Our Real Nature

2024, March, Issue 87

My practice is my daily life, and that of dreams, remaining in awareness of the Nature of Mind at all times.  I see no difference between dreams and daily life, none whatsoever.  Both are manifestations of the mind.  Even before I became a Buddhist in this lifetime, I understood very well that dreams and daily life are the same.

Daily life and dreams are nothing other than my extremely secret practice.  The Nature of Mind fills my every moment.  Nothing happens in my life that is not practice.  Even fretting about things, eating, getting ill, all of that is practice.  Such practice no longer takes effort.  It is all part of the primordial state of being, where I remain present at all times, remaining aware of the Nature of Mind, remaining present or mindful of the ultimate at all times.  My practice is to become comfortable with my real condition, which is beyond all limitations.

That is Dzogchen practice.  It is becoming accustomed to the ineffable in such a way that the Nature of Mind is always radiating.  We are always present in that.  Dzogchen practice is really not about sitting on a cushion, it is about living beyond limitations, learning to live with awareness.

An excerpt from, The Frog: A Spiritual Autobiography, Spanning Many Lifetimes, pg. 323, © 2021.

Since my death, since my return from that inexplicable condition, you may have noticed that I’m sort of hinting around about something.  I’m talking about something very pragmatic most of the time; however, I might snap my fingers or mention a flash of brightness, or say something like you have experienced awakening many times, catching glimpses here and there.  I’m preaching to the choir, if you really must know the essence of these actions.  You have all had a taste of this inexplicable amazingly bright light that I mention in my talks, books and this newsletter.

Our Real Nature, sometimes called the Nature of Mind, or Dzogchen, is something that has always been present.  We experience this when we die.  We experience this during trauma.  We experience this during moments of extreme pleasure, or when we are sick, or when we sneeze.  We catch glimpses all the time.

 I’m talking about something ridiculously simple.  Our Real Nature is beyond the complications inherent in concept or belief, all the trappings of trying to explain our lives away in various narratives and elaborate stories.  When we become the light of Dharmakaya, if we notice at all, we will become brightly aware for an eternity, seeing all that expanse of the universe and the multiverse and all the thoughts and fabrications of an infinite number of beings.

People ask me if I saw this or that, something that might reinforce their beliefs.  Well, yes, I saw those illusory fabrications; however, I won’t go so far as to say that any of it is real.  Our Real Condition is beyond fabrications of mind, belief, ego or any philosophy, or science or religion.  Even Quantum Physics, though it is touching the reality of our inexplicable existence, is still just a construct of mind.  To understand our Real Nature, we must directly experience that or we will have no idea.

Sometimes, when I mention Dzogchen, people might think that I’m talking about something very exotic or mystical.  Many Buddhists might think that I’m talking about something extremely secret, and that I should just be quiet about it.  In reality, Dzogchen is who we really are.  Nothing separates us from Dzogchen.  It’s actually very ordinary.

Our Real Nature has never been the exotic mysticism of mind.  It has been self-perfected from the beginning.  It is not subject to fabrication or elaboration.  The Nature of Mind is like a mirror, our primordial existence beyond self.  When our Real Nature becomes apparent, then all appearances are seen for what they are, which is empty, insubstantial, impermanent, the expression of all possibilities.

Since I am not beholden to any lineage or school or institution, I have no reason to hide anything.  My texts are extensive and I have a history of being a very serious student, gobbling up as many texts as possible; however, my real knowledge comes directly from what is, as it is.  Being in that state of complete and total bright awareness for an eternity has given me something to say, something that comes directly, without any sort of corrupting influence.  If I contradict someone, some great master or a leader of a monastery, that’s not my problem.

When you receive a teaching from me, know that it comes from the heart.  I am not holding anything back, even if some of my newsletters and podcasts seem somewhat basic.  If you are to understand my teachings, you need a strong foundation as a Spiritual Practitioner.  That means we spend extra time on basics.

In time, as you increase your capacity to understand and to discover for yourself, more will be revealed.  It is important that we keep ourselves focused on awakening.  For that, it requires much more than mere intellectual curiosity.  We must learn how to open our heart and mind to the ineffable.  We must be present, have sisu, be patient, focused and incredibly courageous.  When you are ready, you will awaken.

Blessings in Light,               

Robert Aho