The Essence of the Path

Here are a few things that I have gleaned, from listening, from study and contemplation, and from some genuine experience. I believe they can be helpful. But above all, think for yourself. Question everything.

“Don’t take anyone’s word for things, not even someone you respect, not even myself.

Examine things for yourself.”

– The Buddha

There are many paths to the mountain top. Do not become dogmatic or sectarian.

“There is more to heaven and earth than is contained in your philosophy.”

– Shakespeare

Don’t obsess over your symbols. And all words and concepts are symbols.

“Naming is the mother of the ten thousand things.”

“The Tao that can be spoken is not the true Tao.”

“Return to your original nature.”

– The Tao Te Ching

“All of the scriptures are like a finger pointing to the moon.

If you mistake the finger for the moon, you will see nothing.”

– The Lankavatara Sutra

There is value in extensive, rigourous study and deep contemplation. There is value in elaborated expositions. Yet there is also value in pith instructions, and in concise expressions of the heart of things.

The most important thing is compassion: it is utterly simple, and yet, the most important thing of all – and sometimes, the most challenging.

Do not confuse wordiness for wisdom, complexity for profundity, or verbosity for depth. Simple is best.

But,

“Complicated works too.”

(Swiss folk saying)

Practice matters. Patience, perseverance, focus and effort, when combined, bring results.

“Be gentle with yourself. If you can be gentle with yourself, you can be gentle with others.”

– Lama Yeshe

“Trust yourself. It is extremely important that you trust yourself. Don’t be afraid of yourself. Trust yourself. You can trust yourself. Trust that your natural intelligence is working itself out.”

– Chogyam Trungpa

Calm abiding, with meditative awareness and pure view, motivated by compassion: this is the essence of the path. Start where you are.

JTR,

January 5, 2021

Post-Script: An important note

Here is a short letter that I sent to friends, elaborating on the essay here.

Hi there,

Here is my best summary of 35 years of study, reflection and meditation on the nature of being and mind, and the path to enlightenment. It comes down, after the preamble, to a single line.

(The brief essay is linked below.)

In that line, there is a term used from Buddhism that many will not be familiar with: pure view. It means, in short, to view all phenomena – all beings, things and sense objects – as pure and empty. It is important that this term not be misunderstood. So what on Earth does it mean?

Pure view does not simply mean thinking positive thoughts. It means viewing all phenomena as they truly are. Pure means uncorrupted and incorruptible – that all phenomena are the infinite Universal Mind, or Wisdom Mind, which is stainless and incorruptible. That does not mean that there is nothing to be done. When we do not recognize the true nature of being and mind, which is non-dual, then illusion arises, and with it, suffering, and also, actions of body, speech and mind that are based in illusion, generating misguided and harmful actions, leading to further suffering. What is to be done, therefore, is to wake up, to see reality, for the first time, as it truly is: empty and pure.

Empty does not mean non-existent, but means, precisely, empty or void of all inherent existence, or independent existence. Empty therefore means that all phenomena are mutually arising, or dependent arising, meaning they are interdependent.

Empty of inherent existence means that all phenomena, despite appearances, are both interdependent and also fundamentally one. It means that all ego-attachment, fear, greed and hate arise from delusion, and delusion alone. This is the meaning of pure view. This is the ultimate practice, along with, of course, universal compassion. Both must be cultivated, or else there is zero chance for enlightenment, and we are confined to the prison cell of samsaric, dualistic illusion, and the suffering it brings, forever.

Please read the short essay below, and let me know your thoughts.

Warm wishes,

Todd

(JTR, January 7, 2021)

https://jtoddring.wordpress.com/2021/01/05/the-essence-of-the-path/

Sent with ProtonMail Secure Email.

Post-Script Deux – Or Duh 😉

Two more important notes should be made here: on practice versus theory, and spiritual materialism versus true enlightenment. The latter first.

Spiritual materialism, as Trungpa Rinpoche described it, is using spirituality to re-enforce the ego, or to inflate or defend the ego. This is not enlightenment. This is recoiling further into the prison of dualistic delusion.

When some degree of genuine understanding is attained, or maybe even some degree of direct realization, there can be an unconscious temptation to use this gained knowledge or experience to re-enforce the ego. But ego is the primary illusion to be overcome.

In order to gain full enlightenment, a union of wisdom and compassion must be generated; and, a balance and union of confidence and humility must be cultivated. That means a confident realization of the non-dual, and intrinsically pure nature of being and mind, must be combined, not just with true humility, and freedom from ego-grasping, but with the realization that the separate self, or ego construct, is an illusion, thus precluding any ego-attachment of any kind.

Practice is key – which brings us to the second point.

It is not enough to have a theory, a concept, of the true nature of reality, being and mind. This will not suffice. It is a mean stepping stone, a jumping off point. Experience is required for full enlightenment. That means direct realization of the non-dual nature of being and mind. It means that second hand information is not sufficient. It means that, while studying, contemplation and receiving teachings are important, and generally essential, no one can tell you the true nature of being, nor can any book. These are all pointers, and invaluable pointers, but you must still see for yourself. As Morpheus said, “I can only show you the door. You have to walk through it yourself.”

In terms of seeing: that is what realization means – it means to truly see, and that is enlightenment. Seeing means pure view; it means wisdom; it means enlightenment. And seeing, wisdom, or enlightenment, mean one thing only: the direct realization of the non-dual nature of being and mind.

Nothing else can properly be called wisdom, or enlightenment, or even seeing. If you do not see that all phenomena are intrinsically pure and empty, then you do not see reality at all, but only shadows on the cave wall, only illusions projected by your own mind.

Practice is generally needed, as well as teachings and guidance from one who has seen. Books are invaluable, but generally not sufficient in themselves. We need a qualified guide, direct teachings from a qualified guide, and, along with study, receiving teachings, and contemplation, there is usually a need for practice. A rare few individuals can have the true nature of being and mind pointed out, and instantly achieve full enlightenment. Generally this is not the case.

It is said that, “Sometimes there is meditation, then enlightenment; sometimes there is enlightenment, then meditation.” This means that usually there must be practice first, then enlightenment follows; but sometimes, there is a glimpse, a taste of true enlightenment, but the enlightened view cannot yet be sustained, and so, practice must follow enlightenment, in order to stabilize the view. In either case, in all but the rarest of exceptions, practice is necessary.

Seek and ye shall find. But do not expect instant gratification. Patience, perseverance, and yes, effort, virya, diligence or vigour, are all necessary, along with focus, and of course, a receptive mind. With these things, enlightenment will dawn, most definitely. And along the path, while there will be obstacles, there will be a growing degree of confidence, understanding, and yes, awareness, compassion, joy and peace.

Patience, grasshopper – so I say to myself, and to my fellow travelers on the path of wisdom. Enjoy the journey, and practice, practice, practice.

JTR,
January 7, 2021

Acknowledgements:

For my teachers and mentors, profound thanks are in order. They are: Lama Zopa, Lama Tharchin, Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche, and the venerable Robert Carter, professor emeritus in philosophy, Trent University.

Indirectly, my other teachers include: The Dalai Lama, Namkai Norbu, Trungpa Rinpoche, Alan Watts, Allan Wallace, Joanna Macy, Joseph Campbell, Aldous Huxley, and many others. To them, and to my friends, family, and fellow travelers along the path, I say thank you, sincerely and with deep gratitude.