This seems a good question for the week of Vesak -- just what is enlightenment, anyway? (Never mind that "enlightenment" isn't even the right word for what we're talking about, which is something we've discussed before.)
There are several standard answers. It might be the realization of wisdom (anatta or sunyata). It might be the cessation of dukkha. In the Atthinukhopariyaayo Sutta of the Pali Tipitika (Samyutta Nikaya 35.152), the Buddha said,
"Then, monks, this is the criterion whereby a monk, apart from faith, apart from persuasion, apart from inclination, apart from rational speculation, apart from delight in views and theories, could affirm the attainment of enlightenment: 'Birth is destroyed, the holy life has been accomplished, what was to be done is done, there is no further living in this world.'"
This suggests that if a person is still living, he's not enlightened yet. But there are other perspectives.
According to Zen legend, when the Buddha realized enlightenment he said, "Isn't it remarkable! All beings are already enlightened!" This suggests that enlightenment is what we are, whether we know it or not. Along these lines, Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki Roshi said,
"It is kind of mystery that for people who have no experience of enlightenment, enlightenment is something wonderful. But if they attain it, it is nothing. But yet it is not nothing. Do you understand? For a mother with children, having children is nothing special. That is zazen. So, if you continue this practice, more and more you will acquire something - nothing special, but nevertheless something. You may say "universal nature" or "Buddha nature" or "enlightenment." You may call is by many names, but for the person who has it, it is nothing, and it is something."
No comments:
Post a Comment