Dense Realm
2026, March, Issue 194
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
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.