Author Archives: Bob OHearn

O Charlie, listen with full attention, without being distracted:There are six states of Bardo, namely: the natural state of Bardo in the womb;the Bardo of the dream-state;the Bardo of ecstatic equilibrium, while in deep meditation;the Bardo of the moment of … Continue reading →

Ribhu the cat relaxes on a banister in sunlightlaced with shadows, tail swinging lazily,marking time like a furry metronome. He abides where there are neither thoughtsnor a thinker, neither a world nor anythingat any time — free from any stain … Continue reading →

(A Free Transliteration) There’s a famous story about Guatama the Awakened, who was staying near Sāvatthī at Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Back then, Bāhiya the Ascetic was living in Suppāraka by the seashore. This fellow had the reputation for being … Continue reading →

(After Beatrice of Nazareth’s Seven Ways of Holy Love) 1. Her heart was first tenderly touched by love, then immersed in the depthless source of love, refined in the cleansing blazes of love, struck down and then raised from the … Continue reading →

(Yoga Vasistha is a Hindu spiritual text attributed to the sage Valmiki. It is believed by some Hindus to answer all the questions that arise in the human mind, and can help one to attain Moksha (liberation). It recounts a … Continue reading →

Every once in a while in the course of timelessness, as the story goes, the universe contracts down to a point that is smaller than the period at the end of this sentence. As it nears the extreme extent of … Continue reading →

(A Free Transliteration after Marguerite Porete)   No longer addicted to the chronic compulsion which obscures effortless natural recognition (timeless awareness) with interpretive fantasies and conceptual designations, the liberated soul rejoices in an open invitation for infinite expansion and limitless … Continue reading →

“This prayer was the last prayer written by His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche who was my teacher. According to Tibetan Buddhism, His Holiness is believed to be the manifestation of Padmasambhava. Padmasambhava was born eight years after the parinirvana, the death, … Continue reading →

Next, the aspirants, persisting in more ardent surrender, are taken up into simple awareness itself, and leaping beyond all sensible things, they pass as if from sleep to wakefulness, from hearing to sight. And, there, those things that are seen … Continue reading →

Come, my Beloved!   Let us go fearless to the bonfire!   Let us spend our dark night among the holy hyenas and all that would rip and tear at our facades until we are cleansed raw of any pretense, … Continue reading →

The nature of mind is non-arising, what need is there of knowledge and views?   Originally there is not a single dharma, why dwell over beliefs and methods?   Coming and going without beginning, sought for, it is never seen. … Continue reading →

Here comes Mr. Natural, at ease as you please, walking the Talk by keeping quiet and letting his feet do the speaking, not running toward or away, just walking on.   The essence of confusion and wisdom is identical, this … Continue reading →

Though one may experience the idea of freedom, lingering in such daydreams is mistaking imagination for the real thing.   I may have wasted the wise instructions of my teachers, but any regret now merely feeds the barking dogs of … Continue reading →

As we fall deeper into That which is already perfect, the One Who is without form or shape – Source Itself — may manifest Itself in form and shape in order to experience Itself as that. Nor does the only … Continue reading →

Homage to the marvelous and ordinary wisdom that transcends the appearance or disappearance of anything at all!   Homage to the miraculous awareness that is both uncaused and without effect!   Homage to the “Stand Alone” which is neither produced, … Continue reading →

An Eccentric Homage to Maitripa Because mind itself is already free of any binding state, beings of light may shine their compassionate regard upon this dimension in waves of loving anticipation. Because mind itself is already released from futile grasping … Continue reading →

Tilopa’s Mahamudra Instruction to Naropa in Twenty Eight or So Verses       Homage to the Great Ones! Homage to Mahamudra! Homage to what is!   What is, is. What more can one say? Mahamudra cannot be taught or … Continue reading →

Verses on The Mind of Absolute Trust, By Seng T’san     Satisfying the deepest longing at the heart isn’t difficult – just practice letting go of grasping and avoiding, and recognize what remains as your own native happiness.   … Continue reading →

Some might laugh at my poems but no matter — they’re fine just as they are, and fun besides!   They need no commentary, no studious explanation, not even any signature.   Who even cares if they’re read or not … Continue reading →

Q: Who is Gorakhnatha?   A: Gorakhnatha (aka Gorakshanatha) Gorakhnath, the disciple of Matsyendranath, is credited with the foundation of Laya or Kundalini Yoga and Hatha Yoga. He is also revered by many of the Natha subsects as their founder. … Continue reading →

(Musings based on the writings of Sri Gaudupada, ( c. 8th century CE), a very early Teacher in the Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy. He is traditionally said to have been the grand-guru of the great teacher Adi Shankara, … Continue reading →

Mother — the mind, the mind!   By recognizing its true nature, we can free ourselves from every suffering. However, as long as we do not, we will continue to be confused by its endless parade of challenging and bewildering … Continue reading →

A monk asked Master Chao Chou: “Does a dog have Buddha Nature?”   Chao Chou barked back: “Wu!”   Wu means no, but does no mean no?   According to the ancients, there are eighteen major wus and countless number … Continue reading →

Home everywhere, happy anywhere (in this case, Savathi), Sakyamuni Buddha caught his friends’ attention when he kindly shouted out, “Hey, let’s look at the links in the chain of causation! Well, originally we haven’t a clue. This is called “ignorance” … Continue reading →

Hymn of the Happy One   ( A Free Transliteration of The Avadhut Gita, by Dattatreya)     Lyrics I     1. Fear is perpetually exceeded by the power of Love. I bow down to Love!   2. How … Continue reading →

(Jnaneshwar) Moved by a love indescribable, we adorn ourselves with the passionate radiance of each other’s dreamy form, Lover and Beloved, to celebrate the engaging mystery of duality’s play of consciousness.   How amazing, this miracle of Love — that … Continue reading →