Love, Breathe, Focus

Tilopa, an Indian Buddhist monk (988-1069) and Mahasiddha gave us six words of advice; don’t recall, don’t imagine, don’t think, don’t examine, control, rest

Imagine how your life would play out if you followed these words?

If we didn’t recall we would not remember those past wrongs or worries but we also would not remember those wonderful things that happened either. If we didn’t imagine, we would not problem solving those future plans but we would also not be believing those stories that have been manipulated by our ego.

What would it be like if we didn’t think? If we didn’t think we should be somewhere else than where we are or different to how we are but content to be exactly as we are right now.

Controlling and examining is something we do all the time. We know we cannot control the weather but we can decide to wear a rain coat. We know our friend may have treated us poorly and we can analyse the ‘why’ forever. Somethings are helpful; an umbrella in the rain for instance but some things serve only to keep us in our head and our thoughts and do not help us at all.

Guided by Tilopa’s words we can see how our actions affect us. Ultimately, we are advised to rest or do nothing.

In this state, we cultivate love and kindness to ourselves. We feel our breath and we focus on the here and now because here there is found the possibility of Being and this is all there is. Eventually we are not doing anything: love, breathing and focus happen without conscious interference and everything becomes just as it is.

Then, perhaps Tilopas words of advice are felt.

The Ganges Mahamudra

The fool in his ignorance, disdaining

Mahamudra,

Knows nothing but struggle in the flood of

samsara.

Have compassion for those who suffer

constant anxiety!

Sick of unrelenting pain and desiring release,

adhere to a master,

For when his b;essing touches your heart, the

mind is liberated.