This video is an exceptionally clear explanation of how to recognize awareness. Beneath the video are reflections from the clueless dharma wanderer, with further clarification by ChatGPT-4 at the end on the distinction between relative and absolute truths.
This journey of exploration and learning is yielding a variety of impressions, none of which should be taken as truth, but rather as reflections from a clueless dharma wanderer who may occasionally have moments of insight that quickly dissolve.
There are three main threads of Buddhist philosophy and meditative practices: Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. Personal views of these three ancient traditions are briefly shared below.
The most famous and recognized practitioner of Theravada Buddhism is Thich Nhat Han. He was an outspoken critic of the Viet Nam War and authored many books, including: Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness In Everyday Life. One of the primary focuses of Theravada is cultivation of loving kindness arising from the heart and sharing this open hearted intention with other beings. This involves letting go of judgments and criticisms of others, recognizing that each person’s suffering is a result of causes and conditions. This suffering can potentially be dissolved through meditative practices that cultivate insight and meritorious service that can support the dissolution negative karma.
Mahayana Buddhism recognizes the pervasiveness of duality in the suffering of all sentient beings: good/bad, right/wrong, light/dark, love/hate, acceptance/resistance, union/polarization. Mahayana practices cultivate awareness that thoughts and feelings arise from causes and conditions. This involves recognition of the interdependence and interconnectedness of all phenomena. In an effort to dissolve these causes and conditions there may arise opportunities to intentionally project antidotes for the dissolution of suffering. Sending out love and light from the practitioner’s heart, third eye and crown chakras can be a powerful practice to counteract hate, anger, polarization and violence in the world, as well as to send healing energy for those who are ill and suffering.
Vajrayana Buddhism includes powerful meditative and tantric practices that should be guided by an experienced and knowledgeable teacher. Understanding the nature of mind and reality is one of the primary goals of this tradition. Using meditation to cultivate temporary states of emptiness is a common practice. This begins with observation of thoughts and feelings that arise while focusing on the breath. This mindfulness can lead to recognition of the temporarily empty space between thoughts and feelings. It is in such temporary states of emptiness that primordial wisdom has the potential to arise. This wisdom can provide guidance for knowing what, how and when to take action in what is called the relative world — that world that can be seen and touched. Additionally, this wisdom can provide recognition of the emptiness of all phenomena in the absolute world, with the potential to attain a state of pure enlightenment.
The ultimate goal of Buddhist philosophy and meditative practices is the dissolution of suffering and the cultivation of mindful, blissful awareness. This awareness is available in any moment, through the letting go of attachment and the dissolution of greed, ignorance, judgement and egoic striving. Living in the present moment with an open heart and mind opens practioners to the potential for experiencing temporary states of serene wisdom. It is in such states that nonduality arises, a oneness with all that is, a knowingness that goes beyond rational understanding, into mystical union with the multiverse.
The distinction between relative and absolute truth can be confusing. ChatGPT-4 can provide some clarity:
What is the difference between the relative and absolute world?
In Buddhist philosophy, the concepts of relative and absolute truths (or realities) are used to describe different levels of understanding or perceiving reality.
Relative truth (also known as conventional, superficial, or phenomenal truth) refers to the way most people perceive the world in their daily lives. It includes all the concepts, ideas, and objects that we encounter in the world, which are understood in terms of their apparent qualities, characteristics, and relationships with other things. Relative truth encompasses the world as we see it, with all its diversity, multiplicity, and cause-and-effect relationships. It's the level of reality where conventional notions of "I" and "mine," and distinctions between subject and object, exist.
Absolute truth (also known as ultimate truth or reality) refers to the ultimate nature of all phenomena, beyond conventional or dualistic perceptions. In Buddhist teachings, the ultimate truth is often described as emptiness (Sanskrit: śūnyatā), which is the understanding that all phenomena lack inherent, independent existence and are instead dependent on other conditions for their existence. The absolute truth transcends all conceptual constructs, dualistic perceptions, and linguistic limitations.
Understanding these two truths is crucial for progressing on the Buddhist path. They are not two separate realities, but two aspects of a single reality perceived differently. In the relative world, we deal with phenomena as they appear, based on conventional understanding. However, a deeper investigation reveals the absolute reality, which is the empty, interdependent, and impermanent nature of all phenomena.
From the perspective of absolute truth, the separate existence of things and beings is seen as an illusion. Yet, the illusion itself has a certain reality, which is recognized at the level of relative truth. Both truths are necessary for a full understanding of reality: the relative truth helps us navigate the world, while the absolute truth frees us from attachment and aversion, leading to liberation from suffering.
May all beings be healed and well
May they be freed from suffering
May they recognize the preciousness of their human birth
May they share love and light for the benefit of all
🙏💕🌎
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