Way Beyond Illusion

My Disciples,

I would like to address certain issues that have recently been echoed among practitioners, resolve some incorrect notions of the mind, and correct the way certain ideas are perceived and understood.

First of all, let me begin by saying that the once-in-three-years opportunity has been missed again due to certain circumstances and negative eruptions of energy. The window has closed once more. Lust and various desires are the principal reasons why many people cannot achieve peace of mind and happiness. Secondly, various notions concerning the material world, especially non-spiritual notions of material desire, are another reason why people cannot achieve lasting happiness and remain lost in samsara and the cycle of suffering.

Many people grew up in non-spiritual environments and are attached to various human mindsets and worldly pursuits. They believe that material possessions and the pursuit of various samsaric illusions will bring peace and happiness to their minds. These things usually bring only temporary happiness, or no happiness at all. Moreover, you should also consider your next reincarnation and the illusory nature of all phenomena. In particular, the belief that acquiring more things will fill an inner void leads people to pursue the accumulation of various possessions.

Wanting to travel, people spend large amounts of money on bikes, cars, boats, planes, luxury travel accessories, hotels, spas, and so on. Our disciples should take these things lightly. Wanting to live comfortably, people acquire housing; when they are still unhappy, they seek to acquire more houses, villas, castles, and palaces. Many people shop in physical stores, go to work in offices or factories, and build exquisite parks and monuments. These constructions, too, are illusory, and owning one or many of them does not lead to lasting happiness.

Clothing has always been a symbol of social status in ordinary society and has recently turned into a fetish or an expensive hobby. Jewellery, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, brooches, and various artisan decorative items are things we should try not to let our minds become attached to. Interior design elements, tables, chairs, paintings, statues, decorations, lamps, computers, and electronics are also illusory. They do not bring lasting happiness and are non-transferable upon entering the bardo. The same applies to religious or ritual items, embroidery, vases, bells, religious paintings, statues of saints, grandiose temple architecture, glasswork, and so on.

Original enlightened teachers would have a great deal to say if they could witness the excessive and obnoxious religious practices taking place today. Lengthy rites are performed as spectacles for profit and to keep devotees in darkness.

Delusions of the mind and errors of thought have given rise to the extreme situation humanity finds itself in today. Environmental disaster is already happening, and many brave beings are trying to steer the egos of destruction towards reason and cooperation. Large-scale conflicts and wars are looming on the horizon, yet there are still individuals willing to sacrifice the positive future of all beings for their own personal enjoyment. These people follow a deviant ideology of destruction, failing to realise that they have already been born into an inescapable predicament and have chosen to live an unworthy existence. This does not lead to happiness or the cessation of suffering.

The cycle of rebirth, samsara, and karmic consequences are not being taught properly. In times of existential crisis, many turn to gods, monks, and nuns, hoping that their prayers will redeem their sins. Yet even these monks and nuns, belonging to various religions, may be powerless in the face of the Great Way.

Jesus proclaimed that He is the Truth and the Way. Buddha expounded on the causal relationships underlying existence and offered an antidote to pain, unhappiness, and suffering for all. Yet there are still people today who advocate the destruction of habitats, the environment, and even other beings as a means of achieving lasting liberation. Nevertheless, many great enlightened beings, following in the footsteps of magnificent teachers of fundamental truth, are trying to correct the discrepancies introduced by later deviations. Correcting such misconceptions is crucial; otherwise, these teachings would lead nowhere.

Let me tell you that the purpose of every enlightened being is to correct people's misunderstandings, to give new energy to those already engaged in the task of saving sentient beings on a large scale, and to prevent further deviations for the betterment of all. Of course, the Divine will use anything necessary to correct the Way. That is why one might experience enormous pain, pressure, and suffering on behalf of other sentient beings.

Human beings are truly magnificent in their ability to realise compassion on a large scale. This compassion is what differentiates human beings from animals, which are generally able to think only of themselves or those closest to them, their own pack. Human beings, on the other hand, can realise the interconnectedness of all beings and, consequently, understand that happiness comes from helping others.

Were you to be cut off from other beings for a long time, all ordinary emotions would eventually cease. The karmic links leading to suffering would also cease to exist, and upon encountering another being, you would feel a neutral compassion towards all beings equally.

This chaos of ideas gives rise to selfishness, which is a poison of the mind. The Divine is, of course, not like a human being, as it transcends any individual human being to a great extent. That is why many people may develop fear towards the Divine. However, for some people, such an understanding may be appropriate at their particular level of development.

Today's consumption and overproduction are truly unnecessary and, in many ways, harmful. Many people realise this, especially students and young people. Earlier generations did not need to think as much about the environment; they were focused on conquering nature and subjugating the wilderness. In any case, the Divine is turning the wheel of the Way, meaning that human beings are being left to rejoice in simplicity and dignity.

Recently, I read an article describing a protest involving more than 100,000 people in France. These people were protesting against the national budget. At a time when great ideas were being realised, such as a human being setting foot on the Moon, enormous resources were invested in this positive cycle of scientific development. Yet only 1 per cent of the US national budget was allocated to space exploration. These days, the proportion is much smaller.

Compare this with each country's defence expenditure. When every country has to spend such enormous resources on defence, it is, of course, a waste of resources. The same applies to an individual: if each person ends up spending such a large amount of their energy and time defending themselves from others or from different ideas, their entire capacity to act and think will be consumed. No happiness can be achieved this way.

Accelerated destruction is a path leading to suffering. Brutal methods of destruction lead nowhere. Turning to them means ending your own existence prematurely, being remembered as an antagonist, and ultimately seeing your hopes and dreams crushed.

These deviations stem from incorrect notions of the mind. People try to keep up with everything happening around them, but in this complicated environment of minuscule interpersonal games, relationships, and perceptions, confusion arises. People are driven mainly by lust, fear of missing out, or desires for material objects. These notions do not bring lasting happiness; instead, they lead to confusion and suffering.

One issue that repeatedly comes up is the notion that this practice is impossible. Indeed, it is very difficult to achieve realisation, make progress, and reach the completion levels of practice. Keep calm and meditate, and surely you will make gradual progress in letting go of various incorrect notions of the mind, releasing attachments, and realising the wisdom of the Way.

Make sure to keep the process enjoyable, because it is like solving a puzzle and can sometimes become very demanding, both intellectually and physically. That is cultivation, and we will leave it up to you to figure things out for yourselves.