Degenerate Times
2025, February, Issue 138
These times,
this degenerate age unfolding,
these times as they are,
these days and nights can be misleading,
this big mess can distract you
from the Spiritual Path,
can lead to confusion unending, in this great cycle,
this cycle of ignorance, attraction and aversion,
as it has always been;
These degenerate times
are a distraction,
nothing more than shit landing at your feet,
nothing but lunatics knocking at your door
nothing other than children running with knives;
Remain in awareness!
Remain undistracted
in your most
Precious Spiritual Practice!
To genuine Spiritual Practitioners,
it is obvious
that this world is merely an illusion,
it is obvious
that nothing will ever help us
other than awakening itself!
Remain undistracted throughout
these inevitable degenerate times!
A poem by Robert Aho © 2025
As I have indicated previously, I’m a reclusive yogi. This doesn’t mean that I have no contact with the world. What it really means is that I remain undistracted. Throughout the cycle of day and night, I remain present in the knowledge of the Nature of Mind. I remain aware, practicing enlightenment itself as I go about my pathetic life.
Certainly, I live in a remote part of the world, practicing meditation among nature; however, I wouldn’t necessarily need to be here. My practice is to be present. Anything can happen and I remain cognizant of my own condition, my own circumstances, remaining aware of that very same bright condition that I became when I died. Physical separation from a physical reality is not the main point, when we practice Dzogchen. Remaining present in our natural condition is the main point.
I will often sit in contemplation, meditating by the shore of the northern lake where I live. The other day was no different. I had my dogs with me, and they whined a bit as I just sat there, unmoving, except for a song or two. I was singing the Song of the Vajra when my elderly dog came by, dropping a couple turds at my feet, one for each foot. I remained in equipoise, continued with my Spiritual Practice, fully aware of what had happened. I simply saw these appearances as they were, as simply an indication of what this world is really about, nothing but a stinky distraction that keeps on giving.
One might be a bit shocked that I just sat there for several more minutes, maybe another half hour, remaining at ease, not trying to change anything. If you understand the point of meditation, however, then you understand completely why I remained at ease. The point of meditation, of Dharma practice in general, is to awaken. It’s not about having a perfect altar, with incense burning and surrounding yourself with all sorts of beautiful things, it’s about awakening. That’s it, nothing else.
If you start off your Spiritual Practice with the motivation of finding a little peace or happiness in your life, of having a moment to yourself or improving your mental abilities, then you have started with an incorrect motivation. You’re wasting your time; because, even if you attain such things, they won’t last. The whole point of Spiritual Practice is to attain Buddhahood, to awaken. If you awaken, you will no longer be constrained by cyclic existence in any way. You will have complete freedom. Nothing can ever taken that from you. You will be liberated from all that is now perplexing you.
Now, perhaps you are thinking about what I have shared with you, about my awakening within the light of Dharmakaya when I died a few years back. You might wonder what I’m doing here if this is the case. And, that’s a good thing to wonder. Just how does this work?
Well, if you recall from either of my books, Timeless Luminosity or The Frog: A Spiritual Autobiography, Spanning Many Lifetimes, you will already know that I spent a very long time considering if I should return. I had complete freedom to remain as the Light of Dharmakaya. I had no reason to return or remain, or to be reborn. With my liberation came infinite potentiality.
I chose to return, even though I knew it would be painful and that there was very little possibility that anyone would ever understand what I could teach them. I returned because of Bodhicitta. Appearing out of Ultimate Bodhicitta meant that I already knew what I needed to know; and, within this condition, I had no concern for myself. I returned simply because I knew that there was something that I could do to help. From the death bardo, after memories of an old life appeared once more, I realized that I had something to say. My experience could help people to awaken.
Now that I’m here, everything is appearing just as I knew that it would. My body is struggling, the world is falling into more of the same delusion—it’s painful to be here. And, that doesn’t matter. Everyday I sit in contemplation, practicing various mantras and meditative practices, or remaining present. I sing the Song of the Vajra quite often. I do what I can to help people who want me to help. I write, I speak in public, I practice the Dharma for the benefit of all beings.
Blessings in Light,
Robert Aho