Thursday, February 3, 2011

enlightenment slips away

We should always live in the dark empty sky. The sky is always the sky. Even though clouds and lightning come, the sky is not disturbed. Even if the flashing of enlightenment comes, our practice forgets all about it. Then it is ready for another enlightenment.

- Shunryu Suzuki, "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind"

enlightenment is impermanent
like everything loved & hated
like everything in the world

if you think you are enlightened
go spend a week with your family
as Ram Dass famously suggested

if you think you've achieved enlightenment
don't try to hold onto the feeling
it will slip away like soap in a shower

if you find an enlightened teacher
leave an apple on the desk
then find the nearest exit


if enlightenment is your goal
then loss of enlightenment
will be your achievement

settle for that
and go back to work

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