THE PATH TO ENLIGHTMENT

The present is the pre-sent, the time before the universe expresses itself as infinite unique manifestations. The present is empty. It is silent. Time does not exist in the present. When the universe expresses itself, that is the now; the beginning of time. In the now, we experience the universe via our senses and our mind.

The present is the space between exhale and inhale, between bodily death and birth, between going to sleep and awakening. In the present, everything clear. We are not distracted by the universe expressing itself in the now. We can observe the universe and come to know it. We see that the now is an experience of our senses and mind. The experience via our senses is what it is whatever it is; some of it to our liking and some not. It’s a visceral connection with the universe. The experience via our mind is of memories, meanings and stories that have little to do with the universe.

Each of us has unique experiences via mind. Experiences vary from making us feel good, bad, indifferent and everything else. While the expressions of the universe are what they are whatever they are, our mind uses them as a foundation upon which it builds a structure of many stories. That structure is what we identify as our lives.

We tend to truly believe our mind’s perception of the universe is reality. We take it seriously and hold onto it regardless of how miserable it makes us feel. Perceiving the universe otherwise requires us to abandon our mind. We refuse to do that as we fear we would be lost without our mind. That’s how our mind controls us.

However, we can abandon our mind’s perceptions and not be lost if we leave the now and go to the present. The present is a peaceful place where there is nothing to fear. We can then open our eyes and see there are infinite ways of experiencing the universe, not just the way our mind has presented it. This is wisdom, the realization that we will never truly know the universe but can have an approximate sense of it via our senses and perceptions formed by many minds. Moreover, we realize we are free to choose how we perceive the universe unfolding. Our choice is clear: perceive the universe with a happy mind.

With a happy mind, we view as absurdly funny those who take their mind’s perceptions seriously and have miserable lives.

When we see the light, we realize the universe is just light; infinite, eternal, ever-changing manifestations of light; that we are light; not just individual little selves trying to make a go of it in the short time between birth and death.

Realizing we are the light, one with the light, we are filled with compassion, and treat everything as we treat ourselves. We aim to help others have a happy perspective and realize their potential of wisdom and compassion.

VKKV