Sisupacala Speaks with Mara
Begin with studying the poem. Sisupacala was a Buddhist Nun. Mara hinders practice and causes suffering. REMEMBER: Mara is within each one of us; an aspect within us that tempts us to do wrong.
Part 2
Empty Mind, Pure Mind.
When you practice you maintain and stabilize an ‘empty mind.’ Empty mind is bright, open, and without criticism or judgments. It is a mind that is open and not packed with opinions and personal beliefs. There is no condemnation nor is there personal attachment. Pure mind is empty and available to accept life as it is. It requires we shed any desire to control, to judge, to go after things with greed, hate or delusions.
Where Are You with Practice?
Here is a a question that helps us recognize where we are in our practice. Study it and see where you are.
Do you have the insight to know and see that ALL beings everywhere possess the wisdom and virtues of the enlightened ones?
False Conceptions & Attachment to Objects
This teaching includes you and all beings everywhere.
When we do not have the insight to know that all beings everywhere possess wisdom and virtues, we are full of false conceptions & attachments to the objects of the apparent world.
Contemplate These Questions & Ideas
Who do you dismiss, judge or disdain? Study how you categorize and measure others.
What are you looking at when you measure another, condemn someone else, dislike how they think?
Make a list.
Seriously track how you split the world into like & dislike. When you recognize how you divide the world, you then have an opportunity to STOP discriminating.
Then, go back to the list and see if you can get a glimmer of insight that all beings, YES, ALL BEINGS have the capacity of ONE, True Nature. NO ONE IS LEFT OUT.
Problem of Ignorance.
Our problem is ignorance. We get involved with me, my, mine. We have a false understanding of who we are.
Do you have the insight to know YOU possess the wisdom & virtues of enlightenment?
Do you dilly dally your time away with false conceptions & attachments to the impermanent, ever-changing object-world?
Have you forgotten the body & mind are subject to birth, aging, sickness & death?
Ask Yourself. Study Yourself. Forget Yourself.
Ask yourself what foolish behavior do you get involved in that keeps you in the dark and keeps you bound to the world.
What prevents you from seeing the field of boundless emptiness? Could it be desire, attachment and delusion?
Are you willing to clear up your mind of the clutter and attachments to the world?
Study your habits that you refuse to drop. Notice the tension that lingers from these habits.
Help.
When your ego runs the show, you are in delusion. You bring your ego up and exclaim something for yourself. You are functioning as a know-it-all.
To help yourself you have to realize delusion. You have to be aware of delusions that rise without getting entangled.
That which is eternal and inherent is Dharma. This understanding of Dharma gives you the key to avoid the entanglements of delusion.
The work is up to you.
Don’t Give Up. Keep Going.
OM
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Thanks. Read it quickly. I will read again in Ireland or here if I have time. I have so much to do
Starting to pck.
Hope you are feeling good] Will call this afternoosn...late afternoon.
More later