One of the things that I really appreciate about Mahamudra is that there are instructions that seem to just ‘hit the mark’ for me. Sometimes I feel I need detailed instructions, and there are many of those. There are primary texts such as those by Tilopa (The Six Words of Advice, The Ganges Mahamudra), Naropa […]
Mahamudra Inspiration Read Post »
Some reflections on a dialogue between Chinul (also known as Bojo, and Jinul), a 12th century Korean master and one of his students: Question: In our case, what is this mind of void and calm, numinous awareness? Chinul: What has just asked me this question is precisely your mind of void and calm, numinous awareness.
Reflections on Chinul – Pointing to your Original Mind Read Post »
I’ve found myself experiencing some wonderment recently, at how pleasurable simply sitting still is, and doing absolutely nothing, (other than remaining in awareness). Doing nothing? How much of my life is caught up in doing? How much of it is to do with getting somewhere, achieving something, or trying to somehow alter what actually is?
What is this thing called life? When I look at what I experience … what do I see? Things and people I interact with? …. actually, colours and shapes and sounds that arise in experience. When I look for them ….these people and things … where are they? Nowhere. Only shapes and colours, and sounds
What is Life? Who am I? Read Post »
Second slogan of the 7 Point Mind Training. What is this teaching pointing at? Well, just like the previous slogan it emphasises the ultimate aspect of mind. Previously we were enjoined to examine the nature of appearances. What is the nature of what we experience, of all the phenomena which appear to our ‘minds eye’?
Examine the Nature of the Unborn Mind Read Post »
‘Regard all dharmas as dreams’. This is the first slogan of the second section of the ‘Seven Points of Mind Training’. It’s the first of the slogans which emphasise the ultimate quality of Bodhicitta – that of Emptiness. I’ve been bringing this to mind the last few days. I remember many years ago, when first
Regard all Phenomena as Dreams Read Post »
I was reflecting on covetousness, and the whole area of craving this morning. I was in particular wondering why my mind tends to focus in a particular way in relation to this. In a sense, it has a choice. It can either focus on what it has already got, or on what it is lacking
Covetousness – Craving Read Post »
Is there anything more beautiful in this world of ours than a deep blue, almost clear sky, with traces of white puffy cloud? How indescribable is the depth of that ‘blueness’ …. seen in mind, in the present, with full awareness? Sky’s vast openness perfectly mirrors the nature of mind … open and unlimited, vivid
In the ‘Jewel Ornament of Liberation’, Gampopa (as do other teachers of orthodox Dharma) asserts that there are three types of suffering, which are: 1 – the suffering of suffering2 – the suffering of change3 – all-pervasive suffering The suffering of suffering In brief, the suffering of suffering is simply the stuff that really hurts,
The Three Types of Suffering Read Post »
When it really gets down to it, how much of our activity is quite simply ‘useless’? I don’t mean that it has no use at all on a mundane level, but that it is so conditioned, so led by instinct or habit, so unconscious or below awareness or choice, or simply so trivial, superficial and
