With Bodhicitta

2024, July, Issue 106

Within this impermanent life,

rescued from death itself,

this pathetic life

that I have opened

with Bodhicitta,

I am surrounded by flowers;

My efforts, my motivation

to help all beings awaken

has been hidden, open yet

generally obscure,

not seeking fame or fortune,

as is the tradition among

hidden yogis singing songs,

out there in wild places,

in forests, by water,

or among rocks;

Can there be a better life

than this?

A poem by Robert Aho © 2024

I suppose that the disconcerting nature of life, of this constant uneasiness, this sense that nothing is as it should be, can prevent us from developing Bodhicitta.  Instead of relaxing, viewing all appearances realistically, we fill our lives with distractions and busy activities, not knowing that this actually prevents us from knowing reality.  Being alive is like having an open wound.  We’re not quite sure what to do with that injury, that trauma; so, we keep adding distractions, hoping that it will go away or resolve itself that way.

Life, however, is part of this eternal cycle.  In reality, death is no different than life—both are illusory.  Dreams and daily life are also the same, just mind, mind and more mind.  In our daily life, our mind is more closed, unless we take action to open it.  In dreams, we are naturally open and receptive in a fluid manner.  In death, we are utterly exposed to what is, as it is, with no body, nothing to hide behind, watching our fabricated life simply ripped apart. 

The only reason we don’t awaken in the death bardo is because we have habituated ourselves into thinking that we are somehow real and separate.  We fool ourselves into thinking that self is real.  We haven’t prepared ourselves to let go.  Since we have this attachment to life, we take action to return at once.  This is also because we have no ability to remain in a state of utterly brilliant awareness.  We cling to our dark trauma of cyclic existence, hoping that more of the same will somehow solve the problem.

It's important to take the next step, by understanding that this life, death and rebirth is nothing other than an infinitely changing illusion, that time is an illusion, that appearances have no inherent meaning, other than what we give them with mind.  You can begin to understand this in life, or you can pause slightly in the death bardo and it will be quite apparent, if you pay attention.  People often make the mistake of trying to fit their beliefs into their experiences in the death bardo, rather than simply observing, being at ease and being present in our natural awareness.

When I was returning, I didn’t pay much attention to deities or heavens or hells.  These are simply fabrications of mind.  Instead, I remained at ease throughout all these infinitely occurring appearances, throughout this incredible turbulence where all possibilities appear.  That’s what you need to do, if you wish to conquer death.

We see appearances of mind as they are, understanding that many things seem very real to people as they transmigrate.  It is not that these things are not real, it is that they are only real on a relative level, in a way that is very personal and specific to each being.  When we approach appearances with Bodhicitta, even very horrible things begin to look beautiful.  We see the inherent illusion that is creating what appears.  The magic of our senses overwhelms us at that point.  We see those who engage in appearances, as if these appearances were real, as being utterly insane, and that is somehow quite beautiful.

We take this life so seriously, protecting ego, protecting beliefs and perpetuating confusion.  As you will discover in the death bardo, this is also part of the All-Good.  People chase things that they cannot possess.  Fortunes disappear from their grasp, just as life passes us by.  Power turns to dust.  Fame is soon forgotten.  Pleasure becomes painful in short order.  All the concerns we had about this life simply vanish without a trace.

Storms and time bury treasures forever.  Nearly every empire that has ever existed has been completely forgotten.  Every celebrated person is soon replaced.  Any pleasure we feel is fleeting at best, soon overwhelmed by pain, trauma and this uneasiness we know so well.

I opened my life again with the Key of Bodhicitta.  This life is painful.  My heart does not beat correctly.  Everything that I do is obstructed by a body that won’t cooperate.  I did this because I knew in the death bardo that I needed to say something, I needed to help people to awaken to what is, as it is. 

So, now I’m surrounded by nature.  Flowers are blooming everywhere I look.  Forest creatures are happy to find an oasis.  Living with great love and compassion, changes the world into something quite delightful.  Every action, every thought that I have is for the benefit of all.  I’ve let the world go, even though I’ve returned with a purpose.

See, this is what it is like to remain present in our real nature.  It doesn’t matter if our bodies are in pain.  Opening our heart and mind has this effect on all.

Blessings in Light,               

Robert Aho