Responsible Freedom

2024, June, Issue 101

Those who have awakened to the presence

that presence of primordial luminosity

have opened themselves completely

opened their hearts and mind

fully, nakedly

to that spaciousness

of beyond, beyond now,

of beyond what we think of as

beyond,

beyond what we

rationally think

is possible,

going beyond

in such a way

that this small, feeble

silly being

that we think of as self

expands to infinite proportions;

Those awakened ones no longer think of self and other

as being constrained by each other or

existing in that way, separate, limited;

They see the all-good expanse

they see that amazing bright luminosity,

they see that as having no limitations,

not limited by self or other, or ideas,

not constrained by dogma or rules or conjecture,

seeing the real nature of things,

not being confused by ego

or notions of permanence

or notions of that that

that ridiculous idea of nothing

or thinking that this egotistical self is real

or thinking that this dream is real

or thinking that concepts have validity of any sort

when being omnipresently aware in that;

The reality of this world arising happens,

it happens only because of your mind

your mind telling itself that this is so

and that is so, convincing itself

that the illusory dream is real,

believing that that illusion must be so;

Without the confusion of mind

the world of suffering, Samsara,

could not arise

in the least, not in the least!

Remaining present in that knowledge

opens us to this very simple

awakening.

A poem from, Timeless Luminosity, pp. 121-122, © 2020.

Sometimes people hear that awakening means complete liberation or freedom, maybe thinking that nothing matters or that it’s all some great joke.  They are sometimes surprised when they hear that, as well, that this freedom means that they will no longer be constrained by rules.  Observe your mind a little, pay attention to what thoughts may have appeared just now. 

If the first thing that pops into your mind is something like running amuck, then you are definitely not ready to become liberated.  Freedom means much greater responsibility.  It does not mean that you should not pay close attention to your circumstances.

With our recognition of the Nature of Mind, or Dzogchen, comes tremendously great responsibility.  It’s true that in Dzogchen there are really no rules, well, other than being present in awareness.  What people find hard to understand is that this awareness is manifested in our presence through great love and compassion, because we have unlocked the door with Bodhicitta.

If we have unlocked the door, then we really take it to heart that we must liberate all beings.  Ultimate Bodhicitta shines brightly in our heart center.  It’s not something we think about, it’s something that simply becomes instantly present.  All becomes liberated, even the commitments we may have taken as Bodhisattvas.  We go beyond relative reality, suddenly aware of what is, as it is.  The Bodhisattva Vows become naturally liberated with the recognition of the Nature of Mind.  This does not mean that we can run amuck, causing harm, going back to our old ways of causing suffering everywhere we go.  It means Ultimate Responsibility.  Our ego is dispersed into light, as part of infinite potentiality.

This is much better than any rule, because this great love and compassion is blazing from our heart center.  We are no longer dabbling with the wellbeing of others; we genuinely live that way.  It has become the light of our entire existence, not just something we strive to be.

If you recall the specific part of my death experience where I explained my decision to come back into my old decrepit body, to live my life a little bit more before I die once again, you may wonder why I decided this way.  I really could have just remained in that bright condition, beyond ego or self or the suffering of this world.  When I made that decision, it was painful, partially because self was barely there, as I journeyed out of the light; and, also, I knew exactly how painful life would be.  The great love and compassion of that tremendous light of Dharmakaya, meant that I had no concern for self or my own suffering.  I felt ridiculous for even hesitating for one moment.

When we have fully integrated ourselves into the light of Dharmakaya, losing self completely in that ineffable condition, we naturally feel responsible for all.  When we see someone is suffering, or when we see someone behaving in destructive ways, it hurts.  We feel it as if we had made it that way; and, really, in our nondual existence, this is not much of a stretch.  The sins of one are the sins of all.  The pain of one is the pain of all.  It’s not so hard to understand, once we begin to tap into the reality of our existence.  Our own actions have made everything possible.

This is yet another reason why we must generate Bodhicitta in our lives, unlocking the door to awakening itself.  It is our most sacred responsibility.  We see this with great clarity, once we begin on the Spiritual Path.  Our actions must benefit all, friend and foe alike.  This is not so easy to do.

Blessings in Light,               

Robert Aho