Isms,
Religious, sectarian, moral,
philosophical, political, social,
Doctrines, beliefs that limit us,
Fearful ideas preventing us
from going beyond, preventing us
from awakening, ignorant views
Driving out all glimpses of reality,
Mental restraints keeping us locked in
To what is not true, not true
Ideologies implementing oppression and
Social hierarchy, exacerbating
Great problems, perpetuating
Fears, hatred, anger
Through fantasy, through division, through
rules we create arbitrarily,
and enforce with swift cruelty,
Isms that oversimplify,
leading us astray
into darkness, away from truth,
away from who we naturally are,
Oppressive doctrines,
Systems that seek to prevent us
from discovering this essence of life,
limiting us, keeping us from going far,
far beyond, far far beyond
what we now think is possible,
preventing us from awakening
to the limitless possibilities,
beyond mind,
beyond constraints
beyond belief of any kind,
beyond beyond
beyond this pathetic human life,
within the Realm of what is,
as it is;
Beyond
there are no isms.
A poem by Robert Aho © 2025
When I came back from death, many people were hoping that I would validate their beliefs in some way. They wanted me to say that their sectarian view was correct, or to say it was at least the best available to human kind. They wanted me to stop by and say something that they already knew. They wanted me to punch their parking ticket in some way, telling them that their ism already had it all figured out and that they were on the right track.
I could do no such thing. I saw Western science as being infantile, at best. I saw that no philosophy anywhere at any time could hold water. It was obvious that eternalism and nihilism were both nonsense. Within the embroiled battles and divisions that politics provides, nothing of any lasting value could ever occur. I saw fundamentalism of any kind as a great tragedy, as such views occur from a closed heart and mind. I could see clearly that religion was always incorrect when it made any sort of assertion, as it was often littered with inappropriate motivations, often sending people very far from the truth we need to discover.
I couldn’t even say that Buddhism was entirely correct, even though I came at that ism with the highest regard. Even so, Buddhism fell apart as well, especially when it came to any sort of sectarian view. As a Path for discovering who we really are, Buddhism provided something that could produce benefit, if we do not become attached to sectarianism when it is time to let go. In describing myself, in order to avoid confusion, I will routinely say that I am a Buddhist or a Dzogchenpa. In reality, I cannot truthfully make any claim whatsoever.
The reality that I discovered went far beyond any sort of ism. My death revealed Ultimate Reality. In order to discover Ultimate Reality, we do not need to be a Buddhist or a Dzogchenpa. We can be any religion, or no religion. Political affiliation is of little consequence, potentially quite harmful.
What we need is to have an open heart and mind. We can’t do this if we are wrapped up in our isms. Isms create division. Isms are based upon belief and concept. If something requires belief or concept, then it is incorrect. That is what I discovered. This is something that is up to each of us to discover. If you wish to receive an answer to what constitutes reality, then isms are the worst, but they are closely associated with belief and concept. Such things are worthless, or even harmful, when it comes to discovering reality, as it is.
When I came back from death, I wanted to share what happened, because it was so incredibly profound. Even so, I sort of tiptoed around the idea of explaining myself for quite some time. I told people not to fret about things, that they really need to loosen up, that they have nothing to fear. I also told them to let go, while letting people know that they should go easy on themselves, to not automatically reject what they already knew.
In order to discover the ineffable, we need to let go, AND we need to start where we are.
A gentle approach is called for, or we will simply start creating other isms that will prevent us from awakening. If something causes fear, examine it, then throw it in the trash heap. It’s of no use. Have no remorse over tossing useless things aside!
If you begin to fathom the unreality of existence, then toss those beliefs holding you there. Toss the isms that are preventing you from proceeding with complete confidence. This is a process of discovery. Ultimately, we go into the light. If you are ready, go at once!
Isms create fear; and, fear is completely useless. We are naturally indestructible, even though we have a body that seems rather frail. What we need is to engage with our enlightenment mind, and to start to have some idea about consciousness, this transmigrating energy of awareness.
Without creating an ism, gaze at mind. Start to see glimpses of bright clear luminosity. Isms make us think that we’re not ready to become that bright light.
Fear not!
Blessings in Light,
Robert Aho
Isn’t the belief in karma another ism? Ramana Maharishi said “karma is a reality for those who identify with their actions and the world (which is not us).” What insights could you share on this concept (which only comes from the human self, as all concepts do)? I’m confused on this….thank you!!