aware of spaciousness. —-In this space there is nothing happening. —-That ‘nothing happening’ is the empty quality of pure awareness – pure perception – essence. —-Do not try to hold onto it, as that conceptualises it. —-Practise short moments many times. Whether you are tired, drunk, sick, full of mental chatter, this pure awareness is always there. —-Just notice and let be.

This primordial purity, this wisdom – this luminous awareness free from elaboration – is your true nature. Pure and simple. Its expression is Love, Compassion, Joy and Equanimity.

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HOW NOT TO BECOME A DEMON

How not to become a demon.

 The core of the Mahayana teachings is Bodhichitta – the ultraistic attitude enshrined by the Four Immeasurables – Love, Compassion, Joy and Equanimity…but these aspirations are towards others.

 Most of our time is spent wishing love, compassion, joy and equanimity – for ourselves! “I want to be one with everything!” In this way we create deeper and deeper negativity, and are well on our way to becoming a proper little devils! That’s how it all starts, because we do not continue and complete our practices – our peeling away. We are too ready to peel away and poke at the faults of others: we start to subtly hate their purity, and so cause trouble. Thinking of ourselves as superior, we are ready to condemn.

 It’s easy to do!

 The Four Immeasurables are the reminder to stay on the straight and narrow path, which eventually expands into the wide path.

 Here, love means wishing happiness to others, compassion means wishing they do not suffer, joy means their realising happiness and compassion, and equanimity means this is for all – unconditionally. Here is a traditional daily prayer…it’s easy to do!

 

May all beings be happy and have the causes of happiness.

May they be free from suffering and its causes.

May they never lose the happiness free from sorrow.

May they be free from attraction, aversion and partiality,

and remain in great equanimity.

 

From this point of view, the feeling of oneness is unconditional love – one taste, for good or bad. It’s not easy to do!

 

 

 

 

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ANGELS & DEMONS R’US!

Angels & Demons R’us!

When humans first appeared on Earth, so did angels and demons. Wisdom and evil.

There are two forces in this universe – enlightened and unenlightened. So where do sentient beings stand? We have the potential nature of both!

Depending on our backgrounds and education, we will perceive these differently. The first thing is not to assume that you are the good…or the bad. What we can assume is that we dwell in ignorance (not knowing): that’s why we are so attached to these bodies and minds.

There are enlightened beings trying to help us. There are unenlightened beings helping themselves. Both these are to do with our emotions: the emotions are either something in which we indulge, or something we see as wisdoms. Depending on which of these interpretations we lean towards, will determine what sort of external beings we attract.

The greedier we are, the more we attract evil. The more compassionate we are, the more we attract wisdom. Of course, if we are greedy to attract wisdom…?

Within our human population, there are the ignorant – those who just do not ask questions. To one side of them, there are good people, and wise people, who help others. To the other side, there are bad people and evil people, who help themselves.

The wise will supplicate enlightened beings, for clarity and blessings. The evil will supplicate unenlightened beings, for power. The enlightened offer blessings of wisdom and clarity, whereas the unenlightened feed off selfish emotions.

There are greedy, evil people in this world, but that is just part of being human. However, do not think that if we get rid of them, everything will be all right. Those of us who think we are good are here to take their place at any time! There are many forums discussing and arguing about these evil people, but not one of these forums has any unity – let alone, oneness! There are bullies everywhere.

For the world to change, the dynamics have to change first. If a group has too many self-serving members, the group will fragment. If this can change to genuine selfless service, the group can unite.

Firstly, we have to be truly aware of what is going on in our mind. There are a few wise people in the world, but the ignorant will do the work of the evil by wanting to take them down, in this age of the Kali Yuga. The evil are being empowered by unenlightened beings, called Mara.

In Sanskrit, demons are known as Mara. Some call them Archons. Mara know what the wise know, but they do not understand emptiness because they get nothing from it, and that is our protection. They therefore have no compassion, or empathy. They hate love, and feed off negative emotions. The consequence of all this is that we have the choice to become angels or demons: it is in our own hands/minds.

Mind how you go! This is an age-old, internal battle.

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REALISATION IS A BIT OF A SHOCK!

Realisation is a bit of a shock!

 The world is a beautiful rose garden, with thorns.

 Once we start to understand the nature of Samsara and Nirvana (the two truths), we then begin to understand why we are here – to realise our true nature. Not spend our precious time entertaining ourselves, and being entertained by others. Entertainment is pointless!

 This doesn’t mean we cannot have fun with everything we do. It’s just means that we don’t obsess about being entertained for most of our life. Even if we are clever at doing something, who are we trying to impress? Others who are also caught up in pointless activities?

 We are even brought up (programmed) to engage in pastimes/hobbies/games. What a waste of time! Unfortunately most, if not all, of our acquaintances are locked in to pointless pursuits, such as checking their all-purpose-newest-newest phones every few minutes!

 However, there are activities that can express a higher awareness. This involves waking up to the thorny rose garden – Samsara – and our true nature – Nirvana. Recognition is the joy of waking up to the true nature of both, and expressing these.

 When we wake up, we play in a different way. Realisation, or waking up, is no big deal. You just wake up one day and realise, “I never have to be controlled by the ‘dream’ again!” The expectations of friend, family and neighbours still have to be dealt with kindly, but we need not get so involved.

Realisation is no big deal, but our conduct is. If there is no unconditional, empathetic love, there are only thorns.

 The thorny shock.

Turning an entertaining toy games into killing machines…

drones!

They not only kill people.

They kill empathy.

Now that’s a bit of a shock!

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SPIRITUALITY IS BEYOND RELIGION

Spirituality is beyond religion.

 We are embodied beings – embodied pure beings – not of matter, but of compassionate, intelligent energy, or spirit.

Religion is meant to put us in touch with our spirituality. Whether it does or not, will depend on the type of person we are. Of course, we don’t have to be in a religion to know our spirituality.

However, if we are not ‘religious’, and look at our spiritual side, we will probably come to the same conclusions…more or less!

We may believe in a God or not…or perhaps ‘something in the middle’. Again, this will depend on our temperament and understanding, which will determine the path we will follow. The use of the word ‘path’ can imply method, or our own confused state, which has to be clarified.

Even in Buddhism, there are many different types of people. Some are religious, some philosophical and some experiential. Whatever we go for, it is all merely symbolic of our real spirituality – compassionate energy. After all, we are beings in a body!

There are many who condemn religion as controlling and limiting. It is unfair to condemn others for the way they see things, and says more about our level of tolerance than that which we are condemning. There are many methods to help beings: these will depend on our temperaments and…what comes our way!

Whatever we choose may be refined.

We all have free will…more or less. Some want to be told what to do, so there is no point condemning them, as it’s their choice. Maybe it’s all they can cope with, for the time being. Some need blind faith, and others recognise the value of faith. Faith is trust, and may be based on various causes, from superstition to pure devotion. Whatever we choose, we never lose our free will, although it may get clouded at times.

If we are going to criticise something, we have to be prepared to put something better in its place, in order to help others. Without this, we will just come across as people who condemn in order to make ourselves feel superior, or appear more important. We could find ourselves complaining about everything, and becoming lonely and depressed.

When we are aggressive to the world, the world then takes control over us. We need to be gentle and spacious – accommodating. We are not going to change the world. Even if we did rid the world of all evil, we would still have a enemy – our own likes and dislikes! We’d still argue.

The only thing that we can change is ourselves.

Here is an example:

I’m currently working on an illustration for a friend (who is a happily raving Buddhist!). She keeps changing her mind, so, to date, I’ve done 9 or 10 variations. The old me would have gone up the wall, and chewed out my internal organs by now…

The latest version of me knew what she was like, and so drew the element on the computer so as to be able to make easy changes. I’ll keep doing the changes until she is clear in her mind. That is the only thing that is important. There is no point in adding aggression to the world: that only binds us to these bodies.

When the teachings say ‘let go’, they literally mean ‘let go’. At death, we have to let go of everything anyway. Better to do it with a free will. The more precise we are, the more magic (in Sanskrit, this is called ‘drala’) is available to us.

 

A method is a guideline.

We may wander from the line

but it always there

to show us where we are,

giving us a sense of direction.

 

It’s a guide line,

and keeps us true to our course.

 

A guideline is merely a series of points:

at every point is our destination.

 

 

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SMART METERS

SMART METERS

 Why oh why, are people’s lives being interfered with so much?

There are somethings we have to be aware of in Samsara, especially when it is to do with people’s health! This is from the Daily Telegraph. The scary point being that if you do not have a smart meter, but your neighbours might have one…emitting radiation! This is worth checking out.

 

 DAILY TELEGRAPH

British families at risk from smart meters, campaigners tell MPs. Smart energy meters offered to every British home could be as dangerous as a “bullet from a rifle” because of the radiation they emit, campaigners have told MPs.

 By Rowena Mason, Political Correspondent

3:54PM BST 24 Apr 2013

 

 Officials said smart meters are perfectly safe, as the level of radiation they emit is less than that of a mobile phone. Energy companies are planning to install the devices in British homes by 2019 to make gas and electricity readings more accurate.

However, Stop Smart Meters UK told MPs that there is evidence the radiation could be 140 to 800 times higher than that from mobile phones.

Dr Liz Evans, a campaigner, said there are hundreds of studies showing “evidence of harm could be acute”, including possible “chronic effects from long term exposure such as cancer, infertility, dementia, genetic damage, immune system dysfunction and damage to foetuses”.

“We are many of organisations calling for a precautionary approach, particularly for children,” she said.

Mike Mitcham, another campaigner, said there is evidence that it could be 140 to 800 times more powerful than mobile phones. He said the exposure to radiation from smart meters is “very short in the same way a a bullet from a rifle your exposure to that is very shortlived for that tiny fraction of a time that it enters the body”.

 Tim Yeo, the MP who chairs the committee, said the comparison was “ridiculous”, adding: “You can’t be suggesting there is similarity from the effect of a bullet from a rifle and the effect of a smart meter?”

“Why not?” said Mr Mitcham, arguing that radiation from smart meters could also seriously harm people.

Dr Jill Meara, who works for Public Health England, said she is “clearly aware of all the concerns expressed around the world” but cited a “substantial body of evidence” showing smart meters are safe.

She said radiation from smart meters is very low compared to guideline levels.

Dr John Swanson, of the Biological Effects Policy Advisory Group, said the health effects of smart meters should be closely monitored, but said the evidence shows they are safe.

Last year, the Government revealed that having smart meters would be voluntary amid health and privacy fears.

Ministers had promised that every household would have a smart meter by 2019 in a £12 billion programme to stop gas and electricity bills being estimated.

In America, utility companies have been hit with multi-million dollar class action lawsuits from people who have had the devices installed in their homes.

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DISTRACTION IS A TWO-EDGED SWORD

Distraction is a two-edged sword.

 The mind is more sensitive than we think, and this is why we get so distracted day in, day out. The world around us is one huge distraction: the tiniest occurrence and we are caught up a dream – or in another’s dream. Distractions capture our imagination. To be frank, in our present state, we are never out of our imagination!

 Marketing and the media in all forms are so refined nowadays, using neurolinguistic programming that we hardly notice… “Every move you make, every breathe you take, they’ll be watching you!” TV and radio are not called ‘programmes’ for nothing! This programming has got to the point where people program themselves, because they cannot stand the silence: because they do not recognise their true nature, they fill up their space. They have to have the TV or radio on all day. To have come that far away from reality says a lot about our present state.

 Not having time to ask the question, “What am I?” (let alone experience that) shows how far removed we are from reality.

 However, distractions are a two-edged sword. There comes a time when we have had enough of this trivia, this mundane chatter, this speculation, and we decide we want move on, or break out. We are no longer satisfied with yet another trinket, more sound bites and meaningless jargon: we long for something worthwhile…we want reality and control back.

 We need to stop, and merely ‘be’. We need to break out of the program! Do something unexpected, like just being still.

 Once we recognise the true value of stillness, and have a little experience of it, anything that disturbs that stillness is clearly noted. It’s like a room that has been in darkness for thousands of years, and with one flick of a switch it is all illuminated (momentarily…it takes practice to keep the switch on!).

 Distractions now are an aid because, as when an object is placed in an empty tin, the once empty tin rattles loudly! The mind brightens, and the intruder (this space invader) reminds us to return to stillness, and original wakefulness!

 Now, anything that tries to distract us is our teacher. Better still, anyone who irritates us is our teacher! If there is irritation, then we are not seeing things in their true light. Just say internally, “Hello, goodbye,” and the ‘demon’ will move on!

 There is a marketing organisation called ‘The New World Order,’ that wants to control people, to use them as money boxes. They are just ‘silly people rushing round, trying to get through your door.’ When this Corporate Empire tries to entice you, just say internally, ‘Hello! Not now! Goodbye. Oh and, thanks for waking me up!”

 Merely recognising that you are being distracted is freedom. The switch is on!

 

credits to Sting and Paul McCartney…

 

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RELYING ON YOURSELF

Relying on yourself.

 Relying on yourself is… tricky. Yes, we have to do the work of recognising, but it’s also necessary to recognise the need for inspiration. Without this, we will not only not start…we will not finish!

 People say, “I only trust myself!” This is because they have been led to believe in trusting nothing and nobody. The tell-tale sign of this foolishness is that they personalise their comments, with “ I think this”, or “I don’t like that.”

 When ‘I’ is involved it is always a concept: even talking about, “MY higher SELF” is a concept and a duality. To go beyond concepts, we cannot use another concept, as we end up with yet another concept!

 In not trusting anything or anyone, we end up in total isolation – separation – depression.

 We have to be taught how to rely on our own…awareness, and for that, we need a teacher or teachers. We probably think, “Well, I’m already doing that!” Unfortunately, this is incorrect, as it is merely a reliance on ideas. It is an awareness that is aware of ideas…but it is not the awareness itself! This is the result of a confusion about relative truth and absolute truth – pure awareness and conventional awareness.

 

Relying on your-self.

 

Who is relying?

Who is self?

 

Some-thing relying on some-thing else.

Is self your own projection to be relied upon?

Who is relying…on what?

 

This is a concept believing in a concept.

Believing in your concepts,

even after a billion eons of searching for a self,

it will never be found.

 

We have to be shown how to give up looking for a self.

Who is looking anyway?!

And who will never be found.

 

The teacher merely shows us how to see

that is it we who do the seeing.

The teacher merely shows us how to be aware

that it is we who are aware.

The teacher merely shows us how to let go.

It’s we who has to let go.

 

When we finally let go of who,

there is no thing more to rely upon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Bilderberg -The Secret Empire.

Bilderberg – The Secret Empire.

This is not a subject I would normally write about, but it does reveal how we are being manipulated in very gross and subtle ways across the range, from wars to spirituality.

This is an interesting video aired on SKY TV. Your life is run by these secret people. When they meet, they are heavily guarded, but there is never anything in the press about what they agree on! The brains seem to be London, and the military might is the US. This is a global industrial complex that no one knows about.

I like it because it’s not a slick presentation – just journalists talking about their actual experiences.

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WHAT IS REAL?

What is real?

.

A. What is aware?

.

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SELF-EXISTING AWARENESS

Self-existing awareness.

 Self-existing awareness, is awareness that is just there – self-existing – not created by anything. In meditation, we can see all the debris in the mind. So what sees all this debris? It’s self-existing awareness.

 Self-existing awareness is just there: you don’t have to do anything, but merely be aware. This self-existing awareness can either fixate on the debris in the mind, or be aware of its own essence, which is clear, pure, uncontaminated emptiness.

 It’s that simple. It’s that ordinary.

 This is our basic ground – open space. It’s what we really are, before ego. This primordial intelligence, this basic ground, is called Alaya in Sanskrit.

 So how did ego come to be?

 This open intelligent empty space, this self-existing awareness, became attracted, enthusiastic, over energised about ‘being’… that’s all (we can see this as it happens at every moment!). This Alaya ignored its self-existing awareness, and developed a negative Alaya, called Alaya-vijnana – storehouse of consciousness (this is where the karmic seeds are stored). We became ‘self’ conscious, and sacred empty space began to fill.

 So self-existing awareness became ‘self’ conscious – and an identity was created.

May we in every incarnation improve by 1%,

so in a hundred incarnations we will be enlightened.

Perhaps this ‘is’ your last incarnation!

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SPIRITUAL BOOTCAMP

Spiritual Bootcamp!

 Our spiritual journey will have ups and downs. Some of us have a smooth journey, while for others it may be rough. Maybe if we have been brought up in a spiritual family, then our journey is one of refinement (or rebellion!). Maybe if we are brought up in a non-spiritual family, the journey is full of shocks (or a relief!). It’s all related to karma and intention.

 Either way, the ego is in for a hammering!

 Once we decide to find the truth, as opposed to just looking for the truth, we have to recognise how much we want to know. It stands to reason that we want to be happy and feel good about ourselves, but the truth may be uncomfortable. There is a connection between truth and happiness, but it all depends on whether it’s a relative truth-happiness, or the absolute truth-happiness. Feeling we want to know, and actually knowing, are not the same thing.

 If we really want to find the truth, then we have to be prepared for a shake-up. Having said that, ‘being prepared’ will not do at all! If we are prepared, we can then erect some sort of safety net to cushion the blow. However, most people I know proceed mindfully along in their spiritual life…but you can’t talk to them! They still want a nice samsara.

 It’s like practising anything: we have to immerse ourself totally in the experience, ‘the zone’. In spirituality, once that is found, it has to be given up – without losing warmth and kindness! To help us, we need more than books, or hearsay: we need a teacher. This teacher may come in many unexpected forms.

 Our levels of commitment to the path vary. I cannot blame anyone for wanting a slightly watered-down version, as stepping into the zone – and out of it – comes with much responsibility. And, as a teacher once said to me, “It’s not easy being honest with students.” That’s compassion for you!

 Speaking personally, my path has been intense: I’ve had questions throughout my life that have been quite overwhelming. There have been many shocks – quite devastating shocks. Obstacles may be placed in our path, but also, obstacles may be removed! There is much gut-wrenching involved – and also, much relief. I’m sure many couples have had problems when one follows a spiritual path, and the other does not…

 I mentioned before about having been kicked out by a Indian Guru for going to see a Tibetan lama. What I haven’t mentioned is that, after eleven years with that lama…he kicked me out as well! That’s compassion for you!

 

Whatever comes our way is karma,

ready to be exhausted.

If we do not react, everything to opens up:

Heart, Mind and Guts!

 

Precisely because we experience spiritual bootcamp,

we can empathise and be compassionate to all.

 

May peace and peace and peace be everywhere.

 

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MUDDY WATERS

MUDDY WATERS

The mud is obscurations.

The water, our essence.

Muddy water clears

with meditation.

Addiction to looking

stirs the mud again.

By looking, recognising and dropping,

essence is revealed.

Realising there never was any mud,

there is nothing to dissolve!

The water was always clear.

.

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SELF HARMING IS HELL

Self Harming is Hell.

The number of hospital admissions after people have deliberately poisoned themselves has risen by almost 50% in a decade. New NHS figures show there were more than 114,000 cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland during 2011.

There may be various reasons for this, but one 22 year old said, “It’s because I don’t like myself.” That doesn’t this say much about our modern society does it?

I now believe that there is social engineering of the population happening: each generation is being manipulated in different ways…or we are being run by totally ‘wannabe idiots’? Actually, I think they are both happening at the same time!

This seems to happening in every walk of life. The more the population is controlled, the more profit is made, with no empathy for the effect of the outcome. I have met a London ‘banker’ who didn’t care how he made his money, until one day he realised, “If I win, someone else loses!”..and he quit. However, the evil game is still going on.

We may all be playing a part in this hell, knowingly or unknowingly. When observing the mind at work, notice its patterning…its self-programming! We are still in charge of the creation of our world, but there are viruses from outside sources that lodged in the mind. These viruses can only incubate in the poison of our selfish negative emotions: Pride, Jealousy, Fear, Anger, Hope and Ignorance.

Do what you can for others, and do not ignore them.

Do good,

Do no evil

Tame the mind.

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DEDICATING MERIT

Dedicating merit.

 At the end of any practice, it is always good to dedicate it to all sentient beings. It completes the practice and rids us of any self centred-ness.

 

Whatever merit we have accumulated

may it benefit all sentient beings

that they may attain Buddha hood.

 

Being aware of the illusory nature

of all sentient beings,

may compassion well up

at their plight of failing to realise their empty nature.

 

May all beings be happy, and have the causes of happiness.

May they be free from suffering, and the causes of suffering.

May they never lose the happiness free from suffering.

May they be free from attraction, aversion and impartiality,

and remain in great equanimity.

 

 

 

 

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TRYING TOO HARD

Trying too hard.

 Sometimes we try too hard – I know I do!

 We don’t notice we are getting too enthusiastic and a little rigid: we lack a softness. We can be too keen to ‘get it right! This brings us to the Buddha’s immortal saying, “Not too tight and not too loose,” and only we can know when we have to relax, or tighten a little more. The more we look and listen, the finer the tuning. We have to be alert to our own short comings, and relaxed about them at the same time.

 Finding fault with others is not so helpful. However, this doesn’t mean we don’t notice what is going on!

 Spirituality is tough. We are constantly being taken over by ego, when ego actually needs to take a back seat. Ego is just our consciousness clinging to fixate concepts about our own ideas: it doesn’t want to loose its grip, and that is why we react. We also need tenacity to proceed!

 This brings us to the value of a teacher, which is a touchy subject for westerners. The way in which we regard the teacher will reflect back on us. This is truly a difficult subject to face.

If we see the teacher as an ordinary person – that is the value of the teachings we will get back.

If we see the teacher as a clever person – that is the value of the teachings we will get back.

If we see the teacher as a insightful person – that is the value of the teachings we will get back.

If we see the teacher as a lineage holder – that is the value of the teachings we will get back.

If we see the teacher as a Buddha – that is the value of the teachings we will get back.

 I have to be honest: I see the teacher as a representative of the Buddha’s teachings, but there is sometimes total surrender.

 

Not too tight and not too loose.

We push from our side.

The teacher pulls from his side.

The secret is in devotion,

totally letting go,

in pure perception.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SPIRITUAL MATERIALISM

from Spiritual Materialism by Chogyam Trungpa.

(Trungpa is a tough cookie, giving us no place to run!)

 We have come here to learn about spirituality. I trust the genuine quality of this search but we must question its nature. The problem is that ego can convert anything to its own use, even spirituality. Ego is constantly attempting to acquire and apply the teachings of spirituality for its own benefit.

The teachings are treated as an external thing, external to “me”, a philosophy which we try to imitate. We do not actually want to identify with or become the teachings. So if our teacher speaks of renunciation of ego, we attempt to mimic renunciation of ego.

We go through the motions, make the appropriate gesture, but we really do not want to sacrifice any part of our way of life.

We become skilful actors, and while playing deaf and dumb to the real meaning of the teachings, we find some comfort in pretending to follow the path…

 Self -Deception.

Self-deception is a constant problem as we progress along a spiritual path. Ego is always trying achieve spirituality. It is rather like wanting to witness your own funeral. For instance, in the beginning we might approach our spiritual friend hoping to get something wonderful from him/her.

This approach is called “hunting the guru.” Traditionally, it is compared to hunting the deer musk.

The hunter stalks the deer, kills it, and removing the musk. We could take this approach to the guru and spirituality, but it would be self-deception. It would have nothing to do with real opening or surrendering….

 

 

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THE EVIL OF TRAUMA

The Evil of Trauma.

 Spirituality – from the point of view of Buddhism – is not an easy subject to discuss, as there are many elements involved. There are also some that we may not want to look at. We all have a Light side, a Dark side and a Indifferent side. If we are to progress spiritually, we must be aware of all sides to our nature. We can thereby develop empathy and compassion for other who are also stuck in the mud!

There is another element – someone is creating more MUD!

We are the Buddhas in the Mud – the Light in the Dark. However, there are those who would use the Light and the Dark against us, for their own benefit. It is a subtle business, and due to our own bias, we may not wish to look at this. When investigating, we must be aware of being vessels with holes in, or turned upside down, or contaminated.

We may be obsessed with looking at our “light side”, but we also have to understand our “dark side”.

 The Trauma of Evil.

 TRAUMA: A deeply distressing experience. An emotional shock following a stressful event or a physical injury, which may lead to long-term neurosis. ORIGIN late 17th cent: from Greek, literally wound.

If people are traumatised, they can then be easily manipulated.

It’s an easy mistake to make, thinking that we can neutralise evil by dismissing it as an illusion. There’s a common misperception that Buddhism states that all suffering is an illusion. People too readily misunderstand, and think that because everything is an illusion, it does not hurt the body … and mind! What happens to the body and mind does not affect Essence: however, Essence can be obscured by distractions in the mind.

This is the result of a misunderstanding regarding our relative existence, and our absolute existence. These have to be understood properly as the Middle Way, a unity. No one is saying, “Dismiss evil as it’s a mere illusion”.

We all carry wounds from past traumas. These are held in our Alaya-Vijnana – the 8th consciousness in the mind. That is where our memories and karmic store are imprinted. However, the feelings of trauma are stored in the subtle body, and have an effect on our inner winds, channels and energies.

 The concept of ‘original sin’ is just this store house of karma that we carry with us from life to life. This is what is known as trauma, or wound. However, we cannot ignore that we too have created trauma for others in the past – and are doing so even now – and bad karma is created. We are never guiltless. If we have each been everyone’s mother, and they ours, we have also committed every evil act. The antidote to this is active kindness and compassion.

The world today is full of trauma – subtle trauma. There is actual trauma, reported trauma and implied trauma: together, these result in a web of trauma. We are bombarded with reports of horrendous acts in the world. Worst of all is the trauma inflicted on children, who learn to fear the world around them and believe that life is no longer a safe place.

For me, the Dharma still holds all the answers, because it is all to do with our perception and projection. I’d like to continue this theme by considering Spiritual Materialism (to follow).

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DISCLOSURE OF ET’S AND US SECRET POWER

http://vimeo.com/65430488

This is Hon. Paul Helfyer.
He is disclosing ET presence on Earth and secret US control of the world.

You will have to make your own mind up about this.

I came across this, this morning as I’m writing about the Evil of Trauma. THE BUDDHA IN THE MUD is one thing, but someone has been adding to the MUD!

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UNCONTAMINATED AWARENESS

Uncontaminated awareness

 Uncontaminated awareness

 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Of course, most of the time we are

 ???????????????!???????????????

 Still, that’s better than

 ZZZZZZZ?ZZZZZZ

.

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FIRST THERE IS A MOUNTAIN

First there is a mountain.

 

First there is a mountain.

Then there is no mountain.

Then there is.

 

This illustrates the two truths.

First, we see a beautiful mountain: that is relative truth.

Then we study, and realise that the mountain has no true existence: that is absolute truth.

Then we see the beautiful mountain again, but now we also know its true nature.

 

On a practical level, we first believe everything we see as being real. Then, we study and practise, and realise that no thing has an inherent existence from its own side: everything is created by causes and conditions.

 

If we get caught up in the first state – relative truth – we end up in eternalism.

If we get caught up in the second state – absolute truth – we end up in nihilism.

 

We need both to function as healthy human beings. This is the middle way. Being in the middle way, we do not get thrown by situations or emotions. We see things for what they are – empty essence.

 

In this way, we can respect and appreciate life…and find a sense of humour. We begin to ask the question, “What is not humour?” as it seems everything is taken so seriously and rigidly. However, in an attempt to ‘give up’ everything, we can make an even bigger deal of it all – and so, our giving up and letting go gets heavier and heavier! We need a light touch…after all, there is nothing to give up!

 

First, there is a mountain.

Then there is no mountain.

Then there is.

 

First, there is a self.

Then there is no self.

Then there is.

 

It’s all a real illusion.

But we should still get our illusory self

Out of the way of the illusory truck!

 

 

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WHAT IS MY FUNCTION IN LIFE?

What is my function in life?

 Animals use the ‘reptilian’ primitive brain for survival – fight, flight or freeze. Their function is to survive and breed.

 Humans have the ability to recognise consciousness, and therefore can know their true nature. That’s if they ever get around to asking the question, “Why am I here?”… and sticking with it! So the function of being human is to know our true nature – unless we adopt the animal mode.

 While investigating our true nature, we can share with others at the same time. This utilises the two truths of absolute reality and temporary reality. However, we too have a reptilian brain, which can cloud our consciousness.

 One of the problems in life is finding a relative, worldly function, and then holding onto it with much pride. We do this to give ourselves a sense of belonging and satisfaction, but it can also imprison us. Our jobs and family comes to mind.

 This idea of function has concerned me for most of my life. Ego wants to play a part in the world. I loved those days when I had a sense of function and worth, but it doesn’t seem to happen any more…pity! It was a feeling of self satisfaction, a job well done, aren’t I good…smugness. Well, everyone else was doing it so why not me?

 Then this morning it hit me! Function is a moment-to-moment experience. It comes and goes. And there’s no point in hanging onto it, as, once achieved, it’s gone! Intellectual understanding is not the same as discovering something for oneself. Although I may have an intellectual understanding of the way we hang on to experiences, the actual experience is much more profound, and its meaning seems to change as it has gone to the heart of the matter. And one just says, “Wow!”

 Part of our Samsaric dungeon of existence is the memory of one moment of consciousness clinging to the next moment of consciousness. There is an illusion that we are the same, continuous, unchanging entity – but we are not! This illusory entity hangs together because of the five skandha. We can see these as we might see the ingredients of a biscuit: form, feeling, perception, karmic formation and consciousness. Take one ingredient away and we fall apart!

 It is our own consciousness that holds this temporary entity together.

 We are sacred space, but we became too active within this space, filling it and creating ‘form’ = ignorance. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form! From that, the other skandha arose….

 The Five Skandha (heaps)

The sutras describe five aggregates:

1 Form, or matter: known as “rupa”, includes external and internal matter. The physical world and the material body.

2 Sensation or feeing: sensing an object as either pleasant, unpleasant or neutral.

3 Perception or cognition: registering whether an object is recognised or not.

4 Karmic formation or volition: all types of mental habits, thoughts, ideas, opinions, prejudices, decisions and compulsions triggered by an object.

5 Consciousness or discernment: mental faculties.

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SIX DEATHS OR BARDOS

Six Deaths or Bardos.

(This is from Pundarika UK, written by Tsoknyi Rinpoche 3rd. Death or Bardo means ‘gap’ an in-between state of which we are normally not aware.)

 KYI-NE

The bardo of this life, the bardo of birth. Co-existent with arising and birth is passing and death. On the subtle level everything is constantly momentarily arising and passing – moments, thoughts, emotions, events. On a more gross level, all the necessary conditions and circumstance come together for us to be born – conception and the accumulation of the five kinds of elements: earth, water, fire, wind and space. Since the moment we were born we are passing, our life moves towards completion then disappears. The idea of 70 or 80 years seems like a long time, but in terms of the universe it is very short. On the macrocosmic level is the arising and passing of planets and stars which support our life, which will also eventually disintegrate.

MILAM

The bardo of dreams. The whole of cyclic existence is like a big dream – our ignorance is like sleeping and we are dreaming, but we take it so seriously. We grasp after all these things we see as real and this is where our suffering comes from. Our sleeping dreams reflect what is happening in our lives which is why we need to take our daytime practice seriously and continue being mindful and aware when going to sleep. If we do this then when we die it is the continuation of the nature of our mind. Our child luminosity will dissolve into the ground luminosity and we will be enlightened in the dharmakaya form.

SAMADHI

The bardo of meditation. Here we are talking about purifying our mind of the cloud of disturbing thoughts and emotions, not by force but by resting in our natural mind, dharmakaya. Meditation isn’t something solid, or a place to go. It just means being aware in the present moment in a simple way and letting things be, which is actually quite difficult. Bardo literally means ‘between’, and in between the subsiding of one thought and the arising of the next, that is the bardo of Samadhi.

CHIKHA

The bardo of the moment before death. All our elements dissolve back to the external world – earth, water, fire then air as we stop breathing. At that point the inner dissolution begins. We can have many different experiences here, depending on the kind of life we have led. The important thing is to know, in the confusion of what is happening, that everything we see is a projection of ourselves, and that it is a vision of the bardo. In order to be able to do that, it is important to practice now. There is a glimpse of ground luminosity – if we can recognise this from the stability of our practice then there is an opportunity to achieve realization.

CHONYI

The Bardo of dharmata. What happens now depends on individual circumstances. For a normal person dying peacefully this can last for a few days and we may not be aware we have died. The important thing is how we are programming ourselves in our lifetime, so that we can remain calm and clear and aware of what is happening. We should remember our teacher and any deity we feel a connection with.

SIPA

The bardo of becoming. This can last 7 weeks and again, what happens depends on our karma and mind training. Pure perception and sacred outlook are needed here if we are not to get carried away by anger and jealousy which could lead to a birth in the lower realms. We are at the mercy of karmic winds and look for refuge wherever we can which leads to conception outside our control. If we can maintain our awareness there may be the opportunity to chose our rebirth in auspicious circumstances in the aspiration to help sentient beings.

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THE NEW WORLD ORDER AND ‘PREPPERS’

The New World Order and ‘Preppers”.

 They both say, “The world is to be destroyed”, and all that will remain is the New World Order and the ‘Preppers’. So…this New World Order’s foundation will start with these two groups which, in reality, have the same aim – “The Self Cherishing Me-First Foundation”. The rest of us will have to leave – dead! Not a very nice way to start a new world is it?!

The internet seems to be full of fear mongers, sowing seeds of doom and destruction, and their attempts to save themselves from Death. How does that work? What is so idiotic is that by the time something did actually happen (and we have had so many predictions!) people will have died anyway. If we spend our life fearing and preparing, and we have to die anyway, what was the use of all that worry?

Just look closely at the people who perpetuate the illusion that they will be saved. Are you going to live your life according to their values?

Live life how you wish to live, in clarity and harmony. Better to chant OM MANI PEME HUM (a very profound mantra on Compassion), than to hold on desperately to a handful of gold and some cans of food. At our inevitable deaths, those will all be useless.

The one thing this hysteria does have in its favour is that it heightens our sense of self, and the emotions – and so this becomes easier to see.

The moment of so-called death, and afterwards, is so precious for our spiritual development. The only thing in which we can trust is the very nature of our own awareness.

Sticks and stones may break my bones.

Consciousness can be distracted.

Essence can never die,

because it is not a creation.

.

Be at peace. Be sane.

(There are some bad things going on in the world, but we don’t have to make it worse.)

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STRESS AND MEDITATION

Stress and Meditation.

 Stress takes energy away from the body’s needs, and distracts the mind. It also creates toxins in the body, attacking our immune system. Just listening to the ‘news’ causes us stress and worry: it’s also interesting how ‘sexed up’ news has become. We can do without this added stress in our lives!

Maybe stop listening and watching like an addict. The ‘news’ hasn’t changed in years: it’s all about terror nowadays, and it feels as if the media (and those behind the media) are doing the terrorising! It’s all about ‘what if?’ instead of ‘what is’!

Our lives are also stressed with work, and the expectations of family and neighbours, who still believe everything they hear in the media/programming.

This bring us to meditation, which of course is meant to de-stress – but if we are not careful, that can also be stressful, as we become fixated upon our practice, and caught up in do’s and don’ts, so losing our inner peace.

We have to be clear about the stages of meditation. To start, meditation is calming the body and mind, so that we are not taken over by circling, stressful thoughts. To do this, we either focus on a ‘support’ or rest in the gap of nowness.

The first stages of meditation are about relaxing and healing wounds – and feeling better. If we can calm down, we can cope better. It’s similar to applying an antidote to situations or emotions: these are only a temporary fix, as the situations and emotions will arise again. This is why we have to “upgrade”.

Mingling meditation with daily life.

This the main reason I write – because not everyone has the good fortune to hear about the “upgrade”. Meditation is more than sitting in peace on a comfy cushion, while expecting the world to conform to our needs (I’ve witnessed many students putting themselves under stress about being too cold or too hot – about things being not quite perfect…).

Once we have the experience of Empty Awareness (which is so ordinary, it’s shockingly missed), we can then allow thoughts to arise, as we no longer fixate upon them. Thoughts now become an expression of Emptiness, for the benefit of all sentient beings.

And that’s how we love!

In empty awareness

there is nothing to be stressed.

The only thing to be stressed

is that there is nothing to be stressed!

.

(Strange I just happened to come across this article this morning on stress,

http://www.naturalnews.com/040144_stress_hormones_weight_gain_supplements.html

And, this one on terrorism,

http://www.naturalnews.com/034321_war_on_terror_paranoia_hoax.html)

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WHATEVER BENEFITS THE MIND

Whatever benefits the mind.

 Most of this blog is written from a Dzogchen perspective (also called Maha Ati): recognising and resting in Empty Essence, Cognisant Nature and and unconfined Compassion (the three Kayas). This view is called Rigpa, which leads to the continuous state of the Kayas: Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya and Nirmanakaya.

 This is not to say that this is the only way!

 Anything and everything within the whole range of the Buddha’s teaching is beneficial to the mind in some way. There are many traditions in Buddhism, and words may be used differently. There are also many levels within the traditions, and at each level, the same words are used, but the meaning changes.

 If the Therevadan approach really works for you, then that is what benefits your mind.

If the Pratyakabuddha approach works for you, then that is what benefits your mind.

If the Mahayana approach works for you, then that is what benefits your mind.

If the Tantra approach works for you, then that is what benefits your mind.

If the Maha Ati approach works for you, then that is what benefits your mind.

 If being either Theistic or Non Theistic really works for you, then that is what benefits your mind.

 It is all about genuine clarity, compassion, and inner peace. It’s beneficial to understand the many methods, because when meeting the minds of others, we need to know where they are coming from. If we rest in genuine clarity, compassion, and inner peace, maintaining our equanimity, we can allow space for communication to take place at any level.

It’s also important to understand that sometimes we need to call upon different methods to suit our state of mind at that time. 

 

If we find that just being out in the fresh air works for us,

Then that is what benefits our mind!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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DON’T REGRET

Don’t regret.

 Everything that happens in life is a lesson. From lessons, we learn…or not! If we use intelligence, and recognise emotions and the value of compassion, then we will be facing in the right direction. Of course, we make mistakes, or do not have enough data, but if we are open, we will progress. If we have the right intention, answers will come! It can take time for us to assimilate information before we can move on, without forcing ourselves.

 Feeling regret, guilt or pressure is an obstacle which weigh us down: we need time and space to recognise clearly what is taking place in the mind.

 In the last few days before my father’s death, I asked him, “What do you feel about your life?” He just replied, “Resentment.” This was a shock to me, and I felt sadness that there was nothing I could say to help him, at that time.

 We will keep going through the same scenarios until we learn lessons, however painful these may be.

 

I slept, and life meant nothing.

I dreamed that life was entertainment.

I awoke and found that life was duty.

In duty, I found love.

In love, I melt.

 

If we are open to learning without expectations,

we return to a child’s joy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SIMPLICITY IN DARK TIMES

Simplicity in dark times.

 I had a dream last night: two of my teachers, from different traditions, came and gave me a ‘bonk’ on the head (touching foreheads is a traditional Tibetan greeting). One cut some of my hair (this symbolises taking refuge).

The strange thing was, I couldn’t understand a word they were saying, but the ‘bonk’ said everything. It reminded me of simplicity, renunciation and humility.

Sometimes, the Dharma can sound complicated, lofty, and a little wordy. All that matters is knowing empty essence, and understanding that anything that appears in empty essence is merely a mental projection.

At our darkest time – the moment of death, when due to sickness and weakness our minds can be a little fuddled – simplicity is of utmost importance.

We are living in dark times, and it is easy to get carried away with what is going on in the darkness. Being so distracted, we lose simplicity and clarity. Once we have realised clarity, simplicity is the reminder (or however you wish to word it) of our natural being.

When we know fearless simplicity in the darkness,

Appearances will be beneficial reminders.

If we do not recognise empty clarity, all appearances will be

Scary projections.

.

( Interestingly, since my wife and I put an earthing sheet on the bed, we are having more vivid dreams. All this is, is a conductive thread cris-crossing the sheet, and wired into the earth (only) socket, or wired to an earthed radiator!)

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ALIENS

Aliens.

 On many forums, there is much spoken about “Aliens”. Some even claim to talk with them: it’s worrying how mundane those conversations are! There’s nothing one could respond to with an, “Oh, now that is interesting!” Having a big shiny motor is no guarantee of wisdom, and neither is a deluded imagination. They fail to see that those who talk about such matters place themselves as intercessors, through whom the “Aliens” talk (reminds you of anything?), creating hope and fear in others. Suspicious to say the least…

If there is such a thing as reincarnation, then we are all “Aliens”, having had infinite incarnations throughout the universe (and who, incidentally, have no need for mundane flying saucers!)

There is much in this Samsaric world to worry about, especially Hope, Fear and Ignorance. Adding to this by speculating does not help. In fact, it fuels even more Hope, Fear and Ignorance.

We are all “Aliens” with Buddha nature, but we are ignorant of that fact.

Anything that moves

and makes decisions has awareness.

Anything that has awareness has Buddha nature.

Anything that recognises its Buddha nature has Compassion.

Anything that does not recognise its Buddha nature is ignorant.

Anyone running around talking about other “Aliens” is foolish.

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LINEAGE – MEETING OF MINDS

Lineage – a meeting of minds.

 We are unique individuals, rather than one whole: the universe is full of unique individuals. People talk of Oneness, but that has never happened! We can be at one with our unique being (the unity of the two truths), and by doing so, we can be in harmony with others. And so, there may be unity in diversity!

 Having said this, we do need the right company on our journey. It’s not a matter of joining a club: it is hearing a certain view that sounds familiar to us, and that feels right.

 Finding such a connection is a rare occurrence, and very important. It is feeling part of a lineage that our inner being merges with, and this creates a sense of trust, confidence and a firm foundation

 There are many lineages, but it is rare to find a lineage that is unbroken from its source. From a Buddhist point of view, an unbroken lineage is a series of teachings that have been handed down by word of mouth (breath) and continuously practised. Getting such support is unbelievably valuable.

 If we are left to our own devices, we can easily go astray. This may seem a contradictory thing to say, but if we truly want to be free and independent, we first need the discipline of a lineage. This is like studying anything! We then realise that we are on a well-trodden and trustworthy path.

 The problem, in this New Age, is that people want to reinvent spirituality because they don’t understand it: they have no lineage, and so much is speculative. Although a few ideas are borrowed from ancient teachings, they stay in the realms of fantasy with no real substance. The hallmark of such activity is passive aggression, with everything relating to “my way”.

 Lineage is not a matter of joining a group and getting along with other students: they are there to cause you a lot of problems!!! This seems to work as a catalyst to bring one’s negativity to the fore, and this can feel very raw. It’s a tough bootcamp, because there is an assumption that you will all get along because you are all in the same lineage, but that is not always the case.

 It is the teachings, and the living commentary of a teacher, that are the outer lineage. If there is an outer lineage, there must be an inner lineage. This is to do with devotion. Devotion is a deep appreciation for the teachings and lineage: this comes under Guru Yoga, and is a direct link to the lineage holders (knowledge holders) who have gone before.

 I cannot begin to express how magical this is. There is a sort of longing, a supplicating, to certain deities who exhibit qualities such as Compassion, which, in turn blesses us with Compassion and Clarity.

 It is here that we can feel confident and happy to be on our own…in oneness!

 

Guru Yoga is a huge subject. It is the path of Vajrayana (the Diamond path), and it’s for those with a certain unbreakable attitude towards the emotions and the teachings. This entails commitment, and a lot of preliminary practices…a lot…known as the Ngondro.

 

Lineage inspires.

 

 

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PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology.

 Psychology rules this modern era, dominating every walk of life. Psychology guides all our choices, and divides our cultures, thereby keeping everything in motion. Our base instincts of ‘self’ preservation (through the emotions), are used to manipulate us in any direction, calling it progress. Psychology promotes our pre-occupation with self image: it divides hearts and minds.

 Tibetan Buddhism is all about psychology: it counteracts the ideology of ‘self’ promotion, and unites hearts and minds.

 If we want to solve a problem, we have to identify the problem. Knowledge is neutral, being neither good nor bad. It’s all about use of knowledge. Psychology may be used to heal or destroy, and it is up to us to know which is which.

 However, this is not at all easy to see, as the promotion of healing may actually be destruction in disguise: the contrary is also true – destruction may be healing. It depends what you want to destroy, and what you want to heal!

 

 Buddhist psychology

is all about emptiness

– our first nature.

 

Modern psychology

is all about personality

– our second nature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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THE ART OF THINKING

The Art of Thinking.

 Thoughts and thinking are not the same. Thinking is analysing or reasoning in the present, whereas thoughts are products of past thinking or programming, which are stored in the mind.

 Thinking can either open the mind, connecting the dots and setting us free now, or it can create even greater fixated thoughts for the future, which drive us crazy!

 In meditation, we first free ourselves from the present thinking mind and past thoughts. When our practice is stable, we then allow thoughts to arise, without grasping at them, as they no longer affect us. This helps with mingling meditation with daily life.

 At a more advanced level, we can practise analytical meditation, when we either scan the mind for past data or experiences, or allow thoughts or thinking to be an expression of emptiness: thinking is merely recognition at this stage.

 Thoughts are pre-conceived ideas from the past, whereas thinking is analysing that data – or lack of data. We should be aware that our thoughts may be subliminal programming that we have picked up!

 The Art of Thinking is a matter of viewing information without bias.

 We need to be able to lay all options on an imaginary table in front of us, without either accepting or rejecting anything. Then we wait to see what joins up, allowing an underlying principle to complete the picture. Then thinking becomes recognition!

 This impartial objectivity is neither accepting or rejecting information. If we do we fall into the trap of accepting and rejecting, we come under the laws of hope and fear – the laws of attraction and repulsion. We can then be misled, which brings us to the next factor.

 Information that we receive may be presented with two contradictory aspects at the same time, in order to deceive and confuse. In all media, arguments are presented for and against: alternative views are fed to us unconsciously, from a conscious source. It’s bit like the moon landing…did they land, or was it a fake setup…or was it both? This merely keeps people speculating.

 This keeps the mind bouncing from one to the other, not knowing, but guessing. The object is to unsettle the mind, to distract it: this is psychology at work. The use of phrases such as “As cool as a mountain stream” to describe a cigarette is a case in point – and, of course, this is still going on today, but with greater refinement.

 If we are too quick to jump to one conclusion or another without pure perception, we will be deceived. Thinking can either clarify, or add to our confusion.

 

The underlying principle of

The Art of Thinking

is

Recognition.

In Recognition, we know.

 

 

 

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LIKE AND DISLIKE

Like and dislike.

The reason awareness is so important,

is to notice liking and disliking.

The very moment our attention is held by

liking or disliking something,

awareness deviates from purity.

Of course as house holders we have to function in the world. However, within any action, stillness is present – being aware of all movements in the mind. This is how we upgrade as human beings.

It is merely a matter

of keeping the door open

for the universe to enter.

We are that big!

.

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LIVING IN AN INSANE WORLD

Living in an insane world.

 

Can we find sanity?

Tricky.

What is normality?

Tricky.

Well who is sane?

Tricky.

 

This is a tricky world.

 We sentient beings are not enlightened because we are confused about the truth concerning our true nature. We spend our entire lives rushing around, looking for the truth: “Do they have it? Is it over there? Who is stopping us from finding it? If we do this or that, will we find the truth?”

 

That is so silly!

We are the truth.

That’s how insane this world is.

 

We are living in a mental institution.

We are the guards and the inmates.

And, we have the key…

…that’s how insane this world is.

 

This is the very reason for love and compassion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Traumatising the young.

This video is called “The Art of Deception.” To control a population, it is best done when they are young, through creating confusion, wounds and bias.

When money is involved, a very subtle control is needed to convince you to part with it. Marketing is a refined science nowadays, using our wish to do ‘good’.

The art of deception is to distract consciousness.

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BODHICHITTA

Bodhichitta

(caring for others more than oneself).

There are Two aspects to Bodhchitta: Absolute and Relative.

Absolute bodhichitta corresponds to Emptiness.

Relative bodhichitta corresponds to Compassion.

 Bodhi means our ‘enlightened essence’ and chitta means ‘heart’ or ‘mind’. Bodhichitta is translated as ‘the heart of enlightened mind’. Arousing bodhichitta is: for the sake of others.

 Relative bodhichitta is the compassionate wish to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all living beings and to train in the methods to achieve that aim.

Absolute bodhichitta is the direct insight into the absolute nature of things.

This may seem strange, but Absolute Bodhichitta has to come before Relative Bodhichitta!

Chogyam Trungpa:

Compassion automatically invites you to relate with people, because you no longer regard people as a drain on your energy. They recharge your energy, because in the process of relating with them you acknowledge your wealth, your richness. So, if you have difficult tasks to preform, such as dealing with people or life situations, you do not feel you are running out of resources. Each time you are faced with a difficult task, it presents itself as a delightful opportunity to demonstrate your riches, your wealth. There is no feeling of poverty at all in this approach to life.”

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THE TRUTH

The Truth.

 

The truth will never be found ‘out there’.

The reason anything ‘out there’ may be known

is because of what is ‘in here’.

 

The ultimate truth is our own awareness.

Without that, nothing would be known,

Not even God.

 

Everything ‘out there’ is known by virtue

of what is ‘in here’.

Know thy self.

Know everything.

 

Ah!

But God awoke us!

Awoke whom?

When we know our true nature,

we will know God.

 

Ah!

So God exists?

As our very nature.

 

Ah!

 

 

 

 

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