The art of introspection

Now that several pressing questions were answered we can get back to Padma’s The Tibetan Book Of The Great Liberation: The next few verses are my favorite. Here Padma is asking us to verify what he is saying by looking into our own mind. And if you think you know what your mind is, you will be in for a pleasant surprise.

How is your mind different than you think?
First, your mind is much bigger than just a few thoughts in your head. In fact it contains the whole universe.

Secondly, it contains time, but in itself it is free from time, unborn and undying. It is the still place where you stand that allows you to see the movement of time.

And thirdly it is indestructible. It cannot be burned by fire, or destroyed by wind or flooded by water.

For these reasons and more, if you are willing to look afresh at your own mind, you will be in for the ultimate adventure.

What is Voidness?
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So what is this Voidness that Padma often talks about? Voidness is not the same as a vacuum or thoughtless state. Rather it is a state that does not fit into your thinking process. So if you believe that the only way to know something is through your senses and thought processes, it will seem as if the Void is nothingness.

However, there is another way; you can know the void by standing in your original state, which contains its own wisdom. Here the Void shines by its own light without the need be another light. It is a light that shines even in darkness.

Also like space, it is not limited by boundaries or borders. In reality, space is not divided into room space, pot space, and drawer space. There is just one undivided space. In the same way, when you look at your mind, you will see that it doesn't have the boundaries that it's supposed to have. In reality there is just the One Mind and If you look into your own mind you will know how this is true.

How to stand as the Void?
So how then can you stand as the Void? Just take a fresh unbiased look into the nature of your mind. Then you will automatically be standing as the Void. Now let’s see how the master himself points to the nature of your mind. Just follow his pointers and you will be there too. In the same state that you are really in, even now:

The yoga of introspection

The One Mind being verily of the Voidness and without any foundation, one’s mind is, likewise, as vacuous as the sky. To know whether this be so or not, look within thine own mind.

Being of the Voidness, and thus not to be conceived as having beginning or ending, Self-Born Wisdom has in reality been shining forever, like the Sun’s essentiality, itself unborn. To know whether this be so or not, look within thine own mind.

Divine Wisdom is undoubtedly indestructible, unbreakable, like the ever-flowing current of a river. To know whether this be so or not look within thine own mind.

Being merely a flux of instability like the air of the firmament, objective appearances are without power to fascinate and fetter. To know whether this be so or not, look within thine own mind.

All appearances are verily one’s own concepts, self-conceived in the mind, like reflections seen in a mirror. To know whether this be so or not, look within thine own mind.

Arising of themselves and being naturally free like the clouds in the sky, all external appearances verily fade away into there own respective places. To know whether this be true or not, look within thine own mind.

The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation
By Padma-Sambhava
translated by Karma Sumdhon Paul, and Lobzang Mingyur Dorje
Edited by Evans-Wentz
Oxford University Press

The world is not as stable as it looks
If you read my past blog, What do you experience anyway?, (see the heading: Where so you experience the world anyway) you will see how the objects that seem to be out there are really in here. What this means is that objects are really as unstable as the thoughts in your mind.  In fact, when your state of mind changes, your world changes too. That’s why at times you dream, and at times you go into deep sleep where everything disappears. Your sense of reality remains the same, doesn’t it? It is just that your world changes and disappears.

The thing that makes the various states seem so solid, is the Void, which is the stable point that sees the changes. If you can return your sense of reality to its source, you will find yourself standing in a vast and blissful freedom that you could not even imagine. This is the source of the feeling of stability. It is so stable that it is free of birth and death; nevertheless, this is your natural state.

This ever-present freedom is your birthright
This is the freedom promised by Padma and every Buddha past and present. Not only that, you are not different from the Buddha. That’s why this freedom is your birthright and natural state.

So just take a little step and look with fresh eyes. Before long you will find this ever-present freedom.

Feel free to ask questions
Now I want you to experience your mind in its full glory. So please feel free to continue asking questions. I’m always glad to hear your reactions and clarify my answers. Unlike the path of faith, on the path of Self-Knowledge it is curiosity that destroys limitation and allows you to abide in your natural freedom.

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