Problems, Peace and Ecstasy

Buddhism says on one level, look, this situation, this experience here is unsatisfactory, and more than that, it cannot possibly be satisfactory when experience is on this level.

But then, on another level, it says, the nature of any experience is neither inherently satisfactory nor unsatisfactory, on this level it is 'what it is' without being definable as any-THING. On this level there is neither satisfaction nor non-satisfaction.

Finally, Buddhism goes on to say that this experience, right now, is completely, totally and purely satisfactory. In fact, on this level there is nothing but pure satisfaction itself.

How is this possible? How can we reconcile these three seemingly opposing views of reality?

Each of these "descriptions" are utterly true at their particular level of experience. When we cling to any of these three levels of truth we create a cognitive dissonance, a mental conflict - a kind of suffering.

We do have to recognize that in our usual way of life we have these problems - the fist teaching of Buddha was to point out the suffering or unsatisfactoriness in life.

But when we begin to look into this we discover something deeper.

Looking into the cause of these problems reveals that their source is groundless, their basis is baseless, their nature is emptiness. THING-NESS is something that comes from within. THING-NESS does not abide 'out there'. THING-NESS is the cause. There are no THINGS so let go of that.

We might be tempted then to leave it at that, to stay at that level, and why not, why shouldn't we? It is utterly the truth and it sounds pretty peaceful so why not just view it all as no-THING?

Because truth is not a THING, it can't abide as anyTHING, even as the profound truth of emptiness or interdependence.

In meditation, we can approach our thoughts as though they are obstacles to the object of our meditation. Thoughts arise, distraction, you notice this and correct, you return to meditation. That is like seeing life as a problem. This is good on one level.

Then, in meditation, we can also see these thoughts as empty, as relative, as nothing to be concerned about. Here you just sit with whatever appears knowing no THING is inherently there to be an obstacle. This also is good on one level.

But even this level of meditation gives way to something deeper.

Life is not just problems.
Life is not just peace.

Life is also ecstasy.

THIS as 'THIS IS' is more than something that needs to be corrected. THIS as 'THIS IS' is more than something that needs to be recognized.

THIS as 'THIS IS' is also pure being.

Whether you correct your experience or not (in meditation), whether you recognize the nature of your experience or not (in meditation), your experience is more than (beyond) correcting or recognizing in meditation.

Pure being is who we are in truth.

In Buddhism this is called our Buddha Nature.

THAT is exactly who we really are.

It doesn't need correcting. It doesn't need recognition. We are THAT whether or not we correct our experience or recognize our experience for what it is.

When we experience life as problem then we are problem Buddha. When we experience life as peace and clarity, we are peace and clarity Buddha.

This however is like making the body and mind of a Buddha, but without the feelings and without the speech.

Speech is expression, communication, feeling. Release and benefit always have to do with that, with the whole of our experience, not just correcting and not just recognizing.

Expressing pure being 'as it is' is actualizing who you are right now in totality.

When you take this experience of interdependence, of relativity and subtract the illusory need or desire to correct it, you arrive at the ecstasy of pure being - in other words bliss/emptiness. Bliss minus "bliss" as any THING to cling to.

This is our complete experience 'as it is' NOW.

It's not a matter of correcting, although you can make good use of correcting.

It's not a matter of recognizing, although you have to recognize this - "recognizing" is still removed slightly from this 'as it is'.

Reality goes beyond both body and mind. It is so present, so complete and total that you simply miss it in any attempt to 'attain' it. Buddhism helps, but you have to be ready to (have to develop the confidence to) ditch the raft you used to cross the river or it will weigh you down carrying it everywhere.

Pure Being is THIS, and THIS has always been the case.

Enjoy it.