We Already ARE Enlightenment.


The main thing that drew me to Nishijima Roshi's (pictured above) and Master Dogen's approaches to Zen is that they are very direct.

Both teachers emphasised that what we realise in Zen practice is that we already ARE reality. In practicing just dropping off the thoughts and feelings that we habitually identify with we realise directly what we already are unhindered by our thoughts and feelings and personal brain-narratives to the contrary. It doesn't come in from some far-off mystical realm. It happens here. It's already always happening right here and now.

This seems important, because when I first approached Buddhism I got involved with a group based around a Tibetan teacher. In that group there were levels of practice you had to obtain, gradual empowerments to practice to be won (and bought) from the Master, hierarchies of students you had to negotiate, secret teachings doled out to the most loyal and deferential, bizarre behaviours passed off as 'crazy wisdom' from the all-powerful guru... turned out 'the guru' was physically and emotionally abusing, exploiting and shagging his students.

Similar happened in western Zen with some male teachers who set themselves up as 'Zen Master' guardians of esoteric, mysterious 'Zen'.

The truth is that the 'secret' of Zen is not a secret at all. The truth of us is everywhere, fully manifest right now. We just need to get used to settling into it in our own practice.

It's us, we're it. The idea that we need somebody else to give to us what we already manifestly are is complete nonsense.

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