Is Enlightenment Exaggerated?

Enlightenment is based on historical stories – truly exhilarating stories – but they do not happen now. We cannot positively say they did or didn’t happen; the point is that there are gurus and lamas who are said to be enlightened but, when they talk, it is plain, straightforward wisdom, and nothing supernatural.

We hear people, including monks and nuns, asking questions about ‘crazy wisdom’, which suggests that they don’t know what crazy wisdom is. Crazy wisdom is merely a shock-treatment that provokes a moment of emptiness. That shock could be a gentle suggestion, and the mind goes silent. Been there, had that happen … it’s a glimpse into realisation of emptiness. It lacks a point … pointless or purposeless.

The end of a powerful piece of music leaves us in a state of silence … until some fool claps, which exaggerates the appreciation, and everyone joins in! 😀 A piece of ‘art’ – or even someone speaking about the Dharma – can do the same thing but, again, we needn’t exaggerate either the person or the experience.

Personal silence is the emptiness of adulteration, which is the action of making something poorer in quality by the addition of another substance (from the Latin adulterat, meaning ‘corrupted’).

Personal silence is the emptiness of adulteration:
if enlightenment is indeed that simple,
it allows us to be happy right now,
without waiting for a fanfare in the future.

We are enlightened right now.

“You can’t say that!”
Why not?
🙂