Month: December 2004

Relative Poverty

On 02/12/2004

I was sitting watching my son, who was watching a kids news program on TV. The program was showing the refugee camps in the Sudan. The refugees were mostly children, and many had lost their parents who had been slaughtered by militia. The fortunate ones lived in a tent, without possessions. Those less fortunate had a sheet of plastic for shelter against the desert sun, heat and sandstorms.

I was aware of my son sitting there in his Nike trousers, hair all gelled up, and brand new jumper. It’s funny …. one recurring theme for him, and in our relationship, is how he feels poor, or deprived, as his friends all have Playstations 2’s, lots of cash etc etc. As we have little money, he has to make do with far less than his mates have. So he ends up stealing stuff, and is often unhappy over all this.

The interviewer on the news show said that he was surprised at how positive the children in the refugee camp were. Despite all their suffering, and how little they had, and how bleak their futures seemed, they still looked forward with optimism, and got on with their present. How hard my son finds things as he compares himself with those around him, and feels a poverty relative to them.

What a strange thing this world is, with poverty and riches, sufferings and happiness. Such extremes of wealth, and extremes of opportunity. And of course, an old truism from a Buddhist point of view … happiness isn’t directly related to either what we have, or our circumstances in life.

So much suffering in the world … so many beings to help.

Mahamudra Is Too Easy, Close, Good, Deep

By Chodpa

On 01/12/2004

In Mahamudra

Mahamudra is traditionally said to be difficult to realise due to Four Faults. The nature of our mind is right here, right now for us to recognise, but somehow we may not manage that.

Vajradhara surrounded by smaller figures of Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa and Milarepa Hanging scroll in the Freer Sackler Gallery.

The Four Faults are:

It’s Too Easy

We may have an idea that seeing the nature of our mind must be massively difficult and that therefore we don’t realise that it’s here, just here, right now. If we have the idea that it’s so very difficult, then how much harder does that make the simple recognition of what is right before our ‘eyes’? In a way, it’s too obvious, so we don’t notice it. Having trust and confidence in the teachings that it’s right here, and that we *can* realise it, and that when we see ‘it’ this *is* it is a crucial support for realisation.

It’s Too Close

We may have an idea that Enlightenment is many aeons or kalpas away for us, and that it will take an unimaginable number of lifetimes to realise the nature of our mind. We may hold onto a view that we personally are full of obscurations, and that we couldn’t possibly recognise the nature of our mind. And yet, it is so close, it is right here, right now, however our mind is, and whatever our views of ourself are. So close to us, like the water to a fish, or air to us … actually, even closer than that, as the fish isn’t water, and we aren’t air … but so close that we don’t notice it, as it’s always there. It’s so close we overlook it, and look elsewhere.

It’s Too Good

The nature of our mind is entirely free of problems. Bound up in our mistaken views, and grasping onto our delusions as solid and real, we cannot conceive of our mind being pure in nature, and entirely perfect. It is as though if it is said that the nature of our mind is already like this then we feel that this is too good to be true. It’s as if we prefer to grasp onto our pain and narrowness, and therefore fail to recognise the expansive luminosity of what is, and fail to claim our inheritance.

It’s Too Deep

As we attach to thoughts, views and a projected sense of ‘me’, we narrow our scope and awareness. Caught up in this tunnel vision, it seems hard to open to limitless, expansive self-awareness. Awareness without object. Panaramic vision.

Instead, we habitually see a tiny excerpt, and mis-see that too! Caught up in distracting thoughts, we are swept up into misunderstood partiality, yet the vast expanse of mind is right here, right now.

But despite the potential for these four faults, the nature of mind is always as it is.

Ground Mahamudra is how it is, whatever our self-image or ideas of what is or can be.

Right here, right now …