Friends!
How could it happen that a religion like Buddhism,
that was (is) so close to the Truth has deteriorated over the centuries? The answer is
simple, for many too simple to accept. It is because it failed to drop, curb e.g.
integrate the ego. After Buddha Sakyamuni formulated his principles: desire as the cause
of suffering, the "solution" was sought in "overcoming desire".
Unfortunately, this was associated with "escaping from the cycle of birth and
death" e.g. escaping from common life in exchange for "immortality". To go
beyond by becoming Enlightened became the goal shared by all. Few realized that by this
move "worldly desire" was just replaced by "spiritual desire". Ever
since this new goal has been (very) openly proclaimed. "I want to become
Enlightened" was (is) enough to become a "devout" Buddhist. The point is,
that with formulating a new target the underlying problem - the ego - has not changed (at
all). One could even say that by beautifying the goal (Enlightenment) the underlying
ego-ambition was obscured. No need to get rid of the ego anymore! This is how Hinayana
Buddhists could even claim that "liberation of the world"
"automatically" follows individual Attainment. Like Adam Smith's position:
enrichment of the individual will "spontaneous" be followed by wellbeing of all.
Which we all know now is an illusion. Not surprisingly, that a correction from within
(Mahayana) tried to restore balance: the introduction of the compassionate Bodhisattva,
who refrains from Ultimate Realization as long as people continue to live in samsara. Even
in this case - assuming well meant efforts to doing good - the division between those who
attained and who did not - remained. Not only is to free yourself from life a wrong
target, it also leads to pride yourself on something.
Noble actions cannot undo the underlying
misconceptions. The emphasis on self-effort - in Sakyamuni's time undoubtedly a
breakthrough in liberation - has only boosted ego-ambition. This has become painfully
clear from the moment the "swans came to the lake" e.g. Buddhist teachers
started flocking to the West. While in Asia Buddhist organizations managed to somehow
dominate society, in the West with its extreme individualistic ego-culture Buddhism became
mercilessly exposed. Very soon Enlightenment became something to have e.g. lost its
liberating power. Teachers couldn't resist Western temptations: alcohol, sex, money and
power. E.g. mindfullness, originally meant as way to overcome the attachment to the ego,
became a tool in "feeling better". Nowadays it has entered the mainstream
serving to get rid of all kinds of inconveniences. It is based on non-acceptance of life.
"Acceptance" - just because one has learned that it "works", not
because of its inherent value - is used as a trick to "get healed". The further
deterioration of Zen is even more deplorable. In the beginning there still was an
"idealistic" approach to it. Then it became popular with Christian groups, using
it to strengthen their faith. An attempt was made to also introduce it as a therapy for
curing disease. Then, teachers came in the grip of greed. They started offering
Zen-courses for money. Eventually, big business "discovered" Zen as a means to
improve the "effectiveness" of employees. Zen: "food for profit".
This sad development was only possible, because for centuries Zen had boosted
ego-ambition. The underlying desire for getting Enlightened simply changed targets. The
only Buddhist sect which (more or less) managed to have some truly holy members (Jap.
"myokonin") was Jodoshinshu, not surprisingly, because as an exception it is
based on surrender (to Amida Buddha) rather than self-effort.
But it came even worse. Under the soothing mantra's
of "world peace", "interreligious tolerance", "justice" and
"sustainability" some Buddhst sects are currently attempting to become the
dominant spiritual power in the world. It not only ignores the underlying ego-ambitions
but is even boosting them. Their Kalachakra Tantra openly speaks of world dominance and
crushing other religions. It tries to achieve this through establishing a global
"Shambala Kingdom". Spirituality as a way to world power! It implies
"spiritual" practices to reach that goal: through worldwide
"Kalachakra" initiations. The latter is increasingly critisized because of its
feudal-patriarchal exploitative attitude towards femininity and women (minors!). (by the
way a general tendency among Asian men seeking "long life" through
"absorbing pure juices" of young girls). While the other Buddhist sects, so I
like to assume, at least believe in the sincerity of their efforts, and try to
"overcome" the ego, "Kalachakra initiations" aim at the opposite.
Instead of peeling off your layers they provide you with new! It can be compared
with the chip technique. It goes like this. First they convey you the aim, which
officially is very "idealistic". No word about the ego-problem. After having
read an overview of the "initiation" which is looking totally
"innocent", very much like a collection of rituals (like those of the Catholic
Church) you are invited to do all kinds of preparatory exercises. Then they start giving
you visualization techniques, not the common ones, but imbued in light (which also have to
be visualized....) in order to have it firmly embedded in your consciousness, thus
incorporating them into your personal self. What is crucial to understrand here is that
these images don't come from your own mind or Depth, but are put into you from without. It
is a "special" program designed by the "master" to whom you have to
obey unconditionally. It is aimed at a goal you yourself are not aware of. With
other words you are re-programmed, chipped, brainwashed.
Can we still get out of this and other
nightmares? Refusal to give up one's ego seems to be the core of the problem. The
wellknown German psychiater Horst-Eberhard Richter once said: "Who doesn't want to
suffer has to hate". It is very wise insight. I am afraid this can be applied to not
only Kalachakra, but to "spirituality as a whole" nowadays, as
well. "The goal of life is happiness" (Dalai Lama). Instead of keeping
everything that disturbs this naive goal out, you should start integrating your shadow
parts. The result is Wholeness, a "happiness" far exceeding your self-centered
desires. To (consciously) accept suffering helps you breaking down your ego. If
denied e.g. rejected or intentionally trying to get it out of your system, the ego will
blow itself further up. Refusal to let your ego "die" eventually leads to hatred
toward all those who "threaten" your narcissic "happiness". Sooner or
later you begin to destroy those others. Evil is a tyrannic, alienated and blown-up ego
that tries to submit everybody else. It is proof of the fact that patriarchal religions -
however "beautiful" they look from the outside - will never solve the
ego-problem. It is the reason why Buddhism has never taken the consequences of its own
core "principle": that the Ulitmate is equal to "Emptiness beyond
Emptiness". It would mean the end of the ego. Instead it identified with Relative
Emptiness or Enlightenment, for that gives you influence, power and status. Against the
backgound of the global crisis - in which the ego is about to destroy the foundation of
life on earth - this has to stop. It means saying goodby to all ego-centered spiritual and
religious practices. In order not to destroy others (the earth) you should be willing to
have your own ego destroyed. We are very fortunate in this regard. For in 1977 the Cosmic
Mother has revealed Herself to (wo)mankind.
The only Buddha who understands all this is
Maitreya. He is currently among us. Through his inspiration I have designed the
Maitreya Mind Initiation. Maitreya is the first Buddha, who doesn't consider himself the
last authority. Instead he "was sent" to earth by the Eternal Mother in order to
"save Her children". He has acknowledged the ego as the core problem of
humanity. Subsequently, through hard lessons from the past he knows that no patriarchal
religion can solve it. The latter instead is part of the problem! Maitreya is thus the New
Universal Teacher, who has transcended all links with Buddhism. So the first principle of
the Maitreya Mind Initiation is that only Absolute Nothingness can destroy the ego.
Nothing can resist its (Her) Bottomless Depth. Contrary to Kalachakra Initiations I
consider the Divine Feminine as the Ultimate Principle (Cosmic Womb). Abusing it (Her) for
one's own Enlightenment (read: ego) ambitions is therefore the greatest sin. The
"sequence" of true Spiritual Realization: first let your ego die in Mother's
Womb, to subsequently being reborn (e.g. Enlightened). As a Servant to the Mother Maitreya
guides you in your transformation: death of the ego and rebirth of your True Self.
Returning to the Cosmic Womb is sweet. Now you understand why being "destroyed"
is a positive thing. It liberates your from your burden. That's why the Mother is depicted
as the Great Black One or MAHAKALA. She is the liberator of (wo)mankind. Not because of
any specific actions "on Her part", but because She is embodying Natural Law. By
taking Refuge in Her, you submit yourself to the Cosmic Forces of Destruction and
Creation. You let them do the work. Your existential fear will fade away by Her loving
invitation to become reborn. It is an appeal to the innocent of the earth, all those
who still feel the beauty of the Ultimate deep in themselves. Those who have an
"instinctual" aversion of manipulation. It is those who long to Return Home, to
the Origin, in order to get rid of (e.g. integrate) their ego's. Not in order to attain a
supernatural goal but to become part of the Whole - Heaven, earth and the community - once
again. And not for one's own sake, but for the sake of the earth and all its inhabitants.
These hopefuls are called "Originals".
"Originals of the World, Unite"
Appendix
Bhavacakra or "Wheel of Life"
Typical of patriarchal religions is that the Whole
is separated into parts and that the parts in their turn are depicted as separate
entities, Goddesses or Gods. The consequence is that their original roots are
unrecognizable. If they do, then the images are vaguely described. As is the case with the
destructive aspect of the Cosmic Mother. It is defined as Kirtimukha, or as Mahakala, as
Kala or as something detestable, like the devouring head behind the Buddhist "Wheel
of Life". Often it is called "fearsome figure" or "monster",
sometimes diagnosed as Yama, the God of Death. Without any enlightened background one
would just ignore the image, thinking it is pretty irrelevant. Impermanence, "the
figure holding the wheel" (Wiki) is on the other hand a most important image. She is
nothing less but the Original Cosmic Mother.
As such there isn't any difference between Her and
Mahakala, Kirtimukha or Kala. In the Bhavacakra image She is eating the "cycle of
birth and death" or "samsara", emphasizing the impermanence of worldly
life. This in contrast to Eternal Life, which is often symbolized by the Buddha pointing
at the moon. These Bhavacakra images are mostly painted at the outer walls of monasteries,
giving "simple people" the opportunity to understand the situation they are in:
that of ignorance and suffering. The root cause as said above is the "cycle of birth
and death". The Buddha on the other hand has come to show people the way out. How to
escape from the Wheel of Impermanence is THE core teaching of Buddhism. Its aim is to
transcend samsara and to reach the Pure Land e.g. attain Enlightenment. The underlying
paradigm is, that Buddhahood or Realization is not subjected to the "Law of
Samsara". Otherwise this whole idea of "escaping" would not make sense.
Recently this foundation to Buddhist core teaching
has come under severe scrutiny, though. It coincides with the Revelation of the Cosmic
Mother to Han Marie Stiekema (1977). His Cosmic Realization consisted of three
overwhelming "Experiences". First of all a transcendental Lightning destroying
his entire Being (Consciousness), a Moment of Absolute Nothingness (Blackness),
immediately followed by dissolution into the Eternal Light, the latter lasting the whole
day. That same night he found himself in an Ocean of Horror (Angst), stripping him from
all faculties with only his clear awareness left. In the morning he finally resurrected.
What happened here was the extremely rare Realization of "Emptiness beyond
Emptiness" or "Nirvana", whereby Enlightenment is born out of Absolute
Nothingness. To put it the other way round: the ego disappears into Enlightenment
(Relative Nothingness), the latter in its turn disappearing in Absolute Nothingness.
Conclusion Enlightenment (Buddhahood) isn't the Ultimate Reality, Absolute Blackness is.
Since ancient times this Dark Bottomless Abyss of
the Universe has been called the "Cosmic Womb". Science calls it the Cosmic
Vacuum. Coming to the point: not only the world is subjected to the "cycle of birth
and death", but the supranatural also is. Only, we don't see it. Through the
Revelation it has become utterly clear that the Eternal Light is uninterruptedly
dissolving into the Primordial Blackness of the Womb, while AT THE SAME TIME being born
out of it. If something disappears, but at the same time "an equal amount" is
being replaced, the the result is that nothing was taken and nothing was added. Ergo:
Buddhahood is defined as "unchanging". It provided the foundation for the
"samsara" and "nirvana" theory. (Joke: if "samsara is
nirvana", as often is claimed, why the need for escaping from samsara?). Of course,
once Enlightened it appears that all forms are the CONTENT of infinite Space. An
Enlightened One is therefore not samsara, but including it. Which is the foundation of
compassion.
Looking at it this way the Bhavacakra gets a totally
different meaning. Instead of being a deterrent, frightening people, alienating them from
worldly life, the "Wheel" is a symbol of Cosmic Law. The Cycle of Birth and
Death indeed governing the whole of existence, nothing excluded. Even Enlightenment is
subjected to Her. The "solution" is not escaping, but to follow the invitation
of the Law to live in accordance with it. Spiritually it means to continuously letting
your ego die into the Dark Lap of the Mother in order to become reborn*. And indeed, there
She is. The "ugly face" on top of the Wheel is symbolizing the Cosmic Mother,
the One Who is eating our ego's. In Reality She is the "Face of Glory"
(Kirtimukha) of the whole Cosmos! How compassionate She is to take back our rubbish.
Moreover, the Buddha pointing at the moon isn't the one who wants us to
"escape", but reminds us of the True Cosmic Liberator: the MotherGoddess. Isn't
the Moon the symbol of the Divine Feminine? The Bhavacakra is thus a wonderful image. We
should cherish it as the Mandala of Acceptance. Not escaping from "birth and
death" makes us free, but to live in harmony with it**.
*See also: "The Ego Catastrophy", "Great
Mother Buddhism" and much more
** Obviously, I am VERY well aware of actual
Enlightenment, which to me is a totally unique experience of timeless and limitless
Eternity. Comment: see above.
Why is Mother Kali so
radiantly Black?
Why is Mother Kali so radiantly black?
Because She is so all-powerful,
that even mentioning Her name destroys delusion.
Because She is so beautiful,
Lord Shiva, Conquerer of death,
lies blissfully destroyed,
beneath Her red soled feet.
There are subtle tones of blackness,
But the mystery of Her bright complexion
is that it is utterly black,
overwhelmingly black, wonderfully black.
When She awakens in the lotus shrine
within the secret cave of the heart,
Her blackness becomes a mystic illumination
that causes the twelve petal blossom there
to glow more intensely than golden fire.
Her lovely essence is incomparable
the blackness of Kali is blacker than the King of Death.
Whoever gazes upon this radiant Depth falls eternally
in love
you will feel no attraction to anything else,
discovering everywhere only Her.
This poet sighs deeply,
“Where is this brilliant lady, this black light beyond luminosity?
Though I have never seen Her, simply hearing her name,
the mind becomes completely absorbed
in her astonishing Reality.
Om Kali! Om Kali! Om Kali!
Ramprasad Sen
1718-1775 CE
Bengali Poet
JAI MATA DI
Her Blessings |
