At all time,
recall as you go about,
That in finite time,
soon even the stars
shall all go out.
Infinite Dark In Light
To bee…
‘Neath autumnal shade, Hibernal solstice portend, Last feast before fast.
On a Deep Vast Ocean
“… the dualistic appearances of delusion are the play on the surface of the mind, like waves on a deep and vast ocean… the uncontrived, nondual appearances of the nature of mind are the display of its innate creative dynamics, similar to the totality of water’s movement throughout the entire ocean.”
from “Milarepa’s Kungfu” by K. Brinnhölzl
What Was as What Is
“Teacher you say “When present in mind what was, and lamenting what shall not be, nescient mind of what is.” Could you elaborate?”
“When we see the empty glass once filled with water we see just that, the empty glass once filled with water.”
“Yet, on deeper reflection comes realization that the empty glass once filled with water is remainder of thirst fulfilled.”
“Likewise, body bereft of spirit is not but reminder of the fulfillment of spirit, that only temporarily embodied its earthen vessel.”
“And as water freed eventually returns to the greater ocean, so too does spirit return to that greater, when freed of self-notion.”
“Mourn not for the body bereft of spirit but rejoice in the fulfillment of the spirit.”
”Do you understand?”
The student upon some reflection replies.
“Mourn not for temporal passing,
Find peace in that everlasting.
Realize the spirit ascending,
Fulfilled by transcending.”
“Good. Good. Very good.”
All that arise in turn have demise
That conditioned presently, Shall be unconditioned inherently, What not subject to origination, What not subject to cessation? Thereof suffering persistent From attachment incessant.
Gaṇeśa
Guardian of the Threshold, Who watches over the door To Paravati and Mahadeva, behold The offerings I place before. The all encompassing sound, Syllable of bliss without bound, And expression of true intention.
Thoughts on Raindrops
Stream of thoughts fall Like drops of rain. Ripples recall And reflect again. Quite them all, Let the mind reign.
Foundation and Framework
The Four Noble Truths, in twelve points, as foundation and framework of refuge (and practice):
1) This is suffering (to be understood)
- Of suffering there are three kinds: direct suffering (pain, hardship and the like); suffering of change (the transient nature of pleasurable sensations); pervasive suffering of conditioning
- That which is conditioned is that which is dependently arisen
- Thus, all conditioned things are impermanent, all conditioned things are cause for suffering (subject to origination, subject to cessation)
2) This is the origin to suffering (to be abandoned)
- Ignorance of the twelve links of dependent origination
- This leads to grasping to that conditioned, sourced from disillusionment, aversion, and attachment
- From which emerge the five mental factors that hinder progress in meditation: sensuous desire; ill will; sloth and torpor; restlessness and scruples; skeptical doubt
3) This is the end to suffering (to be fully realized)
- Wisdom from arousing an awakening mind in renunciation
- The realization that self and phenomena are of dependent origination and thus empty of intrinsic existence.
- That is awareness of emptiness, true nature of reality, Peaceful Nirvana.
4) This is the way to the end of suffering (to be fully developed)
- Method or means (practice in Mindful Compassion)
- That is, the way of the Eightfold Path (accumulation of morality, concentration and wisdom)
- With aspects of renunciation (non-attachment), compassionate awaking mind, and awareness in calm abiding.
Innermost Awareness
If empty self perceived, And selfless phenomena conceived, Who then would guide? And who on path proceeds? Who is it that strives? Though continuum remaining, Moment by moment changing, Between conceptions Clear perfection.
Faith My Only Courage
Where present proof There absent faith, Two faces to truth.