Вадим Сычевский
Absolute freedom and happiness – our true essence
Misconceptions about Enlightenment and Emancipation (beginning)[18]
The first of the misconceptions, unfortunately, present these days, is that intermediate stages of spiritual practice are mistaken for Enlightenment and Emancipation.
For example, someone sees a white light in meditation. This light seems to «envelope» the practitioner and a very pleasant, joyful feeling arises. If this person has studied the Teachings carefully, he will realize that this is the experience of the Heavenly World of Passion. It is indeed a very pleasant experience, it indicates that this person has merit and his meditative practice is moving in the right direction.
However, firstly, it is not Enlightenment and Emancipation (because it is only the Heaven of the material world), and secondly, this experience should never be taken up and satisfied. The fact is that any meditative experience, whether it is Heaven or any other world, is just a manifestation of the data accumulated in our Five Aggregates. As I have already explained, the data is activated by our multi-layered consciousness. Of course, it is wonderful if the practitioner sees Heaven and not, say, the World of Hungry Spirits. Nevertheless, to rejoice in astral pollution is a path of degradation; such experiences are milestones on the path, not the ultimate goal. If one rejoices and is caught up in everything that pops up in the mind during meditation, there is a danger of getting «stuck» on the level of the world that corresponds to this manifested, accumulated past information. Then a person begins to think that he has already become an Achiever, that he has already completed his practice. There are many such examples in our time.
In order not to find oneself in such a situation, one should study the teachings deeply, perform the preliminary practices accurately, and not get caught up in the experience gained in meditation, analyzing it from the point of view of the Dharma (and not based on one's own vague ideas or beliefs).
The second misconception about Enlightenment and Emancipation is that, due to ignorance or misunderstanding of the Teachings, they are ascribed to them as being mystical, mysterious, and, as a result, unattainable by the ordinary person. The first levels of Enlightenment can be reached by anyone who is seriously engaged in correct spiritual practice. However, it happens that a person, who has realized, for example, the first Enlightenment, tells other people about his experience. Nevertheless, in response, they say: «Why do you think you are a Buddha? The Enlightened One is only a Buddha». In other words, they deny the fact that Enlightenment and Emancipation have many levels. In this way, a person gets a false idea that Enlightenment is something «distant and cosmic», something that «only a Buddha can realize», and, as a consequence, completely unattainable by ordinary mortals. As a result, people, if they do some spiritual practice, it is more for self-comfort, saying: «For me, Enlightenment is unattainable, and Emancipation is a „dark forest”. The last Arhats lived 700 years ago». As in the first case, this too is a bleak picture. Meanwhile, Enlightenment and Emancipation are our original, natural state. To illustrate this, let me quote Bodhidharma, the 28th patriarch of Buddhism:
«From time immemorial, every movement, every action at every moment and place is your original consciousness, is your original Buddha nature. Consciousness itself is Buddha. That's it. Apart from this consciousness, there is no other Buddha anywhere. Separate from this consciousness there is nowhere to look for Buddha, Nirvana, and Bodhi[19]. Our own nature is absolutely true. It has neither cause nor effect. Our consciousness is the Buddha. Our consciousness is the full, clear, calm shining. Therefore, to say that outside of consciousness there is Buddha and Bodhi to attain is a mistake».
In my opinion, such misconceptions are disrespectful to the great Gurus of the past, starting with Shakyamuni Buddha, who, having realized Enlightenment and Emancipation, has transmitted this Teaching to us in every detail, and we don't even have an accurate understanding of it (or just don't want to?).
The process of Enlightenment and ways of practice
(Illustration № 3, «All kinds of spiritual practice»)
Faith and Devotion[20]
Faith means belief in the past Gurus and their Teachings, the True Dharma. Devotion is the deep study, contemplation and practice of the Teachings. To put it briefly, faith is the orientation of the mind. In other words, faith and devotion direct our consciousness towards the object of faith and devotion.
Master Kalu Rinpoche says this about devotion (taking Refuge):
«Taking Refuge does not carry any dangers or restrictions, either external or internal. It does not constrain us in our daily activities. It is essentially about developing trust in the source of compassion and blessing. Moreover, it is also not true that one who has taken refuge is not allowed access to other spiritual traditions. There are many spiritual teachings in this world. The Buddha said that all traditions should be seen as the activity of the enlightened state of mind, which expresses itself differently according to the different needs of beings» (From the book «On the Nature of Mind»).
However, what is this object of faith and devotion in reality? The great Gurus of the past, such as Shakyamuni Buddha, for example, fully comprehended their True «Self» and realized the state of perfect Nirvana. Therefore, by practicing faith and devotion to the Gurus of the past and their Teachings, we are guided to our true original state of absolute freedom and happiness. Thus, it is not a belief in some separate personality called «God» or «Buddha», but a direction of consciousness to the essence of these souls – the True «Self». In other words, it is faith in one's inner Teacher (Guru), and in reality the true self, that is the Atman.
Engaging in the practice of devotion alone and attaining perfection in it, makes it possible to attain the ultimate goal of Enlightenment and Emancipation. However, can an ordinary soul realize the profound meaning of «devotion»? It is practically impossible. And since it is, devotion is realised in a more detailed form – through spiritual practice based on the True Dharma.
Study of the Teachings
The Absolute Truth is our true essence or Atman. Everything else is data that is not us or Atman. However, among this data, there is information that points to the Atman, and there is information that completely blocks any vision and understanding.
The first kind of information can be labeled as «Dharma, Law, Doctrine, or Truth». For example, it is the information that everything is impermanent and death is inevitable. That our lives are entirely determined solely by our karma contained in the Five Aggregates. Finally, it is information that the Five Aggregates themselves are not us, and if you stop the work of consciousness, it becomes possible to see this.
The second type of information is the information that forms our worldly desires, first of all – hatred, ignorance, and greed. Worldly desires keep us in the gross material World of Passion and bring suffering.
The question that completely determines the vector of our life is what kind of information prevails in us. If we choose the wrong approach and absorb information that reinforces passions and egoism, our lives will deteriorate because we will get on the path of degeneration and degradation of our consciousness. The fact is that the objects and phenomena we see around us are the same for everyone. For example, our physical body, events taking place, or the planet Earth – all these things are seen in the same way, in other words, we all see the same things. Only the methods of analyzing and distinguishing what is perceived differ, and if they are different, our actions and, accordingly, their results will be different. And the analysis and distinction of objects and phenomena are carried out solely based on information and experience that we have accumulated so far.
Information from the outside world
In addition, what kind of information do we receive every day from the media, the internet, or when talking to friends? What states of consciousness does it form?
Firstly, hatred for everyone and everything that we don't like and, as we think, brings suffering. We will endlessly blame anyone but ourselves for our problems and troubles: because of the vast amount of information about worldly desires, we are unable to see that the cause of all our suffering is the effect of past experience or karma. That is, in reality, «it is not things that torment us, but our perception of them»[21]. Hatred makes us rejoice when those we dislike suffer, or when we succeed in destroying what we dislike. This kind of consciousness work arises from the distinction between self and others: «The most important thing is myself, I don't care about the others!». Distinction of self and others arises because of complete identification with the Five Aggregates and, first of all, with the physical body. Such work of consciousness forms a state of Hell around us, and in the next life, because of fixation on our own hatred, we are really reborn in Hell.
Secondly, if there is identification and love for one's false «self», this love requires satisfaction: we endlessly search for what we try to call «happiness» or «joy». However, it all turns out to be just an ignorant search for illusory momentary and usually primitive pleasures, which likens us to animals and leads us to the animal world in the next life.
Thirdly, we are endlessly caught up in material things and delight in our own greed, becoming selfish hungry spirits who do not know how to satisfy our desires. It is a constant feeling of desperate need and lack. In this state, we are not interested in anything but personal gain.
Fourthly, everyday worldly information forms in us a blind attachment called «love», which consists in perceiving the beloved person as one's own property, even when doing relative good in the series, «I am taking care of you!». There is anxiety and fear in the mind, thinking that there is always the possibility of losing the object of one's affection. Therefore, there is a desire to constantly control him, as well as endlessly jealous and demand for reciprocity. Attachment dominates in the Human World.
Fifth, striving to surpass others in anything, without much choice of means, and envy of those who have achieved more. Of the positive aspects of the work of the Asuras' consciousness, which corresponds to this fifth point, we can single out the aspiration for self-improvement. However, it too is mixed with the desire for superiority, envy, and ill-will. A typical example is science, which in the present World of Men is clearly of the asuristic type. For example, immediately after scientific data on the possibility of uranium fission chain reaction accompanied by the release of huge amounts of energy were obtained in 1939, the development of nuclear weapons began. However, the first nuclear power plant, where nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes and for the benefit of people, appeared only in 1954 after nuclear weapons were used and many people died because of their use.
Sixth. The highest state of consciousness that everyday worldly information can form in us is the state of devas. It is usually expressed in complacency and willful ignorance. So why do I say it is a high state? Because it has no base passions, but rather a desire to take pleasure in sublime and refined things, such as art, music, and poetry. Spiritual practice can also be included in this list, although it is better to say «pseudo-spiritual» or «near-spiritual». A person who possesses deva consciousness will practice only to feel physical and mental satisfaction. Of course, he will not perform «rituals to attract good fortune» or «cast spoils» on his enemies – this is the domain of lower spirits, the devas are above this. However, spiritual practice at the level of ordinary devas completely lacks the essence of true spiritual practice – Enlightenment and Emancipation. Of course, it is good to stay in the satisfied and relatively calm state of Devas in this life, and in the next to reincarnate in Heaven, but it must be understood that this state does not exceed impermanence and suffering because the World of Devas is in Sansara. In addition, the information of even the low level of Heaven in our modern world is negligible compared to the information of the lower worlds.
The prevailing information is that of hatred, animal ignorance, total preoccupation with material things, blind attachment, envy, and complacency. Society does not even lay down such data but literally pushes them into the consciousness of a human being from early childhood until his death. For example, does any media report that hatred, ignorance, and greed are actually the three sufferings? Do any bloggers write that the body, feelings, images, experiences, and information are not really we? Maybe popular songs or feature films talk about the need for spiritual practice?
Dharma has the opposite vector
It is Dharma (Teaching) that can oppose worldly information. True Dharma is always opposite to worldly desires. True Dharma is information that forms a way of thinking that helps us realize our true nature by stopping and destroying worldly desires. In other words, it is high-level information that explains to us how to stop the workings of dual consciousness in order to see true reality.
Let's say you are sick. Would you be able to diagnose yourself accurately and prescribe the right treatment if you have absolutely no knowledge of medicine? Of course not. Therefore, you will need an experienced doctor or at least information about medicine, preferably reliable. Of course, there is always the risk of being seen by a quack with a bought medical degree.
Similarly, in the case of spiritual practice, you can meet with True Dharma, or you can meet with another city lunatic preaching about «entering the astral, connecting to the flows of universal energy and contact with astral entities». This is determined by common sense, critical thinking, and the ability to see the facts. These qualities, in turn, are determined by clarity of consciousness. The state of consciousness depends on the ratio between bad karma and merit. This is why the sutras say that one's encounter with the right teaching is determined by one's merit.
True Dharma is the highest-grade information from the causal data. Our reincarnation and our lives are not determined by what we choose from the causal data, but by what part of the causal information we live. In other words, our lives and our tendencies are determined by what part of information from causal data we use. In addition, in turn, we can only use the data that dominates our Causal World, or Aggregate No.5. Thus, the most important factor is what we direct our consciousness to, and what information we fix our memory on – it is this information that will dominate and determine our actions. This is where the correct study of the Dharma, or Teachings, which is the foundation of all spiritual practice, comes into play.