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Impermanence Revisited

© Yeshe Chodon

Last month's piece wasn't really finished. I wrote to a friend of Cassie's for more information about her but never got it. And time got away from me and so the piece stands, but it bothers me every time I open up this website because there is more that needs to be said.

And now we have such a glaring example of impermanence that all else seems, at least for now, to be overshadowed. Great buildings, human lives, avowals of peace, those perceived as enemies and those perceived as allies, all tumbling into the dust and mist of impermanence as new changes assault our senses every day.

I share Buddhist quotations that have come to me over the Internet and have given me a baseline for sanity. When I express my political opinions which I have been doing plenty of lately, I come from a place of judgment. I am motivated by anger and by fear and by ego. Buddhism teaches me that is all Samsara and shows me the way out.

This is not in any way saying do not have compassion, do not help those who are suffering. The essence of right action is compassion. But holding the higher view enables us to recognize Mara, illusion, in even its most dramatic manifestation.

Basically, to cross the dangerous defile of your own thinking is to bring hindrances onto the path. The experiences of evil forces and magical displays are experienced within your own mistaken mind. There are definitly no 'gods' or 'demons' outside of yourself. The very moment you experience evil forces and magical displays, apply the vital point of understanding that they do not possess any true existence as they are devoid of arising, dwelling, and ceasing. Whenever a magical attack occurs, assume your yogic posture, keep the gaze and look into its identity. The thought then dawns as empty cognizance. As soon as your thinking turns into empty cognizance, you posses the confident courage that thorougly cuts through fear and dread.

Even if the hordes of Mara surround you like an army, they will not be able to move a hair on your body; nor will they be able to create any obstacles. Keep the self-assurance of thinking, "I cannot be harmed by obstacles!" To faintheartedly think "I wonder if I will meet with some obstacles?" merely creates a welcome for demons.

All experiences of gods and demons are just your own conceptual thinking taking form. They do not posses even an atom of existence outside [your own mind]. Cut the stream of conceptual thinking! Offer your aggregates as a feast offering! Give your body away as food! Cast away ego-clinging! Apply the vital point and practice!