Sky empty and luminousbeyond all attachments,Remains.Me, the setting sunresplendent with light,Will not remain at all. I pass behind the western summitTo reappear again soon,Above the mountains of the east. Shabkar Tsogdruk RangdrolRainbows Appear: Tibetan Poems of ShabkarTranslated by Matthieu Ricard Every once in a while I come across a Dharma song that cuts straight through […]
Sky Empty and Luminous – Shabkar Tsogdruk Rangdrol Read Post »
I thought I’d reflect on Patrul Rinpoche’s profound Dzogchen teaching on the nature of mind, awareness, and emptiness. The wisdom of inseparable emptiness and clarity is so clearly and directly pointed out here in his ‘The Life and Liberation of the Mind’. Emaho!Mind itself has always been without substance.It is not seen by looking, but
The Life and Liberation of the Mind – Patrul Rinpoche Read Post »
Based on dependent origination something occurs, yet There is no arising nor passing away. There is no nihilism nor eternalism. There is no coming nor going. There are not many nor one event(s). Whatever tends to be elaborated becomes almost calm again and again. Nagarjuna When you meditate it seems as though a lot of
The Eight Extremes – Nagarjuna’s Madhyamaka teaching Read Post »
I love this quote by Shunryu Suzuki. It’s not about having special experience. No experience will ‘save you’ or give you eternal happiness. You cannot take refuge in particular experiences, however uplifting or extraordinary. Not satori, not insight, not enlightenment, not getting there. Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual
Nothing Special – Shunryu Suzuki Read Post »
I’ve noticed a change in my meditation lately. After quite a period of formless mahamudra meditation, I’ve recently been practicing Shamatha with the breath as the focus. But, funny thing, I can’t really find the breath to focus on. It’s pretty much there when I start … a sense of it popping up here and
Where did my breath go? Read Post »
I’ve recently discovered a blog called if you see the dhamma … written by Joseiem, which I’ve really enjoyed reading, and commenting on. I thought I’d just lift a set of replies I posted to Joseiem’s comments. I’ve used the title of this post to highlight what I’m trying to point at, not to characterise
Starting from Experience and Starting from Thought Read Post »
Space is designated as empty, Yet its exact nature cannot be verbalized. Similarly the mind is designated as luminously clear, Yet its exact nature is empty, with no ground for definition. Thus the self-nature of mind is and has been From the very beginning like that of space. Saraha … and how blessed I am
Reflections on Saraha, originator of Mahamudra Read Post »
Because of the unobstructed nature of the mind, there is a continuous arising of appearances.Like the waves and the waters of the ocean, which are not two (different things),Whatever arises is liberated into the natural state of the mind.However many different names are applied to it in this unceasing process of naming things,With respect to
How dreamlike is this life …. Bringing experiences to mind from the past – they are like shimmering dreams, with a life of their own, never quite the same, and seemingly not like the experience in the present which seemed to inspire them. And that experience in the present, which had previously seemed so solid
Clarity and Emptiness Read Post »
The limitless expanse of emptinessIs luminous with all-pervading light,In clear mind sky, free from complexities,The rainbow of phenomena shines forth. Where neither confusion nor freedom has ever existed,The father and mother of all, Universal Goodness,Dwell in the secret great bliss beyond thoughtYet reveal the miracles of love’s unceasing play. Whatever the eye sees is sacred
Aspiration of Great Perfection Read Post »
