Jundo wrote:
It is true that some Zen teachers (I think Seung Sahn is one) overemphasize the Satori experience as attaining some mind blowing, "other" state that, when attained, makes everything in this life suddenly "fall into place". It is not so simple, and there is nothing about the lives of such teachers (there are many) that indicates in any way that, once they had such an experience, they were less a fool than the rest of us poor human beings (myself at the top of the list). Our Soto practice is much more boring.
However, if seeing the wonder of that "boring" is a form of mysticism ... than it is mystical.
However, if seeing the wonder of that "boring" is a form of mysticism ... than it is mystical.
I initially thought of enlightenment as a one time, "oh-my-god", "now I see the light", completely life changing event, after which I would be transformed into some kind of sage with deep and wonderous understanding of all matters. Boy did I miss the boat on that one.
I have had some satori experiences that were quite life changing but not how I had anticipated. I had thought that the satori experience was the point. That was what I was striving for with sitting and workshops and intensives. One of the things that surprised me was that when I stopped trying for that experience and just abided in the present moment, and appreciated life as it was at that moment, then without trying or even hoping... everything changed, yet was exactly the same... everything was perfect just as it was...everything was an overwhelming sensation of bliss...there was just being...
I have had milder experiences off and on since that time, and what I have discovered is that for me this experience was not the end of the quest, but the beginning of a new road that I have only just started to walk down.
It seems to me now that satori experiences are not the point, but neither are they nothing. For me they have helped me to feel the interconnectedness and oneness of all-that-is, feeling myself an expression of the one-thing-that-is, and feeling related to everything. I think that pursuing the satori experience helped me to find my way to now, where everything is happening.
On the other hand, whenever I start getting too full of it I like to remember the poem by the Sufi Master Hafiz:
Ten Thousand Idiots
It is always a danger
To Aspirants
On the
Path
When they begin
To Believe and
Act
As if the ten thousand idiots
Who so long ruled
And lived
Inside
Have all packed their bags
And skipped town
Or
Died.
Amen.
Namaste.
Gassho,
Urug 8)
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