Once the obstacles to liberation
are understood in the right way,
the Master will live joyfully
free from unhappiness
Dhammapada Vs 295
Earth touching posture.
The earth touching posture is a popular presentation of Buddha statues, and I have been asked to say something about this particular pose.
We need to understand that nothing happens in isolation, and so to comprehend the significance of the Bhumispartra Mudra (earth touching posture) of the Buddha, we have to understand the Dhammic journey made by him.
According to the Buddhist tradition, he spent lifetime after lifetime purifying his Kamma until complete awakening could happen.
This is important to understand; he didn’t awaken, awakening happened, and it only happened after many years and lifetimes of determined effort, when the conditions were conducive to the arising of complete liberation from the causes of his experience of suffering. We now know this beautiful way of awareness and love, as the Visudhimagga, the path of purification.
In our own lifetime there is the same process of letting go of our greed, hatred and delusion until the awakening can happen, when the mind is finally free from desire, attachment and fear. So beautiful.
According to the traditional story, it was when Mara tried, for one last time, to taunt Gotoma the ascetic (the the name and title of the Buddha before enlightenment) into giving up his effort for illumination, that Gotoma finally responded:
“So, even if you do succeed in Awakening,” Mara remarked, “You’re sitting alone in a forest, so who will know?”
Gotoma dropped his right hand until his fingers touched the earth and replied, “this great earth will know.”
Awakening is so rare and so precious, that its presence in a world of delusion is felt like a cooling breeze on a hot summers day, or a welcome shower after work.
It cannot be hidden and lies far beyond words and stories.
It is the manifestation of Truth and so is felt in every quarter in every moment.
Nothing is greater than this and its quiet power is phenomenal.
The journey of the Buddha was long and for lifetime after lifetime he worked to purify the mind (The Bodhisattva Path eg. The ten perfections), until awakening could happen.
This journey then, was not different from our own. Going deep in our practice until we understand each nuance of Dhamma. Understanding what forms the waves on the ocean of mind (Kamma) until finally, when asked the ultimate question; “do you still have suffering?” we can quietly and humbly answer, “no, this suffering is ended.”
This is the freedom the Buddha expressed by such a simple gesture, and this is the significance of the earth touching posture.
May all beings be happy.
Caring for the Master, caring for Dhamma.
It can be no secret that Dhamma, its presentation and sharing, is the most important thing in my life, and so, to fulfill the instruction of my own teacher, I need to guard my energy and vitality. However, on recent retreats, because of exhaustion and debilitating health issues, I struggled to share this most beautiful gift with you.
I have finally listened to the concerned voices who ask me so often to take better care of myself, and have now reflected upon restructuring my Dhamma life and travel, so that I can continue to give the best of me.
Here are the changes we have initiated.
Beginning in January 2026, I will no longer socialize before and after our retreats. I will instead travel directly to and from the retreat center, rest quietly in advance and after to conserve my energy and hopefully my health.
After October 2026, we will no longer organize weekend retreats at Kuckucksnest. Instead we will simply keep our two longer retreats each year.
This will begin in January 2027.
I hope that these changes will be acceptable to you.
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Teachings
Autumn retreat
October 2025: 9th to 12th
Kuckucksnest
Details: PureDhamma team
New Year retreat
January 2026: 3rd to 8th
Kuckucksnest
Details: PureDhamma team
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Koan:
Someone asked, “Master, have you been to hell?”
He replied, “I was the first one there.”
“How could a great Master have arrived from hell?”
“How could I show you Dhamma if I had not been there?”
Quotation:
All Masters face the same obstacles.
The purpose of the Master is to point to the truth, but point is all they can do. They cannot realise the truth for another. They can push, support, encourage and even bully their disciples into making an effort with the practice, but they cannot do the practice for them. This is very important to understand.
To realise the truth, we have to make the effort ourselves.
From ‘Not This’ by Michael Kewley.
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