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.

War is unnatural.

It is an invention of politics,

and does not care who wins or loses.

“Naturally, the common people don’t want war. Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor America. Nor for that matter, Germany. That is understood. But people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to danger.

It works the same in any country.” 

 -Herman Goering, during the Nuremberg trials. 

This is from Veterans News Now.

‘Suicides Outpace War Deaths. The VA’s 2012 Suicide Data Report said about 22 vets commit suicide daily. The VA’s own suicide hotline averages 10,000 calls a month.

Epidemic post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) levels affect hundreds of thousands of combat forces and vets. The VA estimates over 30% of Vietnam vets, around 10% of Gulf War forces, and up to 20% of America’s Afghanistan and Iraq troops have PTSD.

War’s toll is one of the most underreported stories. Hundreds of thousands of combat vets won’t ever be the same again. They come home sick. They stay that way. They’re traumatized. They’re unable to cope.’

Since 2000, nearly a million vets were diagnosed with one or more mental health problems. The VA admits its data understate. Its own suicide hotline averages 10,000 calls a month.

What do you trust?

The usual reply is, “I trust myself!”

If we look closely, that actually says, “I…trust…myself!”

“Is that wise?”

Which of these two is doing the trusting?

Which one is you?

There is awareness, and that of which awareness of awareness.

Which is the more stable?

Mind how you go!

The Buddha and mental health..

The Buddha’s teachings are all about dealing with mental illness – with a disturbed mind. Here are some statistics FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION.

The facts and figures around Mental Health in the UK are alarming.

1 in 4 people will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year

Mixed anxiety and depression is the most common mental disorder in Britain

 Women are more likely to have been treated for a mental health problem than men

About 10% of children have a mental health problemat any one time

 Depression affects 1 in 5 older people

 Suicides rates show that British men are three times as likely to die by suicide than British women

 Self-harm statistics for the UK show one of the highest rates in Europe: 400 per 100,000 population

 Only 1 in 10 prisoners has no mental disorder

This is a description of our modern world! To find out the causes, study the Buddha’s teachings.

Are you alone?

Are we awake, or still living in a dream? Upon being asked that question, we will assume we are awake! We may even awake at that moment, but quickly fall into the dream again. Being awake is knowing we are in a dream! The dreams are the concepts we have to live through, created by our karma. So being aware of this, we awaken a little…thank goodness…

This could be experienced as just feeling ‘uncomfortable’ in life. We find ourselves not believing in it as much as others seem to do.

Is there anyone around you who is awake? Is there ‘light’ in their eyes, or are their minds still thinking “It’s all about me”? Many claim to be awake because of what they have read or heard, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are awake. They don’t feel uncomfortable enough yet! Do people around you merely talk about themselves, other people or events? Are they only concerned with family life, social life or work life… and not life itself?

Of course, this is what we have become used to, and so it seems normal, until we realise that these conversations never stop. I always assumed that people go somewhere else to talk of weighty matters…but they don’t! This planet has become one huge sophisticated ”Disney Plan”.

If you have no one to talk to about this, it could become very depressing. I should know! We need good company, or a good connection to a spiritual method. We all have a unique path out of the “Disney Plan”: the  path is our own unique confusion that disguises our true nature – natural clarity.

Life is too precious to waste. Our journey brought us here. Listen to your intuition, and be aware of the interventions of the mind. We are here to realise our true nature, and not muck around with the mud!

It is only when we notice the mud (concepts) that we might wonder what is underneath it.

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Dealing with negative people.

 Empathetic skills come from experiencing personal suffering, and then one knows how someone else is feeling. So suffering is of value – it can benefit others when relating to them.

 Dealing with other’s negativity will depend on one’s capacity, and one how realistic one is. It is possible that one could end up exhausted and depressed.

 My teacher says, “After dealing with negative people, take a shower”  (maybe this has to do with dorgone energy – negative/dead energy, as opposed to orgone energy – positive energy, or chi/prana)

 We can have empathy for negative people, and compassion for happy people! So-called ‘happy people’ are merely in a temporary place. The Buddha said, “not too tight and not too loose.”

 We, like everyone else, can get stuck for a while in a negative space. Of course, being happy and positive is preferable, and we hope it will last forever. However, that creates expectations, which can lead to disappointment and frustrations…which leads back to negativity…

 “Stuff” happens in life. Some days are smooth, some days are rough. Some days we feel very spiritual, whereas somedays we just cannot be bothered. These are merely karmic occurrences and reactions.

 Know that which is aware of all this coming and going, and which never changes: this is pure essence. There is nothing beyond empty essence.

 The truth is actually very simple. The problem is…it is too simple, and so it goes unnoticed.

 Viewing the emotion correctly, we can live a fruitful life. The tools we need are:

Intense intelligence.

Intense compassion.

Intense emotions.

 Surprised?

How to suffer and be happy.

 Suffering does not last.

*Unconditional happiness does.

(OK, but it doesn’t seem that way!)

The condition of living in this body and mind (software on a hardrive) – in this avatar – is constant suffering. It’s a full time job: finding food for it, cleaning it, producing another avatar for another being with a ‘friend’, finding food for it and cleaning it. Most of our time is spent worrying!

 It’s only when this body get old, sick and dies that we are free of all those chores…or not! Because of our habitual tendencies (our karmic load), we will go through this all again, in another body – which may even not be human. The point is, we just have to accept this fact: in having a physical body, together with this loaded mind…suffering is unavoidable!

 The good news is that ‘we’ are not this body, or this ‘software’. We do not have to suffer. We cannot suffer, never have suffered, and never will suffer. When we realise we are pure awareness in a body and mind, then everything changes, we also realise that our true nature is unconditionally happy – beyond the conditions of this physical body and mind.

 We are genuinely pure, luminous beings stuck in a body, because of our habitual way of looking our selves and the universe. We have got so used to this that we do not know – or have forgotten – what we truly are.

 Well, we just have to act as if we do recognise what we truly are…fake it! This gets us ‘acting’ in a different way, knowing that our true nature is happiness, and that no outside force can effect it or hurt us. Just try it! Most important of all -stop worrying!

 It is the ideas we hold about ourselves and the universe around us that make us unhappy. The world is not perfect – but then again, it is perfect. Our combined ignorance has let the world deteriorate to the state it is in today, and this is why, in order to change the world, we have to change the way we see things.

 This change will take a long time to come about as a collective, as we are in the Kuli Yuga (the age of strife). However, if we can change our view at any time…pass it on!

 Letting go of our fixate point of view is simple…but not easy! This is why we need good company.

 *Unconditional happiness means a happiness that does not rely on mental or physical conditions.

Being over positive.

 Treading the spiritual path, isn’t all flowers and “namastes”.

Being over-positive can be stressful, covering up reality warts and all, this can turn life into something which it is not. It is misleading, as it is trying to make what is perfect, more perfect. It also becomes a weight around our neck. It makes claims which are beyond people’s reach, creating hope and fear.

This is a very subtle business. There is negativity and there is positivity: they are both fine and useful. But when we get into negative negativity and positive positivity we run into trouble.

Negative negativity is justifying a mistaken view, the illusion just turned into delusion.

Positive positivity is justifying a positive view, the illusion just returned into delusion…again!

In ancient Sanskrit text, there are three aspects to our sentient being described as the three Gunas: Tamas, Rajas and Sattva. Tamas is a sleepy state. Rajas is an active state and Sattva is an peaceful state. They are called the three thieves!

Tamas represents dullness. Rajas represents excitement. Sattva represents stillness. It’s easy to see that the first two are thieves to our being, but it is not so easy to see in the third – Sattva. It is the clinging to Sattva that takes us down to the other two states. They are useful energies, but can catch us out, creating little demons! Aren’t spiritual people who act spiritual a little annoying?

This is what meditation is all about – constantly letting go. Depending on our temperament, the negative or positive aspects of our nature can be used. We can use aversion as the path. We can use desire as the path. We can actually use ignorance as the path.

Ignorance is interesting. Ignorance means indifference, don’t care, spaced out. Lacking spaciousness. But that can be turned into a spacious, carefree quality.

We can all work in different ways, and we have to be honest. If the life we lead was perfectly perfect, we would want to transcend this pretty prison. Be grateful for the obstacles on the path, they keep us going!

CUTTING THROUGH SPIRITUAL MATERIALISM.

Chogyam Trungpa.

To the conventional way of thinking, compassion simply means being kind and warm. This sort of compassion is described as ‘grandmother’s’ love. You would expect the practitioner of this type of compassion to be extremely kind and gentle; he would not harm a flea.

 If you need another mask, another blanket to warm yourself, he will provide it. But true compassion is ruthless, from the ego’s point of view, because it does not consider ego’s drive to maintain itself.

 It is “crazy wisdom.” It is totally wise, but it is crazy as well, because it does not relate to ego’s literal and simple-minded attempts to secure its own comfort.

 The logical voice of ego advises us to be kind to other people, to be good boys and girls and lead innocent little lives. We work at our regular jobs and rent a cozy room or apartment for ourselves; we would like to continue in this way, but suddenly something happens which tears us out of our secure little nest.

 Either we become extremely depressed or something outrageously painful occurs. We begin to wonder why heaven has been so unkind. “Why should God punish me? I have been a good person,

I have never hurt a soul.” But there is something more to life than that.

 What are we trying to secure? Why are we so concerned to protect ourselves? The sudden energy of ruthless compassion severs us from our comfort and securities. If we were never to experience this kind of shock, we would not be able to grow. We have to be jarred out of our regular, repetitive and comfortable lifestyle.

 The point of meditation is not merely to be an honest or good person in the conventional sense, trying only to maintain our security. We must begin to become compassionate and wise in a fundamental sense, open and relating to the world as it is.

(This is what woke me up)

Tony

Sorting Your Self Out

 There six psychological neurotic realms that we live in as sentient being. During a day we may pass in and out of them without noticing. We may also find that we get stuck in one for a lifetime.

 Let’s use ‘acquiring knowledge’ as an example. This may reveal what type of person we are.

Hell realms: It’s never right

Hungry ghosts: Want it desperately but cannot digest it.

Animal realm: They acquire it and store it, but never look at it.

Human realm: They indulge in it, but get frustrated because it never quite satisfies.

Jealous gods: They collect it and use it as a weapon.

Gods: They have knowledge and enjoy it, but cannot keep it.

Not to worry, as always there are the opposite qualities:

God/Animal.. =ignorance…= all encompassing space

Hell…………….=anger……….= mirror-like wisdom

Hungry ghost.= pride………= wisdom of equanimity

Human………..= passion…..=discriminating wisdom

Jealous god….=envy……….=all accomplish wisdom

The point is if we can identify someone’s patterning, we can understand where they are coming from…and why, you cannot get on! So sometimes, silence is golden!

Buddhist science takes everything apart to reveal what is left…nothing!

Buddhism talks about 4 types of ‘I’, (there could be more):

The social ‘I ‘, the self-cherishing ‘I’, the reified ‘I’ and the ‘I’mere ‘I’. Normally we lump it all together, and say I.

  The social ‘I’ is created from the reaction of those around us, and we tend to feel we have to live up to that image. Our idea of who we are is built upon the reactions of those around us.

 The self-cherishing ‘I’ is self evident – it’s all about me! We relate everything to ourselves, which is when we start to get upset.

 The reified ‘I’ (reified means to make real, or solid). This ‘I’ makes ourselves and everything around us seem real and solid, this fixes us and that creates a lot of problems.

 The mere ‘I’. In meditation we allow a ‘I’ mere to be present. This mere ‘I’ is a stepping stone of the 8^th consciousness to the experience of emptiness where no ‘I’ is present – pure awareness. This merely entails awareness being aware of this mere ‘I’. But we can stay with this mere ‘I’- barely aware, as this is a very useful in practice.

 There is another purpose for a mere ‘I’. The experience of emptiness is dry, there is no engagement in life, it is pure reflection. So we come down a little to “expression emptiness” or “essence love”, this is where the juice flows, and we work with a mere ‘I’ in daily life.

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The problem with the theories of evolution.

 There are two arguments: the first is that we ascended from Apes, while the second is that we are a creation of God. Oh, and there’s a third – we came from Alien god beings. All wrong of course (laughing)!

 The problem comes when we assume that ‘we’ are only this body. If we assume that we are this body, and only have this one lifetime, then life is a matter of playing a very small part between our ancestors and prodigy. So there is not much time for us as individuals to evolve, is there? Especially when we consider that most people spend their lives looking for entertainment, or working to improve their status in life. Now those don’t sound much like evolution, do they?

 If we can see, or reason, or try to accept that we are not this body, but embodied beings that reincarnate, then the possibilities are endless. That too could be a problem (still laughing)…!

 So, we are created by God. If so, why do most people look for entertainment, or work to improve their status in life? Is that what God wanted? Or have we got the story wrong? There is something here, but it is to do with, “I am it whom I seek” More on this God thing later.

 So, we came from Aliens. This does not add up at all. If we have had many incarnations (an infinite number), we are beings that have been aliens, apes, goats, gods…anything that is sentient! We are all aliens, and not necessarily coming from Earth. Buddhist believe that every sentient being has been our mother at some time.

 Evolution is about much, much more: it is about evolving from sentient being to enlightenment – Buddhahood. Awake and having exhausted all karmic imprints. This means knowing our true being, having destroyed any trace of mental fixations.

 Now that’s what I call evolving (still laughing)…!

The Buddha, Demons and Agenda 21.

Agenda 21 is a charter created in 1992 by the UN for sustainable development of the planet: this means killing 6 billion people ( read about the “Georgia Guide Stones” in Atlanta USA) or total control of everyone. Those engaged in Agenda 21 have many subtle ways to do this, and have been experimenting for years with social engineering. You will have to verify this information for yourself. We only have to look at the modern world to see the trouble we are in – in all walks of life – but, like most people, we ignore what we see. This is due to a dulling of our minds.

Basically, there are organisations who want the planet for themselves (and believe me, I know how idiotic and frightening this sounds). These people have been planning this for a very, very long time, so it will go unnoticed. Look at the data that has escaped into the public domain: Agenda 21 does not mind you knowing because their plans are well under way.

So where does Buddhism come into all this?

Strange to say, this actually enhances our practice. In the Age of Strife, the Dharma works better!

The Dharma teaches us that there are enlightened being constantly blessing us to wake up. And as opposite forces in the universe exist, there are endarkened beings called Mara (demons) that do not wish us to wake up.

Our Emotions are the key to whether this negative Agenda 21 works – or not! If we are controlled by our emotions – by liking and disliking – our awareness as to what is happening can, and will be distracted. Demons can only work if we allow our minds to be confused. That is how ‘they’ make Agenda 21 work…they know the principles of the Dharma! Put it this way: our ignorance is not all our fault.

Endarkened beings feed on our negativity, and it is our own likes and dislikes that attract them. That is the law of attraction. The choice of whom we attract is always in our own hands.

Endarkened beings are attracted to these organisations, and are feeding off them in a big way.

Endarkened beings do not understand Emptiness…they can get nothing out of it! That is precisely the path to liberation.

All you have to do is look, recognise and drop the emotions. Then fear has no hold on you.

Compassion in action.

Compassion is a tricky subject. We start by being kind to ourselves…”There I go again! But at least I learned something.” We all assume that we are compassionate – until the moment our button gets pressed, and then off we go…that steaming-snorting-smelly-self-righteous monster appears again! And if we are a ‘spiritual person’ we do this with a ‘loving’ smile!

We have to be honest, but not be too hard on ourselves. If we are spiritual warriors, we can, in fact, be joyous at this test. That very steaming-snorting-smelly-self-righteous monster is our teacher!

If we have the guts to face our demons, they just disappear.: they are our own likes and dislikes that are always waiting to ambush us.

Compassion is the outcome of recognising our pure, cognisant nature. When this happens, an unshakeable confidence arises – together with a sense of relief and joy: this is compassion and we can now face anything.

When this three-fold nature of Pure Cognisant Compassion looks out, it recognises sentient beings’ true potential as having Pure Cognisant Compassion…they simply do not recognise it. Seeing that, loving, spacious compassion naturally arises.

However, an inner conflict can occur when ego-clinging is still present, and Compassion arises at the same time. Let’s be honest: we’re not enlightened yet! We are pulled in two directions at once. We all know the feeling of the love-hate scenario.

The most important point is that when a situation arises, and one is about to get angry (or any of the other emotions arise), it is an opportunity to see one’s own state and be honest. In not reacting, space is created and compassion can take place…sometimes, silence is golden!

There are also the enlightened, compassionate activities of pacifying, magnetising, enriching and destroying, but in these there can be no ego present, otherwise it will backfire.

 Compassion in action comes from the fearless dignity of knowing one’s true nature, and that of others.

No outside force can ever disturb this!

Spirituality is tough on ego. Tough? Its job is to destroy ego’s game.

Spiritual centres – what to be aware of.

 Spiritual centres have two aspects, the meaning of the teaching and…people! The meaning of the teachings is what we go for… the people can be a problem. However, people can work as a catalyst for the real meaning of the teachings.

 What one may encounter in spiritual centres is the enthusiasm for putting one’s hand together, follow rituals and acquiring an exotic vocabulary. You may find something missing – compassion. There is compassion, but it’s generally for those who dwell afar – not in the same room!

 The law of desire, aversion and indifference work just as well in a meditation room as well as in the outside world. There are people we lean towards, there are people we keep away from and there are people we ignore. If we can appreciate this we will do fine.

 We have to fit into a spiritual centre with all its uncomfortable dynamics. The constant thought arises “Do I have to be like them?” No, you don’t. One learns to listen, nod and smile…and move on!

How do you feel about this?

A PERSONAL VIEW.

I love the topic of the two truths -what is real and what seems real. The Buddha said it all, and so have many others. There is no difference between them and us, except that they have realise the truth.

However, I do have a personal problem, which has caused me to get kicked out of Dharma centres. It’s the dynamics of spiritual set-ups, and the politics surrounding the teacher. The teacher needs the students, as much as the students need the teacher. So an artificiality of does and don’ts gets established, based on formerly held religious ideas, and there is thus a pressure to conform.

At the beginning of our search, we honestly want to find what is true and real, but very quickly we learn how to be pretenders. This is due us merely adhering to the status quo that has been set up: it sometimes feels like neuro-linguistic programming. We start off with “Beginner’s mind, Zen mind”… and then we learn all those fancy words, and sit on fancy cushions, in front of a very fancy shrine. A new life style has just begun – Chogyam Trungpa called this “Spiritual materialism”.

People start acting in a very ‘special’ way, which is quite unnatural.

It’s the wooden stage in our evolution. In the west we are clinging to another’s culture and ignoring our own. The ancient world has wisdom, while the modern world has energy, and they can work well together. The West has to learn to stand on its own two feet.

I once spoke to a Lama, who admitted that one cannot be honest with people…they are still too delicate.

My personal concern is, “Who was the last person to be enlightened?” I trust it is possible, as I’ve seen changes within my own mind, but I do wonder if we have to let go of letting go. This is why we need to engage in personal research, and not merely copy others.

It is possible that the answer is in devotion, and receiving blessings. I’ll let you know when I find out!

Please be yourself, and don’t copy others…you don’t know where they’ve been, or what they may have trodden in!

Tony

Freedom.

We all want freedom, but from what?

Anything that happens ‘out there’ is only recognised ‘in here’ – the mind. In formation is received by the senses, goes to the brain and is seen in the mind…and noted by Empty Awareness.

Freedom is ‘being’ liberated from ‘being’ stuck in the mind, by thoughts and those emotions. The emotions are the reaction to those thoughts. It is the emotions that are the active part of keeping us is a VIRTUAL PRISON.

If the ‘outside’ world can keep our emotions ticking over, we stay trapped.

Freedom is not reacting to the emotionS, but using them as a tool to recognise our true nature:

Empty Essence

Cognisant nature

Unconfined Compassion

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Practise makes perfect.

 Although we read and hear word, it is only in practise that anything is understood. The meaning is beyond the words. The words are necessary, but the real meaning is in experience. Conceptual understanding can convince the mind, but essence is pure experience.

 When the words say, be aware of awareness, actually sit quietly and become aware of awareness. The chattering mind may still be present, but we can still be aware of the awareness being aware of the chattering!

 If you have got that far you are doing well!!!

 The next step is merely to be aware that in the awareness nothing can be found…because that is Emptiness. You have arrived… gone, gone, gone beyond.

 Now comes the hard work…continuity! Continuity is allowing Empty Essence to be present throughout the day and night. This basically means not reacting, and remaining in spacious awareness. Not reacting stops karma being created. This does not means we do nothing, we just do not preform out of habit.

 When all karma is exhausted and we continuously rest in Empty essence…I suppose that is enlightenment….well done! Truly gone, gone, gone beyond.

 Of course between now and then we will meet a few obstacles – they are merely opportunities to transcend this vicious cycle of existence. And that’s where working with the emotions comes in handy.

All the best,

Tony

Knowing
Without knowing we wouldn’t know.
Knowing allows everything to be known.
We couldn’t ‘be’ without it!

Knowing knowing
Appreciating knowing
is the next step back.
Awareness of knowing.

Knowing, knowing knowing
Is the final stage.
It is the nature of pure knowing.
Untainted.

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There is nothing to burn.

 The demon knows the I inflames.

We ignore what we know.

Dropping our wind,

reveals pure empty essence.

There is nothing to burn.

Meaning to love.

I mean to love,

but I’m mean with love,

because I’m not comfortable with me.

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MEANING

The Experience is beyond the Word.

When Experienced the Word has real meaning.

ARGUING

Arguing is cling to like and dislike.

Drop the clinging and Enjoy the preference.

EMPATHY

Is merely Reflecting what others are feeling,

allowing space for the experience to be seen.

COMPASSION

Is Knowing other’s true nature,

And allowing it to express itself.

LOVE

Is unconditional acceptance.

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To talk of truth is worthwhile repeating,

until it is recognised in reality.

Anything else is not worth repeating,

but we do it all the same.

Still clinging to likes and dislikes?

 We naturally gravitate towards some things, and away from others. We may like tomatoes on toast and not smelly people. But if that tomatoes on toast were someone’s only food, and that smelly person had just lost the love of their life, everything changes. The person is still smelly, and the tomatoes on toast are still tasty, but its not the same, is it?

So everything is impermanent, yet at the same time there is a beauty in that impermanence. A flower is beautiful precisely because it is impermanent, more so than a plastic flower. Like and dislike is how we cope with life, on a conventional relative level.

It’s the clinging that causes the trouble. Clinging can limit everything for this lifetime…and beyond.

That is why we are born with an attitude, it reveals itself as we grow. This clinging creates a personality with an attitude. Clinging turns like and dislike into the addiction of uncontrollable desire and hatred. Then uncontrolled emotions turns into uncontrolled actions.

From an absolute view point there is no like and dislike, everything just is. It is just smell – or one taste. This is what appears before judgment.

If we can see things from an absolute and a relative point of view at the same time, we will not be so quick to react. Plus, one intelligence will have just increased. That’s our emotional intelligence EQ!

Three poisons

Desire, Aversion and Ignorance.

Desire and Aversion have a cause-

Ignorance.

Ignorance is clinging to an impermanent reality.

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Interesting is boring, boring is interesting.

A spiritual teacher, took his students to a Japanese tea drinking ceremony. Afterwards the students, said how wonderful it was. How the experience was so up lifting, so enriching, such an interesting ritual, and went home loaded down with trinkets.

They had missed to point. They were just there to drink tea. Just sit.

We tend to over elaborate, and miss the essence of the moment. We want something more interesting, and of course this becomes just another addictive insatiable pass time we have written into our script!

What is seen as boring holds the nature of originality – the origin – essence. Which can be manifested or not.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with grumpiness, depression or being dissatisfied. Because things no longer satisfies, does not mean we or those around us are wrong. It’s just time to move on, otherwise we may find our self arguing and feeling guilty. We will probably get kicked out anyway! I should know.

This is the process:

On every rung of the ladder, the same words are used but the meaning is different, more profound.

At every rung perception changes. There comes a moment when things no longer feel right, but maybe you cannot explain it or feel free to express it.

Let’s take the negative emotions.

1.  On the first level, the emotions are said to be bad. So one does not allow them in. “Do not get angry”. This is good, but the anger still arises. You may even be told to stay away from negative people. So you practise even harder, and the anger still arises. And you feel guilty. “Do not feel guilty,” they say. “Ok, I will try harder.” It gets tiring, and you tie yourself in knots. This approach is good, for some.

2.  On the next level, you can apply an antidote to the negative emotions. For anger, apply compassion, for pride apply equality and so on. This is good, this works. But it is still a only a temporary fix. The emotions still arise. So you try harder. You work so hard you now protected yourself from all angles. You are truly skilful. Alas pride and complacency wells up. This is difficult to let go of.

3.  On the next level, the emotions can now be transformed into wisdoms. They can be used. Anger becomes mirror-like wisdom, Desire becomes discriminating wisdom, Jealousy becomes all-accomplishing wisdom, Pride becomes wisdom of equality and Ignorance becomes wisdom of spaciousness. ( Take pride. You feel better than others, this feeling just arises. it’s ok! Now you see that everyone else can also have those skills. Take jealousy. You feel others are better than you, it’s ok! Now you see that you too can have those qualities. Even more importantly, the very moment you see good qualities in others, they are in you. How else could you recognise them! And so on..)

4.  On the next level, it is realised that the negative emotions never existed in the first place. It’s like a thief entering an empty house.

This is how we change. So we can start to see that the interest in trivial pursuits, is just a distraction, to the real job in hand.

The quote about being original, and looking to the origin came from Leonardo da Vinci. He was really boring!!!

It’s all there waiting for you – “Tears of unshakable boring joy.”

Tony

We have to find a suitable soap (method) to wash away our conceptual mud. Once the mud is off, we have to wash off the soap (method) as well. The soap (method) reveals our true qualities: once revealed we no longer need the soap (method).

 The problem nowadays is that we say, “Well, I don’t need the soap (method) because I have no need to wash!” Thinking this, the mud of anger, pride, fear, jealousy and hatred still remain.

Dirty Tony

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.

.

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

.

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

 .

Being Awake.

 Being awake is being just aware.

Just means nothing else.

More than just is, is back in the dream.

Being Asleep.

.

Dozing,

Tony

.

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

.

Happiness

Happiness is.

What is is?

Is is being.

When being is known,

Happiness just is.

.

tony

.

“I”

“I” is being something.

.

Tony

.

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