Month: February 2026

Your first Superpower

I have noticed throughout my life how my perception of things is constantly changing and somewhat ebbing and flowing along with life events, going up and down along with the moods, feelings, emotions and thoughts.

That’s why I started seeing value in maintenance of a neutral perspective of life as much as possible, experiencing everything but not getting bound by the experiences themselves. Once we are repeating something that we are aware has no benefit for us, there can be no blame on any external actors or stimuli. It’s like a saying I love to repeat over and over again: “If you are in a hole, stop digging! “

I have been trying, struggling, limiting, and sticking to a rigorous discipline, yet, at least for me, it didn’t fully work. Why? I assume that we are somewhat compelled to have a certain experience. Let’s say we try to solve or eliminate a certain problem or addiction from our lives without addressing the root cause of it, it’s like trying to push away a weight that’s tied to us with a strong elastic band. The more we ignorantly push it away from us, the harder the pain of the impact on the rebound. First, we should get rid of the “elastic band”, which is the hidden/unconscious root problem that keeps us bound to the issue we’re struggling to eliminate.

When the “elastic band” is dissolved, “the weight” will drift away by itself no need to push or apply any pressure for it to go. So in reality, all our issues, regardless if it’s inability to attract a proper lover or maintain a relationship with them, or be it financial issues, health issues and so on, they’re all just a symptom of something deeper, and addressing the hidden undercurrents, will automatically calm the surface waters too.

According to my own experience, one of the core issues which manifested a lot of trouble, lack and dissatisfaction is the feeling of not being enough, of being incomplete, of still lacking time or training to be better. In reality, we are always enough. We are already a unique and special manifestation of the Source. Sure, compared to other manifestations, it may have too much, too little, it may look flawed or not enough, yet that’s the very perfection of a unique manifestation, and we should definitely learn to not only accept this manifestation but fully own it and love it unconditionally. If we are alone, and we are unaware of anything else existing but us, we are perfect, no matter what, right? So all the issues come from comparison. That is why the wise identifies himself/herself with Shiva, the Divine, God, the Source, because they realized their unique expression of That. It doesn’t mean that they’re going to be perfect from the human perspective. But they have realized their perfection in their apparent imperfection.

All the apparent flaws of the character are fulfilling a role, they define a certain path that the being will take and have to experience. Some things are given. In reality, there’s little to choose really, the freewill is very limited. When hearing or realizing this idea, some will decide that there’s nothing to do to escape fate and will become cynical and lazy, sabotaging the already bumpy path; whereas others, will see the beauty of the experience, the perfection of the imperfection, good and bad being alike, trying to flow with life rather than controlling it compulsively.

I feel that there’s a changing potential of life and destiny, but only to a certain degree, and there’s also an imposed, unchanging aspect. That’s why balance is the key, as in any other aspects of the system we experience.  So improve what you can, but also easily let go and adapt when you feel that you can’t change something. Exactly like a river, it penetrates soft obstacles but bends, adjusts and modulates around hard ones.

There’s no escape from the duality of things while immersed in this so-called reality we came to experience. But you can use this knowledge to your own advantage: knowing that there’s no joy without sorrow, there’s no hot without cold, there’s no good without evil… You can choose to embrace both currents at your own volition, and hence avoid forced/compulsory actions and events.

I stated in a previous article that I realized that my life became a bit smoother and less traumatic just by taking cold showers and embracing unpleasant and  uncomfortable situations that I used to try to escape. This is not only enhancing resilience and patience, but is training us to embrace challenges, adversity and adventures rather than trying to maintain comfort, which is neither teaching nor even beneficial.

Let comfort and pleasant experiences come on their own accord and fully embrace what you used to run away from, and see how it goes. Drop me a message a month later, letting me and others know if it works or not, or why not, give it 3 months for the benefits to become obvious. Track the way life treats you when you stop antagonizing it. Observe, as I did, that even if anything is far from perfect, you are doing well, there’s less stress, no depression, no lamenting, or blaming. A certain level of peace will be reached within, and that is better than any material gain. It is something that will stay with you forever, like an achieved superpower that you can’t lose anymore, and will open you up for your next level in the Game. A wiser version of you is emerging. I promise you!

Tilopa’s Mahamudra

Foreword:

This is not written by me, it’s an old scripture, revealing the last and most advanced teaching of the Siddha (perfected being) Tilopa, to his student Naropa after he exposed him to long and tedious trials, proving his worth, patience, discipline, dedication, resilience, and devotion. I decided to post it here because it’s quite hard to find it on the internet in this particular translation, which I find to be the closest to its original meaning. At first, it took me years to grasp the true  beauty and wisdom of these words fully, so come back to them after a while, like I did, and see different aspects that maybe, at first glance, failed to reveal their full splendor, ancient wisdom and simplicity.

Tilopa’s Mahamudra

Mahamudra cannot be taught, Naropa. But your devotion to your teacher, And the hardships you’ve met, Have made you patient in suffering and also wise. Take this to heart, my worthy student.

For instance, consider space: What does it depend on? Likewise, Mahamudra: It doesn’t depend on anything.

Don’t control. Let go and rest naturally. Let what binds you let go, and freedom is not in doubt.

When you look into space,  Seeing stops.  Likewise, when mind looks at mind,  The flow of thinking stops,  And you come to the deepest awakening.

Mists rise from the earth and vanish into space.  They go nowhere, nor do they stay.  Likewise, though thoughts arise,  Whenever you see your mind,  The clouds of thinking clear.

Space is beyond colour or shape.  It doesn’t take on colour, black or white;  It doesn’t change.  Likewise, your mind, in essence, is beyond colour or shape.  It does not change whether you do good or evil.

The darkness of a thousand eons  Cannot dim the brilliant radiance,  That is the essence of the sun.  Likewise, eons of samsara  Cannot dim the sheer clarity,  That is the essence of the mind.

Space is empty; You can’t say that space is “like this”.  Likewise, mind is said to be sheer clarity;  There is nothing there. You can’t say it is “like this”. Thus, the nature of mind is inherently like space;  It includes everything you experience.

Stop all physical activity;  Sit naturally at ease,  Do not talk or speak.  Let sound be empty, like an echo.  Do not think about anything;  Look at experience beyond thought.

Your body has no core,  Hollow like bamboo. Your mind goes beyond thought,  Open like space.  Let go of control,  And rest right there.

Mind without projection is Mahamudra.  Train and develop this,  And you will come to the deepest awakening.

You don’t see Mahamudra’s sheer clarity  by means of classical texts or philosophical systems, whether of the mantras, paramitas, vinaya, sutras or other collections. Ambition clouds sheer clarity, And you don’t see it. 

Thinking about precepts undermines the point of commitment.  Do not think about anything; Let all ambition drop.  Let what arises settle by itself like patterns on water.  No place, no focus, no missing the point –   Do not break this commitment; it is the light in the dark.

When you are free from ambition and don’t hold any position,  You will see all that the scriptures teach.  When you open to this, You are free from Samsara’s prison; When you settle in this, All evil and distortion burned up.  This is called “The light of the teaching”.

The foolish are not interested in this;  The currents of Samsara constantly carry them away.  Oh, how pitiable, the foolish – Their struggles never end.  Don’t accept these struggles; Long for freedom and rely on a skilled teacher.  When their energy enters your heart,  Your mind is freed.

Samsaric ways are senseless; They are the seeds of suffering.  Conventional ways are pointless… Focus on what is sound and true.  Majestic outlook is beyond all fixation.  Majestic practice is no distraction.  Majestic behavior is no action or effort. 

The fruition is there when you are free from hope and fear. Beyond any frame of reference, mind is naturally clear.  When there is no path,  You begin the path of awakening.  When there is nothing to work on,  You come to the deepest awakening.

Look carefully at this experience of the world;  Nothing lasts. It’s like a dream, like magic.  The dream, the magic, makes no sense.  Experience the grief and forget the affairs of the world. Cut all ties of involvement with country or kin;  Practice alone in forest or mountain retreats.  Rest, not practicing anything.  When you come to nothing to come to, you come to Mahamudra.

A tree spreads its branches and leaves.  Cut the root and ten thousand branches wither.  Likewise, cut the root of mind,  And the leaves of samsara wither. Though darkness gathers for a thousand aeons, A single light dispels it all.  Likewise, one moment of sheer clarity  Dispels the ignorance, evil and confusion of a thousand eons.

With the ways of the intellect, You won’t see beyond intellect.  With the ways of action,  You won’t know non-action.  If you want to know what is beyond intellect and action,  Cut your mind at its root and rest in naked awareness.

Let the cloudy waters of thinking settle and clear.  Let appearances come and go on their own.  With nothing to change,  The world you experience becomes Mahamudra. 

Because the basis of experience has no beginning,  Patterns and distortions fall away.  Rest in no-beginning, With no self-interest or expectation. Let what appears, appear on its own, and let conceptual ways subside.

The most majestic of outlooks is free of all reference.  The most majestic of practices is vast and deep without limit.  The most majestic of behavior is open-minded and impartial.  The most majestic of fruitions is natural being, free of concern.

At first, practice is a river rushing through a gorge,  In the middle, it’s the river Ganges,  Smooth and flowing.  In the end, it’s where all rivers meet,  Mother and child.

When your mind is less acute and does not truly rest,  Work the essentials of energy,  And bring out the vitality of awareness.  Using gazes and techniques to take hold of the mind,  Train awareness until it does truly rest.

When you practice with a sexual partner,  Empty bliss awareness rises.  The balancing of method and wisdom transforms energy.  Let it descend gently, collect it, draw it back up,  Return it to its place and let it saturate your body.  When you are free from longing and desire,  Empty bliss awareness arises.

You will have a long life.  You will not grey and you will shine like the moon.  You will radiate health and well-being  And be as strong as a lion.  You will quickly attain the ordinary abilities,  And open to the supreme one.

May these pith instructions, the essentials of Mahamudra,  Abide in the hearts of all worthy beings.