Suppose we’re trying to see; trying to realise truth. We’ve spent time looking and we feel like we have a handle, at least intellectually, on there being no real ‘self’. It’s an idea we’re getting our heads round but there are still a few obstacles to overcome. One of these obstacles can be thinking about […]
Tag Archives: awakening
You might recognise the title as the question posed to Alice by the enigmatic caterpillar upon their first meeting. It raises the question of identity and identification, and here the shallow waters we step into can soon lead us into the depths. Like all questions the question of identification may lead us in many directions. […]
Within each faith tradition we don’t have to look far before we come across rules. Within Buddhism there are five precepts for the lay community, and 227 for the monastic sangha. A question can arise for us around some of these these rules – are they really of any value? At times it may not […]
Looking for more; more than there is simply here now in this moment; more than just this, this is not the way. Letting it be as it is; letting that which arises simply arise; no position; moving to no reaction. Taking no meaning; desiring none. This is the way. To seek for that which is […]
Greed, hatred and delusion are referred to in the Buddhist tradition as the three poisons. Translations are never an exact science so to tone down the language a bit we may think of them as desire, aversion and ignorance. In many ways, these lie at the heart of so many of the problems we can […]
One of the aspects of searching for truth that contains any number of potential stumbling blocks is our expectations. Thoughts can arise such as, ‘If I see there’s no separate self, will I become like a Buddha? Will I be enlightenened? Will all suffering cease? Will I get rid of all my hang-ups? Will I […]
The realisation of no-self leads inexorably to the realisation of no selves. Empty boats, as Chuang Tzu called them. So all around we see patterns of behaviour, forms through which these arise, no selves. All is arising supported by its causes. There is no purpose in this, no higher Self directing it. To search for […]
The spiritual path, so called, can be a challenging one at times and full of many convolutions and contradictions. We can find ourselves in frustration asking, “Why can’t someone just tell me the truth? I’m smart enought to understand, so why can’t they just say it in plain (insert language of choice)?” Let’s call this, […]
Enlightenment: possibly one of the most misunderstood words of all time. (It’s not a term I particlularly care for as I think it tends to confuse rather than clarify the issue.) I must admit I thought I was reasonably well informed about it – but when I had my experience of realising no-self I found […]
There may not be much within Western culture that will encourage us to do so but every now and then each of us asks the question: what is it that I really want in life? Okay, so it’s a biggie and there are probably lots of answers, some short term, some are long term life […]
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