This theme resonates beautifully with Padmasambhava’s ‘simple, quintessential disposition’ that I shared with you in a contemplation last July:
"There are all kinds of instructions on posture, but just sit relaxed and at ease – that’s the main point. There are many precepts concerning speech and energy, like binding the breath and reciting mantras, but just stay silent like a mute – that’s the main thing. There are many key points of mind to follow, like fixating the mind, relaxing, radiating and absorbing light, concentrating, and many more, but just stay free and easy without trying to change anything, just resting naturally – that’s the main thing.
Let the body rest like a corpse, without movement; keep silent like a mute; leave the mind alone without changing anything. Leave pure presence alone, unmodified, just as it is. Relax, at ease, and hang loosely in the natural state. That is the best disposition of body, speech, and mind. There is simply no better method than that…." The Great Secret of Mind, (p. 165-6.)
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Taking this minimalist approach allows us to cut through the clutter of terms, concepts, and practices that make up so much of our usual spiritual endeavor. Our invitation is to let go of all of that and see what is always here – so close that we overlook it, so simple that we won’t believe it’s true, so effortless that we choose instead to make lifetimes of needless work for ourselves.
In this moment, we can let all of that naturally self-release, doing nothing more than is necessary to find ourselves where we have always, timelessly, been; and seeing that all our thoughts and feelings about our spiritual journey are nothing more than the creative display of the nature of our own mind
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To allow everything is unconditional although what is obvious is not to cause any suffering to beings and allow them to explore their natural way of being. We do not need to contribute to the suffering but can help to reduce suffering by increasing our own happiness and do service to the universe in any way we can.
To me the combination of both approaches, letting things be as they are effortlessly or focusing the mind with effort, are not mutually excluding one another but in combination lead to unconditioned awareness and Supreme Bliss - they are in eternal embrace, the paradox of effort and effortlessness. When I try to hard to fixate.... the concept of "I" comes in the way of being free. It does not work. When that happens I allow to be in what is -the breath, the flowing thoughts - they are nothing - as they pass by - the sky opens into infinity. Just allow your mind to be free and pure awareness, Parama Purusha, Supreme Consciousness takes over.
Peace to all Beings and this apparently ever more crazy world. Nobody should undergo any suffering artificially and unnecessarily. Love to all Beings everywhere.
