Beyond Within

2026, February, Issue 187

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

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