Three Characteristics in Direct Mode

Based on my experience in the last three weeks:

After 4th path, after training the mindfulness muscle, and working with the 3 gears, one discovers that the vehicle runs on automatic transmission (that phenomena is constantly disembedding, never arising). This discovery allowed me to perceive the Three Characteristics (no-self, insatisfactoriness and impermanence) in a different way.

Phenomena is:
- Pure
- Satisfactory
- responsive

So, grounding means to recognize the pureness, satisfactoriness and responsiveness of phenomena in the six bases of consciousness.

In the tradition of the Great Perfection, or Dzogchen, this corresponds to Dharmakaya (Body or Pureness), Samboghakaya (Body of satisfactoriness/enjoyment) and Nirmanakaya (Body of responsiveness).

What I'm grounding at the moment:
- Fear
- Insecurities
- Any type of anger (physical and mental)
- Cravings
- Inferiorities and grandiosities of my persona
- The need to win in arguments
- Impatience
- Being absent minded
- Procrastination
- Anything that harms me or anyone else.

This all seems like a process.

When I dont pay the ultimate toll (paying with myself, and perceivable phenomena), the three characteristics still apply.

For example:

If anger arises (and I keep it), I sense it pure, satisfactory and very responsive. This explains why I became addicted to anger (and desire and ignorance).

If I'm having an argument and I ground suffering for my own benefit only, this easily turns to indifference and arrogance.

I think the three characteristics always apply but we can choose to perceive the world as solid, essentially ignoring them. As human beings we can adopt certain modes of perception that are inherent or innate and that then provide for different views on the world. But, and this is important I think, the underlying reality is just what IS. No more, no less. And while we can never experience that reality directly that fact is also the two edged sword that allows us to adopt different views. It is all mediated by mind, whether in what Kenneth calls filtered or direct mode. Thus we have the same reality, viewed in different modes. I can switch back and forth and you can, too.

JMHO

"
I think the three characteristics always apply but we can choose to perceive the world as solid, essentially ignoring them. As human beings we can adopt certain modes of perception that are inherent or innate and that then provide for different views on the world. But, and this is important I think, the underlying reality is just what IS. No more, no less. And while we can never experience that reality directly that fact is also the two edged sword that allows us to adopt different views. It is all mediated by mind, whether in what Kenneth calls filtered or direct mode. Thus we have the same reality, viewed in different modes. I can switch back and forth and you can, too.

JMHO

"

Yes, I completely agree with everything you say Chris.

Thanks.

So we develop a preference for certain modes, yes? How many different modes do we think there are? How would we classify them?

"So we develop a preference for certain modes, yes? How many different modes do we think there are? How would we classify them?

"

You know the rumor: Samsara and Nirvana are the same thing. =P

So in which mode is that perceived as Truth?

Both, delusion is always delusion. Wanting to see truth is always wanting to see truth. Seeing truth is always seeing truth.

Preference for a particular mode notwithstanding.

"Preference for a particular mode notwithstanding."

A-ha! ^_^

"I think the three characteristics always apply but we can choose to perceive the world as solid, essentially ignoring them."-cmarti

I'd be interested in exploring this idea. Another way to say this would be "the 3 characteristics apply and that's the way it is." We can call this kind of statement a TWIZ for short, as in "the way it is." Another example of a twiz would be "all is God." It would be easy to find support for either assertion in our experience. If we find any evidence that undermines the twiz, we just refer back to the twiz itself and point out that any countervailing evidence must be created by delusion. This applies regardless of whether the twiz is "all is God" or "all is 3 characteristics."

But Chris also pointed out that "the underlying reality is just what IS. No more, no less. And... we can never experience that reality directly..."

The assertion that reality is just what it is is undeniable. So that's a good place to start. As to whether we can ever experience it directly, that's another twiz. But either way, we can clearly see that different people come to radically different conclusions about reality based on their own experience. So yet again there is no place to plant your feet; the 3 characteristics are no more a fact than God.

One of the unexamined assumptions in Buddhism is that not-suffering is better than suffering. I happen to agree, so I accept it as my personal assumption and move on. Now is where it gets interesting, at least to me: if there is a way to end (or reduce) suffering, I am interested and willing to do practices that are said to lead there.

I'm presenting this as a reflection. It ties in with my recent experience that any idea I am not willing to question or even abandon in this moment *is* suffering. And any moment that I see through my ideas is freedom.

"any idea I am not willing to question or even abandon in this moment *is* suffering. And any moment that I see through my ideas is freedom."

Plus, if not questioned or abandoned, they can perhaps lead to deep subtle delusion. That toll is hard to find.

So it all starts with a preference. Maybe the only real truths are what we decide they are!

Fascinating stuff.

Oh, yeah, I cannot deny that my particular mind seeks truth. It gets very preoccupied with that particular task

"
Oh, yeah, I cannot deny that my particular mind seeks truth. It gets very preoccupied with that particular task

"

How about common sense, factual truth? "My hand is typing this message on this keyboard," and that kind of stuff. Isn't that enough?

To mind nothing is ever "enough."