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.

Bored And Dissatisfied?

Bored and dissatisfied?
Good.
What is presented as ‘life’ is futile diligence.

Religion ties us up in a neat package,
and we no longer face the rawness of life.
We become lazy.

Reality is direct sensory perception without concepts.

People Like Me Shouldn’t Know

We assume that people who look the part are special, 
and if we believe, we can be special too.

The true route to enlightenment isn’t through belief,
it is realising why we are in
the mess and confusion we are in.

Enlightenment isn’t being special, it’s being ordinary
with no special or distinctive features.

Suddenly it’s glaringly obvious.

Buddha & Mara

We are both Buddha and Mara: clarity and confusion.
Some more, some less.

We dwell in a form and mind in keeping with our levels of realisation and delusion.
Our Mara side thinks it’s here to entertain itself – even the Dharma can be an entertainment. 
Our enlightened side knows it’s here to stabilise realisation – knowing that the Dharma can be an entertainment.

Mara occupies the mind.
The final stage of Mara is endarkenment: an enlightened ego.

Buddha nature is free of mind.
The final stage of realisation is enlightenment: absence of ego.

How Realisation Works

Realisation is an evolving process, while belief is static; it’s at the end before we even start. When we let go of belief, we are in no-man’s-land, and that is the beginning of realising our true potential. 

When we realise the Buddha’s words, “Do not take my words for the truth; test them for yourself”, we are in no-man’s-land, no-word-land. Words are not the actual truth; they are a simulation to give us direction, but they’re not actual experience. If we don’t let go of intellectualisation, we remain in a constant fixture in the mind, rather than in the wisdom of actual liberation, where we don’t fear contact with any situation.

Wisdom is realising that, no matter what happens, pure perception is ever-present, and therefore distractions which obscure pure perception are recognised as illusions. We can now smell Mara at work – the art of deception, with unwitting participants. 

As solitary practitioners, we do not waste time on formal texts or hearsay, as these are incomplete truth. If we want to give more power to this observation … an incomplete truth is a lie. This recognition maintains our path. 

Do we think that enlightenment is a guessing game?

There Is Nothing New

We will never hear anything new about our true reality of pure consciousness; there can only be a new understanding for each individual. We all live in layers of mental fixations and confusion which have to be cut through, and whatever we think is never the answer to achieving satisfaction. 

Mental gymnastics only create more conflict and suffering.

The question of our ultimate reality is a question with no answer, as pure observation is the ultimate answer that clarifies all confusion. It’s the pure observation that is the answer. Frankly, few of us get this as our minds are so indoctrinated with muddled stories that even hearing the truth of our reality can’t get through. All we hear, when people speak, is repeated stories. 

When we see, hear or read something, instead of resting in an open mind, we refer to memories that cloud any further investigation or anything we then hear. This is why most of us cannot see the truth. How often do we say something, and the listener replies, “Oh, I heard it was …” and then go on to quote a story?

Our path is not about repeating this and that, which merely maintains confusion, the hall mark of which is being defensive, and rationalising. Our path is undoing our confusion. 

The truth has always been within.

There is no Buddha out there.
There is no God out there.

We will never find the Buddha out there.
We will never find God out there.

These are illusions that make us look in the opposite direction.

Ultimate reality has always been within,
but is obscured by words and names.

The truth is beyond any words and names.

Interaction Is The Path

The real Dharma is without formalities.
It is pure experience.

Interaction tests our mind.
Is it still reactive?

No progress is made without testing.
Opening up is the process of clarity.

Truth is the natural wisdom of empathy.
Communication is the path.

Dismissing, Or Even Hating The Truth 

“No one is more hated than those who speak the truth.
-Plato

People hate an absolute truth as there is no getting away from it because it cuts through all assumptions. We dismiss the truth of our existence in favour of being entertained by a theory, rather than realising that we are the absolute truth; under the laws of karma, we are responsible for everything that happens to us. 

If we hold onto an idea that the truth is either out there in the universe or in our mind, we will live in an illusion, a fantasy. It is the pure observation of consciousness that is the truth. 

Occam’s razor is the principle that, in an event of two possible explanations, the explanation that requires the fewest assumptions is usually correct. The more assumptions you have to make, the more unlikely the explanation. The problem for believers is all the discussion that goes with belief.

The absolute truth is consciousness for, without that, nothing could be known. Our thoughts are assumptions, but we cannot deny the experience of conscious awareness. 

Pride hates to admit that reality is that simple. 
Pride likes to control.

Continued From Yesterday … 

All people and cultures have their own temperaments. Some are laid back, some are more devotional, and others are wound up. A spiritual practice has to work for the individual to bring them back to balance; one practice does not suit all.

If devotional people are given devotional practices, they will drift along.
If energetic people are given energy practices, they will go crazy.

Practices from the east may not be suitable for students in the west, where people need to understand more than merely repeat.

The Ngondro, which is 4 x 111,111 (or more) repetitions of certain practices in the culture of Tibetan Buddhism, may energise one practitioner, but create pride in another. Making prostrations is one such activity which is supposed to counter pride, but which may actually promote it.

Just ‘going along’ may not be an appropriate path for understanding.

Buddhism And Nationalism

This needs clarification.
Absolute reality is not limited to time and place.

We have to ask the question, is Buddhism being confused with others’ cultures, the same as, for example, confusing Judaism with Zionism? Where does one’s loyalty lie? 

If we become sentimental, and confuse culture with the pursuit of truth, this will have an effect on the quality of our life. 

Confusion about this can fragment our practice.
Ultimate truth is here and now; it is not about ‘then’ and ‘there’.

Religion has two aspects: a state of mind/belief, and a state of consciousness/knowingness. For decades, I wondered, “Why are we doing all this other stuff?” and “Why are so many falling in line with this other stuff?” The other stuff may make us think we’re special, but we’re merely exchanging our habit for another’s. The answer is that all creatures are victims of habit and programming.

We’re here to realise ultimate truth, and then we are released from the confinements of religion and culture.

According to Merriam-Webster: 
“Nationalism is loyalty and devotion to a nation, especially a sense of national consciousness exalting one’s nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations.”

According to The Encyclopedia Britannica:
Nationalism is an ideology based on the premise that the individual’s loyalty and devotion to the nation-state surpasses other individual or group interests.

“Nationalism is a modern movement. Throughout history, people have been attached to their native soil, to the traditions of their parents, and to established territorial authorities, but it was not until the end of the 18th century that nationalism began to be a generally recognised sentiment moulding public and private life and becoming one of the great – if not the greatest – single determining factors of modern history.”

Whatever Happened To Me?

‘Me’ is an idea held in the mind, a conglomeration of adopted concepts and traumas that consciousness believes it is, and which clouds pure perception. This is our guiding darkness. 🙂 Our guiding light, however, is that which sees all these comings and goings in the mind.

So, what happened to ‘me’? Self usually appears when we’re confronted with other people, and the old traumas arise. When we become familiar with this process, the guiding light turns on – the clarity of consciousness. On observation, self disappears. 😀

It is through meditation, analysis and putting the three poisons of desire, aversion and ignorance to the test, that realisation occurs. Every instant is a test – a procedure intended to establish the quality, performance, or reliability of something. 

This is taking the Buddha’s advice, ‘Test it for yourself’, to heart.

The word ‘test’ is derived from the Latin testum, which means a small earthen pot. In the past, metal mixtures were tried out by melting them in a special type of earthen container to see whether some purified metal is left.

While we are testing, the ‘me’ is taken out of the picture; that observation comes from pure consciousness. Any conclusion is a reflection of the level of each individual’s practice. 

In the moment of testing, there is no ‘me’ as there is just pure observation.
We don’t have to make consciousness pure; it’s already pure.

We Judge By Our Own Standards

When we judge by our own standards, 
we reveal our state of mind.

Know Waffle

‘Spiritual waffle’ refers to speaking or writing in a vague, nonsensical manner without getting to the point. It’s cultural intellectualisation rather than direct teaching, and can provide temporary comfort, but that’s all.

As waffle never gets to the point, we keep returning in case we missed something before. “Well, it sounded right, but I must have missed the point.” As a spiritual marketing strategy, that gets everyone nodding their heads in embarrassment. Popular Dharma-philosophy is an interest in history, names and words for those who like to feel intellectualised. 🙂 It’s exoteric teachings for the many, and waffle becomes a way of life. There may be a love of wisdom, but that’s not wisdom itself. It’s an introduction, but we stay at that level if we don’t wise-up.

We are pure consciousness right now, beyond the words. Authentic Dharma is actual direct realisation beyond any popular philosophy which makes us think we have to go to a ‘higher plain of consciousness’ – that’s waffle.

When we know waffle, we get no waffle.

Why is this so important?
To break through the levels.

‘Word salad’ is never satisfying.

Are Gurus Actors With Good Scripts?
🙂

In all walks of life, we get carried away by words and names. Once these are learnt, we act out our part, constantly referring to the script.

Are gurus and students actors with good scripts?
It’s for this reason that the Buddha said, “Do not take my words for the truth; test them for yourself.”

The Dharma-script is a generalisation to release us from suffering, but it is we who have to release ourselves from the script, and experience the truth.

We merely have to see our self in action
to see the actor act.

This seeing is meditation in action.
The absolute truth is beyond words.

Are There Levels Of Consciousness?

Are there levels of consciousness?
No.
There are levels of obscuration.

Consciousness is clarity.

The unenlightened see obscurations in others.
A Buddha sees Buddha nature.

(Obscuration: fixating and holding on to ideas and obsessions that have been inserted into our minds and which we’ve adopted, distracting and creating our behaviour and attitude.)

Recognising The Inability To Comprehend

Recognising the inability to comprehend is wisdom in action:
“What do I say?”
In that gap, reflection and insight can arise.

That recognition is the beginning of true compassion 
for self (our mind’s construct) and others (mind constructs).

Recognition is the beginning of the advanced practice of wisdom.

We aren’t taught how to be compassionate; we just assume that we are. We may talk, chant or pray about compassion-morality, but can we or do we apply it? Do we know right from wrong? What is true and what is untrue? The display of wisdom-compassion is rare. 

It all depends on whether or not we can comprehend what’s behind another’s words, and whether they’re able to comprehend what we’re saying. If indoctrination is present on either side, no communication is possible. 

Does compassion challenge ego, or soothe it? Again, we have to perceive how we feel and how the other feels, depending on our ability to comprehend. 

Ego may need challenging, or it may need soothing, but both must be done through wisdom.

The Creation Of Our Brain Architecture

The creation of our brain architecture
is the pathway to heaven or hell.

The brain is our hard drive; our mind is the software, or memories.
Delete the software, and reboot the hard drive to repair malfunction.
Consciousness is recovered.
🙂

The architecture of neuron pathways is created in our early years; traumas play a great part in this structure of our brains, and the ‘magicians’ have known this for thousands of years. These early traumas have an effect on our adult lives in the form of fears, pride, insecurities… This can be changed, but we need great deal of clarity to counter the effects.

We note how most people cannot change, so how do we? By understanding what the essence of life is, what our ultimate reality is, and what is and isn’t necessary. We need a clear view, rather than being drawn into others’ brain architecture.

This blog isn’t entertainment. It proves that even a really insecure person can change, and realise their true being.

The question may be asked, “Does life get better?” This depends on how we we look at it. It can seem worse, but this is because we’re merely noticing more. Also, it’s getting better precisely because we are noticing more. It’s a win-win situation, whether pleasant or unpleasant. One still has karmic brain architecture to deal with, and wonky bits remain 🙂 such as doubt.

Why doubt?
After being involved with ‘spiritual’ groups for over five decades, it seems that adherence to form and lack of true compassion is prevalent, and anyone who doesn’t believe and conform is considered an infidel. There is thus a residue of doubt, but how can pure awareness be wrong?

We don’t need to be experts to know that we are pure consciousness. 
It actually stands to reason.

Ultimate Truth

Ultimate truth – the clarity of consciousness – is ignored daily. We just don’t value the fact that we are fortunate to be here to realise this. It’s not a theory to believe in; it’s the essence of all sentient beings. 

This clarity is omniscience, simply because consciousness which is uncontaminated knows the fundamental laws of the infinite universe: attraction, repulsion and inertia keep everything in motion, and the mind deluded.

These laws which capture consciousness do not change in the infinite timeless universe. They’re not inherently evil; they just are. Evil is using these laws to benefit ourselves. We usually think of our self as this body and mind, but the idea of self is a temporary state and, as such, is a mental ball and chain. 

The ultimate truth is that these same gross laws – attraction, repulsion and inertia – can transform our being into enlightened activity when they are realised as emptiness, consciousness and compassion. 

When we are self-obsessed, we lack compassion. Compassion arises because wisdom sees that beings have turned to the gross forms of these natural laws.

Reinventing Reality

To say that reality is like this or like that obscures the direct vision of pure consciousness which is the only provable reality that never changes. Seeing must obviously come first. As pure consciousness is non-dual, it does not relate to anything. Pure consciousness is our original reality.

We’re taught to relate, to get involved, and to forget the original moment of just seeing.

Humanity is encouraged to believe in and worship an invisible deity which we’re said to be part of, and which made us and guides us. One such invention goes by the term ‘shards of consciousness’, which states that we are all parts of the one consciousness. 

Evil is the clever art of misdirection – “Look at this!” and “Look at that!” – and, all the while, pure seeing is ignored. Have the shards acknowledged what they have done to the world? Made in the image of what? Chaos?!

Realisation is being awake to our true reality, 
and never being fooled.

Why Write?

So much is pointing us in an opposite direction.

By becoming caught up in the form of life – conforming by performing – we may doubt what we are and what we’re supposed to be doing.

I’ve always wanted to be a ‘proper’ person, conforming to established standards of behaviour so as to lead a proper life, and not appear odd and out of place. It never happened. I realised that everyone else was acting oddly. Why?

Following the leader is a children’s game where we learn to copy others, and this continues throughout life, including our spiritual life. Are we following the leader, or following someone who is following the leader? Seeking the ultimate truth hasn’t been easy, as most of it is dressed up in rituals, incantations and devotion to a figurehead; this is called guru yoga, but all it does is make us dependent.

After nearly sixty years of discipline, the penny dropped from the ‘amusement machine’. Realisation of absolute truth reveals a shocking world of deceit, lies and elaborations – an exaggeration of follow the leader.

The moment I read the Buddha’s words, “Don’t believe my words, test them for yourself”, I found what I could trust – my own warped mind 😀 which was merely acting out a character. Recognition of this illusory ego reminds consciousness that that character has no reality; reality is in consciousness’s uncontaminated purity.

When we don’t believe anyone, life becomes spontaneously interesting and insightful.
Of course, I could be wrong … so don’t take my word for it.

😀

Evil Doesn’t Know It’s Evil

Evil doesn’t know it’s evil;
it thinks it’s righteous.

Confusion obscures clarity.
Clarity is insight.

Pickpockets Pick The Mind, Not The Pocket

Pickpockets pick the mind, not the pocket.
It’s all about misdirection.

As long as we are following words, 
we forget what’s within, looking out.

Ordinary Realisation For Ordinary People

We don’t have to be special to recognise our true reality. 
Realising the truth – our original state – isn’t being
clever, intellectual, or devotional.

It’s a simple mind. 
A simple mind just sees, does whatever is necessary,
and drops it.

The essence of all sentient beings is pure consciousness,
which is common to all, and therefore nothing special.

Suffering: Stuck In An Idea

When we cling to an idea, we become stubborn and hostile through pride, creating suffering not only for us, but for those around us. We treat our ideas with great personal affection. Omniscience is seeing the whole picture.

Consciousness is our innate essence, free of ideas. It is just pure cognisance. Pure cognisance sees the whole picture, without any ideas to obscure it.

The Exoteric And The Esoteric

The exoteric follow the exotic.
The esoteric realise the essence.

The exoteric: words intended for the public.
The esoteric: beyond words, and realised by the few.

Chasing after ‘secrets’ is Mara’s game.
Realising we are the secret is the enlightened game.

Our Natural State Is Order

The natural state of mind is calm, still clarity.
Anything else is a disorder … 
a mental disorder. 

Our natural state is compassionate, empathetic 
and patient.

Patient: from Latin patient -‘suffering’.
Able to accept or tolerate problems or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.

Word Salad

Word salad: Tossing words from a dictionary into a salad bowl, 
and then pulling them out randomly to make a sentence.

Spiritual jargon is like that – people use words without experience to impress.

A word salad is the tactical use of speech that is difficult to understand and has absolutely no meaning; it is an attempt to maintain dominance, create confusion and divert attention.

There are people in all walks of life who use word salads to maintain authority, when the absolute truth of being is within each of us, and beyond words.

Being Impressionists 

Communicating with others is a precarious business which collapses easily because we usually try to impress. However, we can only impress others with similar fixations in the same circle of existence.

The more we understand, 
the smaller the circle becomes. 

When the truth of our being – pure consciousness – is realised, there is no circle. We are alone, and have no need to impress. 

The power of aloneness is truly inspiring; we can think outside the box, and are no longer distracted by impressive words. We have no need to become impressionists. 🙂

This is why we may lose ‘friends’, but gain connections … !

Homo Sapiens – Clever But Not Wise

Humans can learn to do such clever things, 
and boast about them,
but how many know their true reality?

🙂

Empathy (continued)

Empathy is understanding how our ideas and feelings come about through mental osmosis. None of us have an original thought; thoughts are placed in our minds through social interaction – or rather, social engineering – which we adopt, creating unconscious bias, and we become a type, even a spiritual type.

Social interaction may seem harmless, but it reinforces social cohesion, and stickiness to a cultural type. 

Does this satisfy?
Not at all.
t’s just wooden.

The moment when we recognise evil (that which obscures our true essence) is the moment of wisdom and empathy; we understand how we’ve become mental clones.