Thanks for your comments.

My experience accords with yours on this.

Sometimes, though, I wonder how many people have actually experienced “kensho” or that “ah-ha” experience and simply dismissed it, or allowed it to fade out. It seems to me that the immediate sensation of obvious recognition (oh yeah! this is how it has always been…) of the experience indicates some kind of previous experience (perhaps too shallow to make a lasting impression, or simply forgotten in day to day life).

I think this is part of the reasons for Zen’s traditional urging of seeking confirmation. In other words, I think confirmation serves not only as check for mistaken notions of altered states, etc., but as a kind of “sealing impression”–Yes! That’s it! Now don’t waste it, deepen, polish, and refine this endlessly…

Perhaps?

Peace,
Ted

I am not at all sure that the measure of awakening is a “pretty clean ” life, free of relationship issues.

The scriptures tell us that even Lord Buddha Sakyamuni’s awakening did not insulate him from problematic relationships. The best example being his cousin Devatatta’s attempt to assasinate him.

Not to mention the many tales of various Mahasiddhis who were social outcasts, reviled by most.

“Beyond concepts” seems to include beyond “normal” standards of socialisation and relationship.

The doctrine of samsara and nirvana being one taste covers all this, don’t you think? Of course, many have a hankering to imagine that nirvana “solves” samara, in terms of samsara itself. Perhaps this is open to question?

regards

Pete

Instead of sleeping, I picked up a magazine with an article by a favorite author, John Welwood, in which he wrote about the importance of both “realization” and “actualization.” I’ve known people who have some realization – kensho, insight, awakening – but whose lives remain pretty messy. Conversely, I’ve known people who without the “ah-ha” but whose lives are pretty clean, especially in their relationships with others.

Of course, I can’t claim either realization or actualization, but I appreciate the deep intelligence in this passage and its echo of Chinul’s sudden enlightenment, gradual cultivation.

Thank you for the kind and encouraging words…

Yes, realization seems to contain an inherent quality of discovering (un-covering) what has always been true—and at the same time, making it real (real-ization).

Thanks again.

Peace,
Ted

Thank you for your comments.

Yes. Here and Now (Here/Now) is the center of Existence and Time (Existence/Time).

Peace,
Ted

Intruging book, looking forward to reading it again!

sincerely,
Rachelle