I don't see pure awareness!

[Tony]

I don't see pure awareness!

Oh, but you do: you simply do not notice it.

I enjoy writing because I like to share experience, and to give a flavour of
“what's it all about”. It took me years to understand what the teachings meant,
and when I finally got the message, I found that I had known it all the time...just like you!

Another reason for writing (which is a new found skill that just appeared :o) is that, when going to teachings and reading books, it was not always clear what the
essence of the teachings was. This is especially true if one gets stuck in
Shamata practice (which is meditation with support – eg watching the breath,
and without support – an I, resting in the stillness) for years.

There are times when one has to move on - 'go to the end of the book' - to find out what's it all about.


Look
Recognise
Drop


Sit in your normal meditation position: eyes open, aware of peripheral vision,
senses wide open, face muscles relaxed. Look for awareness, recognise it,
and drop any attempt to hold onto it.


And rest.

That is pure awareness.
This is non meditation. Meditation, is now the continuity of resting in this clear view.
However, you do not do anything, simply re-cognise!

Reading this on a page will not have the same effect as hearing the instruction from someone you trust, but hopefully, you get the 'feel'.

When we forget, we use mindfulness to recognise that we have moved away from
this pure view. We recognise that...and rest!
Simple.

This pure view is what we are, in all activities. Of course, it needs practice until it is
constant, or rather, there are fewer distractions. The distractions
(which are obstacles that obscure this pure view) are now clearly seen,
so they serve as reminders to re-cognise. To re-know!

In a sitting session, the secret is “short moments many times”, so that it is always fresh,
and we do not try to hold onto the experience. We just have to accept that in an hour's session,
this clear view may only be present for a couple of minutes. This may sound silly,
but we need to become more familiar with 'our natural state' and be aware of how far
we have moved away from naturalness.


We oscillate: “Now you see it, now you don't”.

The outcome of all this is a life is worth living. We become more spontaneous and more creative,
and experience a great sense of relief...there is nothing more. Everyday will be different!


Oh, there is one more thing..love others more than yourself!
You now have all the love you need.



Always your friend,
Tony

(buddhainthemud,com)

[Spiral]

Ah !

The return of Rinpoche Tony !

I thought you'd been abducted !

[Referee]

Good to hear from you Big T

[markpierre]

I don't see pure awareness!

I was going to say 'clean your glasses', but then I read on. Nicely said.
I'm never going to learn to meditate, unless I lose my legs or something obvious.
But I'm going to continue to read this stuff and enjoy it.

[Tony]

One of the main obstacles in our own minds is not seeing clearly,
due to negativity, which tends to involve others.
We blame others for what is happening in our own minds.
As like attracts like we end up in a very negative atmosphere.
We can only break this vicious cycle of existence by not reacting
out of programmed habitual patterning.

The other obstacle is being over positivity, to the extent of being righteous.
As like attracts like we end up in a righteous group who condemned others.
This too is a vicious cycle of existence,
by reacting out of programmed habitual patterning.

To ordinary sentient beings this is our normal pattern of behaviour.
When our existence is based on our likes and dislikes, we are easy to
control and deceive. Of course we will have preferences,
but that does not involve causing suffering to others.

An open mind and an open heart involves seeing clearly.
The funny thing is, we all know this!
But we constantly fall prey to our own programming.

By dropping it, dropping it, dropping it, clarity arise.
When clarity arises we do not need to conform to the standards other have set.
When the man said, "First look at the dust in one's own eye".
It really makes sense.





Tony

[ViralSpiral]

To be or not to be
To see or not to see
Without choice
Where would we be?


http://www.ccp4.ac.uk/html/images/chcat1.gif

[RUSirius]

By dropping it, dropping it, dropping it, clarity arise.
When clarity arises we do not need to conform to the standards other have set.

Tony

Thanks Tony, I can use this NOW. Even though I know this, when "storms" come its easy to lose this.

[shijo]

Ah the monk returns,I've just completed seven hours chanting and the first thing that arose was to read your blog, so it better be good.;)

[Wind]

I'm glad that you're back, Tony. :)

[Tony]

When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
Our life is always in our own hands, it all depends on our view.


urQPraeeY0w

[Tony]

Why we still suffer?

It does not matter how much we have read, think or do -
if we still identify with the body and mind...we will suffer.
We blame external events, when experience actually takes place in the mind.

We are embodied beings, confused about our true status.
We have short memories, and still believe this body and mind is us.

The test is simple.
How much are we controlled by our emotions?
By fear, pride, jealousy, anger and hatred?
Do we protect ourselves and subtly attack others?

How much inner peace do we have?
Do we continue to value ourselves more than others?
Simply put, we suffer because we still hang onto our precious imaginary selves.

We are much more than this. We are truly precious.
We are the Jewel in the conceptual Mud!:target:

When we can use suffering as an indicator of our self-cherishing,
we can then begin to wash off the 'conceptual mud comforter.'

We all want freedom, but how much are we willing to let go of...to be free?



Tony

[Spiral]

We all want freedom, but how much are we willing to let go of...to be free?

It doesn't get much simpler than that very difficult task.


;)

[Tony]

We have to find a suitable soap (method) to wash away our conceptual mud.
Once the mud is off, we have to wash off the soap (method) as well.
The soap (method) reveals our true qualities,
once revealed we no longer need the soap (method).

The problem nowadays is that we say,
“Well, I don't need the soap (method) because I have no need to wash!”
Thinking this, the mud of anger, pride, fear, jealousy and hatred still remain.


If we are still governed by anger, pride, fear, jealousy and hatred,
we are still easy to control.



Dirty Tony

[greybeard]

Good to see you in full flood with the fairy liquid Tony.

In all seriousness though, virtually every problem comes from fear and that fear is related to the body.

As far as removing obstacles goes, Ramana, the most respected of Indian sages, said.
"Remove the thorn with a thorn then throw both away"

The thorn being the thinking mind----

A good question is---- "If I did not have this thought how would I feel?"

The thoughts are the root of the problem. (When we identify with them)

So Nasargadatta and others taught thoughtless awareness.
The thoughts are not ours they just arrive without invite.
We then foolishly claim them as ours.
When we start a thinking process that's different--then so called higher mind can be involved as opposed to egoic mind.

Its all simple but the ego wants to complicate everything and throw us off the scent of our true nature.
We clutter up the simplest thing with concepts, points of view, opinions, which the ego would have us die to defend.
It knows that if we find the Truth -- the ego's days of ruling the roost are over.

Really good to have you back Tony.

Chris

[Dorjezigzag]

We have to find a suitable soap (method) to wash away our conceptual mud.
Once the mud is off, we have to wash off the soap (method) as well.

But the mud can be such fun;)
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gif
http://blogs.roanoke.com/vignette/files/2009/09/blog_mud_run_02.jpg
Great to see you back!

[Tony]

Getting irritated.

Irritation is having things not going the way we want - and that, of course, is the right way...our way!
The antidote to irritation is tolerance: this is easier said than done, so what to do?

Although we like to say, “We are all one!” we are not all one at the same time (on a relative level),
because we all have different capacities. This may sound harsh, but on a certain subject,
we are either at an inferior, middling or superior level.

If we want to learn, we have to know where we are. This does not mean we are stuck there -
it's just where we are at the moment. And anyway, wherever we are, can always be refined.

So if someone is not understanding the 'right way,' we need to take a step back and understand that person's level,
and talk to them, not at them. We may find ourselves in exactly the same position some day.
Getting irritated with someone is just as irritating for them...!

However, this is an excellent time to practise. The moment that irritation arises, we can either just drop it,
or allow all those nasty emotions to take over the situation....again! Remember the formula –
Problem, Reaction and Solution: if we don't react, there is no Problem, and the Solution then takes care of itself.

Irritations need space - pure inner space. Pure intelligent inner space.
Some things need time to digest.

Yes, sometimes we do have to bark a little, but not bite.
The strong serve the weak: they do not take advantage of them.
That we have to leave to those who really cannot help themselves...like you know who!:jester:

[Tony]

THE TRUTH

Look for that which never changes,

and that is truth.

So what is looking?

[Tony]

.






MEANING
The Experience is beyond the Word.
When Experienced the Word has real meaning.

ARGUING
Arguing is cling to like and dislike.
Drop the clinging and Enjoy the preference.

EMPATHY
Is merely Reflecting what others are feeling,
allowing space for the experience to be seen.

COMPASSION
Is Knowing other's true nature,
And allowing it to express itself.

LOVE
Is unconditional acceptance.

[Tony]

Meaning to love.

I mean to love,
but I'm mean with love,
because I'm not comfortable with me.









.

[Tony]

Knowing
Without knowing we wouldn't know.
Knowing allows everything to be known.
We couldn't 'be' without it!

Knowing knowing
Appreciating knowing
is the next step back.
Awareness of knowing.

Knowing, knowing knowing
Is the final stage.
It is the nature of pure knowing.
Untainted.

[mahalall]

Stepping out of attachment and into awareness, in the company of those consumed in their dramas can be a lonely form of presence.
Like screaming and no one can hear you. looking on and seeing their thought dramas as if viewing their own televisions.

Oh what it must be like to experience the great detachment- Death.
for death and and ones return, has many layers.
For awareness, is neither not the colour or light, but just is.
Surely to transcend one must begin to experience the colours within and beyond the expanse?