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.

Our Brain Is Our Jailer

Our brain is our jailer;
it keeps us in our groove,
and that’s why it’s difficult – if not impossible – to communicate with others.

Through early experiences, the brain forms in a particular way, creating pathways or patterns. These experiences hold our feelings and memories that are maintained by the mind. The brain is our hard-drive, while the software is our thoughts about this hard-drive.

It doesn’t matter what we do in later life,
our early brain experiences create our illusory limitations.

When we try to reason with someone, we often find it impossible to do so. It’s not in their spectrum of experience. This is why we find we have to generalise, so not to upset others.

The Buddha said:
“Do no harm.
Do good.
Train the mind.”

Meditation helps us know how our brain and mind works. The only way to help others is to be kind. This is how we train. If we could all communicate, the world would be the better for it.

Magic – Or Magick – Is Just Belief

Belief is, however, a powerful spell on the unwitting; a person unaware of the full facts.

The unwitting are also known as useful idiots. In political jargon, a useful idiot is a term used to reference a person perceived as propagandising for a cause originating from a devious, ruthless source without fully comprehending the cause’s goals, and who is being used cynically by the cause’s leaders.

If you get enough people to ‘believe’ in something, they can be used to rebut evidence, that is to say create conflict and confusion. If we cannot see this happening, it’s working.

Waking up to a lifetime of beliefs is a huge shock.
The mind and consciousness brighten up.

To the initiated, this is the lamp that di-spells darkness.
To the uninitiated, the lamp is left lying on the floor.

Don’t Be A Follower, Be An Arriver

Arrive at a conclusion about reality,
and never become upset if others disagree.

Why The World Is Crazy

Everyone follows everyone else,
believing they don’t know.

Dharma Bodging

Use whatever is immediately at hand.
Stop looking elsewhere.

Stop Pretending

At times, we feel grumpy, energised, flat, at peace …
Just let it be, while knowing
pure consciousness is always present.

In this way, we can honestly and empathetically engage with others,
and stop pretending we’ve got it all together.

How To Feel Good About Our Self

How to feel good about our self: laugh at everything it does.
Be grateful that we see this.
It is the culmination of all our karmic mistakes.
It is our path to enlightenment, just like a Buddha.

What we call ‘myself’, ‘I’, ‘me’ is merely consciousness’s identification with collective ideas. We have been socialised, and made to behave in a way that is acceptable to a society – the rules of the playground.

Everyone in the playground follows karmic social/cultural rules, plus their own personal karmic rules. We all play a part-act in society; it’s how we get by, with a social I. Our distracting likes and dislikes are our guide to realising enlightenment.

If we are social climbing, we are fools to nowhere.

Our self has absolutely no reality. It is a ghost in the mind that we have to exorcise – a supposedly evil spirit to get rid of :-). The mind is evil both when it’s negative and, strangely, when it’s positive. If we think we have good karma – we’re doing well, know-it-alls – this lays the way for arrogance, and the return of negative karma and hell. The richer we are, the more entitled we feel.

Only in the precise moment now is there no karma. When our habitual reactions set in, karma is re-established, and this is the reason why we are predictable, and go round in circles.

Tony isn’t well educated. His self is lacking in social ways but internally, consciousness is quite different, and just like everyone else. When this is realised, a meeting of minds is possible – and, on rarer occasions, a meeting of consciousnesses is possible too.

When we feel good about being the way we are,
true confidence arises,
together with empathetic compassion.

Why Is This A Crazy World?

We think it’s normal.
But who set that standard?

How many people question the existing state of affairs, particularly with regard to the media, politics, health, religion or military issues. We may complain, but realise that these all have something in common – they create conflict and demand money. People see what is happening in the world and either accept or reject it, and that is exactly the intention – a belief in this or that. Reaction is what sets the standard.

As long as there is conflict, people cannot work together. This will only change when more people look behind the curtain of their mind and ask, “Why did I take sides?”

How does this craziness work?
Self-replicating memes/beliefs. An idea is fed into a society and spreads like a virus via media, enabling the susceptible who are easily influenced by feelings and emotions to expand on these ideas.

The curtain in the mind is our fixations acquired by taking sides, creating micro-aggressive behaviour, both verbal and non-verbal. It slips out in everything we do and say.

We are not supposed to be like this.
It’s not normal.

Normal is what is true.
True is that which never changes.

Whatever we see is not the truth as things change.
Truth is the seeing – pure awareness.

Pure awareness cannot be crazy
as it is the essence of wisdom.

Awareness Is Never Changed By Circumstances

Awareness is never changed by circumstances and therefore, awareness is pure – pure consciousness.

It is the mind of memories that reacts and changes; consciousness identifies with this, and mistakenly assumes that it is changing.

As long as consciousness believes it is thoughts in the mind, we (consciousness) will remain deluded and confused.

In the instant when we perceive through the senses, thought is dormant. Pure seeing is not commenting and judging.

Now for the tricky part 🙂
There are two sorts of judgement: one is spontaneous, direct feedback, as in knowing how hard to hit a nail with a hammer, or how much energy to expend when jumping over a puddle.

The other judgement in born from memories, as in “I don’t like that person because of … ”. That isn’t direct seeing as it is biased, based on memories. You never know – that person may have changed. I did 😀

Do Not Follow The Dharma; Fly With It!

The Dharma is the teaching on our true reality of pure consciousness – it’s what we are. Once we know what we are, we can live life with all its karmic abnormalities, which are the consequences of our past decisions.

The more we face our peculiar ways and habitual behaviour with honesty, the easier our path. We no longer hide from ourselves; no longer running downhill with the ‘devil’, we sky dance with the enlightened ones.

We learn to fly in the sky of bliss and emptiness where we belong, instead of lumbering along the long and painful paths of samsara, searching for satisfaction but never finding it.

When we fly, we become lighter...! 🙂

The Difference Between Wanting And Needing

Need: require something because it is essential or very important rather than just desirable.
Want: have a desire to possess or do something; wish for.

Life is about what we need in order to realise inner peace and understanding of our true origin, which is simply pure consciousness, our very essence. The format our life takes is created by our previous assumptions. When we recognise this, everything that comes our way is meaningful and fruitful – even hostility.

What we actually need is immediately at hand, like the old bodger chair-makers, who travelled around the country using simple tools and whatever was available; they knew what they were looking for.

If we do not recognise that we have everything we need at hand, we will simply replay every moment of wanting something more, but without ever knowing what that something is, so life becomes one huge dissatisfaction. In this way, we become addicted to fixating and obsessing.

To be found wanting is to be lacking in what is needed.

When Humans Cannot Understand Reality,
They Make It Up

‘Making it up’ is what humans do when they don’t see clearly, as in mistaking a rope lying in a dark corner for a snake.

Long ago, from the area known as Persia, the path of non-duality = not two = pure consciousness was known to have made its way to northern India. It was called the Vedas: we are the truth that we seek – pure consciousness.

At the same time (more or less), a concept was conceived that turned non-duality into a duality, and so a belief in an external God was born. Whether this was deliberate, or created for those who could not understand non-duality isn’t clear, but its promotion lives with us today, and has caused much conflict and separation with its claim that, “The truth we seek is out there for us to unite with”.

Non-duality is unity.
Duality is separation.
It’s a subtle change.

The understanding of non-duality is for the esoteric, who realise it.
Duality is for the exoteric, who do not understand non-duality.

It all depends on our ability to comprehend.
We cannot adopt pure consciousness as it’s what we are.
This cannot be proved wrong.

Truth isn’t about converting or adopting; it’s about seeing for yourself. It certainly isn’t about believing in a name. Devotion or appreciation is to the truth that we can see, and never to a person.

What someone taught and what others say about what that someone taught may not be the same thing. Translators are not the origin.

There are two sides to religion – essence and form. Don’t just look good – show that you care. Belief is for those who are lazy, and just like a good story, full of mystery.

Knowing is the science of actual seeing which reveals that all observation comes from pure consciousness.

How Did We Get Here?

Consciousness is imprisoned in a mind/body concept.

Prison: a place where we sentient beings are held as a result of misunderstanding our true reality of pure consciousness. It’s not a punishment; it is a teaching. It’s why we are here – to learn from mistaken views.

Pure consciousness isn’t of the body/mind, but entered a body as a result of karma, which is previous misunderstandings to which we still cling. To have any sense of this, we merely have to acknowledge that the previous moment of habits – if not checked – govern the next moment. It’s a self-replicating programme.

Reincarnation is difficult to prove personally because we feel bound to the body and mind, but it’s easy enough to accept if we don’t have anything more poignant.

The way we approach this subject affects the way in which we live.
Life is either meaningful, or just a pastime.

If enlightenment is an actuality, then it is available to all. Of course, if we doubt this, we will merely pass our time in angst and pleasantries – and this is still a prison that limits our potential.

Once we get to a certain age, we become fixed, and new views are difficult to comprehend.

If we have truly realised something about life, life is fruitful. Thus, if we only learn 1% about enlightenment in this lifetime then, in a 100 lifetimes, we will be enlightened!

Having difficulties in this lifetime could mean it’s our last 🙂 Who knows? The more difficulties we experience, the more we can empathise with others’ suffering, and some may chose to come back to help. It’s what Bodhisattvas do.

Prayer of aspiration:
“May emptiness arise where it has not arisen.
May the conduct of nonviolence arise where it has not arisen.
May altruism arise where it has not arisen.”

By Definition, Magicians Lie

Magician: from Latin conjurare ‘conspire’.
Conjure: from Old French conjurer ‘to plot or exorcise’, from Latin conjurare ‘band together by an oath, conspire’ (in medieval Latin ‘invoke’) from con- ‘together’ + jurare ‘swear’.

How do magicians work?
Don’t take words as the truth.

Don’t take words as the truth.
Truth is silent observation.

News, films, all forms of media … words, words, words … is a magic trick that causes us to fall into silent vacancy; a state of not knowing, of not being aware. The right teachings counter the magicians’ effect by knowing it’s a trick, and we remain in silent observation = pure consciousness.

There is a realisation that it’s all a magic trick, an illusion, but we still like to be entertained. Pickpockets do the same thing; don’t get sucked in to what they say. Talk is the accomplice!

Root Guru – A Sticky Relationship

A root guru is our main teacher, and our strongest connection to the Dharma; it’s sometimes translated as ‘spiritual guide’. The bond is voluntary. Common sense will show us what to rely on.

We have to be aware of pretending that any relationship actually exists.

Binding oneself to a teacher and hoping that they are bound to us is an illusion. It just keeps the ‘wheels’ turning. Any guru has too many students to know anyone outside their immediate inner circle – and even then, it’s an illusion. Been there, done that. 🙂

You may be told that your Buddha-nature is your teacher. This is, in itself, a very confusing statement. You are Buddha-nature, but you’re confused because this Buddha-nature is holding on to something – a self-identity = karma! Karma is the result of previous clinging that drives our mind and body, and reveals itself in our reactions. This is our root guru/teacher as it shows us all our faults, and is therefore our personal guide.

Use common sense. No bond is necessary; we’re already stuck with karma at every moment, until enlightenment. And that doesn’t cost anything. 😀

Karma puts us in the ‘right’ place at the ‘right’ time,
commensurate (in proportion) with our tendencies.

If we are fortunate, the ‘right’ things come along.
That’s if we are aware enough to appreciate them!
🙂

“I Don’t Belong To Groups”

“I don’t belong to groups” … really?

Pride says, “I am unique; I don’t need to belong to a group.”

Ever heard of family, gender, town/country, music, culture, language, humanity…?
We are all certain types, and we fall into categories.

We are merely copycats
– one who imitates or adopts the behaviour or practices of another.

We only become unique when we realise our true essence
(and even then, we join a group 😀 ).

How Conspiracies WorK

How do conspiracies work?
By controlling information:
Belief is accepted as truth.

Coordination control = “One size fits all” = create belief en masse.
In the moment now = “One size does not fit all” as the moment now is unique.

How do we recognise conspiracies?
By the introduction of conformity.

We have our own karma to face,
rather than adopting others’ karma.

Conspiracies are slightly hidden
to create division and guise
… a presentation meant to conceal the true nature of something.

We Get Stuck Because We Copy

This is a question asked by someone in a feltmaking group on Facebook,
which sounds very familiar!
Truth is everywhere.

“How did you all move from buying wet felting kits
and following someone else’s patterns to making your own visions come to life?

“I’ve wet felted several patterns from kits at this point,
but I have so many ideas of things I’d like to make that would rely on my skill
rather than my ability to follow directions.

“I can’t seem to transition over. I get stuck.
Maybe it’s like some form of self-limiting block.
I don’t know.”

Attachment To Ancestry Is An Illusion

The idea of ancestry and family keeps us bound to sentimentality and status. Ancestry is merely a genetic code patterning in our temporary bodies. As humans have been on Earth for around two million years, our genetic codes are probably all connected: we have simply become selective in our attachments.

If we consider infinite reincarnation,
then every sentient being has been our mother …
and has eaten us.

Letting Go

Letting go is not at all difficult.
Simply drop it … drop it!

The echo may still resound, but just let that go as well.
It’s not a highfalutin spiritual experience; it’s a relief.

Gradually, we appreciate not holding on to any thought or emotion.
In that way, wisdom arises.

Words Confuse

We hear and read words differently from one another, and mistake context because of our backgrounds. This creates and maintains the different atmospheres in which we live, and is the reason why we talk at cross purposes. For instance, we may assume that we have consciousness, soul, spirit when, in reality, we are consciousness, soul, spirit. Even if we say, “I am consciousness, I am soul, I am spirit, I am”, this is not ultimately correct.

Pure consciousness is unattached, silent awareness.
It’s not a thing.

Buddhists say there is no such thing as soul, in the same way that there is no such thing as consciousness. Words confuse because they are a generalisation, and not the experience. Whatever we talk about, it’s out there in the mind; it’s some -ism, some theory.

The truth is conscious awareness, the arbiter, the supreme ruler. But even this can confuse. 🙂 As long as we are confused, evil sees to it that we have no sense of direction.

Words are not truth.
That which realises the meaning is the truth.

“But that celebrity guru said such-and-such!” Once we know, we don’t need to know what a particular celebrity guru knows. This doesn’t mean they don’t know – it’s just their version of what we know … and we’re back to generalisations.

It is because someone says something in a different way that we may doubt what we know, especially if they come from a different culture.

These words being written now are a generalisation. That which is reading and experiencing them – without intellectualisation – is the truth. The truth is never, ever ‘out there’.

Talking confuses.
Our reactions say much more.
Pure awareness of our reactions tells us everything.

There Are Other Ways

It’s very important to understand that there are other ways, otherwise we can become narrow-minded. There are many paths up to the peak.

The search for ultimate truth comes with the realisation of what it is that perceives this ultimate truth. The two are inseparable. The summit is pure consciousness but, depending on the path we choose, we may find that the summit has always been at the base. 🙂

In other words, there is no point in arguing about who has the better path. One person sees it one way and another sees it a different way. I’ve experienced sitting in retreats with 120 people and we all have individual approaches and inclinations. I definitely wouldn’t want to be in their shoes – too serious – and they, in turn, will think something odd about me. So what?

When we know where we are, does it matter if others think we shouldn’t be there?

Of course, there are momentary meetings of minds, but there comes a time when we realise our paths or vehicles are different.

There is no universal consciousness;
if there was, when one gets it, we all get it!
This doesn’t happen, does it?
It’s not a virus … 🙂

Universal consciousness is merely a substitute term for God. If we believe in a God, or universal consciousness, or universal nature, that is the path we choose, and we have to accept the consequences, which relate to something ‘out there’ and are therefore a separation. If we become upset, that is a consequence of our choice of path. If the path results in genuine understanding of others and compassion for all, then it’s worthwhile.

We should be confident in our path,
but be willing to change if refinement presents itself.

You never know – it could be God’s will 🙂

Effortlessness And Effort

To realise our true essence of pure consciousness takes no effort at all;
we let go of all presumptions, and just be.
It’s so simple, it’s hard to believe! 😀

Even though we may realise our true reality,
showing concern and listening to others is challenging,
and takes effort.

Being a theorist-therapist is only playing at being a friend.
Genuine empathy is sharing.

The more we remember our true essence,
the more compassion cuts through ignorance.

If we want to know which path to take,
we look at the people.

Are they high-minded, which takes no effort?
Or is there true compassion, which takes effort?

Enlightenment Isn’t ‘Up There’

Enlightenment isn’t ‘up there’.
It’s right here, right now.

We only have to uncover the elaborations
which add complexity and doubt,
and divide wholeness.

Handing Over Control To Others

It’s your life, not theirs.
If you choose to live their life,
you have to accept the consequences.
They don’t.

Sorting Your Self Out

We may not like what we do or say; we mean well but this well-meaning doesn’t express itself properly, and we become unable to communicate in the way we’d like. This can be even more frustrating when others lack the ability to communicate too.

Our self is a concoction – a mixture of various ingredients, an elaborate fabricated story. It is a history of memories in the mind, all of which are observed by consciousness. When we finally realise that we are that consciousness, we can sort our self out. 🙂 Actually, our self sorts us out, as it shows us our karmic tendencies.

Look after your self,
and your self will look after you.

How?!

Your self is your karma
that teaches you – consciousness – how to become enlightened
by knowing what to drop, and when to drop it.

God & God

There are two paths:
one is a belief in an external God the creator,
while the other is our supreme being of pure consciousness,
which is the wisdom of natural law.

A belief in God requires intercessors,
while the other is direct realisation of what we ultimately are.

All arguments about whether there is a God or not
are meant to divide and confuse.

Pure consciousness is barely present,
without any elaborations.