Enlightened Action
I
think there is much more to expression of realization than what Karl
wrote, "With the further perfections of 11th, 12th and 13th,
this ordinary experience becomes much purer, warmer, softer, more
beautiful and complete. But even then, the expression of this
realization (i.e. conduct) is not perfect due to the traces of karma
in the physical cells."
I am sketching the often
mentioned manual for students (also to seekers and teachers) and
thinking about ways how to convey and adress this question because it
is the heart and soul of dharma. Ultimately, spiritual realization
and expression of it, or conduct according to the awakened nature are
not two separate things but the same thing. This means that
spirituality and conduct, that is expression in action in this world,
do not exist separately from each other, i.e. neither of them exists
in vacuum. And yet some have completely missed this point thinking
that they do exist separately.
The first vow of the Vows of
Bodhisattva goes, "I vow to liberate all sentient beings".
This can be looked at from two different perspectives: from the
perspective of one's personal practice where one's self-based habits
are the beings that one vows to liberate and from the perspective of
self-based habits of all beings that one vows to liberate over
endless future lives. It may sound overwhelming but ultimately these
two perspectives are not separate but same.
I have often said
that I don't think that there will ever be time when all sentient
beings are realized buddhas but from the perspective of vow or
conduct, it doesn't matter. By taking a vow to do it anyway or to
strive towards the liberation of all sentient beings, including their
personal karmas, is what bodhisattva-hood and buddahood takes a stand
for. Bodhisattvas take this impossible vow not because of the final
ultimate enlightenment of all beings in some distant future but
because something can be done about it right now. That's the
rebellion, that's the passion in true compassion. This in turn flips
the whole question of conduct or expression around. In a sense, this
turns the finger to point at ourselves.
There is nothing else
to enlightened conduct than to be of service and to help others in
all means available. A bodhisattva fulfills her/his vow by helping
and serving others, in other words, by helping seekers to find and
practice the dharma so that they can discover who they are. That's
it. That's all and it is extremely important because if bodhisattvas
don't act on their vow, who else will? Who else can? This is the sole
duty of bodhisattvas who have taken the vow and have become
bodhisattvas. The point is that there cannot be bodhisattvas apart
from bodhisattvic or compassionate action. Which bhumi or stage one
is at, is besides the point.
The thing is that we are here now
and we will not be here later. In few decades or so, none of us will
be here anymore. Then what? How will you be able to help beings then?
If we are bodhisattvas who have sworn, have taken an oath, to
help and serve others (sentient beings) through the dharma there is
never a later time for action simply because it doesn't make sense.
The world is on fire now, people are in pain now so how could we
postpone fulfilling our vows later? If we see people drown but decide
to help them later for whatever reason, they will drown and die right
in front of our eyes and the chance to help them will never come
back. If we understand the vow and the immense depth and power of it,
and have contemplated the fact of impermanence and death, how could
we wait to express what is in our hearts already? Like I said, the
enlightened heart-mind and expression of the enlightened heart-mind
are not two separate things.
In hindu dharma this is
expressed in the three most basic forms of yoga: jnana yoga
(eradication of dualistic delusions, emptiness practice in buddhist
terms), bhakti yoga (devotional practices that reveal the original
softness of the heart, compassion/sambhogakaya practices in buddhist
system) and karma yoga, the yoga of action and service. These three
are not separate but facets of the same thing. Actions coming from a
clear head and soft heart. If you just want a clear head and soft
heart but there is no action or the actions are limited to suit one's
own preferences, well according to countless masters and bodhisattvas
this is nothing but an egotrip, far from great perfection.
So
the question was will there be a point when expression is perfect? My
answer is that it will never be perfect without actions of service
towards those around us. It is because of this mistaken view that
some attainment or state of the mind alone is perfection, is whats
wrong here.
Realization is what you do. Without action, the
buddha has no body.
If it helps for you to know, I have spent
about 30 000 hours in sitting practice but more than that I have
answered emails, made facebook posts, wrote books, wrote posts on
dharma forums, wrote my blog, talked on the phone, talked on Skype,
travelled in cars, trains and airplanes; booked venues, went to pick
up the key, swept the floors, carried chairs, put the coffee on,
solved problems, did bhumi analyses, gave advice and had long
discussions and finally on top of everything else, taught hundreds of
courses and retreats. I've done all this when being badly burnt out,
severely sleep-deprived, extremely socially anxious and financially
broke for years and years, just because that's what the vow is to me.
In the words of Vesa-Matti Loiri, one of the greatest finnish
actors and artists of our time, "If you don't give it your all,
you don't give anything". I had the fortune to meet him once
when he told me of him having taken Bodhisattva Vows.
If you
don't give it your all, you don't give anything.
Shirin: >would you do everything exactly the same way if you
could choose?
-Exactly the same way, of course not but at the
time I didn't have options. I did what I did and that's the reason
why you are all here. That's why there's over 200 awakened people in
the world now. I could have started teaching after my full
enlightenment. That'd mean I would be just starting out things now.
This would mean that, you Shirin for example wouldn't hear of me or
my teachings in years or even decades. There'd be no dozen buddhas,
no sangha of 80 people, no 200 people awakened. On the other hand I
would have been saved from tons of harmful and stressful things that
I've had to endure, but I chose to begin to teach early because it
was the only thing that made sense.
>would you recommend
to others to do as much as you did even though they feel close to a
burn out?
-You all, my students and those who teach, get
everything ready because I have laid out the way for you. You don't
need to work as hard as I did. This has down sides. We all know the
story of the rich man who made a fortune out of nothing and whose
children got spoiled. I am not saying this angrily nor harshly but
with genuine care.
How many of my students are ready to
endure even half or even quarter of the hardship that I've endured?
How many have really grown out of the ego and act in the world for
the spiritual wellfare of others?
I've said for years that I
am in the business of growing lions, instead of sheep but how many
lions have grown and matured in this sangha? How many can match and
even go beyond my energy? How many will ever match it? With these
words I am trying to wake you up from your stubborn slumber and
deliver a vital message so that you'd realize what we could do
together!
I sat and practiced and did a million things for you
and all sentient beings. I took rebirth voluntarily and journeyed the
whole range of realization, just to be an example to you. I went
through hells for you and all sentient beings. I knew I'd lose my
health but I did it anyway. I knew I'd be broke for years but it
didn't worry me. My heart has been broken countless times throughout
these years and it hurt every time but I'm still here. The only
reason for that is my vow, in other words my love for all sentient
beings, particularly my students, and my doubtless devotion towards
my gurus.
All this out of necessity and just because it is
possible. When the moment of my death comes, I'll jump right into it,
knowing perfectly that I gave it my all. That'll be a good death but
until that moment I'll keep punching and pointing out the heartmind
of the buddha for human beings, hopefully with your help.
-Baba,
26.9.22
