non-duality

Enlightenment: is a teacher required?

~ Tom Das ~ Leave a comment

buddha-lights

For many a teacher is essential.

For some no human teacher is required.

For some a teacher/teaching can even be detrimental.

Without the drive for truth, even with a good teacher you can get caught up in the teaching and never break free from its concepts and modes of expression.

Poetry: Cannot be lost, cannot be gained

~ Tom Das ~ 3 Comments

water oceanic.jpg

If you got IT, then lost IT,
I’ve got news for you:
– That wasn’t IT.

If you experienced IT, once, perhaps twice,
I’ve got news for you:
– That wasn’t IT.

If you got IT, and have still got IT,
I’ve got news for you:
– That isn’t IT.

Whatever you get, is also liable to go.
What ever comes, can also go.
What is born, may also die.
That which is subject to appear, is also subject to disappear.

THIS cannot be got,
THIS cannot be lost,
THIS is already here,
(always was)
THIS just IS!

 

Poetry: no way to talk about this

~ Tom Das ~ Leave a comment

crescent moon.jpg

When this is seen,
It is seen there are so many ways to talk about this,
So many ways to guide others to this,
So many helpful ways,
– yet all of them false.

Ultimately,
All ways are false,
All descriptions are false.
The Truth cannot be contained in words:
The best teaching is whatever works.

No self, True self, or just Self?
Freedom, Enlightenment or Bliss?
Emptiness, Fullness, or Infinite?
Personal, impersonal, or no story at all?
Duality, non-duality? Both, neither?

All can be helpful concepts pointing the way,
None are THE SACRED TRUTH.

The proverbial finger points at the moon,
Don’t cling to the finger!

 

Poetry: the Presence that always is

~ Tom Das ~ 2 Comments

sitting sunset.jpg

Ask a thousand questions,
Receive a thousand answers,
The real answer is not in words:
It’s the Presence that always is.

Thoughts want to know what real,
Want to have it all figured out,
One day it’s all seen through,
What’s left is the Presence that always is.

When you can, stop. Allow silence to gently fill you up,
Feel it bloom and grow within your heart,
That warm glow, that inner light, infiltrating everything,
The Presence that always is.

Feelings come and go,
Sometimes flowing, sometimes sticky,
‘Embrace them with’, ‘allow them to merge into’,
The Presence that always is.

Deep within your heart,
Presence emanates and embraces,
The sacred heart within and without, embracing all,
The Presence that always is.

The totality of experience,
‘Body’, ‘mind’ and ‘world’,
Everything that is happening or has ever happened,
Is just this Presence that always is.

Who am I…? Presence is here
Silence…Presence is here
Preoccupied with thought and deed…Presence is here
Hurt and afraid…The Presence that always is.

Life and laughter…Presence is here
Tears and pain…Presence is here
Not sure what going on? Presence is here
Now what do I do? ……………………

See also I AM