Consensus

2023, April, Issue 41

You may have noticed that a big part of being human, or even being alive, has to do with consensus.  Right from the moment of birth, everyone who surrounds us tries to condition us into believing exactly as they believe, without regard for our unique point of view, ignoring that everyone sees things differently.  It’s a struggle. It’s like this everywhere, with everyone.  It creates terrible conflict, tensions, as well as pervasive unending anxiety.  This conflict between what we sense is real and what people say is real is frustrating. 

When I was in the death bardo, in that brief moment when I was contemplating a return to this dimension, it did not feel comforting to me in any way.  I could see my failing body; however, what really filled me with dread was this apparent constant tug-of-war in this physical dimension of samsara.  All beings bicker about this, that and everything that comes to mind.  They struggle to find consensus, whether they are human or any other type of being—animals, gods, hell-beings, all engage in this sort of nonsense, seeking consensus out of delusion. 

It was depressing to witness, as well as exhausting.  Beings throughout samsara engage in a sort of battle of futility, arguing about reality; and, it’s not just a general agreement that everyone is after, they want every single detail agreed upon, seen in exactly the same way, carried with the same sort of ego-gratifying certainty and elaboration, even if evidence to the contrary appears.  Wars are fought over slight differences of opinion.  It’s really sickening.

Nevertheless, I came back, despite this rather strong wave of repulsion that hit me, just as I was beginning to form a self once again.  I had something to do, something to say.  Coming out of this union with Ultimate Bodhicitta, there could be no other way.  Even though I was once again entering this realm of mind where trauma occurs, I couldn’t become angry with all those who had harmed me throughout this vast cyclic existence—quite the contrary. Great compassion brought me back.

This ugliness inherent with existence is the very reason I returned.  My journey back from the light of Dharmakaya into this dull realm of endless angst, suffering, and pain had to be accomplished.  Great compassion made it clear that I certainly must return. 

Imagine being far away, beyond our universe, beyond the infinite array of multi-universes, seeing so many types of heavens and hells that they could not be counted.  Imagine looking at all of that from a field of light that is far more intense than all the stars combined.  When you gaze at samsara, you realize that no matter where you go the suffering will be unending, except for those who awaken.  You see that beings struggle with this idea of reality, and that it eludes them, even though they may find some apparent consensus.

When we are born, it is said that we have all the wisdom we need.  This falls into decline, due to our interactions with people who do not know reality, but want you to believe their point of view.  Consensus is what humans seek.  You either agree, or you’re in big trouble.  Humans struggle in small groups or large groups, continually undermining each other, destroying what is unique or precious.

We could develop bad feelings about this; or, we could transform what we encounter with Bodhicitta.  When someone treats you poorly, see their suffering, see their pain.  When someone is trying to dominate and control everything you do, realize that they come from a place of ego and insanity.  They don’t have the consensus their ego craves.  They want to be the only one anywhere who knows what reality actually might be, even though they have no idea.  They seek to undermine or destroy what you may have accomplished on your Spiritual Path.  They want consensus, even though such a thing is completely impossible.

We live in a dimension that can only utilize relative points of view.  Place a hundred people around a simple object, asking them to accurately describe what they see, and you will get a hundred different answers—and maybe a few will refuse to answer.  This is relative reality. Samsara relies upon an infinite number of relative points of view—all of them unique to each being, in an infinite number of states of mind, with an infinite number of experiences and appearances. 

Ultimate Reality is not a point of view, as it is the condition that we all share equally, beyond extremes, beyond any sort of obstructions or elaborations.  We all share this condition, even if we cannot perceive being here.

So, how do you see all points of view equally?  You develop Bodhicitta.  With greater, more natural levels of Bodhicitta, not just the aspiration and the application of that, Ultimate Bodhicitta will arise in your life.  All points of view will become more and more clear.  You will be able to awaken by starting to notice what all beings are experiencing, what they are going through.  This is why Bodhicitta is the key, starting with you and spreading beyond the infinite expanse of relative reality, where all points of view exist.  You will awaken, if you have the key.

Blessings in Light,

Robert Aho