Spontaneity

2025, March, Issue 140

Out of bright awareness,

this dance,

this interplay of energy,

of mind in motion,

we see quite clearly

that none of this dream

is actually serious;

All of these things,

these things we fret about,

are nothing but mind’s own activity,

nothing but imaginary angst,

grief that has perplexed us

for all eternity;

When we think thoughts

are real,

we become trapped by

useless thoughts,

we become possessed by

that great demon who controls us,

in this world we’ve created,

We’ve created;

Spontaneous realization

springs from our own awareness;

Spontaneous liberation

leaps forward from this bright condition

this blazing condition of actual knowing,

genuine Spiritual Practice, realizing

where we are

actually knowing that we are nothing other,

nothing other than bright brilliant Timeless Luminosity,

beyond belief, beyond concept,

beyond any sort of demonic obscurations,

obstacles that trap you

in unending turmoil;

We are light,

the spontaneous expression in a mirror,

reflections of limitless possibilities,

with no need whatsoever for being trapped

by this created ego,

by those negative emotions,

by whatever phantasm we may have

blundered into creating,

not even this rather silly notion

that we are

real

in

any

way.

A poem by Robert Aho © 2025

Our intuition is something quite different than impulsive thoughts. If we are fortunate, we discover that we have a bright place at our core that is never wrong. We discover that we often want what is very bad for us, something very unfortunate for our lives. This wanting is usually diametrically opposed to our intuition. We could also call this intuition our Buddha Nature. If we learn how to listen to our own light, our own bright intuition, we quickly learn that we spontaneously enter a most Fortunate Path.

We might want to get angry, or confront someone in order to humiliate them. We might want to get rich or seek fame in some way that we might find fascinating. We might wish to grumble for days and days, as well as within our dreams. This is impulsive behavior, which springs from very childish notions about self and other. It is an indication that we have absolutely no control over our own mind. To give into such things means that we are closing ourselves off from our own innate wisdom, our own bright intuition, which has spontaneous characteristics that cannot be seen, unless we relax completely into each moment.

Spontaneity is significantly different than impulsiveness. Impulsiveness requires us to chase after thoughts and emotions. This requires us to remain in a state of agitation, constantly seeking what excites our senses. Rather than seeking clarity, we muddy the waters, remaining in confusion.

With impulsiveness, we are enslaved by thoughts and emotions, often acting without thinking, ignorantly obsessing about what we do. This is something to consider if you are engaged in Spiritual Practices of the mind. When we are overwhelmed with thoughts, trying to discern between these waves coming at us, we are prone to being impulsive. Being impulsive creates immeasurably bad karma. We find ourselves at the mercy of our own demise.

Spontaneity, however, springs from this ineffable light in our heart center. It is the opposite of impulsiveness, not tied to emotion, such as hate or desire, nor relying upon ignorance. Spontaneity comes from our own innate awareness beyond time and space, our Real Condition. Once we have realized the Nature of Mind, with great fortune, we see this interplay of energy with clarity and delight. It is the All-Good to those who have such realization. This cannot actually be explained with concept or any sort of intellectual endeavor, though many have tried.

I was asked by someone the other day about my talks. They wanted to know how much time went into them. They were amazed when I said that I did no preparation for my talks, other than providing a title for my audience. I simply step to the podium and speak. This comes from a certain spontaneity of the heart. It comes from awareness of the Nature of Mind. Such spontaneity is not contrived in any way. It is simply a reflection of these possibilities that I bring forward with my life, as it is.

The death bardo had quite an impact upon me. There was a time in my life preceding my journey through the ineffable, as Timeless Luminosity, through the energetic dimension, into our mundane existence in this dark corner of this rather dingy universe, when I worried about giving speeches, or standing in front of groups. This emanation who has come from death has no qualms about having a little chat with people. No matter what the topic, preparation time is of little use. My speech is spontaneous, as are my actions.

The next time you go through the death bardo, relax and pay attention! You have a great opportunity to awaken in the light of Dharmakaya. Prepare yourself for that by giving up impulsive self-destructive behavior. When your heart and mind open, you become more spontaneous, more intuitive.

Such spontaneity gives rise to knowing what you should do, without being overwhelmed by thought. You learn to trust the force, this energetic knowing that has never failed you. Learn the difference between impulsive wishing and spontaneous wisdom. Our Buddha Nature never fails us.

Blessings in Light,

Robert Aho