Investigations

2026, January, Issue 186

We must look

At the world,

as it is, investigating mind and

appearances of mind, seeing

this grand illusion

for all it is, with

all the emotions, and

all the distractions,

as well as any disharmony

we might be feeling,

we must look, simply look,

seeing with our mind,

as we investigate mind,

as we awaken,

as we aspire to

see all phenomena

as it is;

All these investigations,

investigations into reality itself,

as the layers of delusion peel away,

as self dissipates,

opening to what is,

as it is, as it is,

we must investigate All

that is standing in our way,

seeing thoughts as they pass us by,

seeing through this attitude

of great compassion,

thinking independently,

not accepting any lies,

nor half-truths

that come our way,

not accepting anything at all

without investigations

into the ordinary,

as well as the profound, investigations

into the mystical, as well as

logic and science;

With awakening,

our investigations into mind,

shake us to the core,

setting us free

as our heart and mind open

to that ineffable brilliance,

to Ultimate Reality,

beyond any constraints whatsoever,

beyond, beyond investigations of mind,

We see with wisdom

beyond all constraints.

A poem by Robert Aho © 2026

When we meditate, we investigate mind. It doesn’t mean that we are trying to find peace or ignore the world around us. Meditation is an investigation into reality, which means observing ourselves, getting to know what our own mind is doing, remaining at ease within this investigation, no matter what we perceive.

With meditation, we don’t ignore thoughts, we don’t try to push them away, we don’t pull them closer. This is basic meditative practice, and it can be applied to everything in your life. We don’t ignore world events, we don’t try to push them away, we don’t try to pull them closer. If you are serious about meditation, as well as awakening, you take this attitude with everything. It’s not about finding harmony, it’s about discovering reality. This means you must deal with things; and, sometimes, this means cleaning up your own mess. If you are on the Spiritual Path, you take the attitude that it is important to take care of things. This means you pay attention, practicing a certain mindfulness about everything you think and do. You must investigate mind.

If you do not investigate mind, you will never awaken. We must remain committed to discovering reality, if we have Aspired to Awaken. That’s what awakening is all about, it’s about discovering reality for yourself, rather than depending upon someone else to tell you what they think you should think. Without thinking for yourself, there is no hope whatsoever. You must train your mind until all obstacles dissipate, until you gain great confidence in the Path, until you are able to merge mind with the Nature of Mind, beyond all belief, beyond all constraints.

With awakening comes unlimited freedom. On the other hand, if we remain in doubt, if we remain confused about reality, thinking that self and other are two, then we will remain in a very dark place for eons to come. Unless we Aspire to Awaken, then investigate mind, we remain in darkness, trapped by our own delusions. Awakening means that these layers of delusion start to fall away, letting the light shine in, dissipating the darkness that has us trapped. There can be many stages to this Awakening; however, it always begins by simply investigating all that appears to our senses, examining our own Aspiration to Awaken, investigating all that stands in our way.

To be a Dharma Practitioner means that you will be very courageous. It takes courage, as well as great compassion and inner strength to remain on the Path. Your convictions mean that you will be facing all the demons that you have created. The process of awakening means that you will be able to annihilate all obstacles which are preventing you from becoming fully enlightened. This process is not for the meek. In order to become that which has eluded you for all eternity, you will need to develop an unbreakable level of perseverance and resolve. You will need to face everything with this nearly supernatural ability that comes from your own inner wisdom.

If you are a Spiritual Practitioner, you are tapping in to unlimited potentiality right from the very first step. You are doing this because of your most precious possession, which is your Aspiration to Awaken. When you have this inner strength as part of your practice, you begin to send blessings everywhere. By not becoming embroiled, you have discovered a way to leave this world behind, leaving it to the meek, leaving it to those who do not have the courage to discover reality. You will be able to leave cyclic existence behind, simply because of your rather intense investigation, which is part of your Spiritual Practice.

Whatever you do, don’t take the bait, don’t bite the hook. This world keeps you here because you don’t think for yourself, or because it creates situations that keep you distracted, or you simply grasp at what is not real. You will need to develop the ability to remain at ease in all circumstances. This means that we must investigate.

Blessings in Light,

Rigdzin Robert Aho