Distractions
2026, May, Issue 201
Habituated being!
Eternal addict!
Stop with the distractions already!
You’ve been doing this,
This insanity,
This nonsense,
This this unreality,
without hesitation
and it has never,
never ever helped you in the least!
Focus on reality!
Discover the Nature of Mind!
Stop chasing emotions,
Stop chasing
appearances,
Stop chasing belief!
Here you are,
missing the point altogether
the point of wisdom,
the point of knowing
beyond ideas about this or that,
beyond silly notions that come and go,
beyond nonsense springing from not knowing,
beyond nonsense springing
from arbitrary beliefs,
arbitrary notions out there
assumptions that can never be true!!
Stop obsessing about what cannot be,
stop being distracted by your own senses,
stop thinking
your own emotions are real,
stop thinking
your own unproven assumptions
about reality,
distractions
that can never be real!
Oh Sleeping Buddha,
Wake up!
A poem by Robert Aho © 2026
It’s not particularly difficult to understand that we are continually distracted, especially when we examine the notion that we are actually Sleeping Buddhas, all of us, everyone, everywhere, in all times throughout this infinite existence. We come from primordial wisdom, an infinite number of us, existing in complete open awareness; and, yet, here we are remaining distracted by what is not real, remaining confused by our own senses, by our own thoughts and emotions. It is understandable that we suffer, that we remain in a state of delusion, thinking this illusion is real.
When we are in our natural condition, we are completely open and at ease, we are Buddhas, aware of all, as it is. As confused and distracted sentient beings, however, it is said that we have Buddha Nature, remaining in a state of thinking the illusion is real. When we begin to awaken, we start to have some idea about our primordial condition, which is Timeless Luminosity, we stop being so distracted, agitated and embroiled by life’s nonsense. We open our heart and mind to the ineffable; and, in that, we discover a condition where we no longer need to be distracted.
This is difficult for us to learn, primarily because we have been conditioned by our own habits to remain in distraction. We conceptualize something, everything, we need to be distracted. When we have a belief, distraction is necessary. We must depart from reality in order to support that belief. Various ideas, various thoughts come and go—they are all distractions. Our natural condition, on the other hand, is one of remaining in awareness, without distraction, without the clutter and chaos of emotions or distracting thoughts.
If we wish to no longer remain in distraction, we must look within. In so doing, we start to become aware of the Nature of Mind. This realization can be abrupt and immediate, or it can take time through gradual meditative endeavors. Whether it is immediate or gradual is irrelevant. Time is an illusion; so, naturally, we must discover reality in the way that is uniquely suitable for each of us. Realizing the Nature of Mind is like walking through a door where everything becomes crystal clear and bright, a dazzling magical display that you had not noticed due to your distractions. It is bright expansive reality, more dazzling than anything you could ever encounter in this dull dark realm of mind on Planet Earth. With this realization, we develop a very intense compassion for all sentient beings.
In order for this realization to be more than a mere flash of light, we must become accustomed to enlightenment itself. We must find a way to remain in awareness, without becoming easily distracted once more. This is the stability that many great masters talk about. It is remaining present in a very turbulent existence. It is remaining in a state of contemplation where we no longer lose our awareness. In order to do this, we must continually examine mind, addressing all of those things that obstruct our vision. Our Spiritual Practice becomes 24/7, no matter what happens, under all circumstances we remain aware of our real condition, the Nature of Mind which is Timeless Luminosity or Dharmakaya.
This idea that we exist beyond time in a state of complete and total awareness, and yet, here we are distracted, needlessly suffering for all eternity, is not so easy to fathom. It takes real dedication to discovering who we really are. It requires the ability to remain at ease, despite the turbulence and terrible contradictions. When we look within, we start to realize just how much our ordinary life, both dreams and daily life, have really become something that is fixated on appearance that spring from our own insanity. We start to see that we are obsessed with a life that cannot be real. We start to see the necessity and the urgency of our own Awakening.
On this day, if you have not already done so, please Aspire to Awaken. Take that first step that you will need for going beyond what is constraining you to this eternal cycle of life, dreams, getting old and ill, then death and rebirth. See the illusion without elaboration. Gather all the meditative techniques, teachings and practices that you can, then apply those teachings. Look within for everything that you will ever need. Remain at ease. Awaken.
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, as well as preparing for death. This ultimately leads to discovering your own power within, which leads to Awakening. Both books are available on Amazon, Zenith Bookstore, as well as various other sources.