What To Do In ‘Lockdown’

Clear up, and stop making more mess.
Clear the mind, and stop reacting.

The word ‘Buddha’ means realising the essence of mind (pure consciousness) and bringing an end to karmic effects (habitual reactions). This is done through meditation which calms the mind down to see clearly, and then we go about our day in a state of calmness and clarity. We make do and mend, inside and outside.

The world is changing fast and as we try to keep it ‘normal’, this normal is changing.
What does not change is our Buddha nature.

We Read What We Want To Read

That is karma in action; our propensity to certain ideas. Karma is our bias, which means that, on any given subject, we have a view, a side. Rarely do we read both sides in an neutral manner.

Actually, in the very first instant of reading – and before our judgement sets in – we are neutral. That neutrality is pure consciousness.

All social narratives have a side to them because they come from a position of judgement. It’s just a matter of being aware that we are biased – we are unfairly prejudiced for or against someone or something. Of course, in relative terms, we may have a fair point but, ultimately – and this may seem surprising – this view is causing us suffering.

We’re trying to hold an illusion together. If we can read between the lines, we may see where this viewpoint is coming from. Ultimately, whatever we read or hear is samsaric – part of the vicious cycle of unconscious existence – whereas, if we are just conscious, we read and reflect.

This is the unity of the two truths:
appearances and recognition are simultaneous.

Looking For Authentic Teachings?

Authentic teachings are what we re-cognise. We re-establish – it is a reunion! When we recognise these teachings as being true, then we are the authority, rather than a copy of anything. A teacher is only a teacher when the student gives that teacher the authority, and a change occurs. There is disillusion, not a building of more illusion. When we connect, we realise that we have always known. Now, that is an amazing moment!

People may call themselves teachers, but are they teaching or merely repeating? Do they have the light, or is it just a reflection?

During the recent troubled times, there have been videos made by teachers which tell us nothing more than we already know – be kind, don’t worry, be happy (just as Bob Marley advised 🙂 ) Mentally remove the robes: is that person saying anything you haven’t already felt?

Looking for something we don’t know can become an addiction, causing us to doubt what we do know. We are knowingness itself, and that knowingness is pure consciousness. Pure consciousness is definitely not an elaboration, dressed up in poetry and beautiful verse. Pure consciousness is beyond all that. Authentic teaching is seeing for yourself that you are pure consciousness. It’s just here now, without doubt, making no comment, alive.

Being awake! Staying alive!

Stop looking and start seeing. Start being. Being genuine is being pure consciousness, with nothing added. If we keep thinking we don’t know, then we will continue to act and be treated like 4 year olds.

Ultimately, there is neither teacher nor student;
there is only pure consciousness realising itself.

Authentic: undisputed origin and not a copy; genuine.
Late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin authenticus, from Greek authentikos  ‘principal, genuine’.

Author’s Note

On this blog, some articles have a similar theme as they are linked, but putting them together in one article would make it too long and heavy. Also, some time is needed to reflect and elaborate. The whole blog is an ongoing process of realisations and refinement.

At teachings, we receive generalisations whereas, in isolation, we have time to reflect and investigate whether something is absolutely true in all circumstances. As the Buddha said, “Do not take my word for it”, I’m doing just that! Halfway through writing an article, something else always seems to occur. Write it or save it?

I separate culture and religion from practical teaching. Culture and religion aren’t bad in themselves as they may be a stepping stone for some to enquire further, but we can spend years treading water, fascinated by the moon’s reflection while failing to realise that it is the seeing that is the reality in the first place.

As there are many levels of understanding, others’ company can cause confusion as their view and ours may differ. We may not see ‘it’ the same way – but the seeing is the same! 😀

Seeing ‘it’ differently can and does cause separation and hostility, even within spiritual groups. Shunning is rampant. Fear is rampant.

Shun: Old English scunian‘abhor, shrink back with fear, seek safety from an enemy’ … enemy?!

Having been away from Dharma centres for nearly seven years now, I have learnt so much more. The problem was that teachings are usually public – which is good – but as a result, subjects are never investigated in any depth, and we go through the same questions and answers every time. So many words … !

Maybe it’s different for you. And that is the whole point. Our spiritual path is our own confusion that we have to eliminate – or rather, illuminate. There isn’t a group realisation, where we all suddenly become enlightened.

By the way, being shunned was so helpful – it forced me to let go! We make the Dharma our own, not by making it up, but by living it.

Is The ‘Cock-up’ Our Gold Standard?

Why Everyone Must Meditate

Everyone must meditate
to make sense of our mind and the world in which we live.
Meditation is a reminder of what is reality.

The world is in constant chaos and confusion, run by bewildered people who like it that way! This confusion creates worry and stress, leading to a lack of confidence and, because of bewilderment, indifference.

If, in early life, we are surrounded by noisy, over-confident people while we’re still feeling our way, we can become fearful of being able to cope with life (I’m talking personally here!). There are those who seem to ‘get it’ (fit in), while others do not (feeling, “Why would I want to do that?!”)

Some think they ‘know’ what it’s all about, and get on with being competitive and living the dream, while others ask what it’s all about. All my school reports said, “Anthony is a dreamer” … but their dreams didn’t make sense to me! Life is definitely not what we’ve been led to believe; it’s not just about making money, with life becoming more complicated in the guise of “Well, this is what we have to do”. We can live very simply and happily, without all the extra ‘doings’. 😀

Through this very recognition that thinks there must be more to life, we seek a different path to follow – one of inner investigation, looking at our spiritual psychology – consciousness itself. We are not even what we think; we are consciousness first and foremost. And guess what? It’s quite happy being simple.

Meditation is simply resting in stillness, without following the imagination and thoughts. This brings about clarity as the mind is being trained not to wander, so we focus on the breath and simply … be. It is then that we start to notice that, because of habit (programming), we want to get up and do things, but here we just stay focused and break the pattern of behaviour.

The strange thing is that meditation actually makes us more creative, because we develop insight into the nature of mind and whatever clouds it, without being encumbered by others’ ideas. In fact, we have no ideas of our own as they are merely acquired from our environment – we don’t have and original thought, and we don’t need an original thought! We pick up fears and false hope from those around us, but that which sees this is our own originality – pure consciousness.

We are pure consciousness. We are already the happiness that we seek. It is just a matter of becoming familiar with this true reality. In this true reality, there is no fear and no hope and no ignorance. These emotions are all in the mind – in our imagination.

When we know the world is potty, confused and in chaos … everything then makes sense! We are all following someone else’s dream, and have made it our own. Silly 🙂 We have no need to better ourselves; we are already perfect – in consciousness, that is. And this bring us to karma – the life in which we find ourselves because of previous actions and reactions (our programming).

Meditation is merely coming out of that programming, cutting through our habits and behaviour. This meditation practice brings an end to the karmic cycle of going round in circles.

We can now smile at everything.
We are free in the moment of seeing.

If everyone meditated, what sort of world would this be?
Definitely better than it appears now, right?

If we all meditated, maybe the ‘cock-up’ wouldn’t be our gold standard any more.
Meditation: anti-cock-up device.

 Psychological Resilience To A Pandemic 😀

In general, trauma will be caused during this pandemic,
and there will be a post traumatic effect.

So how do we stay stable?

We all know that life will end at some point due to anger, design, accident, old age or sickness. There can never be said to be the right time to end life. We know, however, that death is inevitable, and platitudes are of no help in this situation. Perhaps belief is helpful, but belief isn’t for everyone.

As long as we believe that we are this body and mind (which are temporary), we will suffer or feel threatened. Belief can cloak fears and maybe, in certain cases, this is a good thing if people aren’t mentally strong enough – even Buddhists pray for protection.

So how do we become stable?

When we truly realise that we are not this body or mind, and have confidence in the fact that we are pure consciousness and that everything that occurs in life is karmic – a product of our past – then we get a glimpse of accepting whatever happens, and we make do. Relative life can never be perfect, save that confusion perfectly breeds more confusion. What is important is having a stable mind now. We achieve this through mind training in meditation by acknowledging wanderings in the mind.

The title “Psychological Resilience To A Pandemic” may sound serious but we have to realise that this fear is in the mind and therefore has no true reality (although, of course, we still have to take precautions – but that doesn’t have to include fear). Much of the media is hyped up to the extent that the message is trivialised, and hence, confusion perfectly breeds more confusion.

Simply don’t be confused.

A good heart and a good immune system are good enough for a good life and a good death. We may not be able to prove that there is very subtle consciousness after death, but we were born knowing … something … and all our life, we have known … something. If we can recognise and realise what that … something … is, then we will stop this cycle of confusion and fear.

Do I Have To Act?

We all go into an act of some sort, as we aspire to be thought of as better than we are – and ‘spiritual’ people are no different. This is foolish. Who are we trying to impress? This isn’t spiritual development – it’s adopting a cultural identity, and spiritual teachers do not stop the foolish behaviour of binding ourselves to a group. It is not only unimpressive – it’s an unnecessary elaboration, a cloaking device!

We are demystifying all so-called mysteries. True consciousness is naked and without attitude; it makes no demands and only appears mysterious to those who aren’t looking.

When we realise our true essence, we can happily be ourselves as we no longer take our self seriously.

The Buddha is nothing special.
He just recognised his originality.

We are not clones.
We are all originals!

If We Fixate About Our Spiritual Path …
… then we are not on a spiritual path

Fixation:
“the process of reducing a volatile spirit
into a permanent bodily form”.

A true spiritual path is consciousness
freed from feeling guilty, touchy or obligated.

Obligated:
“restricted to a particular function or mode of life”.

Be aware that religion can become a culture
as opposed to a spiritual path.

On a genuine spiritual path,
we are free to be at one with everything and everyone
because, ultimately,
everything and everyone
is recognised within pure consciousness.

Appearances and recognition are simultaneous.

Never be divided, as pure consciousness is inseparable from
everything and everyone.

Become Buddhist And Find God!
😀

It’s all about our true reality:
to realise that we are what we seek.

Believing is not seeing.
Believing is ignorance.

Seeing is knowing,
and knowing is realisation.

Modern Times: Lulled Into Confusion

We are lulled into confusion by distraction, thus creating dissatisfaction, depression and suffering. When our attention is turned away from the breath of consciousness – life itself – we will always be wanting.

Now is the time to realise what is truly valuable in life: right food for right health, right company for right atmosphere, and right realisation of what we are for right confidence. This right attitude creates right empathetic love, in which there is no confusion.

As long as we are confused,
we will lack insight and so, lack love.

If we must read,
read the signs of the times
to see where they are leading us.

Today’s Entertainment 😀

Meditation is resting in spirit.
The word ‘spirit’ means breath.
Resting in pure spirit (being undistracted) is pure consciousness.
That is what we are.

Our supreme reality is our pure consciousness.
We could call that ‘God consciousness’.
God is not a belief.
Belief is ignorance.

God is pure experience, pure realisation.
We realise that we are what we seek.
Truth is never, ever in a book.
Truth is in the experience and realisation of the word.

The graven image that we all worship
is a self-identity, a persona.
We place that in front of pure consciousness
and hold on tight.
It is this that causes us dissatisfaction and suffering.

The devil is hellbent on distracting us,
feeding off our reactions.
As long as we react, the devil is happy.

However – the devil doesn’t exist!
The devil is our own ego
… I … myself … me …. my likes and dislikes.

Become Buddhist and find God!
😀

Find Out How Crazy You Are

These are ideal times to see the cracks in our mind.

We find ways to amuse ourself: we focus and fixate upon books, games, music, films, news, social media, work, family … There are all based around some distraction to which we react and, all the while, pure intelligence, pure consciousness, pure sanity looks on unnoticed.

We were born into a world full of cracks in reality!
😀

Crazy: 16^th century, full of cracks.

Learning How To Relate To Others

From a Dharma point of view, learning how to relate to others is empathy. It is through sadness which arises from recognising that emotions obscure our true state of inner peace that we can have compassion. Even though we talk about absolute reality as opposed to relative reality, we still have to function (nicely) as humans.

We all have a karmic propensity, a persona. This is the vehicle by which we expression ourselves, and it is by understanding this that we can relate to others. In fact, the more suffering and dissatisfaction we experience, the more we can empathise and relate.

Everyone wants someone to listen to them. Understanding this, we learn to listen to others without judgement. Discrimination is still present as we know what is beneficial and what is harmful.

We can recognise that others feel right in their view, while noting that their view may be disturbing them.

From a Dharma point of view, we are learning the clarity of pacifying, magnetising, enriching and destroying (which is merely cutting through, and has nothing to do with aggression).

May the Bodhicitta (unconditional selflessness) arise within consciousness.
May emptiness (uncontaminated reality) arise within consciousness.
May non-aggression (causing no harm) arise within consciousness.

Healing And Provoking

We either need to become stable before we can cut through our opinions, or cut through our opinions in order to become stable. The sort of mind we have will dictate the approach we need; one isn’t superior to the other. Hopefully, this blog covers both 🙂

Because we are delicately dedicated to our opinions, we need an approach that frees consciousness from ideas, by allowing our mind to see clear either through healing or provoking.

Stress and anxiety create a disturbance in our subtle body. In modern terms, this is our nervous system while, in ancient terms, it is explained as ‘winds, energies and channels’.

Stress and anxiety are created by our mind’s confusion and doubt, as we lack an honest understanding of the way we actually work – we just arrive here and join the chaos! 😀

Through this habit pattern, tensions can occur in the body: a name or a symbol creates a reaction in our mind, and then in the body. We experience this through feeling; this has been proved scientifically though ‘branding’ observation.

This old video explains how we can control subtle body ‘wind’ to ease tension. In Tibetan, this is called ‘lung’ (pronounced ‘loong’). I chose to do this 108 times once a day for six months to get my ‘lung’ down, but this may not be necessary for every individual. You may find that, when interacting with others, the lung rises, and doing the practice for just a few moments can help you feel more relaxed.

How Do I Know If I’m Happy?

If we are neither unhappy nor indifferent, then we are happy.

The nice feeling of being happy comes about when everything we are doing drops away.
If we are neither unhappy nor indifferent then we are happy – but there may not be a feeling of being happy.

The feeling of being unhappy usually comes from the inner energies rising in the body from just below the navel area. We feel out of place, and to rebalance and relax, these energies are to be taken down to just below the navel by using the subtle breath exercise (see video below).

Try it and see.
Conscious chanting or singing does the same thing.
Being happy is being in tune in body and mind … !

😀

Formal Dharma And Informal Dharma

Formal Dharma is using all the right words.
Informal Dharma is the experience of the right words.

We may go for all the right words
and stick to them …
but realisation is becoming unstuck.

Enlightenment: Release From Self-Hypnosis

This self is a collection of ideas generated from influences around us when young; it’s a programme we are caught and held by that we believe to be real. We are all “Manchurian candidates” – push our button, and off we go! The more information is acquired, the more elaborate the programme.

We have both an “I” fixation and a “social I” fixation = nature and nurture. ‘Nature’ is a self identity to which we cling (it’s our second nature, the first being pure consciousness, which we ignore). ‘Nurture’ is the influences around us.

The more compliant we are, the more we conform. The more we think we know, the more self-hypnotised we become. It’s only the enlightened who escape the illusion as they have realised emptiness of everything, including self.

Meditation is only a method of release from self-hypnosis.

It is not the meditation itself that releases us
as that can, in itself, become a form of hypnosis.

It is the realisation gained through the experience of emptiness
– pure consciousness –
that releases us from the deluded state.

In this way, we only meditate when we forget our natural being.
That is the key to liberation.

We can be hypnotised by the expectation and projection of truth,
rather than genuine experience.

We are free in the moment of seeing …
the hypnotic state.

😀

Conscious Communication, Or Just Noise?

Consciousness is our true inner state; the intelligence centre. It is concerned with the practicalities of maintaining a conscious life, one that can investigate the nature of reality scientifically through meditation = uncontaminated seeing!

The ‘noise’ is the chattering interference that wants yet another song, game, possession, party, book on the history of ‘noise’ … and has nothing to do with conscious intelligence.

For this reason, true communication is so rare. If we want entertainment, we only need to look more closely at whatever we’re doing thinking and saying – which is amusing when we know that we are so much more than chatter.

Chatter: To imitate; incessant childish, meaningless or unimportant talk.

We are conscious beings
– all worthy of veneration –
who can laugh at our own stupidity
rather than that of others.

🙂

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Gurus Don’t Do It For Me
😀 😀 😀

The term, “doesn’t do it for me”, usually means something is no longer satisfying.

In the context of our progress, the experience of the teaching is more important This leads us nicely to realising that the teacher cannot do it for us; it is we who have to realise!

Never feel guilty.
It is an inferior position.

Do You Know What Is Real?

Nothing that we see has any reality
as it’s all impermanent.
Reality is in the seeing.

When we understand this,
life is no longer serious
and we can be happy.

The world is full
of physical and mental viruses;
all the while, pure reality just is.

We note the causes, the reactions,
and the consequences.
Unshaken, we remain pure reality.

Is Covid-19 World War Three?

People have been talking about WW3 for years …
it turns out that we are the enemy!

In These Abnormal Times

In these abnormal times,
don’t try to act normally.

Normality is conforming to a standard.
 Abnormal: Latin abnormis ‘monstrous’

When we realise our true reality is pure awareness,
anything ‘normal’ is a monstrous standard of deviation.

We are God and the Demon.
We are the light and the dark.

In pure awareness, this is seen clearly and understood,
and so there are no problems, no surprises.
The world is confused, chaotic and misled.

The gold standard is pure compassion,
born of wisdom, rather than common platitudes.

How To Become An Alien

To become an alien, we detach ourself
from organised political, social and religious associations.

Alien: Belong to another
ie not belonging to organised political, social, and religious associations.

“The organised political, social, and religious associations of our time are at work convincing the individual not to develop their convictions through their own thinking but to assimilate the ideas they present to them. Any one who thinks for themself is, to organisations, inconvenient and even ominous as they do not offer sufficient guarantees that they will merge into the organisation.”
– Albert Schweitzer 1875-1965

Pure consciousness is beyond Samsaric machinations.
If we do not fit in, then we are an alien – simple.
In truth, we are all aliens!
😀

Thank goodness.
Who’d want to join anything?