I am sitting in front of this beautiful garden, meditating with my Akashic Records open, contemplating the marathon of classes that I just completed and thinking about YOU, my students.
If you have taken the Akashic Records classes with me or any other Journey to the Heart teacher, then it is my sincere hope that you continue to unite the awareness and the wisdom of the Akashic Records and the limitless compassion of the Masters to continue your daily practice.
If you work with the Akashic Records as a tool of Self-discovery then the signs of accomplishment are not always beautiful, even if you have received clear teachings from qualified teachers, and your practice is deep and good. If you apply in your daily life the 3 D’s = R then there are many different signs that arise, some of which may be very pleasant, while others may be very uncomfortable. Therefore, do not expect anything in particular. Continue to uphold your commitment with courage, refresh your awareness, and carry on without hopes or fears. If you begin to wish for good signs and are discouraged by bad signs, then you are caught in aversion and attachment.
Remember the 3 D’s: Discipline, Dedication, Devotion, equal Results.
In his teachings, Guru Padmasambhava urged his disciples to keep going beyond the boulders on the road of meditation. In Tibet, there are lots of boulders on the roads, but in America and other developed countries, we would probably say “the potholes in the streets.” Experiencing these difficulties is a sign that you are actually moving. Whether the road is smooth or bumpy, it is good that you are moving along.
When you begin the practice meditation, mantras with your Akashic Records open, these obstacles will manifest. At such times, maintain your strength and renew your commitment. You need stability and continuity to overcome these episodes.
There are many ways in which signs can occur. Difficult situations can arise externally, internally, and secretly. Externally, things may happen that you did not expect, or things may not proceed the way you want them to. You may find that when one problem is solved, another problem arises. On the inner level, you might have health problems, discomfort, insomnia, long and involved dreams, and other unusual phenomena. The secret signs show up in the emotions. You may have more expectations and anxiety about the teachings. You may have doubts about the teacher and other sangha members, less certainty about what you are doing, or less compassion than before. These signs do not mean that you are losing the ability to love and be kind. When we come to these rough places in the road, we should always persevere, strengthen our practice, and keep moving toward our goal.
Positive signs of achievement may also occur. Externally, there may be periods where everything goes along nicely. Inwardly, your body feels peaceful and healthy, and it functions well. Emotionally, you feel relaxed, and anger, jealousy, and other emotions do not disturb you as they did before. We should not cling to positive signs but maintain the ultimate view in every situation from now until we attain enlightenment or self-liberation.
The strongest and most positive signs of achievement are the three signs known as the body, speech, and mind signs. Among the signs of the body are that the practitioner’s physical form becomes very bright, light, joyful, and peaceful. One has visions, dreams, or direct perceptions of the emanations of the Masters of Akasha.
Also, your mala (if you use one) might spark and radiate light. These phenomena are all signs of the physical achievement of your practice. Stay with it and have the desire for more.
The signs of the speech achievement involve the practitioner’s speech becoming very powerful and perfect, and one’s expressions of wisdom spontaneously expanding.
For example, there are practitioners who can write beautiful dharma songs that send special messages to sentient beings. Hearing the sound of mantras, such as the syllable HUNG, or OM, resounding from your altar or from trees, mountains, or open space is another sign that one has achieved the wisdom speech.
The initial signs of achieving the mind of enlightenment are temporary experiences of joy, peace, and a very relaxed state of mind. The ultimate sign of accomplishing the mind of enlightenment is a perfect understanding of the nonduality of the awareness, wisdom and the immeasurable compassion. Boundless compassion arises for all beings while the mind abides in the expanse of wisdom beyond concepts. The moment anything arises, it is liberated in the very space of its appearance. At the same time, unceasing great compassion arises for all beings without any expectation or reluctance.
There are also special signs, such as a pure understanding that the teacher, the teachings, and the sangha are all part of the mandala or the totality of the whole. Another is the ability to perform the four actions of: pacifying, increasing, overpowering, and subjugating. You become efficient at whatever you do.
These are signs of having achieved a measure of realization. In any case, it is important not to become overinvolved with the appearance of signs, whether good or bad, but simply continue to practice and meditating.
Some of your greatest challenges have the potential to become your greatest victories!
THE FOUR DEMONS
Let me for a moment bring your attention to the wrathful deities, like Vajrapani and Vajrakilaya. When you first see a wrathful deity, you might wonder why it is wrathful, it looks so ferocious. The purpose of wrathful deities is to directly remove obstructions and negative influences and to become your strong protectors.
They quickly transform all phenomena into the aspect of discriminating wisdom, so that delusion has no chance to arise. To accomplish this great transmutation, the deities appear wrathful and highly energetic.
Obstacles arise in four basic ways, which are known as the four demons: clinging to one’s aggregates, clinging to one’s emotions, the fear of death, and being distracted. These demons are none other than our own neurotic projections. So, we give ourselves to our practice to uproot our neurotic mind and destroy ego-clinging.
The aggregates are:
- Form/Materiality: The physical and material aspects of human existence, including the body and sensory organs.
- Sensation/Feelings: The pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral feelings and sensations experienced through the six senses.
- Perception/Discrimination: The mental process of recognizing and interpreting sensory inputs and experiences.
- Mental Formations/Conditioning Factors: The volitional and conditioning factors that shape our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
- Consciousness: The awareness and cognition that arises from the interaction of the previous four aggregates.
These five aggregates represent the basic constituents of human experience according to Buddhist thought. Together, they form the basis of our lived existence and the process of rebirth.
Only Form is material, the other four are mental.
The four demons exist due to the obscurations of the mind, but through practice they can be instantly transformed into the primordial nature of awareness. The Akashic Records are the power that immediately purifies the external effects of neurosis. If you have a strong visualization practice and cultivate deep levels of meditation, then you can smash the four demons internally as well.
When Buddha Shakyamuni became enlightened under the bodhi tree, on the outer level he subdued all the demonic forces through the power of loving-kindness, while on the secret level he invoked the absolute nature of wrathful deities and annihilated them on the spot.
When Guru Padmasambhava practiced meditated at the Asura cave in Nepal, it is said that he encountered three demonic forces that were represented by the sky, the earth, and the space in-between.
Let’s clarify, that demons are not little red figures with a trident or great big black ugly looking beings. Demons in this sense are all the factors internal and external that keep us from Self-realization.
Through the practice and actualization of his meditation, Guru Padmasambhava subdued these three powerful demons externally, internally, and secretly. Outwardly they are called the three demonic forces, inwardly they are known as the three demons, and secretly they are the three poisons. Experiences such as nightmares, bad omens, emotional problems, sickness, and discomfort are all attributable to demonic forces. All of these, whether internal or external, are manifestations of one or more of the demonic energies.
These demons also manifest in male and female aspects. Male aspects like anger, arrogance, and a touch of jealousy. Jealousy is the opposite of love and compassion; it arises when you see that someone is successful, and you wish they would not be so happy.
The female aspects represent grasping, attachment, and discontent, and arises when you feel that something is always missing, and things are never good enough, and then you grasp all the more tightly.
In short, these two demons represent attachment and anger, and ignorance is the common basis of both. Without ignorance, these two would never arise. Visualizing these energies in human form does not mean that every man or woman is a demon, but that everyone is influenced by emotions such as attachment and anger which are based in ignorance.
Usually and when you look at the image of a wrathful deity there are male and female figures, (demons) lying under their feet that signifies that they are inherently free from attachment, anger, and ignorance. If we can work with the energy of attachment and anger, we will be able to undermine and transform ignorance. This is another reason why our practice with our Akashic Records open is a very important and powerful.
Our Akashic Records practice deals directly with these different obstacles. Depending on how we approach our practice and how much belief we have, it can be a slow practice, or it can be a very fast and non-gradual practice for working on transforming the emotions; instead, it directly removes our obstacles.
Anger and attachment must be instantly cut the moment they appear.
In the Integration level of the Akashic Records, we learn the practice of Feeding Our Demons, in Tibetan this is known as trekchö, Chöd or “cutting thorough.” This is instantaneous; cutting thorough does not take any time.
When emotions arise, do not give them a chance to develop. To do this, Guru Padmasambhava taught that you have to act directly and immediately. Do not give the emotions an opportunity to linger. If you think, “I’ll see this clearly later,” you are already under the control of the emotions. If you wait and reflect, you allow the passions to develop, and eventually they will rule you.
Instead, as soon as emotions arise, invoke your understanding of the true nature of impermanence, apply the techniques you have learned, and be liberated in that instant.
Do not trace the emotion’s development or give the impulse to follow it time to grow, but instantly liberate the energy of the emotion into its original condition.
To practice the true art of creation, we go to the View, to the witness seat and stage visualization of the Medicine Buddha, and Padmasambhava. We need to destroy our clinging to attachment and anger.
At the present time, we believe that anger and attachment are real and that they solidly exist.
This belief in the true existence is what creates our mental states and that is precisely what we have to destroy. There are no dark, demonic forces that exist like suspicious looking aliens.
Liberation happens when we stop clinging to our emotions as being real!!
The way to do a deep practice with the Akashic Records is to recognize the fundamental state at the same moment that you visualize it, which means that we have to deal with emotions and neuroses instantly. This is not a gradual approach, but an immediate action of recollecting the true nature of Chöd, which cuts through anything that may arise.
It is important to remember while doing our practice that wisdom and compassion are merged as one in the space of awareness wisdom, which it is the ultimate primordial nature. The ultimate primordial nature is free from all complexities, it doesn’t get involved or tangled up with any of the aggregates, it is the ultimate nature of inner freedom and enlightenment.
Even if you have not achieved the ultimate realization and only have a momentary experience of this primordial awareness, during that moment all negative emotions are instantly destroyed. This is why the teachings tell us that the moment you recollect this awareness and if you have created a relationship with the wrathful Buddhas, they will come to assist you to totally cut anger and destroy attachment.
To conclude, always approach your practice with your Akashic Records open, and do so with the utmost discipline, dedication and devotion. Through this, you will unlock the transformative power to instantly cut through anger, destroy attachment, and liberate yourself from ignorance.
Remember, the ultimate primordial nature is ever-present, free from all complexities. When you reconnect with this state of awareness wisdom, even momentarily, all negative emotions are instantly destroyed. This is the profound promise of these teachings.
So let your practice be one of courageous self-confrontation and fearless liberation. For in that space of primordial awareness, the wrathful Buddhas await to assist you in cutting the root of suffering itself. Wield this power with utmost care and compassion, and you will find your way to the freedom and enlightenment that is your true nature.
May your continued journey be blessed with the swiftness and certainty of the Dharma. Go forth and embody the wisdom that vanquishes all inner demons.
I am sitting in front of this beautiful garden, meditating with my Akashic Records open, contemplating the marathon of classes that I just completed and thinking about YOU, my students.
If you have taken the Akashic Records classes with me or any other Journey to the Heart teacher, then it is my sincere hope that you continue to unite the awareness and the wisdom of the Akashic Records and the limitless compassion of the Masters to continue your daily practice.
If you work with the Akashic Records as a tool of Self-discovery then the signs of accomplishment are not always beautiful, even if you have received clear teachings from qualified teachers, and your practice is deep and good. If you apply in your daily life the 3 D’s = R then there are many different signs that arise, some of which may be very pleasant, while others may be very uncomfortable. Therefore, do not expect anything in particular. Continue to uphold your commitment with courage, refresh your awareness, and carry on without hopes or fears. If you begin to wish for good signs and are discouraged by bad signs, then you are caught in aversion and attachment.
Remember the 3 D’s: Discipline, Dedication, Devotion, equal Results.
In his teachings, Guru Padmasambhava urged his disciples to keep going beyond the boulders on the road of meditation. In Tibet, there are lots of boulders on the roads, but in America and other developed countries, we would probably say “the potholes in the streets.” Experiencing these difficulties is a sign that you are actually moving. Whether the road is smooth or bumpy, it is good that you are moving along.
When you begin the practice meditation, mantras with your Akashic Records open, these obstacles will manifest. At such times, maintain your strength and renew your commitment. You need stability and continuity to overcome these episodes.
There are many ways in which signs can occur. Difficult situations can arise externally, internally, and secretly. Externally, things may happen that you did not expect, or things may not proceed the way you want them to. You may find that when one problem is solved, another problem arises. On the inner level, you might have health problems, discomfort, insomnia, long and involved dreams, and other unusual phenomena. The secret signs show up in the emotions. You may have more expectations and anxiety about the teachings. You may have doubts about the teacher and other sangha members, less certainty about what you are doing, or less compassion than before. These signs do not mean that you are losing the ability to love and be kind. When we come to these rough places in the road, we should always persevere, strengthen our practice, and keep moving toward our goal.
Positive signs of achievement may also occur. Externally, there may be periods where everything goes along nicely. Inwardly, your body feels peaceful and healthy, and it functions well. Emotionally, you feel relaxed, and anger, jealousy, and other emotions do not disturb you as they did before. We should not cling to positive signs but maintain the ultimate view in every situation from now until we attain enlightenment or self-liberation.
The strongest and most positive signs of achievement are the three signs known as the body, speech, and mind signs. Among the signs of the body are that the practitioner’s physical form becomes very bright, light, joyful, and peaceful. One has visions, dreams, or direct perceptions of the emanations of the Masters of Akasha.
Also, your mala (if you use one) might spark and radiate light. These phenomena are all signs of the physical achievement of your practice. Stay with it and have the desire for more.
The signs of the speech achievement involve the practitioner’s speech becoming very powerful and perfect, and one’s expressions of wisdom spontaneously expanding.
For example, there are practitioners who can write beautiful dharma songs that send special messages to sentient beings. Hearing the sound of mantras, such as the syllable HUNG, or OM, resounding from your altar or from trees, mountains, or open space is another sign that one has achieved the wisdom speech.
The initial signs of achieving the mind of enlightenment are temporary experiences of joy, peace, and a very relaxed state of mind. The ultimate sign of accomplishing the mind of enlightenment is a perfect understanding of the nonduality of the awareness, wisdom and the immeasurable compassion. Boundless compassion arises for all beings while the mind abides in the expanse of wisdom beyond concepts. The moment anything arises, it is liberated in the very space of its appearance. At the same time, unceasing great compassion arises for all beings without any expectation or reluctance.
There are also special signs, such as a pure understanding that the teacher, the teachings, and the sangha are all part of the mandala or the totality of the whole. Another is the ability to perform the four actions of: pacifying, increasing, overpowering, and subjugating. You become efficient at whatever you do.
These are signs of having achieved a measure of realization. In any case, it is important not to become overinvolved with the appearance of signs, whether good or bad, but simply continue to practice and meditating.
Some of your greatest challenges have the potential to become your greatest victories!!
THE FOUR DEMONS
Let me for a moment bring your attention to the wrathful deities, like Vajrapani and Vajrakilaya. When you first see a wrathful deity, you might wonder why it is wrathful, it looks so ferocious. The purpose of wrathful deities is to directly remove obstructions and negative influences and to become your strong protectors.
They quickly transform all phenomena into the aspect of discriminating wisdom, so that delusion has no chance to arise. To accomplish this great transmutation, the deities appear wrathful and highly energetic.
Obstacles arise in four basic ways, which are known as the four demons: clinging to one’s aggregates, clinging to one’s emotions, the fear of death, and being distracted. These demons are none other than our own neurotic projections. So, we give ourselves to our practice to uproot our neurotic mind and destroy ego-clinging.
The aggregates are:
1. Form/Materiality: The physical and material aspects of human existence, including the body and sensory organs.
2. Sensation/Feelings: The pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral feelings and sensations experienced through the six senses.
3. Perception/Discrimination: The mental process of recognizing and interpreting sensory inputs and experiences.
4. Mental Formations/Conditioning Factors: The volitional and conditioning factors that shape our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
5. Consciousness: The awareness and cognition that arises from the interaction of the previous four aggregates.
These five aggregates represent the basic constituents of human experience according to Buddhist thought. Together, they form the basis of our lived existence and the process of rebirth.
Only Form is material, the other four are mental.
The four demons exist due to the obscurations of the mind, but through practice they can be instantly transformed into the primordial nature of awareness. The Akashic Records are the power that immediately purifies the external effects of neurosis. If you have a strong visualization practice and cultivate deep levels of meditation, then you can smash the four demons internally as well.
When Buddha Shakyamuni became enlightened under the bodhi tree, on the outer level he subdued all the demonic forces through the power of loving-kindness, while on the secret level he invoked the absolute nature of wrathful deities and annihilated them on the spot.
When Guru Padmasambhava practiced meditated at the Asura cave in Nepal, it is said that he encountered three demonic forces that were represented by the sky, the earth, and the space in-between.
Let’s clarify, that demons are not little red figures with a trident or great big black ugly looking beings. Demons in this sense are all the factors internal and external that keep us from Self-realization.
Through the practice and actualization of his meditation, Guru Padmasambhava subdued these three powerful demons externally, internally, and secretly. Outwardly they are called the three demonic forces, inwardly they are known as the three demons, and secretly they are the three poisons. Experiences such as nightmares, bad omens, emotional problems, sickness, and discomfort are all attributable to demonic forces. All of these, whether internal or external, are manifestations of one or more of the demonic energies.
These demons also manifest in male and female aspects. Male aspects like anger, arrogance, and a touch of jealousy. Jealousy is the opposite of love and compassion; it arises when you see that someone is successful, and you wish they would not be so happy.
The female aspects represent grasping, attachment, and discontent, and arises when you feel that something is always missing, and things are never good enough, and then you grasp all the more tightly.
In short, these two demons represent attachment and anger, and ignorance is the common basis of both. Without ignorance, these two would never arise. Visualizing these energies in human form does not mean that every man or woman is a demon, but that everyone is influenced by emotions such as attachment and anger which are based in ignorance.
Usually and when you look at the image of a wrathful deity there are male and female figures, (demons) lying under their feet that signifies that they are inherently free from attachment, anger, and ignorance. If we can work with the energy of attachment and anger, we will be able to undermine and transform ignorance. This is another reason why our practice with our Akashic Records open is a very important and powerful.
Our Akashic Records practice deals directly with these different obstacles. Depending on how we approach our practice and how much belief we have, it can be a slow practice, or it can be a very fast and non-gradual practice for working on transforming the emotions; instead, it directly removes our obstacles.
Anger and attachment must be instantly cut the moment they appear.
In the Integration level of the Akashic Records, we learn the practice of Feeding Our Demons, in Tibetan this is known as trekchö, Chöd or “cutting thorough.” This is instantaneous; cutting thorough does not take any time.
When emotions arise, do not give them a chance to develop. To do this, Guru Padmasambhava taught that you have to act directly and immediately. Do not give the emotions an opportunity to linger. If you think, “I’ll see this clearly later,” you are already under the control of the emotions. If you wait and reflect, you allow the passions to develop, and eventually they will rule you.
Instead, as soon as emotions arise, invoke your understanding of the true nature of impermanence, apply the techniques you have learned, and be liberated in that instant.
Do not trace the emotion’s development or give the impulse to follow it time to grow, but instantly liberate the energy of the emotion into its original condition.
To practice the true art of creation, we go to the View, to the witness seat and stage visualization of the Medicine Buddha, and Padmasambhava. We need to destroy our clinging to attachment and anger.
At the present time, we believe that anger and attachment are real and that they solidly exist.
This belief in the true existence is what creates our mental states and that is precisely what we have to destroy. There are no dark, demonic forces that exist like suspicious looking aliens.
Liberation happens when we stop clinging to our emotions as being real!!
The way to do a deep practice with the Akashic Records is to recognize the fundamental state at the same moment that you visualize it, which means that we have to deal with emotions and neuroses instantly. This is not a gradual approach, but an immediate action of recollecting the true nature of Chöd, which cuts through anything that may arise.
It is important to remember while doing our practice that wisdom and compassion are merged as one in the space of awareness wisdom, which it is the ultimate primordial nature. The ultimate primordial nature is free from all complexities, it doesn’t get involved or tangled up with any of the aggregates, it is the ultimate nature of inner freedom and enlightenment.
Even if you have not achieved the ultimate realization and only have a momentary experience of this primordial awareness, during that moment all negative emotions are instantly destroyed. This is why the teachings tell us that the moment you recollect this awareness and if you have created a relationship with the wrathful Buddhas, they will come to assist you to totally cut anger and destroy attachment.
To conclude, always approach your practice with your Akashic Records open, and do so with the utmost discipline, dedication and devotion. Through this, you will unlock the transformative power to instantly cut through anger, destroy attachment, and liberate yourself from ignorance.
Remember, the ultimate primordial nature is ever-present, free from all complexities. When you reconnect with this state of awareness wisdom, even momentarily, all negative emotions are instantly destroyed. This is the profound promise of these teachings.
So let your practice be one of courageous self-confrontation and fearless liberation. For in that space of primordial awareness, the wrathful Buddhas await to assist you in cutting the root of suffering itself. Wield this power with utmost care and compassion, and you will find your way to the freedom and enlightenment that is your true nature.
May your continued journey be blessed with the swiftness and certainty of the Dharma. Go forth and embody the wisdom that vanquishes all inner demons.