On The Pathless Path

Dear Dharma Friends,

We’re about to observe sojong for this month. It is a simple, yet such powerful ceremony that further strengthens our noble commitment to the path. It can also be a means to help us back on the path if we feel we have relapsed in our practice or our consciousness has started to descend. When this happens we can often feel self-doubt as a dharma practitioner or even doubt the entire path. Some may even run away from the path because of these doubts and live in the old way, which is to live unconsciously.

Such relapse is a natural part of the inward journey. It is something that we have to expect. Usually, it occurs under two circumstances. First, discomforts and external challenges can throw us off balance. One moment we could be happy and feeling that we are in a good state of mind. We might attribute this to be a result of our practice and feel quite good about ourselves. In the next moment when someone irritates us or challenges arise, our ego is shaken to its root. We can fall into a pretty low level of our consciousness. Second, when things are going okay in our life and we’re going about everyday affairs with a sense of solace, there is also a way that we can lose awareness. Then before we know it we’ve grown complacent and such a relapse is already happening.

This phenomenon is not unnatural. Whenever it arises, we should treat it as natural and embrace it as part of the inward journey. It is a good time to remind ourselves that we’re still an ordinary human being and not an Avatar. We don’t have to feel disappointed with ourselves, or the path. During such time, it is important to remember our inherent goodness or our own Buddha Nature. Sometimes our ego can be quite harsh on us. That’s just another way to perpetuate its game. Even great Bodhisattvas of the past witnessed this in themselves all the time and acknowledged it as part of being human.

Our mental habits are like the weeds in the backyard. Every time you cut them down, they’ll re-grow within a certain period of time. Then you have to pick up the tools to cut them down. It would be much easier if they would never grow once you cut them. This is not how it is in reality. By knowing this to be the case, we can accept our limitations and practice raising our awareness to make sure that we are not ruled by our mental habits. Eventually, our awareness will take stronger root in us and we will not fall off of the path in a serious way.

With palms joined,

Anam Thubten

Dharmata House

On The Pathless Path