Lama Surya Das.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/6/2004 1:23:29 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

aoclery writes:

 

The Hevajra tantra says we are all Buddhas by nature but must,

through our own spiritual work, awaken to ourselves.'

 

This indicates to me that in the Dzogchen tradition, Sadhana is of

the essence of awakening. Purification of the

Buddhi........ONS..Tony.

 

 

 

 

THis is quite true. Like all great truths, aspects of it are also false and

aspects are more true than others.

 

How a Buddha who is not yet awakened (not yet a Buddha, but a potential

Buddha, with a real Buddha nature) can ACT to awaken themseves depends on the

path or Dharma of that individual Buddha in waiting. THere is not one solitary

path of awakening. And Self realization may happen by stubbing a toe, seeing

a sunset, drinking tea, or having Grace descend on them with a thunderclap.

Dzogchen stresses that there are necessary burdens that the rough an

unschooled in the Ways must take in order to prepare themselves to be

worthy...and

that their readiness depends solely on their own inner nature. Grace too

cannot enter into one who has locked the doors so tightly that grace cannot

enter. So too, the Buddha nature blossoms like a flower when the right

combination of sun and water are given...the sun is like unto sacrifice and

hard work,

the water is like purifying rain, the grace of heaven, the laughter of a

child that opens the hardened heart. Why do you think the Lotus is the very

symbol of spiritual awakening in Buddhism?????

 

Many sublime masters of Dzogchen have commented that they studied the books,

said the prayers and even lectured for years, believeing that they were very

close to achieving the supreme awakening. Then found, after some setback or

disillusionment, that they had progressed in no way at all. Then, giving up

this path, wandered as beggars or even took up arms as mercenary soldiers.

In time, they were confronted with some choice, taks or event that totally

surprised them, saved them when they should have been destroyed...allowed them

to see the very soul of the divine when they least expected it, and

instantly at that moment, forgot who they were and all that they had taken

within

themmselves to that moment in time. Suspended in space, floating on the calm

tides of divine grace, they knew in that instant how and where they had

erred...with pride, intellect, or even just habitual repetition that destroyed

the

vitality of the Living Divine Power that is the Universe.

Everyone in Dzogchen sort of like the idea of achieving the "pure land"

ideal and wants to think that if they just do enough of this or that, , count

enough beads and prayers, etc., spin enough wheels that they will get closer to

this absolute state of non-thinking bliss.

 

It's really a sort of hopeless long path toward a truly clear mind. A clear

mind must always allow the blessings from love infuse the soul...otherwise,

if a machine were the answer every computer would disappear into that perfect

place of bliss.

 

We are not machines, and we are made to feel feelings, not because they are

illusions or hindrances, (althoug the attachment to the material thing that

we mistake for true feeling can be!) but because they are the strings that

connect us to the divine itself. If we cut those strings, Tony, we do not get

closer to the Divine, we drift hopelessly adrift in a sea of cold, heartless

things...and in that dark place, there is no easy way to find the light again.

 

Well, that;s my two-bits worth for now...

 

Chew some more on it Tony. Maybe as you walk in a park some squirrel will

run out and bite you, you will get a serious infection, this will lead to days

of terrible fever and delirium, and in your delirium, without really

thinking about it, you will cry out, "Why God, Why me? Please, if you will only

end

my suffering...I will do thy bidding without question" And then Wham! Grace

flies in through your open window and pecks you on the cheek...you cry, you

blather like a child and your heart is filled with this unspeakable joy and

pain at the same time...your nurse runs in, sees you are hysterical, in the

midst of a catharsis, gives you a sedative, and by morning the next day, you

are

well rested, your fever has passed, and for an instant, you think maybe all

of that was just a fever-dream ...except that you still have the scar from

the squirrel bite and the peck on the cheek and this wordless joy, this sense

of being at peace with the universe and you realize that you will never have

doubt, fear or loneliness again, that whatever else happens in your life, it

will not matter...that you have changed forever, and you will do good things,

not for Karmic reward or out of fear, but because doing good things is what

you do now, and you would never for a moment think of doing otherwise.

 

Peace,

 

Zenbob