Very clear.




不净如空,身心空寂,能所双亡
护眼色:绿 字体:粗体 作者:达照法师 发布时间:2016-2-12 17:31:31 繁体字 

不净观确实是去除对色身、尘劳贪着的简易而有效的方法,在解脱道上的修行中占据了非常重要的位置。因为众生心灵被困的原因就是对身体及身外之物的黏着,在心灵上就是贪着色相,所以佛陀告诉我们要多贪众生不净观!当不净观成就骨人净观的时候,所有色相方面的贪着也就自然被克服了。
当不再被外界的事物所迷惑,轻松地体验百花丛中过,片叶不沾身,那就是一种历练的功夫,而乱花时欲迷人眼的红尘滚滚也会变得客舍青青柳色新了!心中的障碍消除了,自然会出现全新的感觉,看到天空都是蓝的,白云飘过都是一种曼妙的幸福,青山绿水,蝉鸣鸟叫,清风徐来,薄雾如纱,身心寄情于长空洁净,见闻觉受于自然无求,还有什么可以产生贪婪和执着的呢?!
通常人们对于不净的事物,总会产生抵触和排斥的心理,同时也就会有的觉受出现。人们都是不喜欢肮脏和不干净的东西,尤其是对于自身和他身来说,更不愿看到全身脓烂青淤的情景,甚至会出现极度恶心难受的反应,这些都是苦的范围。
也有些人会通过不净观而对人世间产生无常的强烈感受,特别是针对自己喜欢的色身,在贪着爱恋的情形下,进行不净观之后,会发现自己对曾经所爱惜的对象丝毫都生不起喜悦感。而曾经是如何如何地爱惜的对境,瞬间成为了那么那么地厌恶,这种心理的变化既是巨大的,又是迅速的,这就给内心造成了极为无常的幻化感。
还有些人则会在不净观之后,看到了生命的一个侧面真相,那就是无我的真实。一切爱欲和仇恨都来源于强大的自我感觉,当不净观修成之后,行者内心对于爱欲和仇恨不再是那么咬牙切齿,甚至不会过多地搭理以往的那些情绪,在苦和无常的双重压力下,自我感觉越来越遥远、越来越虚幻,最后当然会进入对自我的重新审视阶段。而在苦和无常的背后,却深深地隐藏着一双智慧的眼睛,那就是无我的智慧。
在无我的智慧观照之下,凡夫四种颠倒:常、乐、我、净的人生观被彻底摧毁,从而得出的人生认知是:无常、苦、无我、不净,也因此消除了妄想执着的颠倒错谬,所有障碍心灵的烦恼也随之烟消云散。真心就像天空一样呈现出来,映衬着山河大地、森罗万象。天空中没有一丝云彩,湛蓝蔚蓝的天幕下,万物都充满着无尽庄严的蓬勃生机,佛说:此生故彼生,此有故彼有;此灭故彼灭,此无故彼无。
不净如空,不净观到了极致的时候,身心世界一片空寂,能所自然双亡,自他融入不二,业障皆已远离,解脱就在目前。不净如空,不净观让内在的所有纠结都化为乌有,让诱惑自身自心的所有外境从追索的目光中消失,内外明洁,空灵剔透。不净如空,就是:无我无人无世界,有花有月有楼台。



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达照法师:观身性相

http://simg.sinajs.cn/blog7style/images/common/sg_trans.gif(2016-02-17 19:58:07)

禅不离本心,但也不离本身。观身禅就是从自身入手,通过对身体的全方位观察,既能够从无常、苦、无我、不净等等角度契入,从而去除了因为身体而带来的贪嗔痴烦恼,又可以从常、乐、我、净的角度契入,从而开启了自身实相的无上妙用,真是不可思议!观身实相就是观察自身的最真实最全面的相状,言外之意即是平时我们对自身的观察并不全面。因为我们内心散乱无序,所以对自己的身体反而所知甚少。观身禅是层层深入观察自身的禅法,与观心禅法自然有着巨大的差别!
观察有相之身,亦能彻悟生命之缘起;彻悟缘起之法,即能了达万法之性空。明了缘起性空,则近乎道。如经云:观身性相同于虚空。为什么这么说呢?因为在禅修的过程中,随着禅定功夫的深入,观察力或觉察力自然而然地由浅入深;同时定慧等持,通过不懈努力,智慧的审察能力也随之提高,于是会在不同的阶段,发现自己身体的不同内涵。久而久之,将心比心、将身比身、将身比物,心、身、物都能够融会贯通,明了这一切都是在业力的驱使下呈现出来的,也都是缘生缘灭、幻生幻灭、不生不灭。
行者从七支坐法开始,内观自身,无妄无念,觉照明了,身心怡悦,浑然入定,身心寂然,不动不摇,不倚不斜,安心如法,定功增上,便易开慧。慧力充盈,心光内聚,即可观见身中三十六物,及诸种种景象;心光外露,亦可照见五蕴浮云虚幻出没,内外交融,无我无人,顿时忘却所有情境是非,圆坨坨、光灿灿,身心世界,无不遍照,诸法实相,朗然现前。从身明了性相不二之理,性即是相,相即是性,性相圆融,所趋皆圆,自在无碍,微妙无比。
如果说四念处是禅修的核心方法,那么南传的四念处法仅仅只是走向解脱、证悟涅槃的根本方法,只有大乘佛法的四念处才是趋向菩提的无上妙法。因为解脱道的四念处是从现实人生的角度,深入仔细地观察到:现实人生中所执着的永恒、快乐、自我、清净等都只是一厢情愿的美好愿望而已,事实上现实的人生并非想象的那样,现实的人生充满了局限、狭隘、变数、不能自主,也不可能是永恒不变和究竟快乐的。所以用无常、苦、无我、不净来做一个更加客观的描述,最终得出了解脱道相应的结论。
时至大乘佛法兴盛时期,这种对错、好坏、善恶、凡圣只是对立而言的思维模式就被反复地否认了。大乘佛法对四念处还有更加深刻而又完整的看法,也就是大乘所说的生命都是圆满的、完美的,只需要去悟、悟后起修,不需要去记忆和改造。既然要去体悟,那就直接从身体的本性上着手,观察自身之性质,原本都是如此这般的如如不动、不生不灭、性相一如,能来所来,皆悉了然,犹如虚空,自在无碍。----发表于《东方早报》(201612日第B05版)
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达照法师:进入禅定的基本条件

智慧海达照法师的博客达照法师2015-06-18 07:54
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达照法师:进入禅定的基本条件

进入禅定的基本条件(资料图)

要想获得如理如法的禅定觉受,就需明白进入禅定的基本条件,即所谓禅法支林功德,就是深入禅修必须具备的五个方面:寻、伺、喜、乐、舍。也就是对自身的觉受要有寻找之心,哪怕是极为微小的一个觉受都要原原本本地找出来(寻);并且对所寻找出来的感觉需要坚定的意志力来伺守住,不让别的心念妄想参与其中,纯粹地守住觉察到的每一个感觉(伺);并让这种感觉引发喜悦的情怀,引发身体的喜悦感(喜);内心的愉悦,发自内心深处的一种身心平衡状态下的满足感和兴奋,身心同时感到了快乐(乐);但最根本的就是心一境性,即全神贯注的、身心合一的专注力,摈弃一切妄念,专心致志守护着身体所发生的觉受(舍)。有了这五支的禅林功德,那就会长时间保持着禅悦的境界。

在这五种基本条件都具备的情况下,也可以从粗浅的观身开始就寻找身体的每一种状况,继而守住,产生安定和愉悦,同时专注力不能减少。进而到稍微深一点的观受上,对身心的所有觉受都了如指掌,并能从中获得不可替代的愉悦感,顿时身心会变得轻松自在,所有的感觉都会隐隐约约地产生美感。此时,需要把注意力的范围慢慢地收摄到内在的觉受者上,也就是通常我们认为的上面来,这就需要有心念处的修法了。

心念处就是放下对觉受的专注和执着,而是要从觉受上更进一步地专注觉受者,通常会认为是我们的心。佛经说:制心一处,无事不办。回归生命的原始本真状态上,你就会发现生命是如此的丰富多彩、色彩斑斓。最原始的地方就是自己的这颗心,也就是蜕下厚厚的虚伪外装,全然透露出吾人的本来面目。对于心念处的用功方法就是分开三个步骤逐渐来完成。第一是要看到自己内在的情绪、杂念、恶念、烦恼等等,明了自己也是个名副其实的烦恼场,一切心念都从各种各样的价值观而来,追根究底地把所有心念的生住异灭弄清楚,最好是能够一目了然。第二是要看到自己情绪、心念背后的没有情绪和心念的地方,看住一切心念和情绪的来来去去,就好像是六龙跳舞,所有的心念起伏来去都很清楚,不令遗失觉照之力。这个专注力慢慢培养起来之后,世间最难堪的情绪和外缘也无从干扰内心了。第三是要看到:所看见的心念和情绪缘起无自性,空空如也,能看见的内在觉察力也是缘起无自性,空空如也,能所双亡,心境交融,心念升起来的三个角度(所念、能念、能所双亡)都同时赫然呈现,此时的心念处禅法就达到了炉火纯青的地步,功德也是巨大的。

最后是法念处的修习。对身心内外一切万法,也就是色心二法,或者说五蕴的缘起法,对这些身心世界共同拥有的万事万物,一一进行全面细致地观照,所得结论便能符合佛陀的教诲,就是照见五蕴皆空,度一切苦厄。观察一切法的同时,就能见到无常,因为世间一切万法无非都是无常的演绎而已;见无常就能见到无我,因为无常的事物背后并没有任何一个能主宰的自我,或可以被主宰的实物,无常的缘起本质即是性空;见无我即见涅槃,涅槃无能所,本来不可见,亦不可不见,言亡虑绝,非去来今。如此方能真正得到观身禅法的殊胜利益。(文:达照法师


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  达照法师:如何分辩真正的正知正见?

发布:如是 [文章 空间 留言]   日期:2016/2/8 15:32:00   收藏   微博、微信、支付宝分享   护持正法

                            
             

  谈到正知正见,按照佛经里面说,佛依二谛为众生说法,就是依世俗谛和第一义谛。又说,不得世俗谛则不得第一义谛。什么意思呢?就是知见有两种,一种是现实人生的知见,世间的知见,就是叫你怎么做个好人。第二种就是出世间的佛法的正知正见。世间的最高的知见是什么?就是两个字:因果。如果你这一生做人,做了几十年能够明白因果两个字,你这人肯定不会差到哪里去。我认识到一个老先生,95岁,他告诉我,他已经见过五代人去世了。小时候看到他爷爷去世,长大了父亲去世,再长大了他的同辈以及儿子去世,现在也有他的孙子去世了。他见过的人已经很多了,他说得出的经验就是:善有善报,恶有恶报。做好事的,他一定子孙后代都好;做坏事的,过不了多长时间自己都不好了。所以,按照世间的最高的智慧、正知正见来看,我觉得只有因果两个字能够概括所有人类的最高的智慧,那这是第一点。

  第二点是出世间的正见,佛法当中的正知正见。佛告诉我们,我们在六道当中轮回的生命是有我执的,有凡夫的是非对错、爱恨情仇,有对立的二元世界。这个二元的背后,是生命的根本!根本是什么?我们大家轮回的原因是迷失了自我,我们感觉到有一个我,而实际上对这个我的认识是不到位的,是错误的。我们所认识的那个我,是不存在的,相当于水中的月亮一样。水中本来没有月亮,我们愣是觉得水中有个月亮,然后为了救水中的月亮,付出了很多的辛苦。虽然这水中并没有月亮,但是水中有月影。我们要知道,水中有月影是因为天上有月亮。佛教讲的佛性真心,是指天上的月亮,讲的妄心是指水中的月亮。真心是无心,真心是无我,我们把自己的妄想当成我,就把水中的月亮当成真月亮了。如果有一天,你看见水中没有月亮了,你就解脱了。就在生活当中看见没有我了,你轮回所有的痛苦都解脱。但是它并不是空的,也不是有的。如果说空,什么都没有,说水中没有月亮,结果认为月影也没有,那就是错了,这是断灭见。如果说是有了,好像就又说水中就是有个月亮,这是常见外道。所以真正的正知正见,一个是无我的空性见,就是水中没月亮。第二个叫中道正见,就是不是空的,也不是有的。说空是因为我们执着它实有才说它是空的;说有是因为它确实有个月影,因为天上有月亮。大家如果明心见性了,发菩提心,成佛了,这才是具足真正的正知正见。阿弥陀佛!
 

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  达照法师:明心见性的阶段

发布:清净乃空 [文章 空间 留言]   日期:2014/8/23 8:28:00   收藏   微博、微信、支付宝分享   护持正法

一、生死此岸 随业受报

我们现在只停留在生死的此岸,一直在那里打转,最多你想到:我没妄想了,我停下来了。上天堂去了;再差一点,你想到生气要打架,有矛盾心里烦,下地狱去了,总是在这个六道的轮子里、樊笼里面,上窜下跳不得安宁。

那么如果没有一眼看透缘起世界的本质的这种决心,我们还会悠悠霍霍,还会将就苟且,每天都是得过且过,做一天和尚撞一天钟,头痛医头,脚痛医脚,没饭吃了去找饭吃,没衣服穿了去找衣服穿,但是没棺材了要靠别人找了。就是每一个众生只要在轮回中,他所解决的问题全部都是眼前的、短暂的、随业受报的问题。

为什么佛法是韵高千古,力挡万夫,贯穿十方三世,不但是我们现在人间需要,就是六道中任何一道众生,都需要明白他生命的真相。所以六祖大师告诉我们,你在见地上先要能够彻底打破有我有人的,甚至有世间有出世间的这种执著。

二、时时用功 不落六尘

神秀大师讲的是:身是菩提树,心如明镜台,时时勤拂拭,勿使惹尘埃。这就相当于大家现在打七,时时勤拂拭,心像明镜台一样,你现在一个念头都没有,完全明白,这就像镜子。大家的眼睛也是一面镜子,你眼睛睁在这里,不把眼睛污染了,你眼光所及一切景象一目了然;但是如果你眼睛污染了,你在眼根上产生了眼识,你喜欢看某一个人、某一件事,其它旁边的眼光所及的事物,却淡漠不见。

神秀大师告诉我们的用功方法,就是你时时都要在你六根门头,擦拭自己的尘埃:各种成见、各种串习、各种妄想颠倒,就在你六根门头擦拭。也就是你六根落入六尘了,马上把尘脱开,不要被它落入;思想落入法尘了,马上舍弃,没有概念,叫时时勤拂拭,真是时时每时每刻每分每秒,都能够让六根不落在六尘上。

三、本来无一物 何处惹尘埃

但是六祖大师告诉我们:菩提本无树,明镜亦非台,本来无一物,何处惹尘埃。这尘埃在哪里啊?这是直指真心的妙法,明镜亦非台,虽然你还照样能够看万物、听万物,六根没有傻掉,六尘也没有变化,但是自以为有的这种自我认知,自我的执著,把明镜当成是自己的心的这种观念,却当下透过。

那我们打七就要打这个,你眼睛还是照样能看,耳朵能听,有人把这个能看能听,就当作自己的心性了,当作有了,六祖大师一棒子下来,告诉你菩提本无树,用一个无字轻轻地带过,本来无一物,无一物中无尽藏,本来无一物这是根本。

破本参就是见到本来无一物,本来无一物这个词现在还是很白话,我们大家如果对自己的根尘世界、心思烦恼,用本来无一物去一对照,你就能判别出自己的思想境界、观念如何,能够确认身心世界本来无一物,尘埃自然就无处可染。

所以僧璨大师才说:至道无难,唯嫌拣择,就真正要到达我们的解脱道菩提道,真正要想破除本参,难不难呢?不难!让你从无到有,有一点难,无中生有;让你现有的东西,你觉得有的给它放掉,只要你愿意,那有何难呢?



第四节 能所双亡 绵密保任

  一、放下所缘之境
  怎么办呢?上师告诉我们:能所亡处自性现,绵密保任勿轻忘。能所亡处就是能所双亡,这个能所亡处有两层境界。
  我经常跟大家讲,第一层就是能跟所,先把所亡掉,把能先保住,就是我们要求大家能够有能力打七的,要做到这步功夫。如果做到了,你过来打七那进步很快;这步做不到,在这里打七,充其量是让你腿受几天苦。苦死了心里还想:这么苦就当消业障吧,我业障消掉以后总会好一点的。就是你做不到把六尘的境界,随时都舍弃掉。
  六尘的前面五尘比较好办,我们看见跟没看见一样,听到跟没听到一样,眼耳鼻舌身,其实真随时都把它舍弃也不太容易的,但这个还算容易,就是这个法尘相当难。
  法尘就是我们的妄想,你要能够看到妄想生起来之前,妄想就像秋风扫落叶,扫不干净,秋风一吹,你刚扫完,它又落了一地啊,刚刚前念才把这些抛弃,后面一念后门它就马上冲进来了。
  所以南怀瑾老师说的一句话说得好:秋风落叶乱为堆,扫尽还来千百回,一笑罢休闲处坐,任它着地自成灰。不要扫它了,那么吃力那么累干什么,哈哈一笑往那一坐好了,它要来就来,要走就走吧,它会着地自成灰的,这就是第一重境界:把所放下,能还是一笑罢休闲处坐,坐在那里就是能。

二、关于心的四句话
 

我们能打七的坐在那里,基本上脸上都不会有皱着眉头难受的样子,一看难受的样子就知道你那个贼在那里,痛起来了,妄想来了。真是没有妄想,他是一笑罢休闲处坐,他的脸上是舒展的。 在今年正月,我碰到一个二十岁的小伙子,他想到深山里面去吃树叶,他跟我讲了几句话,我觉得这个人很厉害。 学营养学的,上大学不想上了,他想跑到深山里面去,他妈吓死了,把他带过来。我没有见过二十岁的人这么沉稳,沉稳不是沉重,这么坦然的,他的内心非常平静,平静到在座诸位都达不到,所有我见过的出家人也没达到过,讲话很轻、很慢,他曾经有二十天不吃饭只喝水。
第一句话他讲的,他发现,他说:所有的痛苦都来源于欲望。我觉得简直是真理哦,你看看,我们想开悟的欲望有没有,你想你就痛苦了,跟你说,所有的痛苦来源于欲望。
第二句话讲的是,他在那段时间所体会到的对心的形容,非常好,他说:心是没有皱褶的,心是舒展的。心是舒展的,很平,就是你的脸,眉头没有皱起来,舒展的,心舒展了你的眉毛也是舒展的,脸色也是舒展的,所以第二句,心是舒展的,心是没有皱褶的。 你看看我们大家的心里,越用功、越打坐、越着急越纠成一团,腿痛的时候也会纠成一团,手印散了也会纠成一团,哪里不舒服就马上纠成一团。而他二十天不吃饭,他能体会到心是舒展的,就像一张纸没有皱褶一样,没有皱褶的,我们大家看看心里是不是有皱褶,我们说佛陀慈悲的双手,能抚平我心中的创伤,就把我们自己抚平了,但是一个很年轻的人他体会到,自己的心是没有皱褶的。
第三句话是:心是没有裂痕的。我们大家有没有伤痕累累啊,那个裂痕在哪里,他能体会到心是没有裂痕的。 第四句话说:心是无条件地快乐。所以当你能够把这个法尘的概念都放下的时候,你能体会到心确实是无条件地快乐,但这还是第一层境界,能所亡处啊。 中国的老子这么了不起了,他也就达到这样一层境界而已,所以我觉得,一个小孩子他能够达到这样的境界,很不容易的,很有善根的。
三、能所双亡
那么老人告诉我们:能所亡处自性现。
它有第二层境界,就是把能和所都要消灭、销亡、粉碎。所以当机立断也就是在这个时候,毫不留情地把我们的自我,全部给它扔扔掉了。如果你气魄不够,扔掉了还会把它捡回来的,因为你用意识把它扔掉,下回想想,还是有我在那里,那个根又会冒起来的。 气魄够的人,他确实敢把自己扔掉,气魄够了是什么,就是具足出离心和菩提心的人,出离心就是看到这个世界,我们拥有的六根六尘六识,是我们一切痛苦的内容。
我知道了我的身体、我的思想,这一切无有一毫值得留念,值得你在那里纠结和固执的,这是出离心,菩提心就是生生世世,哪怕舍弃头目脑髓为一切众生,也能够心甘情愿,这种气魄有了,那么你舍弃自我易如反掌。 所以有这样的一个前提以后,再加上我们通过克期取证,几天用功下来,就在刀锋上、刀刃上做选择,千钧一发之际,你要选择轮回还是选择解脱。还有一丝一毫地舍不得,你就掉到轮回的坑里;如果你没有舍不得,那你就粉身碎骨:一句了然超百亿,碎身粉骨何足酬。所有内在的自我执著和根尘全部脱落,大地平沉以后,老人说的自性现。 当你真有勇气把这一切全部截断,你可以尝试着壮壮胆,把自己舍弃一次,然后借着无我的力量回到现实当中,山还是山水还是水,你还是你我还是我,但是原先的那一切,是非爱恨、人情冷暖,突然不见了,再也没有那个斤斤计较、为自己朝生暮死的轮回痛苦了。
四、自性显现
自性怎么显现哪?只有能所断处,你的根尘识所有的表现,全部都是自性现。历代祖师大德做种种的展示,举一个指头也好,打一拳也好,大吼一声也好,无非告诉你,用你的根、用你的尘、用你的识、用你眼耳鼻舌六根门头,随时随处,任何表现不离当下,那就是回转根尘啊!
所以云门禅师说随波逐流啊,你只有截断众流以后,才能够随波逐浪啊。业来了就来了,业走了就走了,过去的业让我活八十岁,我不要活到八十一岁,过去的业要是让我明天走,我不要等到后天,没有关系,一切随业,来去自在。
就在此时,如果你在根尘当下脱落、能所双亡之后认取了,知道这一切现实的当下,全部是自性的显现。
背后的那个偷心的根、生死的根从此无影无踪。
如果我们平常在生活中的品行好,就是做人的标准很高,已经做得非常善,比如说五戒十善已经做的很好,那你用起功来就如鱼得水,基本上用功就在穿衣吃饭当中。
如果我们平常有一些不良的习惯,比如说嫉妒心啊,或者是贪欲的心啊,享受生活的那种小资的生活态度啊,那你在生活中还需要磨炼,一对境还会跟着境跑。 但是不要紧,跟着境跑的只是一种业的惯性,而不是你。
我们现在如果没有破除我执之前,跟着跑的那个全是我,能所双亡以后,你再随境生心,再跟着境跑,跑过去的全部是一种业,也就是说过去的一种生活惯性,还跟着跑,但是背后跟着跑的那个人,却是没有根的,轮回的根已经被斩掉了。
所以修行没有见道之前,需要三皈五戒十善,把好人做好。当你已经习惯成做好人了,
你一旦见道了,你的整个生活其实就是弘法利生,就是你用功随机,随缘消旧业,更不造新殃;
但如果品行不好的人,却有一点翻习气的时候,确实还是要注意一下,下一点功夫,如果一不小心,那个名利心一生起来,那指不定还会伤害几个人,但你真见道了也不用怕,因为真见道,能所真能够双亡,他一定是圣人。
五、绵密保任
所以在用功的时候,叫绵密保任勿轻忘,不要轻易地忘记,这是对于精进用功的人来说。
那么这个两句话连起来,我们就可以看出端倪:能所亡处自性现,绵密保任莫轻忘。
对于能跟所脱开,所已经忘记,能还没有忘,就是我们打七这种效果的人,你真正要修行的,确实要绵密保任,不要轻易地被六尘所转。这个是很关键的时刻,就是要全神贯注、不随境转,外不被境迁、内不随心转,就清清楚楚,一笑罢休闲处坐,也很轻松,也不要觉得很纠结很难受。
盯着它,但是轻轻松松地盯着,就是在这里用功的时候,也叫保任,保就是需要提起来、抓住它,任就是放松它、任其自然。所以你妄想来了,告诉自己贼来了,好,一放下轻轻松松了,然后你该吃饭的吃饭,该走路的走路,该说话的说话。
说着说着一不小心又抓住被说的话了,心又随它转了,师父讲到哪个话我听得觉得有受用了,你早就妄想出来了,好,马上一放不理它,这样呢,只要你一放,这就是任了。
跟小鸟学飞是一样的,这个鸟脚跟一点地,它一飞起来,一飞起来因为翅膀太软了,马上又掉下来,那个脚一点地那一下叫做保,翅膀已经张开已经离开地了那叫任。
你一开始任的功夫很差的,任一下马上就掉到地上,马上就粘着了,怎么办?继续飞,所以小鸟要不停地飞不停地飞。
小鸟一般三五天它就能够飞出去了,就能飞得比较稳了,从它学飞开始。 我们上根利智的人也要三五年,我们飞得比它厉害了,比较难一点;这个善根稍微薄一点的,要三五十年功夫才能真正做成片。 所以这里面呢,大家修三年一千座修满,好像觉得怎么还没有见性呐,有一点受用了,是不是还没有成佛啊,好像就着急了,就不用功了,大错特错!
你要看自己过去的业习有多少,现在你正好可以借这个机会,放松放开去飞,所以这样子绵密保任。悟之前,在一念不生之前保住,一保住以后,就在这种感觉当中,放松放松,让它自然,那用功很轻松。 然后能所双亡了,证体以后要起用,在生活中起用,根据你的习气的多少,来看你的保任。
习气少,任的时间长一点,保的时间可能少一点,一保马上就任了,任其自然。
保任这个词是禅宗创造的,用得非常好!绵密保任哪,老人告诉我们,密就是精进,精而不杂叫做密,精密啊,进而不退叫进,所以精进修行就是绵密保任,所以悟以后还要绵密保任。
要保到什么时候?立定脚跟无偏颇,一切无求道真常。
立定脚跟,其实你能所双亡的时候,脚跟已经踩地了,已经落地了,知道无我无人无世界,但是在生活中、在工作中,要做到一切无求,你的道就回归中道了,所以从发心用功当下想要打开,必须要当机立断能所双亡。
Kyle wrote in 2013:

I'm not sure about the 'everything arising from rigpa' but Tsoknyi Rinpoche's comments regarding rigpa completely pervading all things, and by understanding rigpa you understand all phenomena... are pointing to the fact that once recognition of one's nature has occurred, the delusion that apperceives phenomena as objectively arising qualities of experience which appear to a mind, is overcome. So that is to say, the recognition of rigpa is essentially the very first time one's experience is known accurately, and that knowledge is then the foundation for one's practice in dzogchen. It's not only the refutation that appearances are the samsaric dualistic mind, but the very idea that appearances and phenomena are subsumed into the mind or consciousness. It's the notion that the objective phenomena are non-dual with a subjective mind or consciousness, and that there is a union of those polarities.

The Dzogchen view is that both the mind/consciousness and the objective appearances are byproducts of delusion, just as Longchenpa says in the quote above; "Likewise, various kinds of phenomena are appearing in the deluded mind because of the interdependent origination of the causes and conditions of delusion." The mind/consciousness and phenomena viewed as objective, separate or subsumed within that mind are both products of delusion, grasping and clinging, imputation and conceptualization etc. The moment a mind or consciousness is posited, that which is not-that-mind arises, that is the dependent origination.

The idea is to see that the mind/consciousness and the phenomena are dependently originated and therefore both are rendered empty if that is ascertained successfully. Also, nothing truly arises from the basis (gzhi), the basis simply displays it's appearance as the five lights, but since that spontaneously and naturally formed display (lhun grub) is primordially pure (ka dag) it's not established (nor unestablished) in any way. Only when that display isn't recognized to be self-display, does phenomena arise. The basis is never involved in delusion in any way nor does it display delusion, delusion arises due to non-recognition.

The recognition of rigpa is simply the knowledge or discernment which results from ascertaining the display of the basis to be self-display. The Mahamudra instructions which say 'everything is mind' is usually a line of reasoning which runs like so: 'everything is mind, mind is empty' so it's a way of helping the aspirant to achieve recognition (if recognition didn't occur in direct introduction). Everything is the mind deems everything as nondual with the mind, and then the mind is empty i.e. insubstantial, unfindable, unestablished. It's just a way to say that which you perceive as 'objective phenomena' is truly neither the same nor different than the mind, both are imputed designations. Since dzogchen is resting in rigpa, the nature of the mind has already been recognized and so it's emptiness is implicit in the view to begin with.

2014:

https://www.dharmaoverground.org/discussion/-/message_boards/message/5542824

Bill F. wrote:

Hello,

        I am curious about those who feel they have reached 4th path as defined in MCTB and gone on to see further developmental shifts. Specifically, what method/s were most useful or what resources were most useful? What did those shifts entail?
       For example, for myself I can say that somatic practices and paying attention to the way that thoughts/feelings bounce off the body creating a sense of dissaosiciation has brought about dramatic changes in the way that reality is recieved and processed so that even post mctb 4th path there has been a signifigant reduction in the tension associated with the process of dissaosicating through thinking/feeling. This had all been described in my journal at kfd which may be lost to the wind for the second time now, not entirely sure.
      I believe my own process is not uniquely better but was just suited to my own particular history/personality, so I am just interested in what others have found most useful: continued noting? Dzogchen? Concentration? Metta? AF inspired practice? Something else entirely? Thank you.

Bill

Daniel replied:

Well, it has been 11 years, which is a pretty long time-span to try to describe, starting after medical school, spanning residency and 8 years of post-residency work, which has involved all sorts of changes. It is hard to really sum up.

First point: the implications of this space are the primary thing, obviously, that being now the reality, not that it wasn't always the reality, but this it's different when the thing knows it is the thing all the way through. So, anything about the field trying to somehow optimize itself really is the practice, such that "practice" really seems to be everything, and that happens on its own.

However, I take it that this was not your question, and you mean formal practices, techniques, and the like.

I really doubt that it is going to be something that one person could answer and have that answer mean a whole lot to anyone else, as at that point (as as every other point, but it is not known the same way), conditioning and circumstances will determine what happens, and those are obviously extremely individually variable.

That said, my formal practice has been all over the place, everything from samatha to magick to Brahma Viharas to AF-inspired stuff to very Dzogchen-inspired stuff to lots of things that are really hard to describe, as I don't see a lot of people talking about that territory, such as what to do with the waves of subtle unrightness that can slowly move through the body (did have a brief conversation with Chuck Kasmire about that years ago), and things like energy work, cognitive restructuring, and things that are very vipassana: noticing very fine points of subtle parts of feelings and the like, as well as dream-work, things that are very zazen (practice-enlightenment, which, from a certain point of view encompasses all of this), and on and on...

More specifically, and to paraphrase Chi Nul, just because the Sun is shining brightly, that doesn't mean all the snow will melt at once, and the implications of the field integrating this understanding into all sorts of brain regions, patterns, feelings, old habits, constructs, and things has been totally fascinating. That has been the most remarkable thing, as the fundamental insight runs into parts of the brain that might not have been used for years, feelings that might not have been felt since decades ago, ways of thinking about the world that are clearly out-dated and yet didn't get reworked until some very specific situation brought them to light in some way, and all of that, now being perceived in this totally different way, can transform itself into something better

That basically goes along with my very brief blurb on integration in MCTB, which says basically: get the insight, and reality will integrate itself.

Overall, it has been fascinating to explore old things in a new light, as well as get into new things in that same new light, and so the key really is the new light.
Also see: Luminosity vs Clarity
The Transient Universe has a Heart



Daniel M. Ingram:
Luminosity is both a useful and possibly very misleading term.

Here's what it is doesn't mean: that a person will suddenly see things more brightly, that there will be more light in things than the standard amount, or anything like that.

Here's what it points to, said a number of equivalent ways:

1) In the seeing, just the seen. In the hearing, just the heard. In cognition, just the cognized. In feeling, just the felt... This standard line from the Bahiya of the Bark Cloth Sutta in the Udana is one of the most profound there is in the whole of the Pali Canon. It means that sensations are just sensations, simply that, with no knower, doer, be-er (not beer, as that is a beverage), or self in them to be found at all.
2) Point one, taken in its logical inverse, means that the "light" of awareness is in things where they are, including all of the space between/around/through them equally.
3) Said another way, things just are aware/manifest/occurring where they are just as they are, extremely straightforwardly.

Helpful?

Daniel

缘起性空是什么意思?(上)

1.缘起性空的思想,概要言之只是:一切法由于无自性,因此得以随缘幻现;幻现的一切法,虽然历历在目,但却如梦幻泡影、如露亦如电。当我们真正信解这个道理之后,则当戏论灭尽,与人无诤讼,同时内心了无牵挂。接着,人生仅剩的唯是,行所当行,受所当受--而实无功德。
2.佛教的宇宙论是比较倾向现象论,而不是形而上学的本体论,就是以经验可及的现象来剖析它的本质到底是什么?此外佛教也不是纯粹的宇宙现象论,它更进一步是一种摆脱痛苦的方法,它的重点是在摆脱人类一切的痛苦。为了要摆脱人类一切的痛苦,佛陀发现痛苦是源自于人们对现象的曲解。佛陀由于发现众生这种对现象曲解、扭曲的认知,将带给自他无边的苦恼,从而提出缘起性空、缘起无我的思想(方法)以对治之。所以缘起无我不仅是佛教对客观现象的解释,同时也是佛教达到灭苦的方法。
3.一切都只是功能和现象的变化而已,此中并没有生命,也没有身体和意识——我所了解的佛法只是这样。
4.‘缘起无我论’或‘缘起(毕竟)空义’是佛教的根本思想。任何团体及个人倘若观念偏离缘起空义,将不被承认是佛教的一员。尽管它仍然可能是伟大的宗教、严密的哲学或道德情操令人敬重的个人。
5.佛法本无多,真正可以超生了死、渡出苦海的并没有几句话。学问在于广博,要学要读的很多,但修行是愈少愈好。中观般若那么多,但说起来,只是‘缘起’二个字而已。如果有人能深解缘起的甚深义,那么,当下便可远离戏论了!有人说‘弱水三千,我只取一瓢而饮。’一瓢饮就能解渴了,但如果站在河边,细数流水三千而不取饮,那就只好渴死河边了。
6.缘起无我义,这是非常深的佛教义理,佛陀曾说:‘缘起甚深极甚深!’虽然我们常闻佛教徒云‘缘起、缘起’,但真正了解缘起无我义的人,相对于口说缘起者,比例恐怕是非常少的。
7.什么叫做‘缘起’:缘起就是说很多条件来呈现、完成一件事情;什么叫‘性空’:就是说一切事物既然都是条件的组合,那么它们就不会有自己的本性、自己的个性,没有不变性、永恒性、和自主性
就是这样而已。
8.缘起无我的大意是:一、有情的 存在,不是没有原因的,他们之所以出现在世间,际遇报应各有不同,乃依无明意识和业的力量所造。二、有情长劫轮回于三界,展现种种不同的生命状态,并营造出不同的身心活动,但这些状态和活动,都只是根、境、识和合的假相,没有实体、没有核心,而且变化不居、迁流不息。无我的理趣,扼要的说,虽只是以上两点,但对于执着感官经验、迷信唯物思想且一向散乱的广大群生而言,是多么难以理解的!尤其是意欲掌握缘起无我的心要,并援引心要融入生活净化三业,以至于断渴爱、灭戏论、寂静无诤、任运随缘之境,对于是非心重、诤胜心强的有情,更是难上加难!
9.现象有两部份,即现象的表相和现象的本质。现象的表相是指一切有因有缘而生起、逝灭的人、物、理、事(含三世轮回、因果业报);现象的本质则是无常、无我、空。不见空者,非佛教;离现象之表相而论空者,非正解空义的人。由于三世轮回、因果业报非具足四禅八定难以现观(唯能信解),而表相更是无量无边,修行人也无法一一遍观,所以现代禅建议行人,应特重未到地定,随时随地活在眼前一瞬,并集中心力观五蕴皆空即可。因为未到地定坚固者便能作深观,而真能照见五蕴皆空者,便可止息贪嗔得解脱。
10.佛教所说‘诸法如幻’,它和‘业报不失’是一并讲的,可说是一体之两面。说山河大地如梦幻泡影其前提是承认世间有山河大地;说财富名利如梦幻泡影,当然是肯定财富名利的存在,然后才说它们是如梦幻泡影的;说六道轮回如梦如幻,同样也是肯定六道轮回、业报不失的现象。如梦如幻的空义,并没有否定如梦如幻的事实——修禅的人如果没有认清此点,则易陷入断灭空之中。
11.佛说‘缘起甚深极甚深’,空义的通达是不容易的。钝根的人必须从很多方面的观察,才能慢慢了解空,他起先要从‘世间是短暂的、痛苦的’‘人性是卑鄙、绝情、善变的’‘人生如客居旅店,最后还是双手空空’‘社会充斥着伪装、作秀、包装和宣传’‘世事都是刻意、作为的结果,是各种条件的组合’……等等角度的省思、感触之后,才能渐渐信解空义。而利根的人却直从‘诸法是根境识和合而呈现的’——般若中观的这一根本理趣的思惟观察便可步入涅盘门。也就是说,利根的人未必遵从苦、无常、无我的次第学习起,他单从缘生即幻生、幻生即无生的观察,便能化解贪着顺入涅盘。
12.佛说:‘缘起甚深极甚深,缘起之寂灭性(涅盘)倍复甚深极甚深。’‘缘起’是指一切存在、延续的人、物、理、事,包含时间、空间、精神、物质、运动(‘三世轮回’也是一种运动现象),以及事物的理则和定律(‘因果业报’也是一种定律),这一切皆基于一定的原因和次第所形成。‘缘起之寂灭性’则指向这存在、延续的一切法的本性——粗显的是生灭无常、迁流不住,充满痛苦、缺陷和不安;深刻些的是虚幻不实,就如同梦境、空花、水月、阳焰、海市蜃楼;而最极幽隐的是寂静无生——涅盘。
13.‘凡是依赖因缘而存在的事物,其本身就如梦幻一般不真实。’般若中观的根本奥义,对于普遍学佛者而言,是一种容易被理解、演说,却难以被信仰、接受、奉行的真理。
14.从佛教的观点来看,人类的身心——也就是‘五蕴’都是‘因缘所生’,没有主体性、自主性,不是单一、自成、有核心的存在;人们通说的‘你’‘我’‘他’‘社会’‘国家’‘世界’,以及‘感情’‘理智’‘正义’‘幸福’……等等的一切,其实都是相对、权宜、暂时安立的复合性概念。对这一现象事实,越有认识的人,则会越远离憍慢自恃。因此说,谦卑柔软的人格,不单是涵养而已,实是相应真理的表现。
15.生命的现象乃是因缘和合暂时呈现的幻相,我们为了方便起见,权且安立假名说这是‘你’、‘我’、‘他’,但事实上刹那生灭中并没有可称之为‘法’的固定相,和合积聚中也没有可称之为‘我’的独立相;就如虚空与大海本没有国界和四大洋之别,先前乃随俗立名,最后则积非成是,问道:‘太平洋的灵魂在哪里?’
16.众生因为‘萨迦耶见’未破,所以对他来讲,世间有一成不变的时间、空间,有天堂、地狱,有佛、有魔、有阿罗汉、有菩萨,有初果、二果,有五、六、七、八……等等,这些都是因为‘自性见’——‘迷惑的思想和心态’才有的。若有一朝自性见破除了,所有的戏论,就通通息灭。因为上述的一切分别,都是以自性见为前提,自性见就像运动时的座标一样,有了座标才有运动可言。而当这座坚固的座标——自性见打破时,世界就是无量光、无量寿、不可思议的世界了。
17.一个尚未开悟的人,当他在谈论古代禅师或佛菩萨的时候,都含有自性见在胸中——以个别的‘单位’看待六祖、永嘉、黄檗、临济、南泉等人,也把观世音菩萨当做是‘一个’菩萨——这也是还未开悟的证明。而一个真正开悟的人,从他的心眼看出,则只见因缘,不见人我。他不会把菩萨、祖师,甚至众生当做个别的‘单位’来看待,他于众生中不起人见,也就是佛学上所说的‘补特伽罗见’;也不会于自己生起我见——‘萨迦耶见’,他只见缘起,并在缘起中游戏而已。
18.人本来是可以自在无碍的,却因误认‘身心是我’,且形成根深蒂固的惯性,甚至已成‘无功用’了,所以烦恼不断,苦惑丛生。由于妄执身体是我,思惟、感受是我,自然变得只关心自己的身体和意识(包括感受、感觉、感想、思考、思想、记忆、印象、经验),也为了保护这两样东西,陷于盲目偏见、矛盾空虚之中。就像苍蝇一般,刚刚才挥走,很快就又飞回原来的地方——一切所关心、挂碍的都只在一己身心上,没办法跳出五行外,成为自由人。
19.常对同修说:‘人生就像烂泥巴堆,不要在当中咆哮!’什么是咆哮?咆哮就是情绪激动大吼大叫;在此,也是指意气风发、傲慢自恃、眷恋贪爱、紧张不安……等等。多年来我深深痛感人生真的没有什么!人生很快就过去了!眼前当下的身体,眼、耳、鼻、舌、心、肝、脾、肺、手、脚、筋、骨、血、肉、脂肪,以及记忆、经验、知觉、思惟……,我都感到它们只是一堆组合物而已,它们属不可知的因缘,不属于我。
20.一般人之所以不能悠闲、不能随缘,是因为他们不相信也不了解佛说‘人生如梦’的道理,他们被自己的眼睛、自己的意识以及众人的眼睛、众人的意识所蒙蔽;误认时间、空间、物体、运动……以及精神现象、心理活动、哲学义理……等等都是真实存在的——心态上既然对存在的这一切‘当真’‘认真’,又怎么能够不固执?又怎么能够趋向解脱呢?
21.人们因为误认事事物物都是真的,所以‘很当真’地执着,也‘很当真’地放下,因此,无论是执着、还是放下,都是不解中观的人。
22.倘不能正见正观诸行无常、诸法无我,心离一切实在感、自性见,则无论如何快乐逍遥或刻苦修行,永远和佛门之解脱是没有交涉的。
23.‘诸法无所得’并不是因为修行者具无所得之心,诸法才无所得,而是诸法本来就是无核、无体、无实、无所得!
24.真正的修行并不是为了日后的摆脱轮回,而是人类皆有‘脱离痛苦’的热切需要。生活中随处可见人们由于缺乏智慧,导致身心苦痛、无限煎熬,这是眼前明显不过的事实;同时,尽管五蕴无我,但因果业报还是有的,如果真的把铁钉吃下去,则会肚破肠流,真的从屋顶往下跳,则会血肉模糊——并不因为五蕴无我是现象界的事实。
或许可以这样说,人类很少为了‘我’,因为‘我’只是一种概念,人类真正朝思暮想、咆哮怒吼的是数不尽的欲望和贪婪——并且也因这些欲望和贪婪使他身心痛苦。而我们修行所重视的,是信、解、行、证缘起无我空义,这空义可以疗愈我们因欲望和贪婪所引生之当下苦,至于脱离未来轮回之苦,只是水到渠成、法尔如是的自然结果。
25.由于诸法因缘生,因缘生即无自性,无自性的世间一切法,虽然体相历历在目,但究其真实,到底不生、无生、从本不曾存在过!从本不存在过的世间一切法,当然也丝毫不会有如何灭、如何消除的问题!既然一切都没问题,那么佛弟子内心怎么会有真正的遗憾呢?
缘起性空是什么意思?(上)
缘起性空是什么意思?(上)
推荐:佛教基本知识
Sharing Pam's experience as I mentioned in my previous post. Previously Pam had the I AM realization up to one mind earlier this year, and many peak experiences of nonduality and mind-body drop in meditation. But a breakthrough insight made these her natural state now as the obscuring view of a background Self is penetrated and the true nature of mind reveals itself.

[27/8/18, 5:22:49 PM] Pam: Btw I penetrated another level.
[27/8/18, 6:28:38 PM] Soh Wei Yu: Cool
[27/8/18, 6:28:41 PM] Soh Wei Yu: What level?
[27/8/18, 8:14:11 PM] Pam: Just came out of Crazy Rich Asians movie.
[27/8/18, 8:14:27 PM] Pam: I recorded in my memo:
‎[27/8/18, 8:15:13 PM] Pam: ‎"25 Aug 2018
Read Kiloby last night on investigating the lack of boundary in field of perception. Upon waking, it cracked open. The room is one whole seamless seeing. No division. No here no there no me centre. This shift carries over the whole day everywhere I look.

26 Aug 2018
Upon waking and contemplating IT IS ALWAYS NOW, the mind suddenly got out of the way and there it is! Oh! This is what they are talking about! Just this happening. This sight this sound this moment. Now. Now. Now. Every moment actualizes out of itself, magical, vivid, pulsing with life. Such peace. Such joy. Nothing seems to matter. Just this lifeing instance, as it is.

27 Aug 2018
Read UG Krish last night. Upon waking same experience as his description. Only sense contact points of body with bed. No other parts of body exists.

[27/8/18, 8:21:17 PM] Pam: Haha think can't claim as 'level' la. But certainly a big thing for me, going by the amount of peace experienced.
[27/8/18, 8:38:16 PM] Pam: I was so damned sick of hearing 'everything is as it is' over and over again, because I could not get it. Now I do.

[27/8/18, 8:39:12 PM] Pam: Either you see it or you don't. You won't see it till you do!

...

[28/8/18, 6:59:46 PM] Pam: Just not that long ago I had similar ignorance about an unchanging ultimate background
[28/8/18, 7:00:04 PM] Pam: Was stuck in Advaita's Brahman.
[28/8/18, 7:23:42 PM] Pam: So, awareness is not other than foreground activity. They co-arise and then leave no trace upon falling away.
[28/8/18, 7:56:52 PM] Pam: Actually I find transience and emptiness freeing. Magical while phenomena last, and upon dissolution it is finished business. But most minds fear this and need to grasp onto something absolute and permanent.
[28/8/18, 7:57:53 PM] Pam: Now listening to Daniel Ingram's podcast Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha
[28/8/18, 7:58:46 PM] Soh Wei Yu: 👍
[28/8/18, 8:34:28 PM] Soh Wei Yu: Would you say that it is very clear now that in seeing just the seen and awareness as manifestation and all agency are seen through like Daniel description of fourth path?
[28/8/18, 8:34:57 PM] Pam: Yes very clear
[28/8/18, 8:35:13 PM] Pam: My depression is gone
[28/8/18, 8:35:21 PM] Soh Wei Yu: Wow nice
[28/8/18, 8:35:26 PM] Pam: I feel very peaceful

[28/8/18, 8:42:46 PM] Pam: It is just seeing. Not the seen as object. The 'object' is made of seeing alone. There is no object.
[28/8/18, 8:44:11 PM] Pam: sounds = hearing alone
thought = thinking alone
[28/8/18, 8:44:54 PM] Soh Wei Yu: But should also see that there is no seeing besides seen
[28/8/18, 8:45:04 PM] Soh Wei Yu: Otherwise seeing becomes unchanging and inherent
[28/8/18, 8:46:11 PM] Pam: oh...to me the seeing is changing
[28/8/18, 8:47:09 PM] Soh Wei Yu: Yes so no seeing besides colors, no hearing besides sound yes?
[28/8/18, 8:47:44 PM] Pam: yes just colours, not object PLUS colour
[28/8/18, 8:58:27 PM] Soh Wei Yu: 👍


[29/8/18, 11:58:24 AM] Pam: Anyway, here is what it is like ever since few days ago, upon waking:
‎[29/8/18, 12:00:06 PM] Pam: 28 Aug 2018
Like a blind person who suddenly sees. Repeatedly saying in my head "OMG IT'S LIKE THIS"

Everything in room stay where they are except they are now jumping with aliveness. Sight, sound, touch sensations heightened as if all my sense doors have open nerve ends. Totally melting into intimacy, merging with whatever is happening. I am these sounds, these colours, the air brushing my skin. OMG this is what people have been talking about. There is 100% certainty that I have broken through.

Feeling of gratitude, compassion, completion and a great understanding.

No desire to move or do anything but to stay still and soak in this presence. Nothing to seek nothing to hold onto. For the first time in my life I feel zero tension in body, free, serene and at home with myself.



[29/8/18, 1:48:40 PM] Soh Wei Yu: Btw what triggered your I AM realization previously? My Friend asked
[29/8/18, 2:17:58 PM] Pam: The first opening I had was while sewing and listening to a satsang. One line by the teacher just opened up a crack into a glimpse of oneness.
‎[29/8/18, 2:29:28 PM] Pam: 13-16 Jan 2018 Chiangmai
read The Untethered Soul

24 Jan 2018
PEAK EXPERIENCE
Flash of no self, floating in timeless presencing merging into ONENESS while handstitching dark grey hem and listening to Rodriguez's line: Consciousness is closer than intimacy. Felt total bliss
I've come to learn this week that Pam Tan just had a breakthrough awakening. I've been expecting that, as I felt she was close. She is the fifth Singaporean that has spiritually awakened (by awakened here I mean at least the realization of anatta) after encountering me, John or our blog (and there are about 20 others from other countries that have also awakened to anatta/emptiness in part through the influence of our blog or conversations -- but I am not a guru or teacher, and ultimately all awakenings comes from one's own potentiality, contemplation and investigation more than an external source or trigger). I am going to share excerpts about it in the next post, with her permissions.

This brings the lofty ideals of "awakening" from the realm of stories and myths back to earth. It's the tangible, normal folks like you and me, who achieve awakening. And very much as it should be -- after all, examples were given in "The Supreme Source: The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde Kunjed Gyalpo" of how some of the Dzogchen masters were prostitutes who nevertheless awakened through receiving intimate pith instructions from their masters. Furthermore the Zen teachings always emphasize how spirituality or spiritual awakening is never separate from the mundane and ordinary life of "chop wood, carry water". And Kunjed Gyalpo tells us, "Seek the location of the heart essence through phenomena that derive from it and come to appreciate it through the skillful means of not conceptualizing in any way whatsoever. Since the heart essence occurs naturally, dharmakaya is not elsewhere." Nirvana is after-all, samsara rightly seen. It is never about separating yourself or becoming distant and aloof from the nitty gritty of daily lives but rather, the complete gapless/undivided engagement and spontaneous living where even the term 'intimacy' no longer quite apply any longer (who is being intimate with what?)

Awakening is our birthright, our buddha-nature (potentiality for awakening) is never sealed off from anyone nor is it ever the province of an elite group of people. For as Padmasambhava also stated, "If he practices, then even a cowherd can realize liberation. Even though he does not know the explanation, he can systematically establish himself in the experience of it." So as I just told another friend I met a few days back, you must trust in your own capacity.

Spiritual awakening used to be relegated to great yogis residing in far off remote places very distant from the lives of ordinary city folks, such that most people will never believe that it is accessible or relevant to the ordinary lay people like you and me. I believe this perception or stereotype will certainly change as time passes.

Technologies allow for new possibilities never existing before in history, such as the exchanges between supportive adventurers on the path across thousands of miles, or even become a platform for a gathering of strong practitioners at various stages and from various traditions and backgrounds. Technology provides a fertile ground for cross-cultural, cross-traditional exchanges that may foster deeper understandings and fruitful discussions. Add to that, a growing number of people seem to be adapting to a "pragmatic dharma" (refer to Daniel Ingram's writings on this) attitude of open sharing from their experiences, transcending old dogmas and taboos surrounding the topic of spiritual awakening.

In contrast, people living just 50 or 100 years ago aren't nearly as connected to others today, and genuine spiritual teachers (much less truly attained and realized spiritual masters) and teachings and fellowships may be limited to certain localities and may be hard to come by. Today, a truly realized spiritual master may be a Skype call away even if he/she lives in another country. Nowadays, you can have an equivalent of Nalanda library available through a mouse-click away, or the entire Buddhist canon available on your iPad, thanks also to translators at foundations like 84000.co. Also, as John commented before, many practitioners in olden times may not have very strong view due to the lack of easy access to written spiritual texts or scriptures (even though they may be very dedicated, disciplined and sincere, perhaps more so than modern day people). So consider ourselves to be very fortunate.

More people are now able to read up and get connected with spiritual resources and fellowships with the help of an open internet which brings entire libraries of information to their fingertips. This is certainly not a replacement for a face-to-face spiritual community or teacher which always remains important and most valuable, but at least more people are becoming aware and have a huge resource available to their aid and have more directions.

May the growing awareness of this potentiality - the innate potentiality to awaken to our true nature, spread like wildfire in time to come for the benefit of all motherly sentient beings. And may technology continue to evolve and become an even greater aid for our spiritual advancements.