The ineffable tale of that final simple state: it’s utterly different. It can’t be weighed on a scale, can’t be whittled down. It doesn’t feel heavy and doesn’t feel light. It has no rain, no sea, no sun or shade. It doesn’t contain creation or destruction. No life, no death exist in it, no grief, […]
Kabir – The Final Simple State Read Post »
I turn to Ryokan’s poetry over and over again. For me, nobody captures in poetry the magical essence of the spiritual life, indeed, of life like he does. How wonderous his words, painting pictures – pictures that rest in the heart, illuminating form and emptiness, and their interplay. When all thoughts are exhausted When all
Reflections on Ryokan’s Zen Poems – The Butterfly and the Flower Read Post »
This Rigpa which is pointed to is nothing like the words used to point to it. Yet beings cannot help trying to point to it with words! No matter that any concept that forms in your mind is not ‘it’ in ‘itself’. Any object, any subject, any this or that is not it. Beyond all
Pointing Out the Nature of Mind – Dudjom Rinpoche Read Post »
In the process of searching for all that manifests as mind and matter There is neither anything to be found nor is there any seeker, For to be unreal is to be unborn and unceasing In the three periods of time. That which is immutable Is the state of great bliss. Savaripa I thought I’d
Savaripa on the Nature of Mind Read Post »
Niguma invites us to embrace the nature of mind, cut through illusions, and directly realize liberation with her Vajra Verses of Self-Liberating Mahamudra. The wisdom dakini known as Nigupta, illustrious Narotapa’s sister, was a self-manifest yogini, a powerful lord bodhisattva on awakening’s tenth stage, who received direct instruction from Conqueror Vajra Bearer. She sang these
Niguma’s Vajra Verses of Self-Liberating Mahamudra Read Post »
One thing that’s been coming into view lately in meditation is how my common sense notions that ‘I’ am somehow taking the decisions and choices and thereby the active agent of my life is not actually backed up by experience. My conventional notion is that, for example, when I decide to switch my focus in
Nobody is Running this Show Read Post »
I bow down at the feet of the supreme lama! It’s the mind fixated on objects that causes samsara.If you recognize as spontaneousThe luminous self-awareness, free of fixation,You’ll taste the fruit of the first yoga, one-pointedness. Some talk and talk about union, yet their meditation is all conceptual,They talk and talk about cause and effect,
Reflections on Milarepa – The Song of Distinguishing the Four Yogas Read Post »
I thought I’d once again share a comment I made on another blog I’ve enjoyed greatly of late – Sacred West. We’d had a brief dialogue about a post on Strong Back, Soft Front, after which Sacred West was relating their experience from that morning: Sacred West : I awoke and thought of a stressful
Working with Anxiety 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 »
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 »
