Found this from http://www.ahalmaas.com/glossary/t/true_nature.htm
by 'A.H.Almaas':
* The first
quality of true nature is that it is inseparable from awareness.
Our true nature is inherently aware. This is the fact of
luminosity, the fact of light, the fact of consciousness. We know
this because when we experience any of the essential
manifestations, we recognize that Being is (delete in) inseparable
from some kind of awareness, sensitivity, in-touchness, or
consciousness. Awareness is not something in addition to true
nature; it is an inherent and inseparable characteristic of true
nature, the way heat is inherent in and inseparable from
fire.
* The second characteristic of true reality is that this field of
awareness, this field of presence, is pervasive and infinite, and
includes everything within it. In fact, it is a oneness, an
indivisible unity. This is similar to the Buddhist notion of the
wisdom of equality or evenness. The fact that there are patterns
within the field does not mean there are discrete objects
The
field is all one consciousness with different patterns in different
places. So the entire soul is unitary as well. When we recognize
true nature and we lose the sense of boundaries, we recognize that
oneness pervades the whole universe. God has one mind.
* The third characteristic is that true nature is dynamic. Reality
is moving and changing all the time. This is obvious when you
notice that your perception of your inner experience or of the
whole world is not a snapshot; it is a movie. It is inherently in
a constant state of change and transformation. It is not a static
presence. This is related the Buddhist notion of the
all-accomplishing wisdom. Reality is a dynamic presence that is
always changing through shifts in the manifest patterns. In fact,
the presence of change is implicit in the fact of awareness;
without it, there is no awareness.
* The openness of true nature is its fourth characteristic.
Openness means an infinite number of possibilities open to be
anything, open to manifest as anything, unlimited in its potential.
This is the indeterminacy and inexhaustibility that we discussed in
the last chapter. Reality is always changing because its true
nature is completely open. This is the space dimension of our
Being: when you recognize true nature, you find it to be spacious.
In other words spaciousness is inherent in the presence that is
true nature. The whole universe is a deep mysterious nothingness,
openness, lightness, and complete absence of any heaviness. And
this very mysterious, delicate spaciousness has a luminosity
inherent in it, a glimmer, a radiance that gives it (delete a)
awareness of itself.
* The fifth major characteristic of true nature is that it is not
only awareness, oneness, dynamism, and openness, but also
knowingness. This is similar to the Buddhist notion of the wisdom
of discrimination, or the discriminating awareness of the Buddha.
It is inherent to essential presence that it is not only awareness
of presence but simultaneously the discrimination of the particular
quality of presence, such as Compassion or Peace. This knowingness
is inherent to presence, inherent to the awareness of presence.
(Spacecruiser Inquiry, pg 32)
Though this is (I feel) quite well written, there are aspects
and characteristics of our true nature not mentioned by the author
such as the essence of emptiness and non-locality. But that would
be another topic.
But anyway what I'm trying to say is, luminosity is like light. The
sun's rays pervades the entire Earth, lighting up everything so we
can 'see'. The luminosity of our true Mind is similar, it is the
characteristic of inherent awareness, everything we feel and touch
and experience is luminosity.
If suffering is not an expression of luminosity, we cannot even
feel suffering. Therefore suffering is also an expression of
luminosity.
Another thing is that our True Mind experientially 'feels' like
luminosity, it feels luminous. As Ajahn Brahmavamso said,
"...It is the mind manifesting, not a light, but for most it
appears like a light, it is perceived as a light, because this
imperfect description is the best that perception can
offer..."
"....But there does come a time, and this is the Buddha's simile,
when the moon is released from the clouds and there in the clear
night sky you can see the beautiful full disc of the moon shining
brilliantly, and you know that's the moon. The moon is there; the
moon is real, and it's not just some sort of side effect of the
clouds. This is what happens in meditation when you see the mind.
You see clearly that the mind is not some side effect of the brain.
You see the mind, and you know the mind. The Buddha said that the
mind released is beautiful, is brilliant, is radiant. So not only
are these blissful experiences, they're meaningful experiences as
well...."
Longchen describes from his experience, "This brightness is the
result of mind's deconstruction which allows for intense
penetration into consciousness. The Brightness can be so intense
that it is truly stunning."
Eckhart Tolle said regarding his 'Inner Body' practise (a form of
vipassana-like mindfulness practise), "...The more attention you
give it, the clearer and stronger this feeling will become. It will
feel as if every cell is becoming more alive, and if you have a
strong visual sense, you may get an image of your body becoming
luminous."
And this is not just limited to 'every cell of the body', one who
experiences non-duality experiences the intrinsic luminosity in
every manifestations, obviously including suffering.
The Buddha said:
"Luminous is this mind,
Brightly shining, but it is
Colored by the attachments
That visit it.
This unlearned people do not
Really understand,
And so do not cultivate the
Mind.
Luminous is this mind,
Brightly shining,
And it is free of the
Attachments that visit it.
This the noble follower
Of the way really understands;
So for them there is
Cultivation of the mind.
- Anguttara Nikaya"
All phenomena are ultimately One Mind, luminous-emptiness
inseparable, all are expression of Mind's luminosity.
