Certainly the kleshas and
skandhas are useful to understand, but so are the Paramitas ... and without the
Atma-Buddhi-Manas, or future Dharamakaya, Sambhogakaya and Nirmanakaya vestitures, our entire presence here would be meaningless. Indeed, there
would be no point.
Our experience in the
sangsara is conditioned by
maya, glamour and illusion, but this does not mean that a greater, transcendent reality does not exist (
incorporating, rather than negating, the three lower worlds). Nirvana is not extinction, even of
individual ego, or individuality. Rather, from the perspective of the still-imperfect little self, or little ego, there is an
expansion of consciousness ... and the definition of `self' changes. What we now experience as multiplicity, becomes unity ... unity-in-diversity, but increasing non-duality.
It would be a mistake, a fallacy, to assume that there is a radical shift between
duality and
non-duality. Nowhere else in Cosmos does growth progress in such leaps in bounds. Enlightenment is no different. There are, of course, vast or major expansions of consciousness --
Initiations, into altogether news states of awareness and realms of Being. And the orientation of these aligns us more & more with the Christ, or Christ consciousness ... first within the microcosm, then within the macrocosm, as we become able to
respond to such vibrations -- ever-so slightly.
We may replace the term `Christ consciousness' with
Bodhimind, and at most there are only subtle nuances of difference. The Principle (
sic), literally an
Aspect of our Soul or spiritual consciousness, is the same, no matter what we call it. In theosophy this may be termed
Buddhi, but other approaches may simply call it
the Intuition. Words change nothing, except where barriers arise in the mind, due to ignorance, prejudice, superstition, fear and pride.
I thought we were to
cast off the kleshas, avoid these modes of thought and states of mind like the plague that they are -- true
poisons to our positively-polarized spiritual consciousness. Buddhism, and Buddhists, especially western ones who do not understand the true roots of the philosophy, often attempt to be a bit too secular ... and in so doing, this most sublime of
all Teachings (branches of the one Dharma) to come to our planet turns into dust. We may as well eat dirt, for that is what happens to the
Buddha-Dharma that otherwise might be being practiced.
I recall a good friend of mine often saying, regardless as to how wonderful a spiritual practice we were discussing,
"That is very good, but it is also good to practice the Dharma."
Yes, I've studied Tibetan Buddhim, and a little bit of what other branches teach ... Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana. I am aware of
"the official version," thank you. I also know what squabbles arise, no different than in Christian camps. Somehow this is helping us? Contributing towards my, your,
anyone's enlightenment?
Methinks not.
Perhaps we can change that ... ?
Namaskar ... Love and Light,
andrew
