I pray that we all have the blessings of the Resurrection, that we all touch awakening itself in order to bring blessings to all. If we are a genuine Spiritual Practitioner, we begin with full devotion to the Complete Spiritual Path. We do not race to the end of this process in order to capture some answer. If we jump ahead without understanding, we only find misunderstanding. Please embrace all aspects of the Spiritual Path, the Complete Path, if you wish to receive blessings. Make yourself capable of Awakening through participation, practice and investigation.

May we all Awaken,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

All possibilities

Energetically displayed

When this mental body

Traverses this great bardo

of living

and dreaming

and dying,

these storms arise

storms that cannot seem possible,

not possible, beyond all possibilities;

We are completely helpless among these

Swirling

Turbulent

Manifestations of mind;

This energetic condition

of great expanse

beyond our limited point of view

beyond, beyond

dimensions that we

had never before

considered,

never imagined, never ignored

because, because we simply could not sense,

we could not expand into

their existence to us,

not knowing, not knowing

that beyond there was there, even though

It is apparent

to those who expand heart and mind,

to all Buddhas, apparent

to those who traverse beyond

at ease, with great ease,

traversing with awareness in this condition

where we can imagine

the worst, or

the best, or

beyond madness.

A poem by Robert Aho © 2026

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When you die, the first place, the first condition that you may encounter, is something akin to this dark realm we call Earth, or maybe just a dark void. If you go a little bit deeper, you may encounter visions of a light at the end of a long tunnel, or see your loved ones, or something associated with this life, or even something such as visions of stars and galaxies. You may not even know that you are dead for a few days, as you wonder why your body doesn’t move or why people are behaving strangely around your corpse. It may take some time for you to be convinced that your body has become a corpse that will never be revived again.

This dense realm holds us snuggly, like a bug in a rug for quite some time, if we have certain causes and conditions holding us in place with what we know, or maybe just a bit too much clinging to what is not real. When this starts to loosen, however, we start to venture into the energetic dimension, first by seeing the energy surrounding everything, then by noticing quite a lot more than that. It may sound or feel like great roaring winds for a time, even though we no longer have a physical body. This energy can become unbearable, especially if we are not prepared for such amazing sensations. Imagining all sorts of things, we will likely become extremely agitated, terrified and unable to cope.

We won’t know what to do, if we have made no preparations for death, relying only upon belief or various stories that have given us comfort. What awaits us, just beyond this limited dense realm of existence we have grown accustomed to, is an energetic field that boggles the mind. Something this vast, this powerful, is something we hadn’t considered within our limited sphere.

Great storms a trillion times greater than Earth, winds blowing at lightning speed ripping apart manifestations we hadn’t thought possible, every conceivable possibility appearing in ways that we really weren’t able to fathom as mere humans, all this is about to propel us uncontrollably into the next lifetime. The unprepared newly dead person is likely to freak out far more than they have ever freaked out before; well, that is, this spectacular epic freak out will be like their last time through the death bardo. We will be directly experiencing all that and more, without the insulating characteristics of a physical body, without the filters of an inner narrative, without someone telling us that it will be okay.

All that we have done before this moment, all of our actions since beginningless beginnings, an eternal accumulation of karma from an infinite array of lifetimes, will propel us into a rebirth, depending upon how we have been able to prepare ourselves. If we can remain at ease in all circumstances, then we have prepared in general. If we can maintain our Aspiration to Awaken, then we could very well awaken within the death bardo. It’s important to unlock your own inner power before the time of death. We must prepare for this energetic dimension or we will be utterly uselessly pathetically helpless.

Awakening is really all about releasing our own innate power through the discovery of what we can call Ultimate Reality. Even when we simply begin to unlock this power through genuine Spiritual Practice, through meditation and living our lives with love and compassion, we create some semblance of control, something quite necessary for our passage through the death bardo. If we can simply maintain this attitude of being able to face anything whatsoever without losing our composure, then we can find safe passage into a fortunate rebirth.

I remember a teaching that I received from a great master whom I encountered in the dream bardo. I was floating in space at the top of a mountain. The master was sitting on the mountain top, and there was no room for me to sit next to him. My practice was to remain at ease, floating next to him. He criticized me for losing my composure a couple times when I nearly tumbled through the clouds into the valley below, after the winds became fierce. This was a good lesson from a great master whom I did not know at the time. I revealed more about that in The Frog.

Blessings of Source,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

Robert Aho is the author of Timeless Luminosity and The Frog: A Spiritual Autobiography, Spanning Many Lifetimes. Both books, written after his death experience, give advanced spiritual advice regarding the complete Spiritual Path, inspiration for living each day and words of encouragement, with the intention of helping people to stay committed to their Spiritual Path, which leads to Awakening. The books are available on Amazon, as well as various small bookstores.

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This is why we must Aspire to Awaken.

Blessings in Light,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

Compressed into this

physical existence, this limited space of mind

where everything we encounter is dense

where only confusion can be distilled

out of nothing, from empty cognizance

thinking we are rock-solid

as we ponder these meanings,

as we shift into existence

in a most uncomfortable way,

with this feeling that something is

always wrong,

feeling unease, destitute,

with angst just there,

this unfathomable turmoil

where we miss most of it,

not knowing that we already have everything,

not seeing that reality is beyond belief,

where most of it cannot be fathomed,

where we assume this or that

all without understanding,

finding only illusion,

constrained by time, which does not exist,

limited by fictions of subject and object,

thinking that is somehow real,

even though there is not one shred of evidence…

These appearances of mind are very persistent,

seemingly solid,

seemingly permanent, seemingly,

seemingly, seemingly real, even though,

even though everything everywhere changes

within each moment,

even though this relative reality

keeps changing with our thoughts,

even though every single belief

that has ever been, all of them,

all these conceptions fall apart,

revealed as a lie that we compress and compound,

doing what we can to pretend that it is real,

deceiving ourselves for an eternity in this way,

in this dark dismal place we have created,

within this dense realm of existence,

where we cannot know anything.

A poem by Robert Aho © 2026

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So, if we take the examples of my experiences in the death bardo, those that I have written, given talks and teachings about for the past few years, we can look at reality in a different way. This may reveal something that even those who consider themselves as very advanced Spiritual Practitioners may not have completely fathomed. It is the nature of this physical existence, how it is dense and compacted, how it is an amalgamation of created limitations. Our beliefs, our concepts, our extremely persistent grasping at everything that appears to our senses, is an attempt to deceive and confuse. Beliefs are always a lie that we tell ourselves in order to make some sense out of something that does not really exist.

In the physical realm, this dense space we know only too well, we work very hard to not understand reality. Awakening is something we resist. Real knowledge is shrugged away as a figment of our imagination. We continue to agitate and confuse our own lives to the point where life becomes simply too difficult to enjoy. We create our own demise, then complain about that.

When I died, I instantly became the Light of Dharmakaya. Self disappeared along with all the other fantasies and fictions. Everything was gained, nothing remained of my old life. I became that inexplicable condition of total awareness, as it is. That beyond space, as opposed to this dark dense realm, was completely open and illuminated. It was far greater than anything that can possibly be believed. It was beyond all limitations, far beyond these ordinary limitations of time and space. This happened to me because of a strong dedication, along with a genuine approach to Spiritual Practice. When this happened, I was able to return with great confidence.

Much smaller than this condition of Dharmakaya, is this energetic condition, or Sambhogakaya. The great storms of all possibilities explode and collapse, along with the coming and going of an infinite array of universes. The possibilities of all thoughts and actions of every single sentient being throughout the infinite cosmos, across the multiverse, an infinite array of physical and energetic conditions, can be seen there, if you have opened your mind sufficiently to become aware of that. This energetic condition holds our universe; although, even as vast as our universe may be, it is little more than a speck in this vast expanse. Our heart and mind must be quite open in order to fathom such appearances.

Our physical existence is extremely compacted. When I came back, I immediately noticed how excruciatingly uncomfortable it is to be here. To even interreact with beings, the limitations of concepts, thoughts and beliefs must be adhered to through language and other such constraints. This means that reality must be disregarded. To communicate means, to me, that I must engage with the fantasies that people hold dearly. I must have some idea what lies people think are true. The idea of simply saying it like it is would make no sense to anyone. This is why I keep explaining that reality is beyond human understanding.

When we exist in the physical realm, this dense space of Nirmanakaya, we are forced into delusions that adhere to what is not real. If our heart and mind open just a little bit more, we start to develop psychic abilities, suddenly able to see auras, as well as other aspects of this energetic dimension. When we awaken, we also go beyond that energetic dimension into what is truly inexplicable, while remaining here.

Awakening doesn’t mean that we cannot be here, it means that we are opened up to infinite possibilities. We truly see the painful aspects of this dense realm. If you awaken, the only thing that will bring you back is love and compassion. This is why I returned.

Blessings of Source,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

Robert Aho is the author of Timeless Luminosity and The Frog: A Spiritual Autobiography, Spanning Many Lifetimes. Both books, written after his death experience, give advanced spiritual advice regarding the complete Spiritual Path, inspiration for living each day and words of encouragement, with the intention of helping people to stay committed to their Spiritual Path, which leads to awakening. The books are available on Amazon, as well as various small bookstores.

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Blessings in Light,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

Our Nature of Mind,

Pervasive,

Obscured!

This Rigdzin,

after riding the winds of existence,

turbulence beyond madness,

gone beyond, beyond belief for an eternity,

this Awareness Holder lives

with the intention of bringing benefit to all!!

He is done coddling egotistical Spiritual Practitioners,

done pretending to be impressed by Tulkus and Rinpoches,

done catering to institutional interests

and canned teachings!

This Rigdzin has no need

for books or teachings or teachers

in this degenerate age!

What more is there that he has not already discovered?

This Rigdzin has become Dharmakaya,

has returned from death,

has remained at ease

throughout the energetic winds of Sambhogakaya,

has entered this very small

limited

confined

uncomfortable

painful

embarrassing

excruciatingly traumatic

physical existence once more,

with the intention

of bringing benefit to all,

even though this venture

seems rather futile right from the start!

The door is open to the ineffable,

The teachings are flowing,

Nothing is hidden!

You who think it is not possible,

or necessary for that matter,

Will Awaken!!

A poem by Robert Aho © 2026

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I’ve sometimes used the phrase, “Teaching with the Door Open”, when I am giving teachings, leading retreats or giving talks. This doesn’t mean that I am referring to an actual door, it means that I am not creating restrictions, obstructions or keeping secrets. When I teach, we are keeping our attention on our bright condition, which is reality itself, or Ultimate Reality. If you receive teachings from me, you will have some idea where this thing we call meditation will actually lead. There is no need to create obstacles for the student who is genuinely seeking to Awaken. This is my intention, my methodology, this is the way that I am. I see no point in being anything other than an open book. My only request is that you are genuine and that you meditate every single day, as much as possible, until you actually Awaken.

When I teach, I am not restricting access to anything at all. I’m not keeping secrets or obstructing your view, because that, in my view, would be creating demons. It is not necessary, even though it is a beneficial practice, for students to complete Ngöndro before asking me for Dzogchen teachings. I don’t ask that you complete various courses first or that you proceed only after some offerings are made. I don’t ask for anything in particular. I am here to help everyone Awaken.

Some people might be offended by this, simply because certain institutions, teaching lineages and schools do not approve of that sort of thing. This doesn’t worry me one iota. I really don’t care what they think. I’m not at all impressed by authority. I teach in a very open way, giving people a View of the Complete Path. If you receive teachings from me, I cannot help but give you Dzogchen transmissions in some way, even if you aren’t aware of it.

My Root Guru taught in such a way, and he was often criticized for that. His explanation was that Garab Dorje taught without holding anything back, without restrictions, always being very open; and, so, there is no point in creating any sort of restrictions in the way that I teach either. The door is open to the Nature of Mind. The Complete Path is always open. Even if you do not know what it is that you receive, in this or in future lifetimes, this seed of Enlightenment Mind is guaranteed to mature.

When I talk about this spark of our Aspiration to Awaken being the same as complete and full Enlightenment, I am telling you the truth and giving you a pointing out instruction. You nurture this spark, treating it as the most important thing that you can possess, and you will Awaken. If you treat this spark carelessly, as just another item you are consuming with your ravenous spiritual appetite, simply adding to your repertoire, you will continue to suffer endlessly. A person who does not nurture their own Aspiration to Awaken is no different than a beginner, or worse. We must continue until Full Enlightenment or there is no point whatsoever to this Spiritual Path.

Understand that this Spiritual Path occurs after you are done seeking. It occurs when you have concluded that seeking and remaining in delusion serve nothing and no one, no matter what you do. This Spiritual Path occurs when you have concluded that your own obscurations and embroilment in this agitated condition of physical existence have never brought any benefit. This physical existence is nothing other than a fantasy, a bad dream without end. Even those who have fame and fortune have absolutely nothing of value. We must Awaken to truly discover what is of value, to find what can actually be taken with us when we die.

I’ve sort of tiptoed into this role that I find myself. I haven’t received or asked for institutional permission—and I don’t need it! I’ve been the Dharmakaya for an eternity. My reason for returning to life is to help people Awaken. I remain aware throughout my day and night, remaining present in our Real Nature. This is the authority that I give this person who wants to bring blessings to all.

Blessings of Source,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

Robert Aho is the author of Timeless Luminosity and The Frog: A Spiritual Autobiography, Spanning Many Lifetimes. Both books, written after his death experience, give advanced spiritual advice, inspiration and words of encouragement, with the intention of helping people to awaken. They are available on Amazon, as well as various small bookstores.

Subscribe now

Please begin this process of awakening at once!

Blessings in Light,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

Reality,

not what you think,

not what you believe,

not this shifting dream,

not this rainbow bridge,

not this spiral leading nowhere,

not this fantasy

that has you

so very immersed

within angst and sorrow,

Reality doesn’t care what you believe,

Reality is beyond belief,

Reality has no stake

in the mind games you play,

Reality has nothing to do

with insanity,

Not those magic shows

you orchestrate,

Not those illusive dreamscapes

Masquerading

with authority

Insanely fictionalizing reality,

something you think,

avoiding reality;

Reality cannot be encapsulated

By your madness.

A poem by Robert Aho © 2026

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The main point of Spiritual Practice, as I have said repeatedly, is to discover reality, as it is, with nothing contrived, with an attitude of confronting and going past those things which obscure the View. We do our best to understand the real nature of our existence. This takes real commitment, a genuine attitude, as well as an almost supernatural level of grit and perseverance. This is what Awakening is all about, it means courageously going beyond all obstacles. When we begin to Awaken, we quickly realize that belief is completely useless, maybe even a problem. When we finally Awaken, we see that our beliefs are not something reality cares about in the least. Reality, as we soon discover, is something beyond our limited point of view.

It’s rather disconcerting at first, primarily because we have been conditioned to believe this or that assumption that might give us some comfort and reassurance. We discover a certain scale to things that quickly overwhelms our senses, rendering us somewhat helpless, due to the magnitude of it all. The belief that brings reassurance falls away as just another part of this great illusion. We need to be okay with not needing reassurance.

When I discuss the Spiritual Path, some people get wild ideas about just what that may mean. What it really means is that we, through our Aspiration to Awaken, have made the commitment to discover Ultimate Reality, to no longer remain in a deluded state of existence. With even a spark of this Aspiration, we are engaging in Enlightenment Mind, which means that we are tapping into reality. We don’t do this by clinging to belief or adopting assumed alternate beliefs. We Awaken through a process of discovery, which means removing obstacles that have been preventing us from knowing what is, as it is.

We soon discover that we have many layers of delusion. Our own ignorance and ego are the primary layers that cause suffering; however, the multitude of fantastical beliefs that uphold our ego are the main thing cluttering our View. Beliefs, we discover, must be abandoned along with all the other lies we tell ourselves. Reality is not dependent upon beliefs; in fact, reality doesn’t care what you believe. Our beliefs are always puny and insignificant compared to this vast reality beyond ordinary comprehension.

When I returned from the death bardo, one of the things that felt extremely depressing was that there was absolutely no reassurance. I had encountered Reality beyond any sort of personal concerns. I finally, definitively, discovered that we exist beyond what we think, beyond what we can possibly believe. We live in a turbulent condition of perpetual insanity, which is created by our own fantasies, our own beliefs in this or that. We must awaken, if we wish to ever have any idea about reality. As mere humans, we really have no idea how pathetically inadequate all of our beliefs about Reality really are. We simply can’t grasp this notion that Reality cannot be encapsulated by beliefs or concepts. So, we need to learn how to stop grasping.

Our grasping keeps us in the habit of forming fantasies and beliefs, even though this has never helped us in the past. Insanity, by definition, is the act of repeating something that does not help us or has never really helped in any way, expecting different results. Thinking that this illusion is real, trying to find something substantial in that, when nothing of the sort can ever be found, is an act of insanity. This is why we must Awaken and not worry about external reassurances.

Starting with the Aspiration to Awaken, we gather various methods that directly address overcoming our obscurations. This means we must develop courage, not caring what it might take to Awaken, facing every demon that stands in our way, without flinching, without hesitation, remaining completely at ease. It also means that we must look within, spending time in meditation and living our lives in ways that actually help us to open our heart and mind. The fruition of our Aspiration is Awakening itself. This does not mean that we create fantasies about this or that, other than on a temporary basis, if it helps, being ready to let them go when it is time. It does not mean that we need to believe anything at all, other than some vague notion that we must discover what has been obscured. This Path is one where we utilize any means that we can in order to deconstruct and dissolve all fabricated notions. We discover Reality for ourselves, not allowing ourselves to become dependent upon answers from anyone else.

Blessings in Light,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

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It is clear, if you investigate mind, that the only thing that will save anyone is our own Aspiration to Awaken. This is how we gain sanity in a world that teaches only madness. Evolution is the key, which means developing Bodhicitta or this very compassionate wish to awaken.

Blessings in Light,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

Here we are again,

Clinging, ignorantly

clinging to distraction,

avoiding what is,

as it is,

doing whatever

we can to remain,

utterly unawake,

creating useless beliefs,

believing in a non-existent reality,

reifying this or that,

fictionalizing self,

fabricating self

into something entirely useless,

imagining only what is not there,

avoiding reality at all costs,

stopping others from discovery,

getting in the way of what is,

angsting about phantasms,

ignorance perpetuated,

disturbing emotions seen as real,

hatred and fear given too much,

cravings for what cannot last,

born into this world,

doing our best to avoid understanding,

to stay unenlightened, ignorantly

applying every effort

to say that this fiction is real,

embracing and complaining

all at once as an enigma,

profoundly contradicting the obvious,

pretending this or that fantasy within

this terrible pain, this turmoil,

perpetuating what is not,

what cannot be within this

energetic turbulence,

thinking this empty

abyss of infinite potentiality

is somehow substantial,

uselessly grasping

at permanence, when it’s not,

when nothing of the sort can ever exist;

When we choose to exist,

When we choose to perpetuate

our cyclic existence,

we choose uselessness.

A poem by Robert Aho © 2026

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We’re very busy all the time. We’ve been this way for forever. We have a strong belief that our actions mean something, even if we’ve never examined what those actions may be. Even great Spiritual Practitioners might be offended by what I have to say about this.

When we are in cyclic existence, everything that we do is utterly useless, unless our actions are created from within the intention of awakening. This means that every action that stems from emotions, belief, concept and mind only perpetuates our attachments and suffering. Even doing things that make us happy will perpetuate this shared eternal suffering, simply because of ignorance. Everything we do from a relative point of view, as sentient beings, is utterly useless.

It may not seem obvious; however, it is enormously common for sentient beings to not only create their own suffering and demise, they also do whatever they can to perpetuate this suffering with all those they encounter. An example of this is when someone goes on some crusade to help others in some way. They have an idea in their head, maybe stemming from political or philosophical views, where they see themselves in some sort of righteous light. In short order, they are establishing lines and boundaries that focus on us versus them, becoming embroiled that way. All this actually does is create karmic connections and an agitated mind.

This is an example of someone choosing to do something positive, then quickly engaging in battles that create agitation and dysfunction, rather than peacefulness and awakening. If we wish to be useful, rather than useless, we can’t start with an agitated mind, we must create an intention that is beyond subject and object, an attitude of Enlightenment Mind. We simply go to our initial Aspiration to Awaken, then intuitively craft our actions into beneficial karma. Something as simply remaining in a state of equipoise, with the wish for all beings to awaken, will be far more useful than any other action we can take while embroiled in cyclic existence.

All of our actions, since before beginningless beginnings, have been for nothing, utterly useless. We generate wealth, only to lose it. We do what is necessary to become famous, only to be forgotten. We seek praise, only to be blamed when anything goes wrong. We hope for happiness, only to find ourselves suffering and miserable. Everything we do in a typical life leads to us being fully entrenched in this embroiled uselessness of cyclic existence. Only awakening can remove this perpetual pain, suffering and what is really rather unnecessary nonsense.

If we choose to live altruistically, then we have found an avenue away from this perpetual suffering, which is generally referred to as samsara. With a genuine altruistic attitude, we no longer see self and other as separate. We truly see that what we do to others is the same as doing these things to ourselves. The ignorance we’ve been creating by thinking self and other are separate, by believing in duality, begins to diminish. With this, by engaging in our enlightenment mind, we start to see mind moving into the Nature of Mind. This is not something that can actually be conceptualized, it is beyond belief, beyond our limited point of view.

As sentient beings trapped in cyclic existence, it is important to find ways to go beyond. This means looking within, meditating, being mindful of each action that we take, always going to our initial Aspiration to Awaken whenever we do anything. This creates a positive intention in life that is based upon this seed of Ultimate Reality, rather than various arbitrary and unexamined assumptions about reality.

We don’t need to become fully enlightened before we can start to go beyond uselessness, we only need to step onto the Spiritual Path by Aspiring to Awaken. Then, slowly slowly, we start to generate benefit by having this intention in all that we do. We begin to engage this existence in ways that cannot always be understood through belief and concept. Our own process of awakening moves us from uselessness into loving compassionate necessity.

Blessings of Source,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

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Blessings in Light,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

From that tiny Spark,

that light beyond belief,

Source,

this blazing brilliance of all,

all that appears in this grand illusion,

brightness beyond all reason,

shining brightly here

within our heart center,

growing brighter with this

Aspiration to Awaken,

increasing our true potentiality

within this limited appearance of darkness,

this human life manifesting

discovering

joyfulness unending,

laughter of this awakened potentiality

opening our heart and mind to

Ultimate Wisdom,

Ultimate Knowledge,

Ultimate Truth;

This joyfulness manifests

in our every action,

our mindful sense of being,

each step that we take;

This light, this Timeless Luminosity,

manifests in our mind

through mindful awareness

of this great love and compassion

this obvious condition

that is pervasive throughout

our every thought,

our every joyful realization,

our presence within this awareness,

as we see ourselves becoming

so much more, though we haven’t moved,

so much more than this limited sentient being,

so much more than the expectations,

these distractions of a world in turmoil;

We find ourselves awakening

through joyfulness,

As It Is.

A poem by Robert Aho © 2026

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Central to the teachings of Buddhism are the Four Immeasurables, which are equanimity, love, compassion, and, of course, joy. In meditation retreats, no matter what the subject may be, this teaching comes up repeatedly. Why is that?

When we understand that Buddhism is really nothing other than a methodology for awakening, it becomes rather obvious that certain truths must be acknowledged. Awakening is, after all, simply discovering Ultimate Truth, which means going beyond all obstacles. This means that, right from our first step on the Path, when we make this Aspiration to Awaken, we are engaged with Enlightenment Mind. This means that we are tapping into Ultimate Truth, even though we don’t yet know what that is.

It is no coincidence that discussions about love and compassion come up frequently. Equanimity, in this sense, means that we are truly all in an equal condition within this field of awareness, even though we don’t see it at first. We must find balance in that; and, when that happens, joyfulness naturally springs from this balance in our awareness, even if it is just a tiny spark at first.

So, if done properly, the teachings of the Four Immeasurables should be taught more as a guiding principle, something that you can reference as you discover more and more, as you become more advanced in your Spiritual Practice, as you investigate mind. It should not be taken as something to believe in; rather, it is meant to guide our progress. There’s something very scientific about this process, about investigating mind, about carefully examining what appears to mind without any sort of predetermined paradigm or outcome that can be reified in any way. Awakening occurs because we tap into Enlightenment Mind with our own Aspiration to Awaken.

Awakening means that we no longer continue fooling ourselves into thinking that this or that is real. We stop making assumptions about reality in general. We see the uselessness of belief, especially without some examination of our beliefs.

At some point we discover how belief is completely worthless, and that should make us laugh. Joyfulness springs from the discovery of Ultimate Reality. We see the futility we’ve been going through in lifetime after lifetime, by simply not knowing who we really are. This will make you laugh. If you have sufficient realization of our real condition, it is like igniting a very bright fire, a brilliant joyfulness within. We become aware in every moment throughout our day and night, remaining present in what cannot be fathomed by the intellect or the conceptual mind. It feels rather joyful when we make even small discoveries. As our heart and mind open, joyfulness naturally manifests.

Our own joyfulness is a manifestation of Ultimate Reality in each moment. We no longer navigate with our ego or assumed beliefs or concepts. Belief becomes worthless, simply because we have begun to live with a deep understanding of Enlightenment Mind. We see that this fretting about life, existence and what is to come has been a waste of time. We finally see the foolishness we’ve been experiencing by not awakening to what is, as it is.

At some point we discover that we’ve never had anything to worry about. With that realization, we discover unlimited freedom and potentiality. We discover that we’ve had this power all along, and we simply haven’t tapped into that.

Why anyone would choose perpetual turmoil and distraction over awakening, thus avoiding reality, is not really something I can understand. Why resist our natural condition in light? Why suffer for all eternity? I don’t understand why I’ve put up resistance to awakening, nor do I see why this cycle of eternal suffering and distraction has us hooked or fearful in any way.

If we wish to be rid of this great cycle of birth, death and rebirth, we need to tap into our natural condition of joyfulness. When we laugh, it dispels demons. When demons are dispelled, our heart and mind opens just a little bit more. This joyfulness clears away what is preventing us from awakening. If we become more joyful, darkness does not have a chance.

Let us all bring more laughter and joy into our lives as we awaken.

Blessings of Source,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

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Blessings in Light,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

AH

Here it is, our real nature,

beyond space and time,

everything and beyond,

unchanging perfection,

perfect from the beginning,

perfect from before an infinite array

of beginnings,

Enlightenment itself,

this is how it has always been,

though here we are fretting

about this and that,

concerned that something

might be permanent,

our imagined reality,

imagined for what it is not,

not noticing that this is all

simply an illusion,

not noticing our own

distractions

have no basis in reality;

Bring us back!

Remain at ease!

Find Spiritual Stability

In our shared Oneness,

Our true essence,

As it is.

A poem by Robert Aho © 2026

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When it comes to our spiritual life, especially if we are genuine in our examination of mind, we quickly discover how rapidly everything changes. Our conceptual mind is in constant motion, with thoughts, emotions and a barrage of agitation coming our way from every direction. We see that there is no stability whatsoever in our existence, at least as far as our mind is concerned there is none. Everything everywhere is in constant turbulent flux, all throughout the universe and infinite multiverse it is this way. To catch even a small glimpse would easily overwhelm us, if we are not adequately prepared.

Great masters talk about maintaining our awareness and finding stability. People mistakenly think that this means that we must become a great master in order to find Spiritual Stability, or they give up before they even start. There is some truth to this; however, as a Spiritual Practitioner myself, it occurred to me that we do have something that can bring us back into a stable calm level of awareness right from the very first step on the Path. It’s something that I write about quite a lot—our Aspiration to Awaken, which is the spark of Bodhicitta or Enlightenment Mind. We don’t need to become a great master in order to carry this spark in our heart center. We merely need to have some idea about our own Path to Awakening. This spark is the same as full enlightenment, even though it takes a great deal of meditative practice to realize that fully.

We nurture this Aspiration to Awaken as a brightness that we hold in our heart center, merely as an idea at first, then gradually understanding the relevance of this in more relaxed ways, in ways that bring us beyond belief and concept. We remain at ease with this bright condition of awareness, nurturing that, peeling away the many layers of obscurations, increasing our capacity any way that we can. This helps us to develop a more relaxed attitude about things, thus eliminating a great deal of agitation in our lives.

As an aid to our Spiritual Practice, we can utilize reminders, such as the Tibetan AH syllable, which is the sound we utter when we unify our meditative practices with Guru Yoga. I place this symbol throughout my house, as a gentle reminder to remain in awareness. This provides stability, because the symbol represents Ultimate Reality, which is the essence of our Spiritual Practice, even if we have not yet awakened to that condition beyond the relative mind.

So, it occurred to me that there’s really no point in delaying this aspect of our Spiritual Practice. If we Aspire to Awaken, and we have some understanding about just what it is that we are doing, we know that the essence of full enlightenment is being nurtured. We know that even a small spark of this knowledge is enough to sustain us no matter what happens in our life. As we keep this aspiration as most precious, we have what we need to bring us back. We have enough to anchor us down in these turbulent times.

Spiritual Practice has many dimensions, especially if we become familiar with the complete Path, putting that knowledge into everything that we do. Sometimes this becomes too much for people. They might even go a little crazy at some point, if they have not been mindful of the teachings.

This can be remedied by simply finding ways to remain at ease. If we become agitated as Spiritual Practitioners, then we must find a way to stabilize and maintain. In order to increase our capacity, we must understand how meditation works, we must understand what we need by looking at our own mind. It’s important to take care along the way. If we open our heart and mind too quickly, we might not know what to do when everything rushes in. If we remain in a dark place, allowing agitation to echo and amplify, we are in danger of losing our most precious gift.

In your Spiritual Practice, find every opportunity that you can to meditate. Learn Peaceful Abiding meditation, become a master at that. Let peacefulness dominate your personality. Learn to remain at ease in all situations. See the world for the illusion that it is, and don’t take it too seriously. Examine mind and cultivate Bodhicitta in all that you do. In time, as your capacity increases, you will be able to help others. Find a way to meditate in your dreams. Seek teachers and teachings that can help.

Knowing that Bodhicitta is the key to everything—awaken!

Blessings in Light,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

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Awakening means discovering reality for once in your infinite series of lifetimes. It means going beyond all obstacles, beyond beliefs, beyond anything that anyone can offer you. We do this by looking within. If you look within, you will discover your infinite potentiality, you will begin to awaken.

Blessings in Light,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

Grasping mind in motion,

grasping, always grasping,

grasping at what is not real,

thinking,

always thinking that this thinking

will somehow lead to an answer,

a definitive answer,

just another relative position

in your quest to equate relative with Ultimate,

not knowing the nature of reality,

equating illusion with something solid,

ignorantly seeking answers

to all that we have been wondering,

starting with a fallacy, thinking,

always thinking that this grasping,

always grasping at thoughts, thinking,

thinking that will yield secrets

that have been long forgotten,

secrets that have been kept from us

for all eternity, secrets, thinking that,

only if we possessed those secrets

we would be able to go home at last;

Wandering fool!!!

Don’t you know that this grasping,

grasping at thoughts,

grasping at belief,

these thoughts are just some other fantasy,

some other fabrication that is not real?

Can’t you see belief will do you no good?

Find the ineffable for yourself,

Discover that by leaving such foolish notions behind,

such notions as subject and object,

Leave concept behind!

Discover liberation directly,

Beyond concept,

in that space beyond thoughts, in that

Ultimate Knowledge,

that which cannot be constrained

by any thought!

See the ineffable at last,

see that with your mind,

as it enters your real condition,

that is the Nature of Mind,

as it is.

A poem by Robert Aho © 2026

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If we wish to awaken, we must examine thoughts. This begins with a spark of the ineffable, held within our heart center, something which cannot be described; although, it feels very bright indeed. This is the spark of enlightenment mind, or Bodhicitta. It is not a thought, it is a small level of awareness, just enough so that you do not become overwhelmed. We cannot become enlightened unless we are able to become Timeless Luminosity, beyond thought, beyond belief, beyond all the answers that you seek.

Thoughts will never provide you with enlightenment. It’s not possible. It’s even debatable whether thoughts will provide us with any advantage whatsoever in our process of awakening. If we wish to be in the knowledge of our real condition beyond subject and object, we must go beyond thoughts, we must find a way to stop grasping at this or that notion of enlightenment. In order to do this, we must look at mind, we must understand thoughts.

When we think about thoughts, our mind is in motion. Thought is nothing other than mind in motion. Our empty cognizance manifests during this particular motion of mind in such a way that waves hit our awareness. Each wave dissipates immediately, even though we try to sustain each thought, reifying that which cannot be reified. We create fantasies. Our consciousness experiences a myriad of appearances, seemingly random emotions, a variety of confusing energetic enigmas that we then try to reassemble into something that might seem to make sense to us. Humans aren’t very good at this, even though we typically seem to think that we have all the answers.

There is no point in trying to stop thoughts, just as only a fool would try to stop the waves on the ocean. We must allow our consciousness to observe what is happening, to see what is not real. Our thoughts are not real, even though they seem to be real and we experience them as real. From our relative point of view, we do whatever we can to pretend that every thought we have is real. In such a way we have deluded ourselves for all eternity. It’s why we are trapped within cyclic existence.

This happens mainly because we are overwhelmed by our own senses, our own perception manifesting in mind, as mind. When we dream, we think it’s all real. When we wake up in the morning, we think it’s all real. Our thoughts lead us to the untested assumption that everything is real, every thought, every emotion, every random belief we may adopt. We grasp at what is not real, then wonder why we have such miserable lives. We create our own demise.

When we investigate thoughts, we discover that they’re not really there. They disappear before we realize that they’ve appeared, then we grasp at what we think we remember about that. It’s like trying to catch a wave and hold it very still before it crashes onto the shore. When we attempt to do so, the wave goes through us, around us and we’re hit by another wave. In short order we are very confused, not understanding why this keeps happening to us. Every notion or belief we’ve ever had comes crashing down. Relative reality is that way. None of it can ever be sustained.

We must learn to see thoughts as they pass by, and not do anything with them. Simply acknowledge that these waves of energy are passing through. Don’t try to cover them up, don’t try to hold them in place, don’t try to push them away. Thoughts are not reality.

If you wish to awaken in the death bardo, you must be prepared to simply let thoughts go. This bright condition, this Timeless Luminosity, cannot be sustained or discovered by utilizing thoughts, nor by grasping at thoughts, nor by creating new thoughts, not by any thought at all.

Blessings in Light,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

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Here is a perfect example of just what I have been talking about. We start from within, with a strong motivation to awaken, then we take the next step. Before we know it, peace is happening all around the world. This starts with an inner evolution.

When we look within, we begin to unlock infinite potentiality. We don’t need to say anything. We don’t need to do anything in particular. We simply begin with the first step, just as these monks have done. The world begins to awaken.

Blessings in Light,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

We look,

we look, look look look,

not finding that,

we look

here or there, not

not in the object we wanted,

not not,

not in the subject we expected,

not not not,

not confined

to our limited little brains,

not stuck in our heart center,

not anywhere outside of us,

not found within words people speak,

not found in arbitrary thoughts,

not in any of these random beliefs

or wild assumptions we can’t prove,

not really within;

We step onto the Path

with a simple wish to awaken,

determined to discover

beyond within

our real condition as

Timeless Luminosity,

we begin with a wish,

by looking within,

discovering reality itself

as our motivation, we must look,

we must look beyond at this brilliance,

we must realize it is beyond,

being found by looking within,

then going beyond, beyond within,

taking that next step

through the quantum doorways,

through absurdist enigmas,

allowing the visibly surreal

to unfold quite naturally

while remaining at ease,

while not grasping,

while not confining ourselves in any way,

while not limiting these vast discoveries,

while remaining at ease,

we go beyond

we infinitely expand

what we thought was

finite,

within what we thought was

quite limited,

to awaken, we go beyond

all limitations,

we awaken within,

beyond within.

A poem by Robert Aho © 2026

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This idea of looking within sounds like a restricted way of looking at things, something very confined, a limitation of some sort. That’s how we typically view ourselves, as this vessel or contained unit, a physical manifestation that we need to protect, as sort of garbled bag of nonsense and confusion, and also a being of extreme limitations who thinks they know everything. It’s not so easily understood that we have everything that we need within us, simply because we start with an incorrect assumption. If we begin with the belief that we are limited, it will lead us astray right from the first step. If we begin by having some sort of notion of our truly unlimited potentiality, we can take the leap of faith, we can go beyond within. With unlimited potentiality as our first step, we’ve planted the seed of enlightenment itself. We can’t fail if this is truly our intention.

We must look within; however, we must utilize what we discover to also go beyond. It’s a bit of a quantum enigma to think of this self looking within, discovering what is beyond all appearances. That’s what awakening really is. It’s starting where you are and going beyond all obstacles. It’s not going outside of yourself in any way. We must unlock our unlimited potentiality by looking within, then going beyond. This means increasing our capacity so much that we no longer harbor any darkness. This light of Source, this Timeless Luminosity, this Ultimate Awareness manifests in each and every moment of our life. That is awakening. It is breaking free of all confinements. It is complete and utter liberation from cyclic existence.

If we look outside ourselves for answers, we won’t find even a single thing that can last. People say this or that with authority; and, if we examine what they say, no matter how profound it may be, it falls apart. Every religion, philosophy, science, belief, concept, idea, thought, worlds, universes, all that we think or observe falls apart. Everything falls apart.

We must look within to discover what does not fall apart. It is neither subject nor object. It is not restricted by any human belief, religion, philosophy or institution. It is not something someone else can give you, or describe to you in any way. Timeless Luminosity must be discovered by going beyond within. It is your task to awaken, yours and only yours alone. No one, not even the most profound master can do this for you. You must make this aspiration on your own and then never give up. Awakening can only occur when you experience the ineffable directly. Only you can do this, it’s not up to someone else.

So, it’s very simple. Awakening is the most simple thing that you can do. You don’t even need to move a muscle. This subtle event is equally available to all. It removes all suffering. It allows us to obtain total freedom. It prevents all obstructions from obscuring our natural awareness. When we awaken, we no longer succumb to distractions. We remain at ease, whether we are living or dreaming or dying, it does not matter. All is of an equal taste when we remain at ease, beyond within, knowing our real condition as Timeless Luminosity.

Awakening requires effort only until the time when we realize that no effort was ever required. We train our mind to let go of the need to apply effort, concept and belief. We open our heart and mind to the most natural condition we can ever discover, beyond this habitual way we have been living, dreaming and dying for all eternity.

When we look beyond within, utilizing this Aspiration to Awaken, we untether all that has been holding us back. It all comes loose. Our bonds fall away gradually or suddenly, turning our tight dark little world upside down, illuminating us. Everything falls apart as we discover our own brilliance.

Blessings in Light,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

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Never give up. Once you have Aspired to Awaken, never give up. Continue until you become fully enlightened. You can do this, and it is very well worth every effort. Practice throughout the day and night, and you will see amazing realizations start to manifest.

Blessings in Light,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

We must look

At the world,

as it is, investigating mind and

appearances of mind, seeing

this grand illusion

for all it is, with

all the emotions, and

all the distractions,

as well as any disharmony

we might be feeling,

we must look, simply look,

seeing with our mind,

as we investigate mind,

as we awaken,

as we aspire to

see all phenomena

as it is;

All these investigations,

investigations into reality itself,

as the layers of delusion peel away,

as self dissipates,

opening to what is,

as it is, as it is,

we must investigate All

that is standing in our way,

seeing thoughts as they pass us by,

seeing through this attitude

of great compassion,

thinking independently,

not accepting any lies,

nor half-truths

that come our way,

not accepting anything at all

without investigations

into the ordinary,

as well as the profound, investigations

into the mystical, as well as

logic and science;

With awakening,

our investigations into mind,

shake us to the core,

setting us free

as our heart and mind open

to that ineffable brilliance,

to Ultimate Reality,

beyond any constraints whatsoever,

beyond, beyond investigations of mind,

We see with wisdom

beyond all constraints.

A poem by Robert Aho © 2026

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When we meditate, we investigate mind. It doesn’t mean that we are trying to find peace or ignore the world around us. Meditation is an investigation into reality, which means observing ourselves, getting to know what our own mind is doing, remaining at ease within this investigation, no matter what we perceive.

With meditation, we don’t ignore thoughts, we don’t try to push them away, we don’t pull them closer. This is basic meditative practice, and it can be applied to everything in your life. We don’t ignore world events, we don’t try to push them away, we don’t try to pull them closer. If you are serious about meditation, as well as awakening, you take this attitude with everything. It’s not about finding harmony, it’s about discovering reality. This means you must deal with things; and, sometimes, this means cleaning up your own mess. If you are on the Spiritual Path, you take the attitude that it is important to take care of things. This means you pay attention, practicing a certain mindfulness about everything you think and do. You must investigate mind.

If you do not investigate mind, you will never awaken. We must remain committed to discovering reality, if we have Aspired to Awaken. That’s what awakening is all about, it’s about discovering reality for yourself, rather than depending upon someone else to tell you what they think you should think. Without thinking for yourself, there is no hope whatsoever. You must train your mind until all obstacles dissipate, until you gain great confidence in the Path, until you are able to merge mind with the Nature of Mind, beyond all belief, beyond all constraints.

With awakening comes unlimited freedom. On the other hand, if we remain in doubt, if we remain confused about reality, thinking that self and other are two, then we will remain in a very dark place for eons to come. Unless we Aspire to Awaken, then investigate mind, we remain in darkness, trapped by our own delusions. Awakening means that these layers of delusion start to fall away, letting the light shine in, dissipating the darkness that has us trapped. There can be many stages to this Awakening; however, it always begins by simply investigating all that appears to our senses, examining our own Aspiration to Awaken, investigating all that stands in our way.

To be a Dharma Practitioner means that you will be very courageous. It takes courage, as well as great compassion and inner strength to remain on the Path. Your convictions mean that you will be facing all the demons that you have created. The process of awakening means that you will be able to annihilate all obstacles which are preventing you from becoming fully enlightened. This process is not for the meek. In order to become that which has eluded you for all eternity, you will need to develop an unbreakable level of perseverance and resolve. You will need to face everything with this nearly supernatural ability that comes from your own inner wisdom.

If you are a Spiritual Practitioner, you are tapping in to unlimited potentiality right from the very first step. You are doing this because of your most precious possession, which is your Aspiration to Awaken. When you have this inner strength as part of your practice, you begin to send blessings everywhere. By not becoming embroiled, you have discovered a way to leave this world behind, leaving it to the meek, leaving it to those who do not have the courage to discover reality. You will be able to leave cyclic existence behind, simply because of your rather intense investigation, which is part of your Spiritual Practice.

Whatever you do, don’t take the bait, don’t bite the hook. This world keeps you here because you don’t think for yourself, or because it creates situations that keep you distracted, or you simply grasp at what is not real. You will need to develop the ability to remain at ease in all circumstances. This means that we must investigate.

Blessings in Light,

Rigdzin Robert Aho

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