The Changeless Nature

8 The Changeless NatureBuddhist explanation is that the happiness and suffering that beingsexperience are results produced by the very nature of their actionsthrough natural laws of causality. If one can grasp this properly thenthere is the possibility of liberation from the otherwise ever-continuingcircles of existence, created by such actions.Both phenomena in general and individuals in particular are devoidof any real self-entity. The normal delusion is to believe in a 'self' — in'I'. Once there is the 'self' there emerges the need to keep it happy.When the happiness is threatened then it must be protected — angerarises. We like 'I' - pride emerges. We are afraid of others matchingour qualities then there is jealousy. Also belief in the existence ofour 'selves' leads to the creation of the idea of seemingly outer objectsbeing real too: 'other'.The way in which the ego-belief may be removed is through actualinvestigation; a search through the body and mind in an attempt tofind the very thing called 'I'. The non-discovery of 'I' which resultsbrings a natural understanding of non-ego. Belief in phenomenalexistence may also be removed by a very accurate inspection of thosethings which at first appear independently real. After inspection theyare understood to be dream-like or similar to a water-bubble.The whole point of the teachings presented in the three dharmachakrasis to help this realisation of absence of self (voidness) takeplace. A correct understanding of voidness will not take it as an emptyspace, which has no life or change. Voidness is the very nature, theessence, of phenomena and is great clarity which, in its pure phase,can manifest all the aspects (kayas) of buddhahood; so it is notnothingness. It is full of possibilities. There is an indivisible union ofvoidness and clarity (clarity in the sense of lucidity — clear, vividintelligence). This union is the very essence of the Buddhas and itis present in everyone's mind. If one can work on it then buddhahoodwill manifest.As it is present in all beings, anyone who practises can liberateit to achieve buddhahood, regardless of their sex, race or background.Full realisation of this essence is buddhahood. The reason that we donot realise it is because of the presence of affective negativity (klesa).