Don't Focus on Radiance

Someone sent me messages about samadhi, concentrative practices and radiance.

John Tan commented: You shouldn't focus on radiance at all. Instead, it is the recognition that is most crucial. Recognition of what? Recognize that the "nature" of what appears is always perfect and requires no modification or effort. That is the so-called "practice."

The concentration practice arises from a misconception and non-recognition of the "nature" of radiance. This means that after one tastes the radiance clarity directly but is still unclear of its "perfect nature," "doing" originates out of non-recognition. So one must "undo" via recognition; otherwise, we create more hindrances unknowingly.

Sitting is okay, but it is about recognition and opening up (deconstruction). Then, from deconstruction, one realizes the perfect nature, and everything turns effortless and natural, from prajna to yeshe.

We must know the difference between the "concentrative path," the deconstructive path, and the natural state.

It is like someone trying to open his third eye by focusing on his brow chakra, the color, and the intensity... this can easily lead to energy imbalance. This is the concentrative path.

The deconstructive path is not about focusing but about recognizing all the abilities are already present but "covered" up, so the path is about deconstructing and uncovering, like the sense of self, the sense of boundaries, the sense of characteristics in object/subject, the inherent causal power in things, etc.

Get it?