MAITREYA MIND TRAINING
To restore the unity with one's Self, body and nature,
one's fellow human beings, while surrendering to the Ultimate

OUR INTEGRATIVE WAY

Tantra

Taking Refuge in the Mother

THE GREAT LEARNING

1. AWAKENING
(TO BECOME THE OBSERVER)
2. PERSONAL INTEGRATION
3. TO BE ROOTED IN "HEAVEN" AND EARTH
4. BREAKTHROUGH OF THE LIGHT
(LIVING ZEN/VIPASSANA)
5. DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL
(PURIFICATION)
6. TAKING REFUGE IN THE "GREAT MOTHER"
7. THE GREAT LEARNING

1. Traditionally the aim of Buddhist spiritual practice is Enlightenment. Therefore, if you are moving from the ego toward Realization Buddhism could be of major assistance. Some difficulties occur with transplanting Buddhism to the West though. For instance the striving for Enlightenment has deteriorated in the context of Western greed and materialism. It has become the extension of individualistic ambition. Another obstacle is the unconscious. While in the East emotions are suppressed and thus do not mount to the surface, the situation in the West is opposite. Hence, with spiritual "opening up" the Western seeker inevitably will be confronted by his or her shadow. Meditation thus proving not to be enough. It has to be complemented with efforts to integrate the excluded parts in the conscious self. Time has already shown, that Western psychology is playing an indispensable role here. Moreover, additional practices are needed to overcome Western alienation. At this stage a re-definition of "suffering" appears to be necessary. "To escape from suffering", the classical principle, is replaced by "to be alienated from "Heaven", earth and the community". Especially those methods, that are helping us to "restore unity with Heaven and Earth" have thus to become part of our system. The "Heaven and Earth" exercises are a good example.

2. Spirituality means to "reconnect" to reality. Hence, to acknowledge one's (painful) situation in which one is alienated from both the inner and the outer world seems to be a pre-requisite for the spiritual Path. Only by allowing one's suffering to enter one's innermost core longing for Wholeness will be born. Only after these conditions are met, the gate is open toward intensive meditation e.g. Zen or Vipassana sesshins. However, the "gains" may soon turn into another (unforeseen) problem: the ego taking advantage of the stage of spiritual Realization. After every satori the ego will try to use this "achievement" for its own purposes. "Clinging to Enlightenment" is THE most dangerous trap on the Path. It is a stage many simply don't overcome. Inevitably the need for purification will be accordingly. Nothing serves this aim better, than to totally submit oneself to the Ultimate. Realization has to be followed by surrender! In this respect our rediscovery of the Ultimate as the Great Mother, the Cosmic Vacuum - Emptiness beyond Emptiness - may facilitate this crucial step. The "result" will be "coming home". The miracle is this: by surrendering to the Great Mother She might pour Her Lightbody out into you. Eventually, the latter doesn't possess any "substance", the Ultimate Realization is therefore equal to a "rebirth into the world". One is back in the marketplace, nothing special nothing holy, just doing what is necessary. Our Teaching in general and Great Mother Buddhism in particular are including these steps. It is bringing together all achievements of East and West to the benefit of every sincere seeker.       

STEP 1: AWAKENING

To Become the Observer

3. The teaching of Great Mother Buddhism is sevenfold. First it says that "awakening is the easiest thing there is". Because of spiritual ambition awakening is usually overlooked. The desire to reach the Ultimate obscures the intangible quality of simply being aware. Nevertheless, awakening is the most important step in emancipation. It is the leap from ignorance toward insight, from imprisonment toward liberation. Everyone, without exception would be awakened within a split second. Sitting in a chair, relaxed and watching the inside of your eyelids gives birth to the witness: "I am here and my eyelids are there".To take the subtle dimension of consciousness seriously is where it is all about.

4. Sit relaxed in your chair. Close your eyes and watch the inside of your eyelids. Look at everything that comes up, as if you watch TV. You will be surprised. The discovery is, that you are here and your problems (thoughts, images, emotions, dreams, fantasies, and desires) are there. You are not touched by them anymore, whereas they flow freely in your inner space. You identity has been shifted to a new inner faculty, something you didn't know before your inner watching. This witness is your inner reference, center of silence, your inner stability, and your clarity. You have found your true identity. Once you realize that, you are awakened. Inner freedom: a piece of cake.

3. However, to make this start a promising one, everything depends on the driving force behind it. How strong is your longing for wholeness will be the determining factor. If your motivation comes from the mind, your effort very soon will become distracted by other desires. Lucky are those ones, whose longing directly originates from the Source. As you may well know the Ultimate is even more longing for us, than we are for IT. Realizing this to the depth is a matter of grace, the latter being the incomprehensible invitation to unity with our "innermost Core". If this doesn't (yet) happen in your life, realizing your alienation may be a very "useful tool" in generating the longing for wholeness. In this case you should always watch and accept your suffering. Don't try to change, solve or distract it. Once you have left nowhere to go, then you may leap into the Other Dimension. 

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