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.

If We Just Do What Is Needed

If we just do what is needed
rather than what we like,
our problems would diminish
and contentment increase.
Our likes and dislikes are
products of our past.

Assessment of what is needed
is down to the individual’s understanding.

Milarepa had to assess
whether to clear the nettles
in front of his cave every day,
or just go back inside and practise.

Of course, we are not Milarepa,
but we know when we are doing
the right thing.

A worldly person has many needs.
A practitioner of consciousness has few.
In the moment of realisation, there are none.

Truth: Simple To Acknowledge, Easy To Forget

That which perceives through the senses is consciousness. That which perceives consciousness is consciousness itself. Finding nothing but consciousness, it is realised as being empty of other. It is pure consciousness. That is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

The ‘me’ is a set ideas in consciousness that interferes with emptiness and thus, perception is diverted.

Focus on this screen, or the room you are in. Awareness is present, consciousness is present. Now slightly defocus the gaze so that you’re not looking at objects, but merely being aware of the gaze. That is pure awareness, pure consciousness. It’s always present. That is our first nature. Our second nature is whatever consciousness acquires; it’s a deeply ingrained habit of repeating something that makes it seem completely natural or inborn. For this reason, we forget simple truth.

In meditation, we focus on an object such as the breath, in order to calm consciousness. Then we defocus to become aware of consciousness itself, and to realise that we are pure consciousness. We do not have to keep defocused, as that is merely so that we are aware of consciousness. Consciousness is our reality. That is the reality of the universe. Matter changes, while pure consciousness does not. Anything we want to know about the infinite universe, consciousness must be present to see, and then we realise that consciousness is the source of every thing. Mind-boggling, isn’t it? It only seems mind-boggling because our conceptual mind cannot and will never understand its source, which is non-dual, pure consciousness.

In ordinary daily life, knowing that pure consciousness is always present and that that is our true reality, we are no longer fixated about the material world, and stop shouting at the radio 😀 We merely become mindful of whatever we are doing, thinking or saying, while maintaining the continuity of consciousness. Remembering is being mindful. Once we remember, we just acknowledge the situation that karma has dealt us, and sustain our composure. There are no mystical tricks: everything we need is at hand.

Just acknowledge contentment throughout life. We are dealt a hand and we play with that. After we are gone, the world will still be shouting at the radio. It is because the world does not acknowledge and remember its true nature of pure consciousness that it remains disturbed and unhappy and shouty.

Personal gain will continue to produce things that are detrimental to human and animal welfare, being mindless of consequences. We all have moments of pure consciousness as we are pure consciousness, but then we become lost in earnest distraction. There is no right and wrong, but just different beliefs.

We can either spend this precious life in simple truth,
diminishing the effects of karma,
or we can waste it by shouting at the radio.

Truth is in the steady gaze of pure awareness.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Confusion = Perfect Maths = Realisation

Confusion is beautiful: the geometry of mathematical properties and relations. An ice crystal is a unique, geometric design, but if we ignore this icy condition, we will slip in a certain way and break a certain bone. Perfect cause and effect. If we don’t take care, we become careless. If we ignore our true essence, we will fixate on other things. If we do not know, we will be confused, and a perfect sequence of events will ensue.

Confusion creates suffering. Because we are confused about our true nature of perfect consciousness, we are governed by our desires and fears. There are three constants – or three truths – in the universe. Space is infinite. Pure consciousness is infinite. Mathematics (cause and effect) is infinite. All we have to do is recognise our true nature and that which obscures this nature, and eureka … like magic, perfect wisdom from perfect confusion!

First The Inspiration, And Then The Reality

When we first seek teachings on truth, we hear positive language to inspire us, offering things we like to hear and associate with. But then, there comes a moment when we realise that we have mental obstacles, in the form of things we don’t want to hear, as we would rather stay with theories and beliefs.

Facing the truth takes courage. The inability to put self aside stops us truly progressing and experiencing reality. Have confidence in our true nature, our self image isn’t needed anymore: when dealing with others, self is put aside. The work is dismantling subtler levels of attachment, resting in the pinpoint moment of now. Dealing with others is a tremendous opportunity to experience this reality.

Students of spirituality have an added problem, as there may be subtle clinging to the teachings. In pure awareness, there are no teachings. Reality is recognising the conflict between compassionate neutrality and habitual reactions. The main point is to recognise heightened awareness in conflict.

What Matters Is What We Are, Not What We Know

Once we know what we are,
then what we know matters.

Once, we had bits of information that we believed in.
Now, we have bytes of information that we believe in.
Belief destroys the potential of knowing.

Teachers Should Be Devoted To Their Students

Teachers should be devoted to their students,
rather than expecting students to be devoted to them.

Teach by example.

Do We Know And Have Enough?

If we know we have enough, we are rich.
If we think we don’t have enough, we are poor.
This applies to both the material world and spirituality.

When we know we are pure consciousness within a limited body and mind, the value of conscious life goes up, and our material needs diminish. This clarity of being becomes obscured when we mimic, conform and are programmed, both in the material world and within spiritual circles. Acting in this way, we live like hungry ghosts or robots, in constant conflict.

Pure awareness knows enough; trust it.

Hungry ghosts: In Buddhism, this applies to those who have emotional wants but cannot digest or find satisfaction.
Robot: programmed to appear autonomous. From Czech robota; ‘forced labour’.

How Do Demons Think?

How do demons think?
You know.
And you know you know 🙂

Demons aren’t something over there; they’re right here. Demons are our own desire, anger, fear, jealousy, pride.

Our demons are created the moment when we forget our true nature of pure awareness – and to realise that we have become demonic is a bit of a shock. We think that demons are outside our experience while we actually entertain them, as demons feed off emotions, opinions and gossip.

Demons aren’t scary as they don’t actually exist. It’s all in the mind.

“We are free in the moment of just seeing.”
Tulku Urgyen

“Recognise our true nature.
Decide on that one point.
Gain confidence in that point.”
Garab Dorje

Circumstances no longer overtake us;
they are now our teacher.
No challenge, no progress.

Dear Oh Dear, Don’t They Make It Complicated?

Complication can hide the simple truth that
we are pure consciousness; the truth that we seek.
It is from that, that everything flows.
There is nothing in inner peace but inner peace.

From Absurdities To Atrocities To Realisation

It is truly amazing that we can all see things differently while ‘clear seeing’ itself remains the same. We are all the same Buddha nature, Christ consciousness, original consciousness of purity. Ignoring this pure view, we maintain our differences, believing these to be more interesting. Self belief adheres to other beliefs, which lead us away from the ultimate truth of oneness.

“Those who can make you believe absurdities
can make you commit atrocities”.
Voltaire

Although it may not seem like it, the world is changing for the better. There is so much more ‘special knowledge’ available and this cannot be stopped, but we first have to acknowledge that life is not fulfilling, even though we have more absurd ‘toys’. People are suffering mentally, and pills are not the answer; if we dull the rawness of life, we won’t ask the right questions.

Acknowledging this, we can then look for the original cause of this suffering. We need a method to bring an end to our uneasiness; only then can we resolve our heartache. There are always consequences to ouractions and inactions.

The cause of uneasiness is when the inner turns outward.
We pervert our minds because we invert being.
‘Invert’ from Latin invertere, to turn inside out. 

Where Do Our Thoughts Come From?
Or rather, where does our programming come from?

When we perceive anything, this perception takes place in the mind, and we end up with a reservoir of information, causing the brain to wire in a particular pattern. Gradually, whenever we then perceive anything, we refer to these memories, making judgements which affect our behaviour. The programme is now in full swing, and we relive the past, time and time again.

If we do not question our thoughts, we will remain unaware that we are being fed information that turns us away from even considering that we’ve been trained like Pavlov’s dogs. We mentally salivate at the latest ‘goodies’ and ‘news’.

Thoughts have no actual reality as they are merely ideas we have acquired and then hold on to. They express themselves in everything we say and do, down to our tiniest mannerisms, and can either bolster our ego or be used to clarify a situation. Due to our clinging to these thoughts, we lose control, and become indifferent to our true reality.

The good news that has been kept a secret is that we are the pure consciousness that sees all, but which goes unnoticed, or is covered up.

The positive aspect of this reservoir of information is that it offers us the facility to scan the mind for memories and, not being so quick to judge, we can stand back and investigate while reviewing a situation.It isn’t the perception that is the obstacle: the problem lies in our reactions, which reinforce a limited view and obscure our true potential of clarity.

Dinner table chatter merely regurgitates past projections into the present, whereas enlightened speech is directed to now, and serves only to enlighten the atmosphere.

We may worry about being targeted and profiled by technology, but first we should worry about our willingness to accept that these developments could be of benefit. We have already been programmed! The media wants us to react, and then we will thinkwe’re doing something. We thinkwe’re in charge.We thinkwe have choices.

Merely be aware of that which is aware of these thoughts. That awareness – that pure awareness – is what we actually are, rather than the thoughts we repeat again and again. In the presence of awareness, these thoughts gradually subside into emptiness of pure awareness.

As we reach the end of our lives, we know – as a practitioner – what is of value.

Ultimate Nostalgia

Nostalgic for what?
We all have this longing
to be in the right place.
But what is this right place?

If we look, we will realise that
the right place is in that recognition.

The right place is not about a place or time;
it is about our being in place.

We are in the right place.
We have always been the right place.

It isn’t a matter of who we are but what we are.
Pure consciousness is the right place, here and now.

What else can it be?

How We Sentence Ourselves

Whatever views, thoughts, concepts, opinions and fixations we hold on to at this moment will be the basis of our next moment and, for most of us, our entire lives, unfortunately. Holding on to thoughts that we have acquired from others is our sentence and imprisonment. None of our thoughts are original: we acquire and react … and repeat. Holding onto thoughts is not the same as having thoughts.

Having a thought and being able to analyse and question, means that we can discern what is beneficial and what is harmful. ‘Beneficial’ means leading to happiness, while ‘harmful’ means causing unhappiness. To be able to progress and refine understanding, we have to be prepared to drop and set free our fixations, our set ideas about the meaning of life. This is how move up the scale of evolution. 😀

“Oh! Oh! You just want us to have your ideas! Mmm?”
Not at all. Just be aware of the power that thoughts and emotions have over us.

Once the mind is free of fixations – or, at least, we are awareof fixations – then the pattern of our life can change. If we cannot or do not change our view, then we become stuck in a rut, a groove of our own making. We’re surrounded by groovers who are digging their own graves. 😀 😀 😀

Groove: Middle English (denoting a mine or shaft): from Dutch groeve ‘furrow, pit’; related to grave.

Life has a meaning and our mind has a function, which is to realise what we are, in reality. Life isn’t just maintenance and entertainment; that is the formula for the corporate coffers. Life it is about freedom to have time and space to get out of the mould and realise that we have the ultimate power of enlightenment.

Formula: from Latin, diminutive of forma; ‘shape, mould’.

Corporations, intellectuals and religions provide us with ideas so that we can be free. Really?! That is their trap, and we fall for it every time because we hope. The truth is that we are already free, but if we are told this, we think it’s something extraordinary.

Unfortunately, we have become so used to the prison that we hardly notice it anymore. The secret is that when we are fed up with this prison, we can just walk out. They don’t tell you that, do they? What is truly extraordinary is that we choose to stay locked up in a mould, in a groove. Amazing!

Once we realise that we are free, we then have to recognise that the situation we are in now is due to past fixations and grooves. As we recognise and stop reacting, these fixations and grooves – our karma – smooth out, no matter what occurs. We still have to maintain this body, but it is no longer a chore; it’s play. Once we can play nicely, we can play nicely with others, and life is full of meaning.

I used to wonder why people ran around doing and saying meaningless things as if these were important. Now I know. They cannot help their-self. ‘They’ are pure consciousness. Their ‘self’ is an addiction to fixated ideas to which pure consciousness sticks.

This feeling of imprisonment has no reality.

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… this blog just hit the 2500^tharticle, saying the same thing over and over! 😀

Seeing, and Then I See

Seeing, and then I see.
Perception, and then I perceive.
There is an extremely subtle difference here.

When consciousness does not realise its own nature of purity and instead perceives something, consciousness starts to narrate about whatever is perceived. We (pure consciousness) miss the moment before, when there was just perception (pure perception) present. It is this relating and narrating that created a feeling of an imaginary I, the witness, the author of our creation of which we became proud.

I see therefore I am is the moment when ignorance is created. I think therefore I am is the moment when ignorance is created. We ignore the milli-moment of emptiness before the moment now. There is an extremely subtle difference between these two views, and meditation is a method to acknowledge this difference.

Whatever is seen is dropped, as there is the next moment of seeing. If we hold on to whatever is seen, we carry this over to the next moment, and our story becomes more complex and emotional. This habit now controls our life.

Satisfaction and realisation are in the seeing, rather than in the incomplete projections in the mind about whatever is seen. Meditation is about seeing and resting in the truth of our reality of pure consciousness. It is about not sitting in silent peacefulness: a cow can do that.

Tea, Not The Tea Cup

“When we want tea, we aren’t bothered about the cup it comes in. Likewise, the Dharma we want is the teaching on the nature of reality: the culture it comes with does not matter. We mustn’t confuse the teaching we want with the culture. We do not have to become Tibetan or adopt another culture to realise our true nature.”

Quote from Dzongzar Rinpoche

OM MANI PEME HUM is a Mnemonic
Mnemonics are an aid to memory

The mantra, OM MANI PEME HUM, represents compassion within wisdom. This compassionate wisdom is directed towards what is happening in our own minds, and the minds of others. It is not a magical incantation.

OM MANI PEME HUM is Sanskrit for generosity, patience, morality, discipline, meditation and wisdom; these are known as the six perfections, which is the path to enlightenment.

OM MANI PEME HUM is apractical aid rather than a magical mystery. When dealing with others, it’s essential to remember the six perfections.

How Everything is Perfect

How is everything perfect, when the people are ignoring reality?
If we do not sharpen our tool, the cut will not be clean. We know that a blunt tool will produce a ragged edge: this is not a surprise so the outcome of our inattention is perfect cause and effect.

Likewise, when we ignore our true reality of perfect consciousness – which is perfect happiness, because we understand perfect gratitude – we will not fall prey to desire. If we fall prey to desire, we will not notice that we are already perfectly happy.

Everything comes into existence due to cause and effect, so everything is perfect. “But I don’t like the way the world is, and this makes me unhappy!” That is the perfect condition to realise the cause and condition of that unhappiness.

Perfect comes from perfect.
May we recognise perfection everywhere,
and remain at peace.

Can’t Meditate?

Simply rest in whatever takes place in the mind, in whatever happens. In the very moment of recognition of being aware lies the moment of empty cognisance, pure awareness, Rigpa. Just note and realise that is one’s true nature. When awareness is solely aware of being aware and is not wandering, then everything is perfect. That is the point of meditation. This awareness resting in awareness. The emptiness of emptiness. As we practise, this experience becomes more familiar.

If we want something more, then there are those who will oblige and create elaborations. Or we can simply look into that which is not satisfied and rest in that recognition. There you are, you see.

How Do We Experience Our True Nature?

The reason that we do not experience our true nature is that there is so much going on our minds to distract us. Whatever we see, we immediately judge by relating to memory of previous experience. We do not just see; we relate by referring. This is how we become stuck in a cycle of confused existence.

A subtle obstacle may arise when we read or hear about our true nature. When we experience anything, we immediately relate and refer to this information, which imposes theory on to actual experience. “Ah! This is emptiness!”We rely on an expectation, which becomes a belief.

Belief is a intense force. It can make us do anything. The main result is boosting ego …“I can do this!”

This powerful ego boost can have a positive effect: it can push things so far that we are no longer able justify our reactions, as we have become so full of ourself that we notice we are out of control and, in fact, suffering. We need special energy arising from the recognition of conflict to cut through this ego-created dream world. If we keep trying to make everything nice and cosy, we may never see the need for release.

How do we experience our true nature? Simply realise what is asking the question! The more the ego, the more the confusion, the clearer the view.

Upgrading Our Teacher

To teach means to point out, to show: “Look! See!” But it is wewho have to look and see. And what we are seeing is that we are this seeing. The teacher can only show us generalised guidelines on how to see this consciousness that is seeing. It is we who have to make the journey … in our case, to nowhere – now here. The human teacher or text merely points out how to look, but it is we who have to see, rather than taking the teacher’s word for it. This is not about acquiring teachings: it is a matter of realising that we are the teaching, and that there is nothing to be acquired. That is the upgrade!

Merely repeating others’ words can be annoying as this does not address the current ‘situation’, but imposes itself upon it instead. The outcome of self realisation is empathetic, compassionate understanding that liberates a ‘situation’ … in the eyes of the ‘situation’! Self realisation is due to awareness or consciousness realising its true reality, naturally.

Not all teachers are of the same calibre or understanding. Not all traditions suit everyone. The teacher isn’t the real teacher: a human teacher merely point that out. The real teacher is our mental karma (our reactions) and our karmic situation (whatever our reactions produced) which show the student – pure consciousness – what it is that is obstructing its clear, compassionate view, and what it has become attached to. A human teacher cannot do that for us, but karma is with us all the way to enlightenment. This is making the teachings practical.

We associate the words ‘teacher’ and ‘teaching’ with words such as freedom, liberation, release, wisdom and compassion. We would not expect to include the words exclusive sect, being bound, belief, obsession, fixation, idolisation and worship. These are cult-ish words.

True devotion is genuinely appreciating the truth that we seek. And the truth that we seek is our own pure consciousness. The entire point of teachings is that we are this truth. It is all about pure consciousness, here and now. Devotion has a secret aspect that has to be self-realised: this pure consciousness is the same reality in all sentient beings which gives rise to genuine, unconditional love. Now, that upgrades devotion!

The Perception Trap

It is through perception that we navigate the world, but it’s also easy to forget who is navigating!

In the very first instant of perception, perception is non-conceptual. There is just seeing, hearing etc, so that we can immediately discern whether things are harmful or beneficial. When we are aware of this process and don’t create a mental narrative about whatever is seen, the mind can rest in neutrality, always prepared while remaining at peace and unconfused.

It is only when the mind relates to whatever is perceived and holds on to ‘this’ as opposed to ‘that’, that we experience disquiet and a duality is created. In relating to this intrusion, clear seeing becomes occupied. Being occupied isn’t the issue: it is being occupied constantly that causes us to be addicted to the material and mental worlds, and then we are easily led by the nose.

We can also become occupied by the habit of a routine and fall into a state of vacancy, of not knowing. This is the state of ignorance.

To be free from these perception traps, we recognise that perception is non-conceptual, and that we do not have to follow a formula. We are only bound because pure consciousness became trapped in relating, which created the relative reality that has become our norm. By merely being aware, the mind becomes free and open, and we realise that consciousness is, in fact, free from confusion. This clarity is pure consciousness, where nothing binds us.

In the state of perfect meditation, there is empty essence, empty mind, empty perception. That is our natural condition. We don’t have to sit on a cushion to realise this, but it helps.

We Reincarnate At Every Moment

As sentient beings, we become addicted to a programme that we have created and which we relive again and again, unconscious of our true potential. It is the practice of awakening to consciousness that leads us to realise that we are both pure consciousness and enlightened.

We trap ourselves into reincarnating through clinging to thoughts. Instead of judging by using reasoning to think a thing through in the moment now, we rely on thoughts we have acquired – and we become judge-mental.

“There is nothing wrong with thinking:
it is clinging to those thoughts that binds us.”
Milarepa

It is important to note that, when merely perceiving, thoughts are not present. Thoughts come a moment later, creating the continuity of reincarnation, and off we go.

Meditation breaks this patterning of constant rebirth and frees us from being … well, us! We are so much more than money earners and spenders. We are pure consciousness that never changes. It’s amazing that we settle for anything less.

Whether we bodily reincarnate, we will never know as we can’t remember, but we can be aware that we are born with tendencies. The main point is that we can live afresh at every moment, rather than being tied down to a type.

We have to realise what thought is and what thought does. It can be either entrapment or liberation, depending on whether we recognise its reality. Consciousness, if acknowledged, catches demonic activity that obscures pure consciousness. Once pure consciousness is realised, there are three refinements in Dzogchen that offer release from thoughts upon arising:

Like recognising someone we know: appearances and recognition are simultaneous, and consciousness is liberated in that moment.

Like a snake untangling its knots: with consciousness present, a thought or emotion is naturally released.

Like a thief entering an empty house: when empty essence is realised, demons have nothing to gain and therefore do not dwell.

Our practice is recognising how we respond.
That recognition frees us,
and thoughts no longer have power over us.

The Gap Between Thoughts

This is where we will find and realise emptiness – pure consciousness, the natural state of rest free of mental turbulence or dullness. We normally oscillate between thoughts and this gap of emptiness, but miss this process because we project consciousness into the future by memories of the past.

Emptiness is fully cognisant and aware, now. It is this moment of pure perception. Perception is ever present; it is without thought, opinion, judgement or memory. Thought comes a milli-moment later, ignited by memories, and we react. Off we go again!

Spiritually speaking – or rather, consciously speaking – we are dealing with this pure moment of nowness. Missing this precious moment, we indulge in speculations and set up a fabricated reality of constantly relating to ‘this’ as opposed to ‘that’.

If, on the other hand, we are mindful of the gap, the gap expands and consciousness relaxes into its pure state. We do not have to look for pure consciousness: it’s present all the time. It is timeless. We are that timelessness.

“I Am Nothing Without My Opinions”

It is our opinions and concepts that create the fixations with which we identify as a self. Because of these ideas to which we cling, we limit our true potential.

“But, I need to have opinions about things!” Before opinions is awareness. Something is seen and consciousness then reacts. As seekers after the truth, the recognition of this process is extremely important. It is awareness (consciousness) that has acquired opinions about whatever it sees. Here, we are talking about ordinary, conventional, human consciousness that is addicted to desires and aversions. We need to know that mentally, we can disengage from this cycle of existence.

Ordinary consciousness is our partial human reality.
Pure consciousness is our ultimate impartial reality.

We all need to be able to discern what is of benefit, what is harmful and what creates confusion.

Ordinary consciousness binds us.
Pure consciousness frees us.
In partial seeing, we lose this inner peace.
In pure seeing, we have inner peace.

We may ask what do we can do about the world in which we live.The answer is that karma (whatever presents itself) is our teacher, our life coach. We are not going to change the world – even though we’d like to – as the majority does not want inner freedom. We can, however, bring an end to our reactions, which are part of the world’s problems.

We must first change our attitude, before we can address worldly problems.

If You Don’t Find What You’re Looking For … 😀
… just make a suggestion in the comments section
and we can see what manifests.

Or go privately to buddhainthemud@hotmail.com

Of course, you know the answer will be,
“You are what you’re looking for”!
But we all have individual concerns.

Nothing Else

When we hear about enlightenment/pure consciousness, we are being enlightened about our true nature. We are being made aware of the potential of our true nature.

The next stage is to practise without distraction to become aware of our true reality beyond thought. We become further enlightened when the experience of insight releases us from our acquired ideas.

Small liberations occur as we remember whatwe are. The more we are aware, the more the moments between forgetting shorten.

Complete enlightenment is non-stop, undistracted awareness
suffused with compassionate empathy for others.

We realise we are satisfied,
and life has become fruitful.

The I cannot be enlightened.
There is only remembering, recognising, realising –
and nothing else.

Life Of A Thousand Traumatic Cuts

Trauma is normally thought of as a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that leaves a long term effect on our mind. We may think that this is a rare occurrence of those in extreme circumstances but, when we look more closely, we see that everything we have encountered leaves some sort of mark, residue or wound in our consciousness. It is how we learn, after all.

This isn’t about being over-sensitive or playing the victim. It’s about being aware of living in a collective ignorance of our true reality. These wounds are actually our path to enlightenment, and manifest as an empathetic understanding for others.

Our problem is being stuck in an idea of our normal. We are so used to this normalthat we don’t realise that we all have a clear path to enlightenment. The path is clear because, through the practice of meditation, we see the cause of our confusion and the traumas that creates.

We arrive at a moment when we realise that what we were told by others was merely them holding on to their traumas. Although a trauma is usually a disturbing experience, there are also sentimental trauma, educated trauma, career trauma, relationship trauma … everything leaves a impression, and these impression are the cause of our pretend world. When we arrive at non-thought in non-meditation, there is a realisation that we have always been that clear reality.

Recognising trauma is a wake up call. Waking up is merely a sequence of realisations and letting go-es. We are not victims; we are authors of our destiny. We are authentic beings, not copies.

It is the recognition of imperfection that is the perfection.
Re-cognise = already known.

We Really Do Need To Train Our Mind … First!

If we don’t train our mind to be still and silent, it will lack the clarity needed to recognise and realise the truth of the teachings. With training, we experience and gain inspiration and then, subtle questions arise from realisation. Teachings are generalised, and theory is black and white, static and fossilising; it is only through authentic experience that genuine questions arise. If we cannot form a precise question, we will not receive a precise answer.

Reading about, discussing and studying the reality of the nature of mind will not help in realising and experiencing this. We need to still the mind into silence by focusing our attention and inner energies, otherwise the nature of mind will remain merely as a theory. In training the mind, we also have to refine our conduct to be more attentive to others’ needs, and gain what is called ‘merit’ – the beneficial qualities of receptivity, a peaceful atmosphere, good fortune, good karma – which brings a greater potential to receive and synthesise teachings.

In training the mind, we do not become carried away by our ideas and emotions. In other words, we apply discipline so that we don’t revert to our habitual mannerisms.

We have to return to basic mind training constantly, and take a low profile in life. If we become competitive, we will remain trapped in a samsaric frame of mind – and we will only be competing with stupidity. If we don’t train our mind to receive wisdom, then we are of no use to ourself or anyone else.

Training is simply valuing compassion that arises from pure awareness. There are no hardships and it’s not complicated. They don’t tell you that, do they? ;D

Synopsis for Book

Thanks to Marcel who collated some articles a year ago with the idea of producing a book, we have recently completed this process (it’s taken a year with updates and adjustments), and the project is now being proof read. Unfortunately, the proof reader (Kathie, my wife) has just had a eye operation, so there is more delay – that’s life.

The following is the synopsis for the book, “Buddha In The Mud”:

This book offers an overall view of consciousness from a Tibetan Buddhist Dzogchen tradition.

Consciousness has two aspects; the ability to look both outward and within. In this way, we prove what is real and what isn’t, and identify what is merely a belief. The use of the word ‘spiritual’ in this context means pure consciousness that purely sees, without judgement. Our comments, which come a moment later, can express either self-interest or genuine compassion for others.

The Dzogchen approach, from the Tibetan Buddhist Nyingma tradition, introduces us to the direct realisation of our true nature, and the path to enlightenment. This realisation opens the door, and takes place within our own mind and within our own culture. When we realise this absolute truth of pure consciousness – which is what we are – we will realise the truth within all teachings.

Ultimately, we are the truth that we seek. It is because of pure consciousness that everything is known, so that comes first; that is where everything starts and finishes. Before thought, there must be consciousness, but before this outward-looking consciousness, there is pure, inner consciousness. Truth is never out there. It’s here, right now, and truth never changes.

The most important instruction from the Buddha is, “Do not take my word for it; test it for yourself”. Without this, teachings are merely hearsay or belief. As Christ said, “Seek and you shall find”. It is we who have to see in order to realise as opposed to just believing what we are told. As the Tibetan teacher, Tulku Urgyen said, “We are free in the moment of seeing”, and we do not have to be either religious or scholastic to experience this realisation.

When we realise our true nature, we will realise that those negative emotions which we try to hide are, in fact, wisdoms. These negative emotions are inseparable from pure consciousness, because recognition and realisation are simultaneous, like reflections in a mirror. Not knowing this, we remain asleep in our habitual programming of reactionary thoughts and emotions.

Spiritual teachings should be practical, and not merely beliefs that maintain our neuroses. Why? Because genuine teachings eliminate dissatisfaction and suffering, and reveal the genuine happiness and wisdom that has always been our essential nature. Only in this way can we be of benefit to others; from understanding comes compassion.

There are many levels to these teachings, where the same words are used but, through experience, their meanings change. At each level, the teachings are correct in themselves, but we may find that suddenly, they do not totally satisfy. This is a good sign. In seeking the absolute truth, we will eventually realise that we are the truth we seek. This truth is pure consciousness for, without that, nothing would be known: this is experienced and realised through the stillness of body, speech, and mind in meditation.

Pure consciousness isn’t something we create. It is always present but, for thousands of years, we have been misled to worship appearances and beliefs. The truth is in our understandingof those words handed down to us, rather than in someone’s interpretation of those words. Gradually, it all makes sense, no matter who said it. Pure consciousness – absolute consciousness – supreme being.

Exoteric teachings are for the many and rely on belief, whereas esoteric teachings are practical applications to realise the truth. Here, we start to understand the different levels: for example, the first two commandments in the Bible – “You shall have no other Gods but me” and “You shall not make for yourself any idol, nor bow down to it or worship it” can be seen from an esoteric viewpoint.

By turning the exoteric into the esoteric,
we realise that it is worshipping the outer that obscures the inner.

When consciousness worships a self image, it creates confusion.
When consciousness realises its true essence,
it is free of belief in that very moment of seeing.

If The Truth Is That We Are One With God

If the truth is that we are one with God,
then we have never been separated from God.

It is belief that separates us.
To believe is to deny oneness.

When we are at one,
we are never separate from one another.

In oneness,
God and I do not exist.

When we lose God and self,
all that is left
is pure consciousness.

Time To See Differently

It’s not that pure consciousness is extremely subtle; it is that conventional consciousness is so thick with concepts. We make up, adopt, cling to and build on an illusion that creates confusion and therefore, everything seems to be a mystery.

Look at it this way. There is lots to think about and discuss, right? But that which sees all this thinking and discussing simply sees. When pointed out, it’s not subtle at all – it’s obvious! It is this that is actually ordinary reality. Of course, at lower levels, it’s all a mystery, and some actually like it that way because means they don’t have to actually look closely at their life and question it.

This image is from US dollar bill: it is said to represent Freemasonry/Illuminati global control. If this is the way that they see it, then they misunderstand reality and are, in fact, functioning at one of the lower levels, being controlled by a belief in mystery.

Pure consciousness cuts through this illusory nonsense that we are led to believe in and to which we have become attached. Pure consciousness is the only reality, but we’re far too busy making our illusory life cosy to acknowledge this.

Don’t look up; look within.

Recognise and realise the all-seeing consciousness,
– not the all-seeing drivel.

Catching Demons That Don’t Exist

Demons are consciousness clinging to ideas that create ‘myself’; this is demonic because these ideas rob us of knowing our true reality of pure consciousness. Demons distract consciousness away from itself. That’s what demons do – they feed off our ignorance. Human behaviour’s like that, isn’t it?

We can easily see demonic activity in others, but watching demonic activity within our own mind is interesting. This demonic activity is our own likes and dislikes about which we obsess. We, as humans, have to know what is harmful and what is of benefit but, being caught and held by these emotions, we lose control. The point is that demons cannot be said to exist as they are just lost consciousnesses confused about reality. Human behaviour’s like that, isn’t it?

Demons aren’t something to be avoided as that only makes them seem real when they are merely crumbs on the path to enlightenment. I say ‘crumbs’ as they are the sustenance on the journey. If we react to them, they take us down to their level – but in noting this reaction, they become our guide and teacher. The Buddha experienced demonic encounters right until the moment of enlightenment.

Release From The Collective Consciousness

We can’t think ourselves outside the box because it is thinking that keeps us inside the box 😉

Outside the box, there is merely pure observation of pure consciousness. That is our reality, rather than thoughts of how clever we are inside the samsaric box.

‘Samsara’: the vicious cycle of existence, the constant craving and raving

If we are bound by a set of ideas, we are religious, as the word ‘religion’ comes from the Latin religiare ‘to bind’. We might think that we aren’t bound, but we fixate on our ideas and beliefs; we are all stuck in some sort of mud. We’re part of the collective traffic in the box.

Shouting to be free from Tyranny! Governments! Religion! Those over there! Those over here! Anyone who isn’t like me! … will never set us free. Freedom is knowing our true essence which isn’t bound to the collective consciousness.

So how on earth do we get out? We aren’t going to change the world view – the collective way of thinking – and if we react, we immediately become part of the collective way of thinking again … tricky.

In meditation, there is release from our self, our set of ideas. Once we see, we are free. It’s that simple. Our only problem was that we bound ourselves to the collective consciousness – samsara, the vicious cycle of ups and downs.

We cause the problem and it is we who solve the problem, by seeing and not holding.

Is Spiritual Practice Confusing?

The point of spiritual practice is to come to rest in the primordial purity of the spontaneous presence of consciousness. In other words, just to be what we truly are. We can all do that, if we just stop our mind from wandering and fixating.

Through practice, we can encounter ‘nyam’; a temporary experience of bliss or clarity which may present a problem. These ‘nyam’ may be signs of progress, but they can also become traps because we like them – and that can turn our practice into a desire. In order to stop relating, we drop the method, as relating maintains a duality. We can become fixated on methods and rituals while, by dropping attachment and just being, we know where we are and what we are, being just primordial purity of the spontaneous presence of consciousness. There is no knowing whowe are, as that splits consciousness into a duality again.

If we want more teachings in the hope of gaining realisation, we may miss the opportunity to experience for ourselves primordial purity of the spontaneous presence of consciousness, which is empathetic spaciousness. Our practice is simply to remember this realisation.

If we obsess on a method,
we will lose the ability to communicate with others.