![]() ![]() Putting words to the fundamental awakening in Buddhism is, not surprisingly, extremely difficult. After that critical shift in perspective, it’s as if we’ve woken up. We may think we do, but those who have awakened say we’re really just wandering around as if in a dream. Before that shift, we don’t really get it. However, it’s clear from the Buddhist teachings, stories of the ancestors, and the experience of modern-day Buddhists, that there’s a pivotal and essential shift in perspective at some point in a person’s practice. The valuable – and truly liberating – things we can learn along the path are infinite. We benefit from insights into the nature of dukkha, or suffering into impermanence, and into our own karmic entanglements. Or, that is, there isn’t only one truth to awaken to. What is this fundamental awakening experienced by the Buddha, and by subsequent generations of practitioners? Of course, there isn’t just one awakening. If you really want to awaken, the whole process of longing and struggling to realize the essential truth for yourself can be filled with frustration, confusion, and anguish – one reason some Buddhists choose to opt out of the effort entirely, postponing it until a future birth or simply cultivating satisfaction with their lives just as they are. When we decide we don’t care one way or another, they implore us not to waste our lives living in a dream. When we conclude we don’t know, they tell us the truth is not separate from us. The Concept of “Awakening” in Buddhism and Zenįor those of us no longer beginners to Buddhist practice, the concept of awakening raises a troubling and dualistic question: Do we know the essential truth yet, or not? When we conclude we know, a good teacher challenges us. In this episode I explore “awakening” in Buddhism: What’s meant by the term, attitudes we take toward awakening, why it’s so elusive, and how we can make the process of seeking less painful. Throughout time, and among different forms of Buddhism, this shift in understanding has been called different things, including awakening, enlightenment, Right View or Right Understanding, realization, satori, or kensho (a Japanese term which means “seeing one’s true nature”). This includes Posts or Comments with little or no discussion points, or links to images, videos, or blogs with no comments.102 – Nine Fields of Zen Practice 3: Nyoho, Karma Work, and Bodhisattva Activityįrom the beginning, it’s been clear that the highest rewards of Buddhism are experienced through a fundamental and radical shift in the way you understand the world and your place in it. Find a reading list of appropriate content in the link section above. If you are unsure, feel free to scroll through r/zen to get a feel, or personally message the moderators. Any borderline content will be judged by the original poster's willingness to diligently engage the comments. ![]() No posts or comments about specific users. No posts or comments about books, blogs, or teachings tenuously related to zen. Reading List - Subreddit Rules 1) No Content Unrelated to Zen ( More about the four statements can be found here) Helpful Links: The separate transmission outside the teachings, Please browse our Wiki and Frequently Asked Questions, There's a lot of great content in them. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |