So why go through all this? Why prostrations, mantras, visualizations? Seems like a lot of work doesn't it?
"So that they may be at ease in the luminous expanse of the true nature of their own minds...."
That they may be at ease. The obvious implication? Sentient beings are dis-eased. A state of abnormality exists that is disturbing their normal functioning. And that can extend to many levels actually. For now though, let's just say that as humans, we aren't at ease. We have road rage, political rage as is evidenced by the rhetoric that has boiled over to the shootings in Arizona recently, the Progressive Hunter, and lets not forget this story with this result, and then there is the level of physical diseases in this country. For now let's skip over the state of health care in America. Let's instead look at what we often joke about: medicines. Ads for medicines. And they are getting more popular. When I was a kid, all I ever saw were the over-the-counter medication commercials. However, what we joke about is the fact that somewhere in the ad we hear about the side effects of medications. Sounds like job security for the doctors, and so we get on an attitude about doctors.
And do we fear terrorists? Some folk do, thought the number of Muslims in this country is roughly two per cent. Some folk fear immigrants, as they drive their foreign car fueled with foreign fossil fuels to work while drinking foreign coffee, wearing clothes made in Indonesia or China, just like the desk they sit at while they listen to their foreign made phone or iPod, at least until lunch where they enjoy a salad that is mostly ingredients picked by those very same immigrants they fear. And the solution. Build a wall! That'll stop the dis-ease....
And what about the economy? How about those that are unemployed, and those that have mortgages nearing foreclosure or underwater, coupled with the fact that precious little is being done to rectify any of these problems. Home values diminishing, retirement accounts diminishing, what savings?! Relax.... If we just continue doing what we are doing, which means making sure wages are low and jobs are outsourced, then everything will be all right. Unemployed need not apply, however. And let's not forget that several sports teams need new stadiums, so make sure that, as Roger Goodell would tell us, they get the financial help they need. The millionaire players and billionaire owners need help. Meanwhile, as the military budget remains sacred, heating assistance, medicare/aid, food stamps and other assistance programs will be cut, yet we will borrow billions to give tax breaks to the top 2%. Even though you may not know where your next meal is coming from, or heat, relax.
And much of all that tension that exists in this world is created and remains right between our ears, as it were. Rather daunting huh? "So that they may be at ease."
What we have available to us, in all this darkness, is an unbelievable amount of light. "..in the luminous expanse...." Wow! This is a great picture. Imagine turning on a light in space, that reveals all these planets. Sort of like being able to see all these stars, and nebulee, and planets, as they appear in deep space photos. And the expanse is, well, a lot like space. Limitless. Your mind is not limited to your brain size. And in a time and place of darkness that needs solutions, what better than the luminous expanses of humans to converge on the matters? Oh yes.
Buddhism as we all know posits, by experience, that this is our true nature as humans. None of this yibbity yabbety that we are nothing, flawed, evil, broken, blah blah blah. All that weird shit that emanates from us is really skewed goodness. Anger is spazzed out mirror-like wisdom. Greed is discriminating wisdom gone south. Pride is a back turned on the wisdom of equality. And all those wisdoms and more reside within us. We're sort of mummified in layers and layers of old decrepit dirty rags that filter these wisdoms until they come out as klesha. The weird shit. "So that they may be at ease in the true nature of their own minds."
Whose mind? Here's a trick. It's one of those characteristics that separates a true spiritual friend (lama, guru, teacher) from a fake. The true friend helps you discover your own mind, not his. As one progresses along the meditation path, the friend then begins to advise your practice, not you to copy his or hers, but to discover your own innate natural mind. Your enlightened nature. It's like a personal prescription, and won't work for anyone else. It's what is called "custom built." Really though, can it be any other way and remain true?
So what makes all this effort worth it is so that others can experience their own true mind. When we ponder the dis-ease that is so prevalent, it makes the effort easier. There is of course the extra benefit in that you will experience the true nature of your own mind as well. If your head was on fire, how much effort would you exert to put it out?
Tashi Deleg!
