We are all, nobly-born.

 

“O nobly-born, listen.  Now thou art experiencing the radiance of the Clear Light of Pure Reality.  Recognize it.  O nobly-born, thy present intellect, in real nature void, not formed into anything as regards characteristics of colour, naturally void, is the very Reality, the All-Good.

“Thine own intellect, which is now voidness, yet not to be regarded as of the voidness of nothingness, but as being the intellect itself, unobstructed, shining, thrilling, and blissful, is the very consciousness, the All-good Buddha.

“Thine own consciousness, not formed into anything, in reality void, and the intellect, shining and blissful, –these two,–are inseparable.  The union of them is the Dharma-Kaya state of Perfect Enlightenment.

“Thine own consciousness, shining, void, and inseparable from the Great Body of Radiance, hath no birth, nor death, and is the Immutable light—Buddha Amitabha (i.e., Boundless Light, Source of Life and Light).

“Knowing this is sufficient.  Recognizing the voidness of thine own intellect to be Buddhahood, and looking upon it as being thine own consciousness, is to keep thyself in the state of the divine mind of the Buddha.”

The above passage from W. Y. Evans-Wentz’s translation of “The Tibetan Book of the Dead” serves as a reminder that no matter who we encounter in life, be it the Dalai Lama or prime minister, murderer or thief, drug addict or homeless person, enemy or friend, we are all in our true essence the All-Good.  We are all the Clear Light of Pure Reality.

In memory of my brother, Bob, 1947-2012.