Padmasambhava is said to have described the stages of the mystic path of enlightenment in the following way (ask yourself the question in the movie title 'Are We There Yet')
1. To read a large number of books on various religions and philosophies. To listen to many learned doctors professing different doctrines. To experiment oneself with a number of methods.
2. To choose a doctrine among the many one has studied and discard the other ones, as the eagle carries off only one sheep from the flock.
3. To remain in a lowly condition, humble in one's demeanor, not seeking to be conspicuous or important in the eyes of the world, but behind apparent significance, to let one's mind soar high above all worldly power and glory.
4. To be indifferent to all. Behaving like the dog or the pig that eat what chance brings them. Not making any choice among things which one meets. Abstaining from any effort to acquire or avoid anything. Accepting with an equal indifference whatever comes: riches or poverty, praise or contempt, giving up the distinction between virtue and vice, honorable and shameful, good and evil. Being neither afflicted, nor repenting whatever one may have done and, on the other hand, never being elated or proud on account of what one has accomplished.
5. To consider with perfect equanimity and detachment the conflicting opinions and the various manifestations of the activity of beings. To understand that such is the nature of things, the inevitable mode of action of each entity and to remain always serene. To look at the world as a man standing on the highest mountain of the country looks at the valleys and the lesser summits spread out below him.
6. It is said that the sixth stage cannot be described in words. It corresponds to the realization of the 'VOID' which, in Lamaist terminology means the Inexpressible Reality.
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3 comments:
That definitely has to be a very large eagle if it can carry off a sheep!
Guess I'm at stage zero
Not seeking anything; not wanting anything; to remain lowly; and finally attaining something that cannot be described...a lot people with psychiatric problems would fit that description!
The path that is delineated consists of attributes that modern society expunges. I wonder if our lives today are based on values that go against our spiritual well being or if the message from the ancient one is outdated and not relevant anymore.
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