The Power of Aspiration

2024, November, Issue 122

Nothing is ever lost,

Nothing is lost, ever

When we die, when we traverse

that great expanse of reality where everything is raw,

directly experiencing what is, as it is,

nothing can ever be lost;

In this great apparent reality

where we find ourselves exposed,

utterly exposed to all that is, was and is,

all time events at once, all beings at once,

where all possibilities manifest throughout this

Timeless Luminosity, this expanse of Dharmakaya

where all is, as it is,

we find awareness, we find instant enlightenment,

we find the essence of all and beyond all;

Due to laziness, due to karmic winds,

due to having utterly no control over our mind,

whatsoever, what so ever, whatsoever,

we are propelled screaming into the next lifetime,

forgetting all, feeling utter loss,

due to our own choice of ignorance, our own stupidity,

after rejecting this great opportunity

as a human, which is a condition where we might awaken;

We have this incredibly rich life, full of possibilities,

and we choose to either continue as before,

utterly out of control, losing it all,

or we choose to awaken,

becoming this truly enlightened being

where nothing can be ever lost again;

We choose this, we choose this,

to either awaken or to remain in the dark shadows of ignorance;

We are free to choose;

Will you choose to awaken?

A poem by Robert Aho © 2024

I am reminded by various great masters about how very precious this human life really is. Our suffering is usually not so great that we can’t practice in various ways to awaken. Our pleasure is also not so pervasive that we become distracted by the illusion that we have no need to awaken. As far as beings go, we’re right in the middle of things, with just the right amount of intelligence, suffering and pleasure, so that we can easily find our Spiritual Path, as well as find an abundance of reasons to stay upon it, right up until enlightenment.

When I was in the death bardo, I could see how very lucky we are as humans. We have just the right balance necessary in order to achieve our own awakening. This is not to say that we don’t invent all sorts of reasons to remain lazy, even talking ourselves out of any effort we might wish to apply. Distractions, obstacles and demons of every sort are in no short supply.

I’ve been surprised by a strange idea going around the nonduality/nihilist crowd lately. For some reason people are saying that they have no free will, that choice and effort are not possible. This seems rather strange to me. As sentient beings, we are certainly not locked into some fatalistic predetermination. I suppose it is a misunderstanding of who we really are. The example of a mirror is sometimes used when intellectually explaining the Nature of Mind. We can say we are that reflection. Perhaps this is too simplistic.

In reality, this mirror reflects all possibilities, and one such possibility is a sentient being, capable of free will. I would add to this that our conceptualizing is an indication that we are following our karma. If we are able to recognize the Nature of Mind, then we are liberated from any predetermination. This is real free will. It happens when we break free of our conceptual constraints.

So, when we first generate Bodhicitta, we are doing so with just the seed of liberation. As this seed matures, we find that we have greater freedom. We find that we are not completely enslaved by our senses and desires, the trappings of mind. We discover that awakening is possible by simply nurturing this bright light within our heart center. At some point we discover that we have total and complete freedom. We’re no longer constrained by our body or our mind. The winds of karma have less and less effect upon us.

This aspiration to awaken sets us free. It is extremely powerful when we cultivate Bodhicitta, first as a very compassionate wish to awaken, then opening ourselves up for the benefit of all. Bodhicitta leads to this amazing discovery of emptiness, which leads to the recognition of the Nature of Mind. Cultivation of such realizations lead to enlightenment, which is awakening to what is, as it is, which is finding ourselves in a state beyond all obstacles.

Why must we take this step, throwing aside our laziness in favor of awakening? We must do so because now is our chance. We’ve been wishing that we could go beyond this eternal uneasiness, this pain and confusion, since before there were beginnings. This sentient being who we think we are has gone through every conceivable type of suffering, from which there is no escape unless we awaken.

Now is the time when your wish is granted. You have just enough free will to begin this process of awakening. Now is the time. There is no time left, you must enter the Spiritual Path and never give up. Your greatest wish is about to come true. All that you need do is take that first step. Simply proceed with this tremendously powerful aspiration, this gift of liberation, and never give up. Awakening is up to you.

Blessings in Light,

Robert Aho