The need to awaken

Most primordially, we are the Buddha-nature or the same, the absolute nature.  However—and this should be underscored—we do not recognize this nature (our basic avidya, or non-knowledge of it). What, instead, we perceive is not this nature, although at some level we believe otherwise.  Because of this contrary misperception we are trapped in compositions of this nature: from very fine to coarse.  Being thus trapped we bear the burden of what we adhere to in the belief that this is real; this is my true nature.  The Buddha says this is samsara which is the flowing on of unbroken bondage.  Samsara is, in addition, a moving away from self (i.e., our true nature) rather than a moving to self.

Making matters worse is the unbroken habit of moving away from our self by desiring and clinging to what is not our nature.  This gets rather complicated.  Because if we are moving away from our Buddha-nature, or true self, this being our avidya, which is primordial non-knowing of our true nature, we reach a certain point of absolute wrong belief and complete delusion. 

At this stage, it is hardly possible to convince people that their psychophysical organism has an unconditioned animative side (their true nature and self) which is spiritually independent of the animated psychophysical body.  I would go so far as to say that the people caught up in this state of mind are even hostile to Buddhism, or for that matter, any religion which makes spirit absolute.  I think a good historical case could be made that the world’s religions seem to always split up into spiritual vs non-spiritual.  In Buddhism the split is arya (those who are led by spirit) vs prithagjana or the secular.

I need to emphasize that an awakening or gnosis is required, even though, primordially, we are the Buddha-nature.  We must make our goal to awaken to its presence, directly, thus knowing what we truly are.  It is very much a gnosis; a rather profound and deeply moving one.   We can’t just believe that we are already awakened.  For we will  always identify with what we are not—never what we are.

 

Comments

[wanderer]

Gnosticism seems to be be dead-end (look at gnostics from all times). Just like materialism, rationalism and nihilism.

Have you read Christian Theology? Aquinas, St Augustine...

[Adasatala]

"From beginningless time until now, all beings have mistaken themselves for phenomena and, having lost sight of their original mind, are influenced by phenomena, and end up having the scope of their observations defined by boundaries large and small."

[Methexis]

I realize I am not yet awakened; I realize it is possible to awaken; I will not postpone it endlessly; I realize I know the right direction, for Bodhisattvas point the way. Nevertheless, the difficult path must be trodden. How wonderful though, that I've been shown the authentic path!