So, we have moments of satori. we seem to understand the way. then we have to "live" in the real world full of conditioned mind, karmic effect, immorality, anger.....etc. my knee jerk reaction is to go to a monastery and "check-in" but then I think that would just be running from the reality of the modern world. so? now what? as I search for the mind ( with the mind) I feel like I'm in a chess match with myself..lol... the sad thing is I'm quite sure I know who the winner/loser will be. I guess my question is enlightenment and then...laundry?( yes, ive read that)at least as a christian I would be "looking forward to the big prize" but Im a follower of the Buddha way...sooooo? here amongst like minded seekers all these teachings make sense. taking them to the workaday world is a great challenge for me. thanks for your input.

^gassho^

I guess the key word for me is integration.

I think the best one can hope for is to find a sangha, even if it is a virtual one...like here. For me, it is the search to find others on the same path, and hopefully someone a little ahead of me. Not looking for a guru, just input.

While we're sitting here debating enlightenment and reconciling living in the real world, the laundry is not going to wash itself.

Before enlightenment....
After enlightenment....
Your laundry awaits you...

wolfscalissi,
Thank you for your honesty.

Are you looking for a "carrot" to keep you on track (or path)?
If so, how about the next step, or better yet, how about the step you're taking now?
You'd better concentrate dude, there's dogcrap all over the place

'The flower needs no "knowledge of self" to blossom'

How do you know that?

. Put a fish on land and he will remember the ocean until he dies. Put a bird in a cage, yet he will not forget the sky. Each remains homesick for his true home, the place where his nature has decreed that he should be.

Man is born in the state of innocence. His original nature is love and grace and purity. Yet he emigrates so casually without even a thought of his old home. Is this not sadder than the fishes and the birds? Master Hahn Shan

The flower does not know it is a flower yet it blooms when the right conditions are manifested. even if it really really wanted to be a tree the right conditions for man i.e. right speech, right thought, right action do not make the man attain enlightenment (bloom), for how can he attain what he already has? lifting the dark veil of knowledge, finding that we were right there on the path the whole time.

Gate. Gate, Paragate. Parasumgate!. Bhodi! Svaha!


^gassho^ Butterfly

Bump.

Like my car, I have to remember to perform a monthly check.

Oil level...check
tire pressure...check
oil my bo...check
enlightenment integration...red light on.

Just a reminder that the McDojo's are distractions, and one needs to remember to center, or take the seat.

Thank you, Wolfi (may I call you that?), for your pointing finger.

-Narda