Beyond the Clouds

Darkness, bad space, dukkha gives rise to Dukkha samudaya - this is the insight, coupled with Dukkha samudaya nirodha and marga, that the Buddha had on his night of enlightenment, so the story goes.

Marga - the way, the path of peace and liberation is an outcome of feeling inspired and entrusting oneself to the tathagatha's supreme vision. The eightfold path is based on three pillars - vision, morality, and wisdom. The wisdom comes from the recognition and acceptance of being totally foolish. To fully accept that following a good rule in life or higher order won't immunise us to the awful and terrible things that occur so naturally in life. This is what is emphasised in Pureland Buddhism - no matter what our attempts at being fully faithful, and acting totally skilful we cannot alter reality and change the fact that we are and will always be completely and totally foolish beings of wayward passion.

At best, we can try to keep our sights on a sublime vision of warmth, tenderness, and compassion and preserve conditions that shine light of the shadows cast by mara.