On 9/9/2012 3:34 PM, mike brown wrote:
Kris,
>The nature of this realized, cessation is effortless.
We're contingent beings in a contingent world. We're born, we grow
sick, we grow old, we die. In a contingent world we don't know what's
just around the corner ready to befall us. In order to "realise"
suffering fully we need to pay mindful attention to what impacts on us
- not to just the external stimuli, but also to how we react to them
inwardly.
While all this is so, these are not separate. 'No independent
origination". Contingent. What you seek to attend to, is none other than
that attending. Abiding as whatever presents.
Abiding is not optional. Delusions of not abiding take great effort to
maintain (Abiding is not optional. Delusions of not abiding take great
effort to maintain [Abiding is not optional. Delusions of not abiding
take great effort to maintain.].)...
If you realize at least 1/3 of that last bit - your mindfulness is
sufficient. ;)
Even after Buddha's defeat of Mara, he was still 'visited' by Mara
from time to time. life happens moment to moment and no over-riding
state of mind/knowledge/understanding/Enlightenment will eradicate the
potential to suffer at any time. All we can do is constantly practice
mindfulness until our mind isn't so restless and we can be more aware
of those first stirrings of the mind to be so reactive.
There is no Buddha without Mara. Neither victor nor vanquished was born
to fight nor dies in the struggle. To conquer delusion is see it was
never otherwise. Samsara is Nirvana. No other realization/no realization
of other.
All teachings of Buddha are carried and delivered by Mara.
The Middle Way cannot be entered without Mara's invitation. Be mindful
you don't reject it.
KG
