Few of us have ever flown on our own, we have let others be the pilots of our life, carrying us to our destination.
When trying to take off for the first time, you may make some common mistakes.
You may try to put yourself in the right position, like the top of a cliff.
You may spend all your time trying to perfect your vehicle.
You may try to take off with the wind, hoping it sweeps you away.
The best way however, is to fly into the wind.
The path directly into the headwind, the source of most resistance, is the most likely for success.
Clarify your practice. Let your practice clarify you.
Showing posts with label fly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fly. Show all posts
Friday, February 20, 2015
Friday, May 23, 2014
It's a trap.
The endless variety of sights and sounds, experiences and feelings. The unceasing stream of thoughts and ideas, memories and wish lists.
We rely on mind as the basis of experience, even if we train the mind it is still mind on which we rely. Relying on mind, we cannot escape mind.
It is the ground that we walk on, no matter how much we train, how fast we can run or how far, all we experience is a temporary rush and a fleeting high. We can never expect to fly.
You need to create a distinction between mind and the nature of mind, between ordinary mind and naturally occurring timeless awareness.
You can chart and explore the earth for ages, and you should. But you also need to see the view from space.
We rely on mind as the basis of experience, even if we train the mind it is still mind on which we rely. Relying on mind, we cannot escape mind.
It is the ground that we walk on, no matter how much we train, how fast we can run or how far, all we experience is a temporary rush and a fleeting high. We can never expect to fly.
You need to create a distinction between mind and the nature of mind, between ordinary mind and naturally occurring timeless awareness.
You can chart and explore the earth for ages, and you should. But you also need to see the view from space.
Monday, December 23, 2013
A View as High as the Sky.
Next time you fly, grab a window seat.
From 30,000 feet you can see everything. Your view is absolutely all-pervasive, completely clear and unobstructed.
It is peaceful. A serene tranquility in the spacious sky.
Down below you can see infinite worlds and environs unfold. Banks of clouds gather here and there, cities cascade across the landscape. Cars move here and there, forming tiny chains of lights. You can look down on houses, imagine people going about their day, cooking, working, fighting, falling in love.
From 30,000 feet you can witness all of these worlds amidst a profound inner stillness.
As you descend you start to enter into the clouds, you start to feel the winds of turbulence- temporary conditions. You still have a greater view than from the ground, but you are vulnerable to the winds and obstructed views.
Fear can show its ugly face. There definitely can be some confusion as to where you are. It's generally calm, true, but fear and uncertainty are always a moment away.
As you continue to descend, the landing gear comes down. Things are getting pretty busy. You can see cars rushing all over, people passing each other on the highway. Everything is much more coarse and distinct, that all-pervasive view of space is gone. Sure, you know right where you are but there is no larger view. Still, you are above the fray and there is a sense of peace and calm amidst.
Then you land, you are in the fray and can only look up and wonder what is around you, what lies ahead. Everything is coarse, your emotions surge, your mind is filled with thoughts and plans. You can't even get off the plane without trying to hurry or be annoyed with others around you.
"God, it is hot in here!"
Gone is the peace, that spacious calm. You are the fray.
You probably don't realize it but we are all trying to gain a better view. Most of us are content just to get above the fray, which is really just the final descent before we land.
Having been to 30,000 feet, that seems silly.
If you want to make it to the clouds it is going to take some work. You are going to need a practice. You need something to rely on. Do you think it is going to happen by chance? It isn't easy to fly.
Actually, to make it to the clouds is quite an accomplishment. Think about it, you would have an expansive view of the world, yourself and others. Undoubtedly you would face fear and uncertainty, get caught up in turbulent situations and dense clouds, but you would also know a profound inner peace and calm. You would be able to see where people are and be able to help them, or at the very least to facilitate help arriving.
So how do we get to 30,000 feet?
It requires you to move beyond conditions, beyond your temporary circumstances. You need to completely transcend fear, eliminate all of your obscurations and the limitations of your view. You need to move beyond all grasping and fixation, become a master of mindful awareness that illuminates like the sun in the spacious sky.
The supreme view, the absolute pinnacle, is the view of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection. This is the only view that allows you to bring the experience and wisdom of 30,000 feet, into the fray.
From 30,000 feet you can see everything. Your view is absolutely all-pervasive, completely clear and unobstructed.
It is peaceful. A serene tranquility in the spacious sky.
Down below you can see infinite worlds and environs unfold. Banks of clouds gather here and there, cities cascade across the landscape. Cars move here and there, forming tiny chains of lights. You can look down on houses, imagine people going about their day, cooking, working, fighting, falling in love.
From 30,000 feet you can witness all of these worlds amidst a profound inner stillness.
As you descend you start to enter into the clouds, you start to feel the winds of turbulence- temporary conditions. You still have a greater view than from the ground, but you are vulnerable to the winds and obstructed views.
Fear can show its ugly face. There definitely can be some confusion as to where you are. It's generally calm, true, but fear and uncertainty are always a moment away.
As you continue to descend, the landing gear comes down. Things are getting pretty busy. You can see cars rushing all over, people passing each other on the highway. Everything is much more coarse and distinct, that all-pervasive view of space is gone. Sure, you know right where you are but there is no larger view. Still, you are above the fray and there is a sense of peace and calm amidst.
Then you land, you are in the fray and can only look up and wonder what is around you, what lies ahead. Everything is coarse, your emotions surge, your mind is filled with thoughts and plans. You can't even get off the plane without trying to hurry or be annoyed with others around you.
"God, it is hot in here!"
Gone is the peace, that spacious calm. You are the fray.
You probably don't realize it but we are all trying to gain a better view. Most of us are content just to get above the fray, which is really just the final descent before we land.
Having been to 30,000 feet, that seems silly.
If you want to make it to the clouds it is going to take some work. You are going to need a practice. You need something to rely on. Do you think it is going to happen by chance? It isn't easy to fly.
Actually, to make it to the clouds is quite an accomplishment. Think about it, you would have an expansive view of the world, yourself and others. Undoubtedly you would face fear and uncertainty, get caught up in turbulent situations and dense clouds, but you would also know a profound inner peace and calm. You would be able to see where people are and be able to help them, or at the very least to facilitate help arriving.
So how do we get to 30,000 feet?
It requires you to move beyond conditions, beyond your temporary circumstances. You need to completely transcend fear, eliminate all of your obscurations and the limitations of your view. You need to move beyond all grasping and fixation, become a master of mindful awareness that illuminates like the sun in the spacious sky.
The supreme view, the absolute pinnacle, is the view of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection. This is the only view that allows you to bring the experience and wisdom of 30,000 feet, into the fray.
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