Enter the realm of transcendence and the consequence of descriptive conundrum. Any word, concept, diagram or reality used to describe this state of realization will ultimately diminish it’s understanding. How does one portray the unseen, the beyond experience, the non-phenomenon? It can only be defined in approximate terms which are fundamentally that-which-it-is-not. All human understanding is predicated on the existence of ‘other’. A point, a consciousness, an experience or existence, can only be known within a relative counterpoint. Without this point of reference not even ‘nothing’ can be.
For a Being to willingly step into such an undefinable realm is the utmost ‘leap of faith’, yet it is just such a step that provides freedom from the suffering of our current immortal predicament of life, death and rebirth.
The conscience mind, and it’s attached physical/spiritual components, falls into six categories. A Being’s current point of departure on the path of uttermost recognition (transcendence) is depend on where his/her reality dwells:
Hell-Being, someone living in a torturous reality;
Hungry Ghost, a being that is greatly confused and can not fill the emptiness which they carry inside;
Animals, or beings not processing human self awareness, a diffused self;
Human, just enough identity to question existence and understand suffering;
Titans, powerful beings in a constant state of flux, and dissatisfaction;
Gods, a blissful experience within the perimeters of phenomena, (within the realm of suffering).
Debarkation onto the path of transcendence, (leading to the transpersonal, non-dualistic domain of Enlightenment), can therefore be launched from within the emotional states associated with these six territories of existence; destruction (death, guilt, shame), entrapment (desire, lust, fear), release (courage, trust), transformation (acceptance, harmony), revelation (unconditional love) or transfiguration (joy).
Recognize that these states are not experienced exclusive to one-another but are often visited within simultaneous moments.
No matter where we start on this sublime journey the character of the path is elementally the same; the natural unfolding of the Eight Fold Elemental Flow:
Earth Element; here the edges of our conscience are hard and well defined. Life is viewed through the veils of fear and frustration. As awareness matures this view melts into Water Element; fluid patterns of opportunity and trust intertwine with experience. As water dissolves the Fire Element ascends and knowingness, without sensory impute, surfaces. This in turn merges into Wind Element were energetic packets of boundless compassion take flight and fuses with Luminous Element a realm of vastness devoid of matter. Within this plot of awareness is realized harmonious interconnected and inexhaustible love. Even this state of bless must evolve and disintegrate into Radiance. This is the province of perfection, oneness, spear energy which disappears into Dark Light. Description no longer applies as conscience of Self ends, exhausted of time/space possibilities. Only the most accomplished spiritual pilgrims touch this non-place but once touched vanishes into Transparency; The Buddha Mind.
This is our collective destiny, the pure land we can only catch glimpses of from our time/space learning tree, but from where we have come and to were we are surely evolving to.
- Richard Rudis
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Guided Pure Land Meditation
(Use to open healing realms - recommend accompanying sound of Himalayan Bowl)
There is only you, your raft and the vast ocean. You cannot remember how long you have been drifting. It is a clear, warm evening and the horizon is lost in the reflection of a million stars. While gazing at the night sky you imagine that the Earth is your vessel and the universe its' sea. All perspective is washed way as you are gently lolled to sleep.
In a dream;you are a pilgrim in search of something on an endless, remote and well worn path which stretches unbroken before you.
A smiling figure in long white robes draws near. In her eyes you can see a universe of stars. She is the White Tara, come to help you on your path. Walking together, her pure compassion enriches you and nourishes you with clear awareness.
When you awaken, in the dawn light, across the calm sea, an island in the East is visible. Steering your raft towards the land you find yourself in a gentle bay of smooth water. A reflection of an extraordinary building, made of clear crystal, is upon the waters. Lifting your eyes you see, on the waters edge, an enormous structure. There are soaring mirror-like towers crowned by golden Vajras. Each surface reflects all other surfaces into never ending depths of vision. The gates are the shape of two huge semicircles which mate into a full moon. Reflected within the closed gate you can see the water, your vessel and you.
Transfixed on the image you begin to realize the true nature of your being, the universe and it’s un-graspable simplicity. There, mirrored in the center, you stand naked of judgment, without accepting or rejecting. You are but another image in the Moon Gate. With this realization the Gates swing open and the realm of the Akshobhya Buddha is revealed. You enter into a ‘Pure Land’ where everything is a reminder of the Dharma and a encouragement on your path towards enlightenment. In the air is the ever present sound of the mantra “Om, Vajra, Akshobhya, Hum”.
You are drawn to the heart of this realm where the Buddha is seated in deep meditation. His quietude, serenity, wisdom and profound peace are irresistible. Radiating boundless compassion he sees through delusion, pierces the veil of ignorance and touches reality. He is well known to you. He is a wise friend and with a slight smile he offers his knowing to you. It flows through your body in the central channel from the crown of your head to the base of your spin. All negative and impure influences are washed out of you and absorbed by the golden transformative earth.
You are renewed with diamond nectar, purified and illuminated. Akshobhya melts into pure light and flows into you without effort or desire, you become the Buddha.
You are home!
- Richard Rudis
There is only you, your raft and the vast ocean. You cannot remember how long you have been drifting. It is a clear, warm evening and the horizon is lost in the reflection of a million stars. While gazing at the night sky you imagine that the Earth is your vessel and the universe its' sea. All perspective is washed way as you are gently lolled to sleep.
In a dream;you are a pilgrim in search of something on an endless, remote and well worn path which stretches unbroken before you.
A smiling figure in long white robes draws near. In her eyes you can see a universe of stars. She is the White Tara, come to help you on your path. Walking together, her pure compassion enriches you and nourishes you with clear awareness.
When you awaken, in the dawn light, across the calm sea, an island in the East is visible. Steering your raft towards the land you find yourself in a gentle bay of smooth water. A reflection of an extraordinary building, made of clear crystal, is upon the waters. Lifting your eyes you see, on the waters edge, an enormous structure. There are soaring mirror-like towers crowned by golden Vajras. Each surface reflects all other surfaces into never ending depths of vision. The gates are the shape of two huge semicircles which mate into a full moon. Reflected within the closed gate you can see the water, your vessel and you.
Transfixed on the image you begin to realize the true nature of your being, the universe and it’s un-graspable simplicity. There, mirrored in the center, you stand naked of judgment, without accepting or rejecting. You are but another image in the Moon Gate. With this realization the Gates swing open and the realm of the Akshobhya Buddha is revealed. You enter into a ‘Pure Land’ where everything is a reminder of the Dharma and a encouragement on your path towards enlightenment. In the air is the ever present sound of the mantra “Om, Vajra, Akshobhya, Hum”.
You are drawn to the heart of this realm where the Buddha is seated in deep meditation. His quietude, serenity, wisdom and profound peace are irresistible. Radiating boundless compassion he sees through delusion, pierces the veil of ignorance and touches reality. He is well known to you. He is a wise friend and with a slight smile he offers his knowing to you. It flows through your body in the central channel from the crown of your head to the base of your spin. All negative and impure influences are washed out of you and absorbed by the golden transformative earth.
You are renewed with diamond nectar, purified and illuminated. Akshobhya melts into pure light and flows into you without effort or desire, you become the Buddha.
You are home!
- Richard Rudis
Friday, May 2, 2008
Musing
Musing
Buddhism is not a religion but rather a philosophy. It is however a wisdom with an embedded agenda . The goal of Buddhist investigation, as I see it, is merely to awaken the individual to the phenomenon of living. This in turn reveals, naturally, the truth of being. To that end I offer the following recent experience:
While sitting at a favorite tea house, reading and people watching, I became cognizant of the enormous capacity of a child to be happy, totally aware, accepting, present, apparently conscious of all sensory input .... and, in comparison, unlike the surrounding adults. Assuming we all materialize in this world as infants, I can’t help but wonder when and where the change occurred? Each life story is unique but generally the process of ‘maturing’ strips us of our awe and builds, in it’s place, believes that define us.
Allowing for slight variations in time/space geography we all learn proper behavior, what books are acceptable, what to think, when to get married, when to get unmarried, have children, buy a home, how to feel, behave politely, civilized, adult.
This common journey casts each of us far from the given of extraordinary sensory capacity present within our earlier years. The wildly interesting, transmuting, magnetic, charismatic quintessence of life is distilled and experienced as common place. The product of all this is another adult going about his or her adult business, following and being followed by endless lines of similar looking, thinking adults.
I wonder if this needs to be?
I wonder if we as individuals, or as a group, can reclaim the amazement for life we all once possessed?
I wonder if redemption is available even for the most ‘mature’ among us?
-Richard Rudis
Buddhism is not a religion but rather a philosophy. It is however a wisdom with an embedded agenda . The goal of Buddhist investigation, as I see it, is merely to awaken the individual to the phenomenon of living. This in turn reveals, naturally, the truth of being. To that end I offer the following recent experience:
While sitting at a favorite tea house, reading and people watching, I became cognizant of the enormous capacity of a child to be happy, totally aware, accepting, present, apparently conscious of all sensory input .... and, in comparison, unlike the surrounding adults. Assuming we all materialize in this world as infants, I can’t help but wonder when and where the change occurred? Each life story is unique but generally the process of ‘maturing’ strips us of our awe and builds, in it’s place, believes that define us.
Allowing for slight variations in time/space geography we all learn proper behavior, what books are acceptable, what to think, when to get married, when to get unmarried, have children, buy a home, how to feel, behave politely, civilized, adult.
This common journey casts each of us far from the given of extraordinary sensory capacity present within our earlier years. The wildly interesting, transmuting, magnetic, charismatic quintessence of life is distilled and experienced as common place. The product of all this is another adult going about his or her adult business, following and being followed by endless lines of similar looking, thinking adults.
I wonder if this needs to be?
I wonder if we as individuals, or as a group, can reclaim the amazement for life we all once possessed?
I wonder if redemption is available even for the most ‘mature’ among us?
-Richard Rudis
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