The stages of the path - specifically Vajrayogini's path, drop us into all kinds of experiences to vault over or push through or even, if we choose, to completely ignore. If we choose to take these experiences on, through applying our practice we come to realize not every hinderance is a hard, negative one. And then, through subtle body application we can change our perspective to even see the hard and negative just like we do the easy, positive experiences.
Where does that leave us as practitioners in the Charnel Ground? And, does finding the resonating feelings of the middle way mean that we have "leveled up"? Do any of these questions even matter as we traverse the DAKINI PATH?
"We need to understand and be aware that her appearance and identity are purposely self-secret and non-self-existing. So, when we say, "to see or to meet" Dakini, it's really about the purification of our awareness. When we peel off our perceptions and conceptualizations that get in the way, we can see her. If our mind is pure, we can see everything as pure. In tantra, this is called scared outlook. Then we can see Dakini in whatever appearance she manifests."
(page 139, 5.3 RECOGNIZING DAKINI, Volume II of the Heart of Cho: DAKINI JOURNEY in the Contemporary World, Choying Khandro)
There will never be a time that we who have picked up Khandro-la's book, listened to her teachings, practiced alongside her, or felt her personal loving gaze will ever be able to thank her enough for bringing Dakini to us in both tangible and intangible form. Even on the days we feel like practice is easy in our charnel ground, we stay the course through Khandro-la's example.
