Is it possible to know what the absolute truth is? Of course you might say. Then you have to realize that we all see things in a differant manner because of perceptions, feelings and prejudgments of things. As long as this is the case we can not say that we know the absolute truth about any matter.

Buddhism is about finding and seeing the absolute truth. Awakening to Ultimate Reality. If you were awake you could see life as an on going process of arising and passing away. You would see that all things are conditioned by things before them. Feelings arising in you would also be seen as part of this phenomena.

In other words your whole view of a solid self would be different from what it is now. There would be no need to protect the ego because you would see that it also is in this process and it is not Ultimate Reality. The body would be seen as a thing that is also a part of the world. The elements that make it's constitution is the earth. What is here now will not be here as it is now in a moment from now.

That is why so much emphasis is placed on meditation. Meditation is not a seeking. It is not a desire. It is a process of training the mind to be present. Be here and now without judgment, feelings, memories and perceptions polluting the water of you just being present. They will come because they have been with you for some time. They are part of conditioned existence. For they are conditions themselves. Just watch them arise and pass away. It is not as hard as it sounds. It is not magical. It is not something that is beyond you. It takes effort but, be wary that even effort can turn into the monster you are trying to observe. Be there and watch without grasping for something else. If you perhaps do grasp or get caught up with it do not get discouraged. It is good to see that you did. That means you are present the moment you see it. That is where your journey starts.

You may say why go through all this. Well you have to ask yourself would it be nice to have a hold on the best qualities that a person can possess? The qualities of generosity, unselfishness, and loving-kindness will florish in you. You will experience compassion and understanding for all things for you will see their suffering too. You will see that there is truly nothing worth clinging to. All things arise and pass away in time. Why let it collect dust waiting for you to use it give it to someone that may really need it.

The most beautiful thing is that you will not be doing good for yourself or recognition no longer. You will do it because you know that the right thing needs to be done. There may be nobody there to help except you. God is in your center let him work. That is your Buddha nature. This is what you truly are. You are not a big house, new car, nice clothes etc. You are pure in heart it just takes stepping back and learning to be quiet for a while to see it.

This is a path of the heart. This is so much richer than recognition and pats on the back. Everyone likes a pat on the back but, to step beyond that is spirtual maturity. For you will see that you have stepped beyond YOUR action into just goodness coming forth from the ground in which it was planted.

The purity of the absolute truth will have been realized in you. This will happen because you let go and allowed things to come and go without judgment and false perceptions to pollute your actions. You will have become the poetry in action.

You want to find God? You don't have to go looking. He is in you already. He is that silent voice in your heart that you are screaming over. He can not save you from yourself. You have to do that. Your desires for things that will rust, grow old, decay and fall down are clouding the picture. Be silent! Slow down! Be present!

Have you ever heard the rain? I mean really heard the rain. The rain is music if you listen without memories, feelings and desires clouding your head.

Have you ever experienced the wind? Felt it on your face and hair. Felt it tugging at your body. Heard it blowing the tree leaves for miles around. It is like a poem.

They are there with you if you can be there. That is truth. Absolute Truth steps into beyond the conditioned state. It goes into the unconditioned state. If you learn to be present and silence your mind you will learn the rest of the beautiful story.

Nathan Clark