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.

Life Is Personal Investigation

Personal investigation is direct, raw experience. In adopting others’ views about life, however, we can obscure whatever we directly experience, which causes confusion and conflict. Raw experience may feel uncomfortable until we become familiar with it; this is personal learning.

We aren’t here to join a ‘club’. We’re here to solve a problem by asking, “What am I doing here?”

To “join the club” means that we are in the same confused situation as others, but that confusion and conflict changes, and this is what is meant by ‘levels of realisation’. We don’t all see the same problem, and the problem behind the problem.

Families are clubs; religions are clubs; work is a club; activities are clubs; adopted concepts are a club … a club is an idea that we join, and then hit others over the head with it 😀 Our judgements are based on the club rules, and club members can become obsessive.

Obsession: late Middle English, referring to an evil spirit, from Latin obsess- ‘besieged’.

Being unenlightened, we are all besieged by an evil spirit of self or group identity. This false impression – this imprint that we adopted from our ‘betters’ for reasons of safety – is what makes life unsatisfactory.

We investigate by having a clear mind.

Meditation isn’t just being ’empty’. Emptiness is the clarity required for personal investigation and verification of the source of our confusion. The purpose of life is to know what and how we are, and then we can empathise with how others are. In this way, we can be helpful to others because we know what is driving them (it makes sense that this knowledge can also be used to enslave us).

Never take anyone’s word for what life is about; these words are merely opinions. The Buddha was an expert, and he said, “Don’t trust me; see for yourself.” When we are told to ‘trust the science’, who are we trusting? The science or whoever told us?

Apparent But Empty

All things seem clearly visible, understood, and obvious while,
at the same time, they are empty of permanent reality
as they come and go.
All things come to pass.

In understanding this, we take our first steps to wisdom – and freedom.

Believing things to be real, we fall into an illusion.
We need to question; what is real and what isn’t?

Science sees reality as whatever we perceive.
That which perceives is consciousness.
This is the reality as it never changes.

Believing things to be real causes consciousness to become confused,
and fall deeper in illusions.

Pure consciousness is cognisant and empty;
it is uncontaminated, and so it’s never confused.

There is a reason why people turn to the spiritual question
of whether there is more to us than just matter and ideas.

Nature Will Always Win

Humans try to outsmart nature, not knowing the nature of nature; nature will survive.
Scientists may exploit nature temporarily, and nature reacts. The nature of nature is reaction – attraction and repulsion. Nature can never kill itself, as it is one huge, universal, infinite continuity.

The obsessed think they can have it all, when nature has it all.

Our true being is beyond physical nature. Knowing this, we free ourselves from our nature – our likes and dislikes, our attractions and repulsions. Whatever we think we can do, our true being of pure consciousness looks on, transcending nature. How can we say that we don’t see this?

We are so busy admiring the display of nature’s reactions – and what we can get out of this – that we dismiss the eye of the beholder. How can we say that we don’t see this?

Our nature is consciousness; if this is untrained, it is just reactive. When it is trained, consciousness realises its ethereal purity, which is the very essence of wisdom and beauty, and beyond physical nature.

How can we say that we don’t see this?
We are no different from the awakened ones.

Unshakeable Inner Security

The consequence of unshakeable inner security is compassion.

We can wish to have compassion for all, but that is just a wish – and may not even be a good wish, as wishing means we don’t actually have to do anything.

When we are convinced and realise our true essence, that becomes our primordial protector. To remain compassionate, there are lines we do not cross.

Wishful compassion is not compassion. It may feel good, but isn’t reliable.

This ‘primordial protector’ has many names.
Realising this natural state of being,
we know everyone else’s original nature.

It is when others forget that sadness arises within us.
That sadness is empathetic compassion.

Don’t get emotional.
Get compassionate.
🙂

Encumbered By Do’s And Don’ts

To free ourselves from our own dogma,
we cut the roots in our mind.

These roots are the do’s and don’ts we have acquired,
which cause us moments of discomfort.

This discomfort is invaluable in that it reveals our fixations.
Seeing these in the instant they arise,
we remain stable and at peace.

Now, we can see what to do, and what not to do,
without holding on to do’s and don’ts.

Through this mind training,
we do no harm.

Who Do We Listen To?

There are always other sides to a ‘story’. In any walk of life, experts differ in the way in which they approach or express something; art, music, science, health, education, economics, politics … Buddhism.

Here is a list from Wikipedia of the main traditions in Buddhism. Remember that each tradition then has many outlets, monasteries, and groups in many countries and therefore, many teachers …

• Indian Theravāda

• Sri Lankan Theravāda

  • Amarapura–Rāmañña Nikāya

    • Delduwa

    • Kanduboda (or Swejin Nikaya)

    • Tapovana (or Kalyanavamsa)

    • Sri Lankan Forest Tradition

  • Siam Nikaya

    • Waturawila (or Mahavihara Vamshika Shyamopali Vanavasa Nikaya)

• Burmese Theravāda

  • Thudhamma Nikaya

    • Vipassanā tradition of Mahasi Sayadaw and disciples

  • Shwegyin Nikaya

  • Dvaya Nikaya or Dvara Nikaya (see Mendelson, Sangha and State in Burma, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, 1975)

  • Hngettwin Nikaya

• Thai Theravāda

  • Maha Nikaya

    • Dhammakaya Movement

    • Mahasati meditation (mindfulness meditation)

  • Thammayut Nikaya

    • Thai Forest Tradition, focused on monastic living in the wilderness.

  • Santi Asoke, a recent reform movement.

• Cambodian Theravāda

  • Maha Nikaya

  • Thammayut Nikaya

• Tantric Theravada, includes many esoteric elements not present in classic Theravāda

• Vietnamese Theravāda

• Laotian Theravāda

• Dai Theravāda in China

• Bangladeshi Theravāda

  • Sangharaj Nikaya

  • Mahasthabir Nikaya

• Nepalese Theravāda

  • Dharmodaya Sabha

• Vipassana movement, a strongly lay-focused meditation-based movement, popular in the West (where it is also known as “Insight Meditation”)

• Western Theravāda Buddhism

Jingtu (Pure Land)

• • Guanyin Buddhism (Syncretized with Chinese folk religion and Taoism)

  • Lüzong (Vinaya school)

  • Chengshi (Satyasiddhi- historical)

  • Kosa (Abhidharmakośa- historical)

  • Sanlun (Mādhyamaka)

  • Weishi (Yogācāra)

  • Niepan (Nirvana- historical)

  • Dilun (Daśabhūmikā- absorbed into Huayan)

  • Tiantai

  • Huayan

  • Chan (Zen)

    • Sanjiejiao (historical)

    • Oxhead school (historical)

    • East Mountain Teaching (historical)

      • Heze school (historical)

      • Hongzhou school (historical)

        • Guiyang school

        • Linji school

      • Caodong school

      • Fayan school (absorbed into Linji school)

      • Yunmen school (absorbed into Linji school)

    • Tibetan Chan (historical)

  • Zhenyan (Esoteric)

  • Humanistic Buddhism

    • Chung Tai Shan

    • Dharma Drum Mountain

    • Fo Guang Shan

    • Tzu Chi

• Vietnamese Buddhism

  • Tịnh Độ (Pure Land)

  • Thiên Thai (Tiantai)

  • Hoa Nghiêm (Huayen)

  • Thiền (Zen)

    • Lâm Tế (Linji school)

    • Tào Động (Caodong school)

    • Trúc Lâm (Syncretized with Taoism and Confucianism)

    • Plum Village Tradition (Engaged Buddhism)

      • Order of Interbeing

  • Đạo Bửu Sơn Kỳ Hương (Millenarian movement)

    • Hòa Hảo (Reformist movement)

• Śaiva-Mahayana in Southeast Asia (historical, syncretized with Hinduism)

• Korean Buddhism

  • Tongbulgyo (Interpenetrated Buddhism – including Jeongto, or Pure Land)

  • Gyeyul (Vinaya school- historical)

  • Samnon (Mādhyamaka- historical)

  • Beopsang (Yogācāra- historical)

  • Yeolban (Nirvana- historical)

  • Wonyung (Avatamsaka- historical)

  • Cheontae (Tiantai)

  • Hwaeom (Huayen- absorbed into Jogye Order)

  • Seon (Zen)

    • Jogye Order

      • Kwan Um School of Zen

    • Taego Order

  • Wonbulgyo (Korean Reformed Buddhism)

  • Jingak Order (Shingon syncretized with Humanistic Buddhism)

• Japanese Buddhism

  • Pure Land

    • Jōdo-shū

    • Jōdo Shinshū

      • Nishi Hongan-ji

      • Higashi Hongan-ji

        • Ōtani-ha

    • Ji-shū

    • Yūzū-nembutsu-shū

  • Risshū (Vinaya school)

  • Jojitsu (Satyasiddhi – historical, syncretized with Sanron)

  • Kusha (Abhidharmakośa – historical, syncretized with Hossō)

  • Sanron (Mādhyamaka – historical)

  • Hossō (Yogācāra)

  • Kegon (Huayen syncretized with Shingon)

  • Mikkyō (Esoteric)

    • Tendai (Tiantai syncretized with Zhenyan, Lüzong and Oxhead school)

    • Shingon (Zhenyan)

      • Kōyasan Shingon-shū

      • Shingon Risshu (Syncretized with Risshū)

      • Shingon-shu Buzan-ha

      • Shingon-shū Chizan-ha

      • Shinnyo-en

    • Shugendo (Syncretized with Shinto, Taoism and Onmyōdō)

  • Zen (Chan)

    • Rinzai (Linji school)

      • Fuke-shū (Historical)

    • Sōtō (Caodong school)

    • Ōbaku (Linji school syncretized with Jingtu)

    • Sanbo Kyodan (Sōtō syncretized with Rinzai)

      • White Plum Asanga

        • Ordinary Mind Zen School

        • Zen Peacemakers

  • Nichiren Buddhism

    • Nichiren Shū

    • Honmon Butsuryū-shū

    • Kempon Hokke

    • Nichiren Shōshū

• Western Mahāyāna Buddhism

  • Zen in the United States

Indian Buddhist Mahasiddhas, 18th century, Boston MFA.

Esoteric Buddhism, also known as Vajrayāna, Mantrayāna, Tantrayāna, Secret Mantra, and Tantric Buddhism is often placed in a separate category by scholars due to its unique tantric features and elements. Esoteric Buddhism arose and developed in medieval India among esoteric adepts known as Mahāsiddhas. Esoteric Buddhism maintains its own set of texts alongside the classic scriptures, these esoteric works are known as the Buddhist Tantras. It includes practices that make use of mantras, dharanis, mudras, mandalas and the visualization of deities and Buddhas.

Main Esoteric Buddhist traditions include:

• Indian Esoteric Buddhism (Historical)

• Ari Buddhism (Historical)

• Tantric Theravada

• Indonesian Esoteric Buddhism

• Philippine Esoteric Buddhism

• Azhaliism

• Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, the most widespread of these traditions, is practiced in Tibet, parts of North India, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Mongolia.

  • Nyingma

  • Bön (Indigenous, often considered “pre-Buddhist” in origin)

  • Kadam (Historical)

  • Sakya

  • Bodong

  • Jonang

  • Kagyu

  • Gelug

  • Tibetan Pure Land

  • Rimé movement (Non-sectarian)

  • New Kadampa Tradition

  • Kalmyk Buddhism

  • Buryat Buddhism

  • Tuvan Buddhism

  • Mongolian Buddhism

  • Bhutanese Buddhism

• Newar Buddhism (Nepal)

• Chinese Esoteric Buddhism (zhenyan, 真言)

  • True Buddha School

• Korean Esoteric Buddhism (milgyo, 密教)

  • Jingak Order (Shingon syncretized with Humanistic Buddhism)

• Japanese Mikkyo

  • Shingon

    • Shinnyo-en

  • Shugendo (Syncretized with Shinto, Taoism and Onmyōdō)

• Western Vajrayāna Buddhism

New Buddhist movements

Taixu, the founder of Chinese Humanistic Buddhism

Various Buddhist new religious movements arose in the 20th century, including the following.

• Aum Shinrikyo

• Buddhist modernism

• Coconut Religion

• Dhammakaya Movement

• Diamond Way

• Engaged Buddhism

  • Plum Village Tradition

    • Order of Interbeing

• Forshang Buddhism World Center

• Gedatsukai

  • Gedatsu Church of America

• Guanyin Famen

• Hòa Hảo

• Ho No Hana

• Humanistic Buddhism

  • Chung Tai Shan

  • Dharma Drum Mountain

  • Fo Guang Shan

  • Tzu Chi

• Jingak Order

• Juniper Foundation

• Kenshōkai

• Kokuchūkai

• Kwan Um School of Zen

• Navayana (“New Way”), also known as Dalit Buddhist movement, and “Ambedkarite” Buddhism

• New Kadampa Tradition

• Nipponzan Myōhōji

• PL Kyodan

• Reiyūkai

  • Bussho Gonenkai Kyōdan

  • Myōchikai Kyōdan

  • Myōdōkai Kyōdan

  • Risshō Kōsei Kai

• Rulaizong

• Sanbo Kyodan

  • White Plum Asanga

    • Ordinary Mind Zen School

    • Zen Peacemakers

• Secular Buddhism

• Shambhala Buddhism

• Share International

• Shinnyo-en

• Shōshinkai

• Sōka Gakkai

• Tibbetibaba

• Triratna Buddhist Community

• True Buddha School

• Vipassana movement

• Western Buddhism

  • Buddhism in Australia

  • Buddhism in Europe

    • Buddhism in Austria

    • Buddhism in Denmark

    • Buddhism in Italy

    • Buddhism in Russia

    • Buddhism in Slovenia

    • Buddhism in the United Kingdom

  • Buddhism in the United States

    • Zen in the United States

• Won Buddhism

In the end, we listen to our conscience,
and to whatever karma brings up in our life.

Nature Is Beautiful, But …

Nature is beautiful, but that which is beyond ‘nature’ is more beautiful– and terrifying.

We become so hooked by surface values that we limit our understanding of our true nature. This is both amazing … and shocking. We wander around in awe of everything we see, repeating all the names and creating new varieties. Knowing the code of nature, we can create other things and believe we are all powerful, but nature has a way of reacting to that. Becoming so sophisticated, any inconvenience has to have a solution.

Caught and held by our deep appreciation of nature, some even call this ‘spiritual’. Even though we may be spiritually mindful in whatever we do, this merely enhances our feeling of self and pride.

It is here that mindfulness falls down. We may be able to care about everything that we do, but never see the light within and instead, are dreamy and sentimental, unable to see and realise the deeper code.

And there is a deeper code –
Nature, the universe and sentient beings are run by three principles: attraction, repulsion and inertia. In human terms: desire, aversion and indifference / ignorance. That’s it. That is what keeps us and – nature – running around in circles and cycles.

The even deeper code –
The beautiful news is that, the very moment we notice we’re being caught in the three negative emotions of desire, aversion and indifference / ignorance, we are free. And we stop talking eloquent nonsense 🙂

These three negative principles are, in truth, the wisdoms of purity/emptiness, consciousness and unlimited compassion.

The following is the correlation of these negative emotions and wisdoms:

Desire = Emptiness.
Desire fills emptiness with concepts.

Aversion = Consciousness.
Aversion arises when consciousness forgets its empty essence; an ‘I’ is created and starts judging.

Ignorance = Compassion.
Ignorance is forgetting the true nature of all sentient beings, which is both empty and conscious. We thus lack compassion, as compassion arises from an understanding of that true nature.

These three negative emotions are used by the demonic mind in order to enslave others through a lack of compassionate empathy. We are all part of this demonic process when we are ignorant of our true nature.

Programmed To Be Ignorant

Consciousness is the real power and wealth in the world,
but only a few know this.
The dark is self-obsession, while the light is selflessness.
In between, no one is bothered.

How many realise the essence of consciousness?
A handful.
Many know about the essence of consciousness, but that is just theory.

We are educated to be drones. Beliefs are placed in our subconscious when we’re young, creating a basis for our future mindset, which is then maintained by distractions throughout life. We are programmed to shop for things and ideas – but, buyer beware.

Everything we do or think is due to consciousness, but most ignore consciousness. Power is not in money; power is in knowledge. True wealth and power comes from understanding, seeing potential and opportunity. The many only know this to a point (exoteric knowledge), while the few know it completely (esoteric knowledge). The esoteric is direct seeing; direct knowingness of pure consciousness.

There are non-physical entities that exist in our mind, outside physical reality: these are gross, self-serving images within us all – ideas that were placed in our minds when we were young. Unfortunately, we use these beliefs to find ways to keep ourselves enslaved, so that we don’t have to reason for ourselves. Look back on your life: is there a system that you entered through unconscious consent?

Consider … what are Christmas and the Buddha’s birthday all about? 🙂 These – and other celebrations – keep us in poverty by diverting our attention through a mass public display, when such an occasion should be spent in quiet contemplation.

We have been programmed
– on a ‘biblical’ scale –
to accept certain mindsets.

If you recognise this,
you have always known it
– but have ignored it.

Can A Buddhist Ever Be Offended?

If a Buddhist was ever offended, they would not be Buddhist; they would be an ordinary, religious person taking comfort in sentimentality. Buddhism is not a belief system as it is realisation of our reality; as such, we cannot be offended at the misunderstanding of others. A Buddhist should know the very nature of reality, and whatever illusions obscure that reality, and transcend these with compassion.

Being offended creates equivalent karma,
as we will continue to be offended,
because we have not transcended the idea of self.

Karma is precise,
and intention is very powerful.
Our karmic response can go one of two ways:
round in circles, or brought to a happy ending.

How The Truth Becomes A Lie

The truth becomes a lie when our attention is manoeuvred or directed to some other truth, and we become distracted.

Politics and religion both teach us this lesson. We are encouraged to follow the form and wave flags, rather than realise what is actually taking place. This is a form of hypnosis. Deception has to have an element of truth for it to feel comfortable. A hypnotist diverts our attention away from one subject to another, making us do things through suggestion. We are susceptible because we’ either desperate to please, or we’re too busy being competitive to realise the truth that is taking place.

Between truth and lies, there is a grey area – and this happens more often than we might think. It is called ‘paltering’: the active use of selective, truthful statements in order to mislead = spin!

As a result of this behaviour, people become cynical, and mistrust. This mistrust is then used to categorise us and, in this way, we are divided without our consent. If we question, we become dis-believers.

So, next time you hear a fact that sounds odd,
or someone deflects a question,
be aware that what appears to be the truth
may either be a deception, or ignorance.

When we realise that the truth is our own conscience,
we are on unshakeable ground.

“It’s Easier To Fool Someone Than …”

“It’s easier to fool someone, 
than to convince them they have been fooled.”

– Mark Twain.

Once We Conform, We Go On Conforming

Once we conform, we go on conforming,
creating a belief to dispel ‘bad spirits’.

An addiction to a lucky charm.