Woke

2026, January, Issue 185

Be aware!

See the natural beauty that

surrounds us at all times;

Nurture great compassion!

May your compassion spring forth

With unfathomable sadness,

sadness that you embrace,

as you gaze upon this travesty,

this embroiled festering wound, this

unenlightened activity of the world,

this trap of cyclic existence;

Within compassion itself,

Awaken!

A poem by Robert Aho © 2026

It is not a mistake that awakening itself is being attacked in these dark times. This was part of many prophesies, I think mainly because it is part of this natural cycle of death and destruction, a part of cyclic existence that is really inevitable. We must all face dark times.

Being woke means that you are nurturing great compassion. It means that you are dedicating your life to helping others, and being aware of your surroundings. It is about being mindful about what you do. Woke is a Christian value, as well as a deep Buddhist teaching. It might not be the same as being fully enlightened; however, it means that you are cultivating your awareness, or enlightenment mind, through a deep concern for others. This is what is needed by everyone who follows great masters who taught love and compassion. These are the hallmarks of those who believe in wisdom beings. Woke is Christ’s teaching. Woke is the Buddha’s teaching.

When I was in the death bardo, I think I may have mentioned this a time or two, my only reason for returning was to help people awaken. It was about emphasizing what is most important for the well-being of people on Earth, and by extension, this applies to all beings everywhere, in all times, in all universes, in all dimensions. Great compassion brought me back to my decrepit body. It wasn’t a need to put self back together or regain life for my own selfish needs. It was this Aspiration to Awaken, it was the need to help each and every being with this knowledge and this message that we must awaken.

Although I am committed to not being political in any way, I must address this terrible tragedy that is taking place in my neighborhood, this mistake where people think it is okay to hate, to be dominated by fear and anger, among other evils people are inflicting upon themselves. This is not okay; it will only lead to immeasurable tragedy for each and every person who is inflicting such evil upon the world. It’s not even so much about all the traumas people like this create as it is the immense suffering they now inflict upon themselves, by simply creating such negative karma. People who are supporting cruelty are doing much worse to themselves, without even knowing it. This creates terrible suffering for many eons. It’s senseless to be like that.

When we look at the world, we must not try to ignore what is happening, we must not push it away, we must not bring it closer. It’s the exact same thing we do with thoughts, while we are in meditation. If you are woke, your life becomes a meditation. Your every action becomes something that you know you are doing, as well as how it affects people.

If we are cultivating woke, we must see things as they are. This allows us to start having the skillful means to actually help people, rather than just getting swept away by our own embroiled emotions and overactive imagination. If we are woke, we are able to simply help through compassion, by seeing how people suffer and how they perpetuate suffering. It means we are dedicated to helping all beings. Woke is the proper intention that we should start each day, as well as each action that we take.

We start with the Aspiration to Awaken, if we really wish to be woke. We start in this way, knowing that awakening is the best medicine. When we Aspire to Awaken, we can see that our embroiled mind has never served us. It only leads to more tragedy, more trauma.

So, in this, we can also surmise that this Aspiration to Awaken will guide each step. We don’t become embroiled with those who are closed off in darkness, those who live in a continual state of fear, hate and ignorance. Seeing that we cannot help such closed hearts and minds, it’s okay to cut the karmic strands. Woke means saving those who have the capacity and desire to awaken.

We must look at our own capacity to help others. If we can only help ourselves to awaken, then that is enough for now. If we can help a few people, then we should do that. If we have the capacity to help vast numbers of people, then we should do that.

As you investigate phenomena, as you see what is happening in this grand illusion, you must be realistic about who you can help and what you should do. Ultimately, woke is a great virtue. It is a sacred teaching that must be embraced, if you have the capacity to live with love and compassion. Even though woke has been turned into something political, it’s really a deep spiritual practice, something that must be cultivated for the well-being of all. Woke will save us all.

Blessings in Light,

Rigdzin Robert Aho