by Riwo
INTENTION
My intention is to help make what I have learned in Buddhism approachable to all levels of readers regardless of faith or practice. I also cultivate the intention to share this wisdom with all beings.
If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Wherever you are — if you are following your bliss, you are enjoying that refreshment, that life within you, all the time.
Joseph Campbell
I first heard the late mythology scholar, Joseph Campbell, say these words on TV in 1988 in the Power of Myth TV series. “Follow your bliss” soon after would become a catchphrase and even appear on bumper stickers. I connected strongly with the phrase and the intention and meaning behind it.
My father thought it was crap. He thought you have to follow the money and only that would lead you to the lifestyle you want.
In my youth, I found a third white-guy opinion on the matter…Alan Watts said, “If you say that getting the money is the most important thing you will spend your life completely wasting your time. You will be doing things you don’t like doing in order to go on living, that is to do things you don’t like doing. Which is stupid. Better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing than a long life spent in a miserable way.”
This is my journey into who I found was right.
For most of my childhood, the things I choose as happiness were ridiculed, picked at, and made fun of. My happiness around surrounding myself with images of Lisa Frank, New Kids on the Block, and Corey Haim caused me ridiculed on the playground, at home, and at family gatherings. And yet whenever I could choose my own fate, I chose bliss. I chose happiness.
When a genre of music made me happy I’d dive in and explore every artist within it. Luckily cassette singles were cheap, and the library was an option. When Buddhism taught me compassion and joy I read every book at my local library and bookstore on the subject. When I saw a movie I liked, I’d record it off Cinemax and watch it multiple times until I had it memorized.
Yes, I was the weirdie listening to swing music in the 1990s and I loved it. Yes, I was told I was going to hell for reading a book about Buddhism, but I kept reading. Yes, I saw Pulp Fiction nine times in theater because it blew my mind and I dragged all my friends to see it so we could talk about it.
Following my bliss led me to work at a movie theater. (Free movies!) I loved it when people came into the theater and wanted to talk about the movie they just saw, I thrived on hearing what people liked or didn’t like about a movie. Eventually, the positivity was overwhelmed by the complaining. Audiences soured to the price of tickets, the price of the concession stand, and the quality of movies they were seeing.
So I left for a video store. (Free movies!) At a video store, we talked about the amazing movies we saw and were excited about the new ones. People took chances on movies because it was a couple of bucks and a few hours on a Friday night. This love and bliss for movies and the community connection brought me to California where I met my husband. And yes, we met in a video store.
My bliss with my husband led me to want to raise a family with him. Two wonderful kids later and embracing the bliss of motherhood, I set out to make my own films. I made films with the resources I had and for the price I could afford. I wasn’t going to let one film project bankrupt my family. I followed my bliss with each film project until I ran out of love for it.
My bliss around movies led me to distant lands, amazing people, a loving husband, and wise children. Following my bliss brought me more bliss. And it didn’t cost me much, in fact, most times I was getting paid to learn more about what made me happy. I wasn’t getting paid a lot but my focus was on learning, experiencing, and aligning myself for the next step of life’s adventure.
On Lama Live, my teacher, Lama Tsultrim Allione, talked about bliss in relation to the Buddhas of the 3 times. The Buddhas refer to Dīpaṃkara, Śākyamuni, and Maitreya. The three times refer to the past, present, and future.
Lama talked about our true condition, a primordial state of bliss, a state that all Buddhas come from. This is called our Buddha nature. It’s one layer deep than “follow your bliss”. Buddha nature is that center calm within you. Buddha nature is feeling into the energy where all people, places, and things connect. Buddha nature is realizing there are no differences between us. Buddha nature is when you drop everything in your mind and just be for a second.
When you realize your Buddha nature is made up of the same energy as the Buddhas of the past, present, and future, you find they are a part of you. You also realize they are you! You have the same potential to reach enlightenment just as they did, you can be a Buddha of the future. The Buddhas of the Three Times are so completely accessible. Each time you take a seat to meditate and you turn your awareness to awareness, you have a chance at enlightenment.
In Lama’s words, “Our true condition is bliss” and “we are the lineage holders of the Buddhas of the Three Times.”
Lama also talked about how, “the true condition is not something you cultivate, it’s something you find already in you.” It’s not about looking outside for an object to grasp. It’s about feeling that stillness, contentment, and connection.
Bliss is non-grasping. It’s not about having a thing or a person or a place that makes you happy. It’s finding happiness from moment to moment as it comes to you. If you grab for something to make you happy – money, fame, Corey Haim, they will eventually be out of reach. Instead, focus on how your own inner happiness is not dependent on others and things.
Bliss is non-dual. It’s not about one over the other. If you have to make a choice Republican or Democrat to be happy, you will constantly be let down. If it’s “your way or the highway”, you’re going to see a lot of people pass you by. Bliss is not about division, it’s about connection. Bliss attracts bliss. When you are blissful it sends ripples out to others. Sometimes they can receive that positive energy and sometimes their cup is full and they cannot – but trust me, they will remember your kindness.
Bliss is within each of us; it is when we are most at peace.
For me, Joseph Campbell was right but so is Lama. Let’s combine them – follow your bliss because it is our true nature.
TINY BIT OF HOUSEWORK
I am a student of the Magyu Lineage (Mother Lineage) under the leadership of Lama Tsultrim Allione of the Tara Mandala Center.
I lead the Indiana Sangha of Tara Manala. Buddha Friends is free, open to all and meets online though the Gal’s Guide Library.
If you have questions email me at 42@galsguide.org
Gal's Guide 