Bright glimmers on waves of mind,
sparkles flashing before our senses,
vanishing, appearing
shimmering in this confused cacophony
This illusion manifesting
like so many strobes in a sea of photographers,
on ripples, on thoughts unending
glistening
in this ocean we had not noticed before
this boundless awareness,
How is it that we maintain instant presence,
as these splashes of light fly past
before we can focus
in this timeless infinite moment?
A poem by Robert Aho © 2025
A popular buzz-word today among Buddhists and non-dual adherents alike, is this idea of Rigpa. It’s cool to say you are in Rigpa, even without really understanding what that is. It seems that people conflate it with mindfulness or nothingness, even though that is not at all what it is. Others think that it means you see the void and nothingness, sort of burping up nihilistic slogans. I’m somewhat amused by this, and that’s a problem.
Rigpa really means that we maintain our true awareness that has been discovered, or we have definitively discovered Ultimate Bodhicitta. My Guru, Namkhai Norbu used to say that our Mind is getting into the Nature of Mind. When he said this, I could see that people were not really understanding the significance of those words, and many were quite confused, even though that is the essence of Dzogchen teachings. We recognize what has always been just there and we relax completely into that recognition. It’s not about visualizing anything or changing something. With Dzogchen practice, our mind enters our essence. We sort of bask in that bright condition, letting our mind rest completely in Timeless Luminosity.
Realizing the Nature of Mind is a big deal. With me, the earth shook, existence came and went while I remained at ease. At the time, I said that it was the single most amazing thing that had ever happened to me. I also said, after years of intensive Spiritual Practice, that now my real challenges begin. People thought that was funny coming from me, someone who was by all accounts rather intense with his practice. I could see the remaining obstacles. When you see with clarity, you no longer fool yourself, you don’t pretend.
If we have not yet realized the Nature of Mind, then we are definitely not a Dzogchen practitioner. Being confused by such a statement as the mind going into the Nature of Mind cannot happen when we are genuinely in this recognition of who we really are. If we are Dzogchen practitioners, then we practice the Nature of Mind itself. We are no longer transforming and visualizing the way a Vajrayana practitioner does. We are no longer generating artificial compassion or following strict rules the way the lower vehicles practice. We are simply resting into our real nature, which is Dzogchen.
When we generate Bodhicitta at the onset of the Spiritual Path, knowing that the only thing that can possibly help is awakening itself, we must have faith in this idea of Enlightenment Mind. We don’t yet know what that is. On the first step, we have not yet recognized anything. We only have the essence, a taste of some deeper brightness, something ultimately aware and loving, beyond any constraints. We do not yet know, we only have some idea about that, and we are willing to discover for ourselves.
For the most part, belief is quite useless. We can utilize beliefs for a while when we are determined to awaken; however, we must be ready to abandon any and all beliefs. This does not mean that we enter a voidness where nothing exists, it means that we become extremely aware of appearances while not letting them control us, by not being swept away by thoughts or feelings, or beliefs. We learn to see the illusion, while increasing our capacity, by opening our heart and mind to what is, as it is.
Our real condition is beyond all beliefs. We must discover this for ourselves through Spiritual Practice, which eventually means direct experience. It’s not something where we can read a book or listen to a podcast in order to discover. Neither philosophy nor religion, not even science will help you to discover this. You have to do the real work through examining mind, which cannot be located, then preparing yourself to discover the Nature of Mind, which is beyond concept.
Mind, when we examine that, involves waves of energy and thought, apparent appearances that are based upon senses and bias, conceptualizing and labeling everything without knowing. When we start to see that all that we believe is empty, we get to the root of what we are trying to realize, we start to awaken.
At some point, you recognize for yourself a glimpse beyond thought. This happens quickly, at odd times, sometimes when you rest in the moment. When this brightness manifests, utilize this simple experience for your Spiritual Practice. Utilize this knowledge to help increase your capacity and confidence.
Don’t be in too much of a hurry to awaken or to realize the Nature of Mind. It will happen when you are ready, and you will have no doubt about what you have discovered. Your mind enters your real nature, which is Rigpa. Now, at that point, the real work begins.
Blessings in Light,
Robert Aho