Awareness, realization, and non-dualism

OtioseDodge

Hi All,

If samsara is nirvana (ref. Madhyamaka school), then why does it make a difference if one is aware of this fact or not? That is, if we are all enlightened already, then why do we have to dwell in awareness in order to be realized? Isn't this merely creating another dualistic construct, ie, between awareness (and associated realization) and non-awareness?

Thanks

taiyaki

Too much thinking. Too much conditioning. Though you are right, it doesn't matter because it isn't your own realization.
Set aside your conditioning/thinking/beliefs/feelings/everything. Open up to what is. Allow everything to be.

Then you set up the potential for a realization of what is. The realization that there is nothing to gain, nowhere to go. Thus the buddha is just one who wakes up. We are all perfect already, we just need to wake up from our dreams.

If you just look, without thinking that is buddha. If you smell, without thinking that is buddha. If you taste, without thinking that is buddha. If you feel, without thinking that is buddha. if you hear, without thinking that is buddha. if you think, without thinking that is buddha. just do all actions without thinking or do them with "not-knowing" mind.

for those who know this by knowledge it won't help your life.
for those who realize this by setting everything down and awakening to truth. that will change your life completely.

Cloud

Yes, too much thinking. What you should be focusing on is that craving/thirst for sense pleasures, for existence and annihilation is the cause of all of the furstrations/suffering/pain you will experience in life. The reason we have this thirst is because we are ignorant of the empty nature of self and all phenomena... that all things are impermanent, ownerless, and bound with suffering.

Think about those, and worry about Nirvana/Samsara word-play later, if at all.