Mara activity makes situations worse. Mara: demonic consciousness (Sanskrit).
Being aware of consequences,
we are no longer be surprised.
Mara lies in ambush in all our minds, looking for weaknesses in others and exploiting them. Mara mentality uses natural differences, exaggerating them to divide and conquer. Always look at the sequences of events that lead up to a situation, and the compound after-effects. Be aware of misdirection and redirection.
Has the world gone back to where it was before the destruction of the twin towers in 2001, or the banking crisis in 2008, or the Arab Spring in 2010? No; there have been massive repercussions to all these events. The older generation is blamed for climate change. Covid-19 is now called ‘Boomer Remover’ by the young (‘baby boomers’ were children born just after world war 2, so there are a lot of us about!)
The outcome of Mara activity is always the same; over-reaction and aggression.
We all have demonic forces within our mind when we succumb to likes and dislikes. The hidden hand of Mara creates hopes and fears. Be aware, and don’t be surprised.
The only thing that we can control is our own mind. We do that by knowing the essence of mind, which is pure consciousness, and recognising whatever obscures this. We are controlled by being wound up = wounded.
In troubled times, be full of understanding, empathy and compassion.
Awareness is self-healing.
The more that we engage in spiritual practices of understanding, empathy, compassion, generosity and so forth … the more we attract good fortune. The more selfish we are, the more we attract misfortune. A happy mind or an unhappy mind. A good heart or a heavy heart.
In spiritual practices there is no personal gain, but we do find that our mind is calmer and insightful. We simply do whatever is necessary, and we also find that we are given space and time just to be.
Our relative reality is created by consciousness relating to everything. This is our dualistic existence; we believe appearances in the mind to be real. The mind is where our world takes place – but there is something we forget 🙂
Ultimately, nothing can be said to exist, as everything is a temporary event in the mind to which we have been relating. All appearances in the mind are witnessed by pure consciousness that does not relate to anything. Pure consciousness is our ultimate reality, and just is. Ordinary, relative consciousness has cluttered itself with relationships within the ultimate reality of empty cognisance.
From an ultimate point of view, appearances and recognition are simultaneous; there is no relating. Now, if we choose, we can relate but this is no longer a permanent arrangement. 😀
In relative reality, we rely on dependency, and so remain needy because we doubt our ultimate reality of pure consciousness. We create associations, such as God and someone to blame (the Devil/Mara). God and the Devil represent hope and fear. In ultimate reality we are free of doubt, and there is no need for dependency on either a God or someone to blame.
Our original nature is pure consciousness, which is all encompassing wisdom and compassion. It is our ego – our ideas – that deny this purity of consciousness.
Ultimate consciousness is the clear mirror.
Relative reality is the reflections in the mirror
to which we relate and believe to be real.
Esoteric, relative reality is vertical thinking – “It is this!”
Exoteric, ultimate reality is lateral thinking – “What is it?”
(Vertical thinking is a sequence of logical steps to come to a conclusion from information gained. Lateral thinking, on the other hand, is directly questioning the source of that information to see if it is valid.)
Sadhguru: “If you generate a powerful thought, you can make certain things happen. You can have a certain power over other people and situations. This will give you a high, but it is not the ultimate solution to life. You may be effective in the world, but within yourself, you’re still a mess.”
Whatever we think of as our unique self is merely a misunderstanding of what we actually are. Consciousness, through specific desires, creates a code that takes form to satisfy those desires, and that has consequences.
It is because we forgot our true reality that this code is now controlling us, as revealed through our reactions and behaviour. This code develops from the universal code of desire, aversion and indifference to which we all respond – it’s the universal virus! We are released from the code when we recognise and tame the habitual re-enactments of our body, speech and mind. That karmic code is our teacher; in this way, all karma becomes wisdom.
When realised, it is seen as the wisdom of emptiness, cognisance and compassion; in Sanskrit, this is known as the three Kayas.
This is how negative emotions are wisdoms.
This is how karma becomes our teacher.
This how we crack the code.
=
Letting go is so satisfying:
it means we have learnt something
and can now move on.
Madness: A state of having a serious mental illness – unable to control one’s mind. Extremely foolish behaviour – unable to control one’s speech. A state of wild or chaotic activity – unable to control one’s body.
Remedy:
Be aware of what we are doing, and be shocked.
If we cannot be aware,
then we seek help from someone who is sane.
If we can recognise someone who is sane,
then we don’t need help.
There are two aspects to spiritual teachings on consciousness; the goal, and that which prevents us from scoring the goal. If we don’t know how to play with the ball, we’ll never score!
We all want to hear that, in reality, we are enlightened beings – brilliant footballers! – so is that all we need to know? It’s only when we can be precise in acknowledging that which prevents this realisation that enlightenment can occur.
If we only want to hear good things, we are malfunctioning within our belief system. The very acknowledgement of an obstacle means that we can then clear it. In spiritual terms, these obstacles don’t exist; they belong to belief. Being able to acknowledge obstacles is the way in which we become spiritual engineers/scientists/psychologists/doctors/reliable friends who can empathise.
Only wanting to hear good things is the devil’s work.
😀
Knowing how the devil works is the good thing.
😀
“The devil is our own likes and dislikes
waiting in ambush.”
-Tsoknyi Rinpoche
Meditation isn’t to make us feel good.
We meditate in order to acknowledge we are awareness itself.
If we don’t recognise our original state of consciousness (what we are), we are bound up in ordinary consciousness that remains confused. The original state of consciousness is constant, but is covered by concepts and fixations about its self – protecting its self, playing with its self and constantly rehearsing as a result of desire.
We think that life as its portrayed around us is normal, and we assume that whatever we do is real and right. As everyone else feels the same way – that they are right – we argue over whatever ordinary consciousness thinks, and are actually servicing one another in a mental institution ;D
We are knowingness itself before the colours of the walls of this institution are discussed. We are beings of light and clarity. Although matter and ideas can be manipulated and elaborated upon, very subtle consciousness just stays as pure light – ‘enlightened’. We all have a pure essence, but dress this up to our way of thinking.
People become uncomfortable when anyone dares to suggest that we are more than ordinary consciousness because, to admit this, they would have to drop their ordinary views and engage in training their mind to dissolve the mental imprisonment they are upholding. For that, we need a catalyst; an event or person causing a change or conversion (derived from the Greek word katalύein, meaning “to dissolve”).
That catalyst is meditation!
Well, meditation to start with. Disillusionment and conversion occur when we drop the meditation, and come to rest within consciousness itself, where we drop the observer for pure observation. The conversion takes us from duality to non-duality. We become self-less.
Once realised, we never sink back totally into ordinary consciousness, and life becomes brighter; we are back in the light of clarity. Our happy place. Once the light is realised, the more the shadows dissolve. All we to do is simply look and see … and drop!
A good practice:
Go into a thought = ordinary consciousness.
See the thoughts and drop the thoughts = original consciousness.
Become familiar with these two aspects.
The more we become familiar with ordinary consciousness,
the more it becomes simultaneous with original consciousness.
There comes a time when we realise that such obsession will never be satisfying,
as there will always be worldly affairs to worry about.
We realise that we have been holding on to ideas that actually cause us suffering.
Our attention now turns to anything that may lead us to the truth about our existence,
rather than a version of the truth. This takes discipline and determination:
we need to saturate our self with truth rather than a narrative about truth.
Discipline comes through genuine interest and, as such, no longer requires effort.
It is genuine enjoyment and, above all, it’s satisfying. Once we know what truth is,
we know what isn’t the truth.
We are talking about unshakeable confidence that not even the Buddhas can unsettle. Duty becomes joy; our unique expression of compassion for all.
To our surprise, our realm of existence becomes wisdom and empathy.
This doesn’t mean that our actions are perfect, but we know that we’re on
the path of transcendence. Karma will bring up increasingly subtle obstacles to learn from and help us to go beyond. In this way, we are gracefully prepared for anything.
The six perfections of generosity, patience, morality, discipline, concentration and wisdom are our unfailing allies. Instead of saturating our self with worldly affairs, we now saturate our self with kindness. This is the good virus!
As long as we are vague about our and others’ reality, believing in mysteries and magical mantras, we might feel safe but will go no further in our evolution. Teachings will never become practical and we cannot be relied upon because we are merely adhering to theoretical Dharma. It’s easily done; we slip into routines, and never realise that we are still clinging to a confused cycle of existence.
The question is why.
As long as we are vague, we stay needy and fearful, and feel that we have to follow covert rules, thus showing submissive obedience. We mistakenly think that the more humble we appear, the more the teacher will notice our piousness. This merely exposes our hopes and fears.
An idea, a mystery, a mantra may make us wonder, or may inspire us for a while, but that is only in the beginning. We need to do some work to cut through our acquired ideas, and question everything until there are no more questions.
Only when we know the meaning of an idea, a mystery or a mantra can these devices become practical. We can spend years – decades even – chanting OM MANI PEME HUM and hope it’s doing something for us, but that is merely to remain within a belief system (I remember a Tibetan teenager asking the Dalia Lama what it meant. I was shocked …)
OM MANI PEME HUM is said to be the mantra of compassion – but how? That is still vague; wehave to know what it means.
There are several aspects to becoming a decent person, and showing compassion – in the Tibetan system – is said to be the five perfections: generosity, patience, discipline, morality, concentration.
These reminders help us to be able to listen with a compassionate ear. Many Buddhists can’t do this as all they want to do is chant OM MANI PEME HUM or another mantra :D. It’s all about their compassion, whereas true compassion takes self identity completely out of the picture.
These five perfections open us up to be responsive – that is, if we are practising their meaning. Once we are open and less contaminated with self interest, we can then start to realise the wisdom of beyond, and that is the pure consciousness that is aware of a situation within a compassionate atmosphere of these five perfections. That is the sixth perfection – the wisdom of pure consciousness itself.
Once realised, then the five perfections help sustain this pure view through our conduct: we live in accordance with OM MANI PEME HUM. It is now practical advice to cut through the cloud of vagueness and confusion in the mind.
Ever wondered why so many people believe in a God? Perhaps we should look at world history 5,000 years ago. Was it a political aim to control the masses through belief? Did that have the effect of creating a more subtle belief? If we believethat others’ beliefs are ridiculous, we consider them to be wrong, and that becomes a part of the belief scenario. Thinking something is ridiculous might make us feel superior, while we ignore the truth within all of us.
5,000 years ago, in the area of Iran/Persia, there were two groups; the Aryans and the Zoroastrians.
The Zoroastrians believed in God the creator, and this led to Judaism, Islam and Christianity – and all their variations.
The Aryans realised consciousness to be the source of creation. That understanding migrated to northern India and led to the Vedic system, early Hinduism and Buddhism – and all their variations.
The rest of humanity believed in the ideas of survival and entertainment given to them.
To look for the truth, we need personal investigation rather than personal assumptions that are merely reactions to others’ beliefs. There is truth in everything if we look in the right way and, for that, we need to recognise and value consciousness itself.
The enquiry into consciousness is all about what we actually are; that which is beyond this body/mind consciousness – pure consciousness, ultimate consciousness, god consciousness.
There is much truth in the Bible and other spiritual texts, but we have to be aware of how this may have been elaborated and exaggerated – and watered down. Spiritual text has to be practical, and never a belief. Spirituality has been presented as a belief by those who do not see – or want us to see – clearly. Once we give up belief and addiction to the contents of our mind, we will all realise that the very nature of consciousness is pure and uncontaminated. We are pure consciousness, ultimate consciousness, god consciousness.
What is the purpose of life, the universe, and everything?
We are the ultimate answer
to the ultimate question.
It’s so simple, we won’t believe it!
😀
(Ever wondered why, in polite company, we’re told never to discuss religion or politics? If we consider this ‘one’ subject, we may discover the truth – that’s if people can put their prejudice away for a moment. If we keep making assumptions, we remain in a fantasy. We are so easily programmed: equally, we are so easily awakened – and that’s why there are so many distractions 😀 )
Premeditation is the intention or plan to act in a certain way: this is how we maintain our self-programme. If we are not in meditation, then we are in premeditation! And if we are stuck in meditation, then we will not realise après-meditation = non-meditation of pure awareness.
For this reason, we have to let go!
But the question is how?
Both good and bad things happened to us in the past. We will not forget these things, but holding on to them creates consequences, and those consequences create suffering. Holding on is the result of a deliberate intention to justify re-enactment, which is premeditation – our plan, our programme, our path to more confusion. This premeditation is actually a crime against consciousness: we are driving ourselves crazy.
Our reactions are usually ill-managed – like a sledge hammer to crack a nut – when, in fact, every moment can produce a different response which is measured by circumstances, and is therefore spontaneous. We become more skilful, and more intelligent.
If, on the other hand, we hold a grudge, then situations become exaggerated, and harm results. A measured response is all about balance: that does not mean that we don’t take action, but we don’t re-act with equal force all the time as the same situation at a different time could induce a different response. If we don’t let go, we will continue to replay the same niggling scenarios – and that is how our crimes imprison us.
We let go because we can then upgrade realisation.
Now, that’s a good plan;
a good premeditation
to release from a self-obsession.
Being Interested in Spirituality But Not Going Beyond
Knowledge can either be used as a weapon for us to control others and feel superior, or it can help us to find our path to realising our true reality of pure awareness, and gain freedom from ‘weaponised’ knowledge.
Of course, we think that we do good, do no harm, and have a trained mind. This is what all humans think, isn’t it? From a spiritual perspective, however, the very opposite is happening. Our actions are always directed to me first – my knowledge, my comfort – and thus, in subtle ways, we cause harm. We develop pride or jealousy and find fault, becoming competitive, antagonistic and angry, and create a dark place in our mind through our likes and dislikes which are born of ignorance of our true nature. We constantly separate ourselves from others.
All beings have the potential to evolve further and further, until we see the light of enlightenment. How long this process takes is up to us.
There are two aspects to life: one is the material-mental world which is impermanent, and the other is the reality that is aware of this material-mental world.
That which is observed
and that which is observing.
In the material-mental world, there are many spiritual teachers, but they are only a reminder of what to look for. The teaching is a generalisation, rather than the actuality. Neither the teacher nor the words are the reality; our pure experience is. Don’t even take any Buddha’s word for it. In this way, we find the nowness – the uniqueness for this age – to express this universal reality.
Whatever occurs in life reveals our reactions and beliefs that obscure the reality within. This is why we should be grateful and – most of all – happy with life. The life in which we exist is a product of our past. All those little decisions that we made built up to this moment, and all those reactions that build up are our karma.
It’s a shock to recognise addiction,
but understanding this upgrades consciousness.
There is a connection between plain seeing and becoming an addict or a fundamentalist. Fundamentalism usually has a religious connotation that indicates unwavering attachment to a set of irreducible beliefs but, as each of us sticks to our ideas, we can say that we are all fundamentalists in one way or another, which is sobering.
We have to judge in order to survive and, from that position, we form an opinion at the level of our understanding. This judgement arises after pure consciousness and recognition, pure consciousness being our state of empty cognisance from which everything originates. Recognition is memory – we re-cognise.
If we hold on to that judgement or opinion, we become ‘opinionated’, and the process has moved on to addiction. This is similar either to being drunk or being a drunkard: one is a temporary state, and the other is a lifestyle. All the ideas we hold on to have the very same effect, and this is how humans become addicted to a subject, the first being our ‘self’.
‘Self’ is a mental projection that constantly relates to everything, creating its own story. Actually, it’s no different from others’ stories, as we all base our existence on ideas gleaned from others’ ideas. It is because of this weakness and gullibility that we can be controlled by being tempted into further addiction, and we end up in a very dark place.
Meditation is the method of cutting through our addiction to a self image held together by thoughts. It frees us, whereas addiction to thoughts will freeze us. 😀
In the first instant when we see, hear, touch, smell or taste, there are no thoughts, judgements or opinions. There is no addiction, but then we quickly refer to memory for safety, and our programmed mechanism starts up. Being bound is being religious: we become fixated – even being right, we can still be fixated – and chug along our usual grooves.
Pure seeing is freedom from an addicted you.
Focus on the moment now, and there you really are!
Likewise, don’t mistake teachings on consciousness for realisation.
We act on information:
intelligence sees the act.
We do not become wise through information. We become wise through the experience of testing and, to test, we need clear unbiased seeing, unfettered by ideas.
We become wise through raw experience, raw data*, lateral thinking; “What is it?”
We become programmed through acquired second-hand information, vertical thinking; “It is this!”
We can either survive in a programmed world, or play in a programmed world. Wisdom is understanding the joy in every moment. If we take life too seriously, we miss out on joy. Enjoying every moment means accepting hot or cold as just pure experience, where we do not have an opinion about it and can simply either put a jumper on, or take it off.
The senses do not think as they merely convey experience: seeing, hearing etc doesn’t mean we are thinking. Thinking happens in the mind and is our interpreter, while we – pure consciousness – merely watch this interpreter at work. The wisdom of pure consciousness can never be destroyed, but merely distracted.
Information is not realisation.
Realisation is total experience.
Through the wisdom of empathetic experience,
we realise compassion.
This why the Buddha said,
“Do not take my word for it; test it for yourself.”
.
*’Raw data’ is data that has not been processed for use.
Humans are unenlightened beings
and are therefore governed by our neuroses and fixated ideas.
We are potentially enlightened, but chose to ignore this.
Our madness is maintained by winding ourselves up,
running away from being wound up
– which still winds us up –
or ignoring the fact that we are wound up.
When we become wound-up, we become wounded.
😉
This is another name for suffering.
Acknowledging suffering
is the path to enlightenment.
Enlightenment is freedom from our own tyranny.
As soon as we see, we are free.
This isn’t a matter of being free from others:
it is being free of the way that we see.
It is pure seeing, pure consciousness that is free.
Madness is merely part of a universal process
whereby all beings seek lasting happiness.
Each individual in their own good time
will realise their enlightened nature.
Whatever we do will not change the world.
As a collective, it will change in its own good time.
While we are made busy condemning others,
we delay our own progress.
Madness is believing that everything is permanent,
but this madness is not a permanent state.
While the universe is in constant change,
that which recognises change never changes.
This is how karma works,
and this is why we must be aware.
Whatever we do, say, and think causes our programming, our behaviour, and we create our programming by consent. The Sanskrit word ‘karma’ means the results of our actions are stored in our minds. This is the glass which we see through darkly!
If we are careless, then that creates an effect.
If we are careful, then that creates an effect.If we ask question, we get answers that help us step out of this programme.
If we don’t ask questions, we don’t get answers; our programme and behaviour remain the same.
Realisation means to resolve, to bring to an end the mind’s programming. The ‘robot’ can now switch its self – its programme – off. When we resolve or realise what has happened to us, we can then see what is left: ultimately, we realise that all we are is pure consciousness. The moment that we realise pure consciousness, our karmic programming starts to fall apart and “We are free in the moment of seeing” (Tulku Urgyen).
Ordinary human consciousness is only concerned with survival, which becomes our programme, the same as all other creatures: flight, fight or freeze. We are blind to subtle cause and effects, and the consequences of our reactions.
As we evolve, however, we realise that everything matters. We pay more attention, and our presence is required all the time. Life itself becomes more and more meaningful – not in an academic sense but in a liberating way, directly showing us our spiritual path to resolve everything.
Karmically, our deeds are counted out, and that dictates our future. It’s not fate – we wrote it – and there is nowhere to hide as the calculator follows us everywhere.
Karma is our teacher to release us from the effects of karma. The realisation that we have been following karmic charisma is a hot potato . . . Follow the teaching, not the charisma.
It is easy to become charismatic with an ostentatious identity
when we have the knowledge
and others do not.
This creates a perpetual separation.
The teacher and the teachings are reminders.
That’s it.
In solitude, we realise the teaching of non-duality.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
All that is required is pure presence.
Usually, we talk about the ‘self’ as an illusion, a make believe personification of what we think we are – our karmic neuroses. This self is created by our confusion and, as such, is our precise path to liberation and enlightenment. Feeling good yet?
There are those who are totally caught up in their self image and self importance, and so are more narcissistic: they lack empathy and want to be adored, and are well and truly running around in circles loving themselves and whatever they do. Be kind to them, as we have all been through that stage.
Once we see that this attitude of ‘self first’ has got us nowhere, and we are in fact suffering – or at least dissatisfied – we reach a stage of conflict. It’s a truly uncomfortable but wonderful moment because we are starting to recognise this self image, and how it is holding us back. That is the start of inner discovery, inner happiness and inner wealth – that old self was making us feel unworthy.
Our self is like a doll that we keep with us. It’s precious to us but, gradually, the more we look at it, we find that it’s fading and bits have dropped off. We use what’s left of it to interact with other dolls, but now we see through the doll to that which is holding on to it – an enlightened consciousness that has gone unnoticed.
This self (our karmic load) is our teacher.
Having recognised this feels good,
as the attachment has loosened.
The more we puff up this self with exotic practices,
the more we delay the process.
That which is called the voice of God
is our own clarity of insight.
It’s that “Aha!” moment of a realisation … “Oh, of course!”
Without this clarity of insight, nothing would be known.
The problem lies in attaching too much importance to this insight,
as there are further realisations to come.
These insights are little realisations which are common to us all.
It is these that clear away our confusion
– our spiritual path –
and we gain more confidence.
This is how it works.
Such insight is not an exclusive link to an outer deity.
It is an expression of our ultimate truth
and whatever obscures that.
We are this ultimate truth of pure consciousness,
but we have been led astray by distractions.
“All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6
Individual karma leads astray collective karma.
Collective karma leads astray individual karma.
We repeat whatever we are told:
this is the vicious cycle of duality …
… until we wake up to our true reality
and stray no more:
this is non-duality.
Intelligent people are full of doubts, and the ignorant know everything. What we do not know, we believe, and when we believe, we ignore experience. Becoming too intellectual with theories can also turn us into believers.We can easily lose the plot! This affects our meditation and state of being. It is here that we need to experience the ‘gentle breath practice’ of controlling the subtle body’s inner energies. This breath control settles the effect of our inner anxieties. It’s yoga without the gymnastics, rather like the meditation practice of watching the breath, but deeper.
Practice We simply and gently take a slightly deeper breath, and push this down as if it is going just below the navel; we hold it there for a few seconds or more. While holding the gentle breath, we focus on awareness. Then we gently release the breath, while leaving a little of this sensation in place at the navel. We repeat this until we feel more relaxed. This practice takes away inner tensions or feelings that are held higher in the subtle body, and we may find the eyes don’t blink so much or feel so tired and dry. The subtle body is the core of our energy, and it is worth trying to see if this practice improves meditation and our daily life.
This practice helps us to realise our true nature of pure awareness, where we release all anxieties and return to being. When we are relaxed and open up, new realisations can occur. For example, a doubt that we may have held as to whether there is a God or not can simply be seen as God being our true nature. Of course, not everyone may view it this way; we all realise whatever we need to realise in order to clarify and release doubts that we may have held on to for a very long time. 😀
The third eye is just another name
for pure awareness, or pure consciousness.
Not recognising the clarity of perception that sees directly,
we rely on our memory interpreter,
the dream-maker.
The world in which we live
is full of ideas about this as opposed to that.
As long as we cling to these ideas,
we dream in others’ dreams.
We have two physical eyes to see,
and a third (metaphysical) eye
giving insight into what we are.
Beware of the metaphysical poets*
who lull us into dream states.
The simplicity of perception is shocking,
enlivening and awakening.
*Metaphysical poets are characterised by the use of complex and elaborate images or metaphors, typically using a intellectual form of argument to express emotional states.
All the questions raised by metaphysics ponder the nature of reality. There is no one correct answer to any of these questions: metaphysics is about exploration and philosophy.
In other words, it’s not about actual, empirical experience!
If it wasn’t for sex and desire, we wouldn’t be here – and neither would our gurus. Being born allows us all to ‘wise up’ to our true reality, so we needn’t feel guilty. We are all attracted to some things, and repulsed or indifferent to others. On a human level, this is how we survive.
Desire, aversion and ignorance are what keeps us going … and going! Unfortunately, we become obsessed, and waste – and therefore lose – our precious subtle energy which is needed for further realisations. We have a choice: to stay as we are, or to review our driving forces. Actually, if we do not review these forces, others take advantage of us without us even noticing; we can be sold anything without realising it.
If we are nuns or monks, we abstain from sexual activity. As lay practitioners, we are moderate, more or less.
At one level, we are told to view desire and the object of desire as something rotten and festering to put us off the thought of sex – but we still have the natural functions of the senses, and the senses themselves are non-conceptual. It is our association with the senses that captures us. Still, we can and should enjoy the senses … and then let that moment go. There is absolutely no point in hanging on to anything as there is always the next moment to experience, in pure experience.
Pure experience has no desire. It is our Nirmanakaya aspect that wants to share and empathise. Nirmanakaya is the embodiment of pure (Dharmakaya) consciousness (Sambhogakaya).
Desire, on a human level, is our jailer. On an absolute level, however, it is called, “Discriminating Wisdom”, and is very precise.
There is nothing wrong with desire (or any sensuality) but, if we cling to our memories of associations, this will cause us problems in life as it binds us. There are things we find attractive – the Dharma for instance, or a bird feeding – and there are things we do not find attractive, such as over-industrialised greed in the name of “We are doing something good”. There are also things we ignore – other people’s views, for instance. These are all obsessions. 😀
We aren’t vegetables. We have a self that reacts, and pure consciousness notes this. Repulsion is the same as desire, in the sense that we obsess about condemning others. Sex and desire are no big deal: they’re part of life, but they’re not all of life.
The big deal
– the real deal –
is the wisdom of discrimination.
Sounds simple enough, but this is incredibly profound.
When the mind becomes calm, it becomes clear.
We have to reason this out for ourself,
and then practise for the rest of our life
as it doesn’t stay clear until enlightenment.
Meditation calms the mind.
It becomes clear when we drop the meditation.
Calmness is half the picture.
Clarity or direct seeing is the complete picture.
A project is only complete when it is finished
and completely dropped,
to be clear for the next moment.
This is the way we realise happiness.
Happiness is the satisfaction
derived from the realisation of accomplishment.
I’ve often wondered if there is a set of words that we hear or read at the right time that changes how we see – and thus changes our lives. My conclusion is yes. We have to build up questions where the answers seem closed to us and then, suddenly, the door opens. Eureka! After a while, the same process occurs again, and another door opens to let in more light. At each stage, we feel that we can then start living. Where was I before I saw the light?
Do we have an on/off switch?
Yes.
When we become distracted, we switch off.
Are there sudden realisations that gradually build up to enlightenment?
It seems so.
When will we start our true life?
The moment we drop our patterning.
Then we will never be the same again.
The Four Reflections That Change Our Life
Valuing human existence
1. Our human life is precious, because we can communicate at the highest level.
2. We shouldn’t miss the opportunity to realise our ultimate truth.
3. Instead, we become attached to the pleasant and unpleasant.
4. There are consequences to becoming attached to the pleasant and unpleasant.
Taking human life for granted – being attracted to trivia and arguing – we lose sight of how unique this opportunity is to realise enlightenment. We are capable of much more than merely reciting the same old story while thinking that we have something interesting to say when, in fact, we are just repeating whatever others repeat.
Our story starts to change when we truly consider the four reflections about life. When we realise we are suffering, we can then look and find how to end this suffering, by realising that its cause never truly existed. It was all in the mind. This is an individual matter; we do not become realised collectively. We don’t do what songwriters and reactionaries tell us to do, and go around shouting, “Freedom, freedom!” It doesn’t work like that. 😀
If we try to realise our true nature collectively, we give our power and resolve away. In joining a group, we will not understand what we need to understand, and it is for this reason that we retreat into solitude. We can still be among others, but they now become a constant reminder of what we are about – which is remaining in pure awareness.
We are enlightened beings that have become comfortably numb. We have this precious human birth, and what do we do with it?
Hope, fear, a sense of purpose, a belief,
control, wrong, over-organised, evil, part of our evolution … ?
Religion claims to be the intercessor or connection to higher truth or God.
Religion: the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power. A particular system of faith and worship. A pursuit or interest followed with great devotion.
This can apply to anything.
If it was the case that religion represents something that we long for and that we consider to be more powerful, then we make that ‘thing’ into a religion and bind ourselves to it. It is this sense of poverty that shackles us, keeping us in a state of duality, of separation, and we will only ever experience a feeling of satisfaction rather than finding true attainment.
Spirit is pure consciousness, free of any binding, manipulation or feeling. When we cling to a belief – any belief – that is our religion. We have become religious! Anything that engulfs our life binds us and blinds us. People can be seen worshipping their beliefs every day – the list of attachments is endless!
We do not have a spiritual connection.
It is spirit that has adopted the temporary reality
of a human connection.
Pure consciousness never changes, and cannot be organised. To believe is to consent to others’ beliefs, interpretations or translations, whereas pure consciousness is direct seeing. It is beyond description.
When we lack confidence in direct seeing and react to others’ beliefs, then we are bound to that same belief whereas, in truth, the pure silence of pure consciousness is our reality. We have been seeking that which we already are: why were we ever told to believe something else?
Anything other than pure consciousness
is an illusion.
If the word ‘religion’ has an effect on us,
then we become bound by that illusion.
We should question everything but,
in pure consciousness,
there is nothing to question as we have arrived at our source.
By the time you have finish reading this article,
105 people in the world will have died, one every minute.
151,600 people die each day
55 million people die every year.
How many lived and died believing whatever they were told?
How many have realised the truth beyond what they were told?
There is nothing wrong with thinking.
Being bound to those thoughts is our problem.
Why I was Kicked Out Of A Dharma Centre (this isn’t for delicate minds :D)
Actually, I don’t know why I was kicked out … but it did leave a trauma. And actually, I have been kicked out of other spiritual centres, but each time, the teacher/guru/lama never had the insight to be able to explain why.
We either have to believe in whatever they say and the way that they do things, or we have to leave … or get kicked out. Each time, there was a lack of empathy, and I was left to start alone all over again. On reflection, these were the most influential moments is my life; they were very painful, but turned out to be a refreshment. Emotional pain can be enlightening. It was like being guided … or dragged … from one place to another. 😀 Why? Because the right intention was still present.
Conclusion
Every spiritual tradition has its tradition, and they rarely talk about other points of view. Once we bond with a particular tradition, we become stuck in a narrow way of thinking. All path have truth in them, so no complaints there – the only problem in the world is … people 😀 People (especially ‘spiritual’ people) can talk and pray about compassion, but the empathy needed for compassion to arise is mostly theoretical. Still no complaints – we’re all in the same boat. It’s not until we have been dragged through the mud a few times that we think, “Enough of this! There is something within that knows and sees inconsistencies.” Spiritual evolution isn’t about the teacher’s wellbeing: it’s about the students’ wellbeing!
The problem is method
Methods suit some and not others. All along, I was a Dzogchen/Maha Ati student and didn’t know it – until I found it. And here is a very important point. There are Dzogchen/Maha Ati students who aren’t Dzogchen/Maha Ati students: they are still religious students who adhere to dogma. And the reverse is also true, when Dzogchen/Maha Ati students try to squeeze themselves into a narrower path and just can’t fit in.
Perhaps this shouldn’t be said in public, but if anyone is having problems trusting others, maybe the view and conduct are inconsistent. As an example, in the lower yanas, people stick to rules whereas, in Dzogchen, there is simply seeing; “We are free in the moment of seeing.”
Following others can lead us up a blind alley. I’m not saying those practitioners are blind but, for some of us, their view and conduct may be too serious and lack empathy. Our true spiritual path is our own confusion. That is what we have to deal with, and if things aren’t working for us, maybe we need to take responsibility, and change our approach.
The funny thing is that, once we realise that we are what we seek, all paths look alike. Realisation isn’t for weak minds – weak minds have to be told. Teachings are there so that we realise our true, inner confidence. Don’t ever take the Buddha’s words for it. The Buddha said, “Test it for yourself”. Humility can still be dynamic.
We Don’t Have To Wait … … for either the next incarnation or heaven
to realise our ultimate reality now.
Realisation doesn’t depend on the next incarnation; hoping that we will be enlightened in the future is a belief system. If there is a next incarnation, it will depend on now. We have no idea what will come about in the future. It is in realising our true nature now that real changes occur to allow further realisations. That is the process! Days may be pleasant or unpleasant – and some days are just routine – but the realisation of our ultimate nature of pure consciousness does not change. It’s here now, and nowhere else.
Throughout history, humanity has been split into believers and realisers – and all the levels in between. Even today, we have those who follow a process, a system, and those who experience their process (and of course, there are also those who just aren’t bothered).
Here, we are talking about actual seekers. Some rely on answers, while others rely on questions. There is an expectation that, if we follow, we will realise but, on observation, those who follow stay following. When we follow others, we become reliant and are never free. We are free when we know – know not the answer, but how to question.
Give someone a potato and that person will eat for that day.
Teach that person in what conditions a potato will grow
and they’ll feed for a lifetime.
Or, we can keep going down the shops!
Spiritual texts are very extensive, due to this realisation that has been around forever. Practitioners merely comment and share to suit that particular time and place. If we only consider our practice to be about acquiring merit towards our next incarnation, we may be deluded. In merit, we can only hope, and that is an obstacle in itself. If we foster doubt, we will never know about our reality now.
Better to realise the truth now, and stop doubting. Knowing this one thing – pure consciousness – addresses all situations, and we don’t have to remember or carry around all that text in our heads.
We find ourselves in certain situations due to previous activities and understandings. We deal with those situations by not merely reacting, but seeing afresh and asking, “What is this?”
For some, going to heaven could be hell.
One person’s satisfaction is another’s dissatisfaction.
And another’s dissatisfaction is yet another’s satisfaction.
A simple example:
To get rid of negative emotions is the goal for some.
Those very negative emotions are wisdoms for others.
To clarify:
In the very first instant of a emotion, the mind brightens.
Awareness is alert, and that alertness is pure consciousness.
Conclusion:
Staying on the bright side is enlightenment.
I tried being normal …
it was the worse time of my life.
😀
Every individual has to recognise
what is beneficial and what is harmful to their lives,
and this changes with understanding.
Every sentient being has an enlightened nature, which is resting continuously within pure consciousness. Pure consciousness is already present, but goes unnoticed, and we can either realise or ignore this potential. Enlightenment is undoing all the fixations that limit and control how we see and what we see.
Yesterday, we considered the eight right actions, or the eightfold path to liberation. The word ‘right’ unfortunately creates the word ‘wrong’, which can make us feel heavy and guilt-ridden. As a result, we experience doubt, and switch off in a subtle way. We need a lighter touch to realisation as the lower yanas/vehicles/paths can weigh us down with do’s and don’ts, whereas Maha Ati or Dzogchen is about seeing the seeing.
Each individual has to consider how they live in order to realise happiness, but beings misunderstand their true nature, and this causes unhappiness in some way. We all want to be right, but we’re not sure how to achieve this.
The words ‘beneficial’ and ‘harmful’ seem better words than ‘right’ and ‘wrong’. We can obsess about what is meant by all these words as opposed to just accepting that life has pleasant and unpleasant moments – and that’s no big deal. We just have to be mindful of what we are doing, thinking and digesting. The Buddha’s words are meant to help us make decisions, and know what to look out for.
As well as the eight beneficial actions, there are also the eight worldly preoccupations (or ‘harmful Dharma’), where all our actions are governed by hopes and fears.
Hope for happiness, and fear of suffering,
Hope for fame, and fear of insignificance,
Hope for praise, and fear of blame,
Hope for gain, and fear of loss;
These preoccupations are nothing to feel guilty about. Just be aware of how much they control us, and adjust accordingly. That is intelligent, spiritual practice: “Not too tight and not too loose.” In this way, we don’t have to be perfect; recognition is the perfection – and it’s already present.
THE IGNOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH THAT REVOVLE AROUND AN ME
Wrong understanding = I’m only human
Wrong thought = It’s all about me.
Wrong speech = I say what I think.
Wrong action = Listen to me.
Wrong livelihood = I don’t care if it harms others.
The type of world in which we live is created by our understanding and conduct. Is our view materialistic consciousness or enlightened consciousness? We have to know the difference. When we realise our true nature, our conduct must reflect this realisation. Right speech is of paramount importance as it’s an aspect of right attitude.
“I just say what I think!” And there is our problem. We quite often want a reaction, don’t we? The internet has given us the ability to say whatever we want while incognito, in disguise – it’s even encouraged. The more the reaction, the more the excitement, the more the interest, the more we take offence and become upset. It’s a vicious cycle.
To be able to have free speech, we have to know what is right speech – and right conduct. Free speech is free from bias, otherwise it is speech that creates conflict.
‘Right speech’ is part of the eightfold path to liberation:
THE NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH
Right understanding
Right thought
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right concentration
Skilful speech can reduce suffering, while unskilful speech can increase suffering. Right speech avoids harm and idle chatter. It means speaking in a way that promotes harmony and enriches, reducing anger and easing tension. We should not speak carelessly: speech should be at the right time and in the right place. If we cannot say something useful, we should keep a ‘noble silence.’
Right speech includes humour, lightening and brightening the atmosphere. Humour increases resilience in dealing with distress by undoing negative effects.
Before we can have right speech,
we need right listening, without judgement.
Right speech is good for us all.
If we don’t know what right speech is,
we just smile
The moment that we recognise we are not our thoughts, we are free.
As Tulku Urgyen said, “We are free in the moment of seeing”:
That is what he meant.
As long we identify with thoughts, we create and maintain a self image.
In reality, we are pure consciousness, free from this false influencer.
It’s that simple.
Once we know this, we can never not know,
and no one can tell us what to think ever again
We can acknowledge an idea without accepting it.
Our suffering is caused by our thoughts.
Realising this, we see that our enemy has been our mind all along.
The fact is, it is this enemy that wakes us up.
Pure consciousness is a surveillance device,
full of knowledge and wisdom.
The world may look hell-bent on spreading confusion,
but it is this recognition that awakens us.
Our life is now fruitful and worthwhile.
Our enemy is our true teacher.
It shows us our reactions that obscure pure vision.
Kathie said,
“It’s like opening an airtight jar:
once loosened, it never gets that uptight again!”
😀
Now is creating our future.
It’s only when we understand how our mind works
that we are in control.
We have to able to control our mind so that it doesn’t fly off the handle at any excuse. In this age of taking offence, if we do not control ourself, we will just end up in psychological hell.
This is why we sit in silence, watching the breath and not allowing thoughts to carry us away. When we say ‘us’, we mean consciousness. When thoughts arise in the mind during meditation, we merely return to watching the gentle breath. This very easy and simple: it is the ancient practice used to discipline and train our mind to be in control of constant judgements and emotions. Finding genuine inner peace, we can see clearly what is happening to consciousness.
Controlling our judgements and emotions doesn’t mean that we do not discern that which is harmful or beneficial; we just remain balanced and at ease in our approach. Compassion and kindness are pre-requisites when de-stressing a situation.
Most of the time, whatever we perceive goes straight to memory, and we then judge and react. This is the primitive brain of fight, flight or freeze at work. It may help us to survive but, if we are not careful, this attitude can become our lot in life. We do not notice that this process drives us into becoming a ‘Homo Iratus’ – an irritated human. 😀
Once we know how to survive, we no longer need our defensive display, and we now have time to reflect and realise what truth is for us. We can cut through our mechanicalness, just being aware and using our intelligence and ability to reason without emotion. When we have the clarity of awareness or consciousness, then we can choose how to respond rather than merely re-enacting our protective routine.
There are two types of psychology: one is based on our place in the world (our relative reality) and the other is our true reality of the original state of consciousness.
There is a fundamental difference between the modern mechanics of scientific psychology, and the mechanics of spiritual psychology. Modern psychology is about feeling good and being ‘normal’. Spiritual psychology is concerned with how the mind works rather than whether we feel good or not: it does not rely on conditions.
If we only use modern psychology to feel ‘good’ or ‘right’ then, when things aren’t going our way, we feel ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’. The problem with feeling good or right is that we might then regard others as bad or wrong. It’s a vicious cycle of existence as we go round in circles.
I once asked a psychologist, “What is normal?” She said, “Normal is whatever is normal for that person.” The question then arises, “How did that person’s normal first come about?” Doesn’t it all depend on their environment which creates how they judge things, and is the reason why they are in their present state?
When considering spiritual psychology, we are looking at the whole being, and the true nature of the mind itself, consciousness itself. Understanding that this consciousness is pure clarity, we then feel good and right for no reason – it does not rely on anything. It’s like this clear, untainted screen and the writing on it; it is by virtue of the clarity of the screen that the words are clearly seen. Otherwise, we would see through a haze of confusing concepts – like this …
In meditation,
we are training the mind to see afresh,
to evolve into its reality
which is the source of all realisations.
We are influenced by subliminal imagery sent directly to the brain – bypassing the conscious mind – and can have ideas put into our brains to ‘better’ our self. Why do we think we have a problem? Mind manipulation has already taken place.
Reverse engineer everything.
If we are getting information,
we are giving it at the same time.
Meditation is reverse engineering our mind.
We’re clearing out the programming
so that we see clearly, and in a unique way.
It is not a matter of reading and acquiring clever information from the ‘wise guys’. It’s a matter of seeing clearly for ourselves. Holding on to whatever the ‘wise guys’ say is still NLP: it isn’t personal realisation yet. Yes, it may be good programming, but it’s still second hand. This why the Buddha – and this old guy – keep saying, “Do not take my word for it; test and see for yourself.”
This video is a perfect example of what goes on behind the scenes – the insight revealing our illusory reality.
Scene: mid 16th century from Latin ‘scena’, from Greek skēnē ‘tent, stage’.
Even being told not to do something … we do it! We don’t notice the powerful effect of negative suggestion that continues in later life: being told that we mustn’t think or say certain things … we still think them, and we still say them. Psychologists know what they’re doing, and so we should know what they are doing.
Jon Shelby Spong, a retired American bishop of the Episcopal Church explains that religion is a business and it is used as a control mechanism.
“Is religion an invention of man used for sinister purposes? A form of brainwashing? Is there some truth within religion? Is that way it resonates with so many? Is religion different today from what it was many years ago?
“Religion is a controversial topic, and I’d like to preface this article by saying that it is not my aim to belittle or diminish anyone’s beliefs. My problem is not with faith but with religion as an organisation, which has been used as a means of control, to pit people against each other, and to incite terror and war. Religion in this context serves the purposes of many various global elitist agendas.
“Religion is also confusing, to say the least; within several different religions exist different ‘sects,’ each with their own teachings and version of the ‘truth’ and how to live one’s life. Within Christianity alone, there are multiple versions of the Bible, and teachings that contradict one another. What one religion says in one part of the world may directly oppose what another says in a different part of the world. This alone is a recipe for feelings of confusion and isolation for anybody who is seeking ‘the truth.’ If various religions preach different ways of life and truths, they all can’t be correct, can they? I guess that’s why they call it faith.
“He argues that religion is a business and it is used as a control mechanism (and he’s not the first insider to do so). We can see this happening most clearly in the rise of Islamophobia. Islam has been turned into a scapegoat, a target at which we can direct all our fears and anger, and an excuse to invade other countries and create a more intense global national security state. But the truth is, Islam has nothing to do with violence or terrorism. These manufactured fears are all part and parcel of ‘false flag’ terrorism, which you can read more about here if you are unfamiliar with the concept.
“In the video, Spong affirms that “religion is always in the control business, and that’s something people don’t really understand. It’s in the guilt-producing control business.”
“He is describing the difference between faith and religion. I myself have explored multiple religions, and have discovered teachings within all of them that deeply resonate with me. I’ve also found teachings that don’t resonate at all. I don’t believe one religion has all the answers.
“Using fear to coax people into a certain way of life or belief system, just like the Bishop mentions above, seems to be common practice in nearly every religion, and that certainly doesn’t resonate with me.
“The history of the church itself is problematic. Whether it be the church’s role in the First Nations Genocide here in Canada, or the European crusades, the church has a history of forcing their views upon others and of condemning science and new discoveries.
“Furthermore, as the Bishop says above, people need to accept responsibility for the world. If we simply leave global change in the hands of God, we remove our own responsibility and agency in this world. If we want to change the world, WE have to do it. After the Paris terrorist attacks, the Dalai Lama expressed this as well, arguing that it’s not enough to just pray. We must take responsibility for our planet.
“We are also dealing with texts that are very old, and considering there are multiple versions of various texts, all of which have likely been manipulated, changed, and distorted over the years, I find it difficult to accept any one without question.
“Another point that turns me away from religion is hypocrisy. Many people claim ties to their faith yet know very little about its tenets, and fail to follow what they claim to believe in. This is commonly seen within the ‘spiritual’ movement as well, which can be seen as another form of religion in itself.
“When it comes to religion, I believe you have to do your own research; you have to read the books and examine the teachings for yourself. Use your own head and find what resonates with you instead of allowing yourself to be indoctrinated and letting someone else do your thinking for you. These texts are open to interpretation; it’s up to you to find meaning in them and apply it to your life. You can still believe in God and not be religious. Religion is a manmade construct, and I think if God were to suddenly appear somewhere, he or she would have no idea what religion even was.
Religions as organizations are going to have to change. New discoveries are constantly being made that are challenging long-held belief systems. We cannot grow if we refuse to have an open mind and accept new possibilities about the nature of reality, and it’s childish to hold on to old belief systems just because they are familiar.
I personally believe in the soul and other non-material phenomena, as well the idea that life does not end here on Earth, and I believe there is enough evidence in various forms, aside from my own intuition and gut feeling, to support this stance.
What about you? What do you believe? What it all boils down to, for me, is respect. We must learn to respect each other’s viewpoints about ‘what is.’ We need to work with each other and accept our differences so we can focus on helping the planet, our shared home.
“It’s a mark of an educated person to be able to entertain an idea without accepting it.”
Conspiracy: secret plan or a cabal. “A cabal is a group of people united to promote their private views or interests in an ideology, state, or other community, often by intrigue and usually unbeknownst to those outside their group. The use of this term usually carries negative connotations of political purpose, conspiracy and secrecy. The word cabal comes from the word Kabbalah – to receive or accept.” Wikipedia
Conspiracies are mistaken views.
There are two opposing views on reality; dualistic and non-dualistic. In between, are those who don’t care but still believe in an ‘I’ and everything to which this ‘I’ relates.
Anything that can be known starts with our consciousness; there is no belief present at that point. Belief comes afterwards. To know anything correctly and precisely, this consciousness has to be unbiased, so it has to be pure consciousness. That is what we are. That is our truth.
We are all, first and foremost, non-dual pure consciousness. This consciousness is neither physical nor mental. It is that which sees, is aware, is purely conscious and never changes. Our ideas are changeable but consciousness itself is unchanging, and we can see and realise this. This is what our existence is all about. Pure consciousness is our reality. It is from this that everything is known: anything else is made up of ideas.
There are, however, those who believe in ‘something else’ that is apart from their pure consciousness. They chose to be dualistic and worship some thing. How did these two different views of duality and non-duality come about?
Truth is not something that is created, as anything created is temporary and has an end. Truth never dies. The truth is that which sees. It just is. The truth can be hidden for while, but the truth always comes out because the truth is obvious … when pointed out! Conspiracies are only created by those who do not understand the deeper meaning of universal laws. These natural laws – attraction, repulsion and indifference – drive the universe, and translate in human terms as desire, fear and ignorance (while, in essence, they are pure compassionate consciousness, the three kayas.)
If we do not know how the universe runs, then it runs us – it controls us.
If we do know how the universe runs, then we run with it – we control it.
How do we control the universe?
We don’t!
We just become aware of universal power.
Ignorance is the cause of imprisonment.
Questioning is the cause of enlightenment.
Ignorance creates confusion. Confusion creates fantasies. Fantasies create conspiracies – creating more confusion. Ignorance is anything that obscures pure consciousness. In ignorance, we can be led to believe anything. In pure consciousness there is nothing to believe, as it is realised.
Would a God create a confused universe?
We can all read about God’s intentions, but who wrote those words?
Ask yourself the question, “Who created our view of the world?”
There seems to have been a divergence of views in the area of Persia/Iran around 5000 years ago, at the beginning of the Kaliyuga. One group – Zoroastrians – had a dualistic view of ‘one God’ and ‘me’ as their reality. The other group – the Vedantists (which means ‘not two’) – had a non-dual view of reality.
The Zoroastrian view of God led to Judaism, Islam and Christianity, while the other view of pure consciousness led to Hinduism and Buddhism.
Confusion can arise when our view and our practice don’t match up.
A conspiracy is anything or anyone who denies the truth
by colouring it with a belief.
This is a reply to a question was about the nine levels: I have to apologise to a questioner (DF) for accidentally deleting both my reply and his comment.
Here are the nine levels or yanas within the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. There are many links on the page, but it’s probably best to find a retreat on this subject. This may sound like a scholarly subject, but it is more experiential:
In Tibetan Buddhism, many subjects are broken down into sub sections, and it all can seem complicated.
To simplify. Take an emotion such as anger or pride:
On a basic level, we may back away from an emotion, eg not allowing ourselves to become annoyed – or admit that we are annoyed.
On another level, we may apply an antidote to these emotions; for anger, we apply compassion, and for pride, we apply a feeling of equality, etc. But this antidote is a temporary measure as these emotions will return.
On yet another level, we see that these emotions do not exist.
At the highest level (Maha Ati or Dzogchen), these same emotions become wisdoms: in the very first instant of the emotion, there is a stirring within pure consciousness and the mind brightens, before we become carried away by the emotion.
There are also nine stages or levels of mental development or meditation practice – this may be of some help.
Shamatha, which means ‘calm’, is the practice of meditation to develop the ability to focus the mind in single-pointed concentration. This is practised as a pre-requisite for mindfulness or insight meditations.
In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, this practice is described as a ‘nine stage progression’, beautifully depicted in this thangka showing a monk chasing and finally capturing an elephant. The elephant is being led by a monkey, representing distractions but, through study of the writings of wisdom teachers and meditation practice, the practitioner is able to capture and subdue the elephant. Gradually, both the monkey and the elephant turn white, representing the meditator’s ability to maintain the power of concentration.
Stages three and four represent the meditator’s ability to fix and hold his or her concentration steady. The meditator has lassoed the elephant and gradually the monkey and elephant – and even a rabbit (torpor) – turn and look at the meditator to indicate that distractions acknowledge who is in charge.
In stages five and six, the meditator begins to lead the elephant, and the monkey of distraction follows the mind rather than leading it. The mind is controlled; the meditator uses a goad to discipline the elephant. The rabbit disappears and the mind is finally pacified.
In the seventh stage, the monkey leaves the elephant and stands behind the meditator, paying homage. In stage eight, the meditator is in complete control, and single-pointed concentration is achieved.
The ninth is the stage of mental absorption. Perfect equanimity is found and the path has ended. The elephant rests beside the meditator who sits at ease. Now, out of the meditator’s heart, streams a rainbow-like ray.
Stages ten and eleven represent crossing over into mental bliss. The meditator rides the elephant along the rainbow path into the perfection of the transcendent realm and returns bearing the sword of Wisdom. Samsara’s root is severed by the union of shamatha and vipashyana (or insight meditation with emptiness as the object of contemplation). Aware of pure awareness, the meditator is now equipped with Compassion and Wisdom to guide others on the path to enlightenment.
Are We Just Treading Water? Making no real progress.
We may do and say the right things, but has there been any real, enlightening change in life? We may go through the right routines, but are we just tread ingwater?
We are all in danger of sustaining diligent indifference that separates us, and it’s when this starts to feel uncomfortable that we need to move up a level. Nice words are okay, but if they become a habit, they may lose their true meaning and then may create irritation – but still, we blindly persist. 😀
At this time, we need to look more closely at what those words actually mean. It is said that there are nine levels, each using the same words but with different meanings. That which we consider our enemy at one level – a negative emotion – is our teacher at another. And, at yet another level, it is our precise path to enlightenment.
Is compassion just a nice idea, or a way of life?
Is it a way of life or is it our teacher?
Or is it our active path to enlightenment?
(This is for those who cannot afford to go on retreats 😀 )
We all know – in a general way – what “the tenderness of compassion” means, but this not a fixed thing. It is experiencing the moment now with genuine concern for others, and has nothing to do with sentimentality. It is something from which we constantly learn. Compassion for confusion is our path.
A retreat takes several days of silent meditation, listening and reflection, but we still have to go away and practise on our own. A teaching is something that stirs us’; it’s not something that we ‘get’ – it is a manifestation of realisation.
Tender compassion isn’t a sloppy, sentimental, new age idea. It is the powerful medium of true communication. It is the outcome of the realisation of duty, which is the practice of the six perfections (paramitas) or the six compassions: Generosity, Patience, Discipline, Morality, Concentration and Transcendent Wisdom. In other words, it’s pinpoint sensitivity.
Compassion is an atmosphere generated by clarity and empathy. A battered heart has to recognise its own wounds in order to heal itself before it can empathise with others’ pain. We need compassion in understanding how these wounds came about before attempting to help others, and for that we need open tenderness and intelligence. Sentimental affection or kindness is nice but doesn’t last, and isn’t reliable. Platitudes only make us feel good: we cannot tell someone who feels something not to feel it as the feeling is a consequence of their past. How we and they deal with that feeling is the issue.
The tenderness of compassion
is being concerned to listen without judgement
and never feel defensive or annoyed.
This takes practice and honest interest.
The tenderness of compassion
is our teacher.
A prayer for us all:
“May I have the right compassionate motivation and intention
to guide all sentient beings on the path to enlightenment.”
Our inner happiness affects our outer happiness.
If we only look for outer happiness,
then we will have to go on looking.
(Don’t be put off by the word ‘happiness’; read it as ‘sanity’.)
Inner happiness is knowing, experiencing and realising the rightness of everything: this may sound strange to those who believe that everything is real, and want everything to be perfect.
Everything comes into existence through causes and conditions and, through cause and conditions, everything then comes to an end. That is perfect reasoning. Understanding this, we see the world and our lives for what they are – a temporary affair. If we do this and this and this, then we will get that. If we think this and this and this, we will become that. It’s a universal law, but it’s still impermanent.
Scientists know how to change DNA.
Psychologists know the frailties of the human mind.
Religions know about longing.
Is our confusion due to mixing up science, psychology and religion?
If we become confused, don’t we lose our happiness and sanity?
Could it be that the status quo – the state of affairs we live under – creates this insanity?
Being told not to think of a donkey, we think of a donkey.
Being told not to obsess about something, we obsess about that very thing.
It’s a kind of hypnosis. Negative ideas have a stronger effect on us than positive ones – just look at the news!
When we are aware and realise the state in which we live, then we are no longer under the control of science, psychology, or religion.
When we realise our true nature of pure consciousness, we know we are neither this body nor mindset and, at death, we will no longer have this human form. Even if death is the end, at least we can continue a legacy of reasonable sanity handed down to us. 😀
The Buddha saw a musician tightening the strings of an instrument, observing that the strings needed to be not too tight and not too loose in order to achieve the rightnote, a ‘happy’ note. If we live under strings that are too tight (wound up) or too loose (sloppy), we will never be just right, having satisfactory mental health.
Happiness (or sanity) is the clarity of good mental health; it’s our natural state. What made us move away from this? The promise of a better, outer life? ‘Living the Dream’?
Inner happiness is knowing how everything is.
Outer happiness is knowing why everything is.
Our life may not be hunky dory but it serves a purpose,
conveying us to enlightenment.
This me is the conveyance to enlightenment. That which we call me is certainly an illusion as it is a temporary arrangement of body and mindset, but now we see it and use it.
Are there two me’s? There is a real me – the pure light of consciousness – and a temporary, projected me. There is light that casts a reflection: normally, we just project our reflection, and ignore our light.
People will argue over words, but we know what we experience. We (pure consciousness) watch this me reflection projecting itself. Unfortunately, most of us become stuck to the projection. Awakening is becoming unstuck.
This me is the commentator within the still silence of pure consciousness. That is why retreats are in silence, as we are only there to be, rather than to project. Unfortunately the projection still takes over … we can see it coming a mile away! 😀
It is this spiritual projection that turns simple realisation into a complicated matter, when it’s actually ‘Oh, so simple’. We realise that we no longer have to act it out or fake it and make everything sparkle. That’s just a distraction. We are the sparkle. Trying to be perfect in order to realise the truth merely delays realisation. We don’t polish the mud – we clean it off!
To be free is to realise our self-nature
without obsessing about that self-nature.
It’s just something we live with.
With the right intention,
we gradually move from complicity to simplicity.
Realisation We realise that we are already happy
and it doesn’t rely on anything.
The mind thinks thoughts. It’s what is does. To ask it to stop thinking would be like asking the eyes to stop seeing. Thinking and seeing are natural. The deception is that – and it is a deception – consciousness attaches itself to the thoughts and whatever it sees, thereby making these appearances seem real. This creates an ‘I’-grasping machine, clinging to a self identity, and desperate to defend itself with emotions.
We are bombarded with thoughts, sounds, images, smells, tastes, and physical sensations and, all the while, conscious awareness is present. An ‘I’ was created only when we forgot our true essential nature, and started fantasising. We are not this ‘I’: we are, first and foremost, pure conscious awareness.
Meditation is just seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching – without attachment. Only then are we free to enjoy, without suffering.
Milarepa said, “Thoughts do not fetter us; it is clinging to those thought that binds us.”
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. 