| | The models that imply that this is about psychological development, getting rid of our stuff, or some such thing are very pervasive in Western dharma, so it is no surprise that many may read statements like Mr. Cooper's and interpret them through that filter. I didn't read it that way. Psychotherapy has a dismal record on the enlightenment front, just as those who spent most of their cushion time working on their stuff have a very poor chance of getting enlightened. In fact, junk being an inevitable part of life, it is much more about seeing the junk just as junk, seeing thoughts just as thoughts, emotions just as emotions, causal, arising and vanishing on their own, aware where they are, centerless, part of this great unfolding and dissolving of sensations, and perceiving that directly, in real time, as the default way of processing reality, is certainly an attainment worthy of effort, and, while it may not perform quite as we would fantasize it might, still, being all that there is, it is profound in its immediate and unarguable completeness.
I also believe that there is little point in trying to sell enlightenment or try to convince people to do it if they are not there, not already into it, not already caught in the process, as it doesn't tend to do much but cause confusion and conflict. Thus, if you don't feel called, compelled, or impelled by some inner sense that you should go in that direction, just live your life as best you can until, perhaps some time later, you begin to feel that more default clarity and fundamental perceptual truth would be helpful, and hope that, when you get there, you have the time and resources necessary to pursue that to the degree that makes the difference. Traditions, structure and technique can really help.
From the more immediate point of view, embody noticing that this is it, truth is here, and really feel what it is like right now, discarding ideals that conflict with actual experiential reality. |