This passage focuses on the idea that in order to achieve an awakening, one must not try too hard to be enlightened, but rather “forget the self and be enlightened by all things”. To find enlightenment is a complicated matter, but this passage tries to explain that every person, not just a religious leader has access to this hightened spirituality.
“To let the self be awakened by all things is enlightenment. To be enlightened about delusion is to be a Buddha. To be deluded in the midst of enlightenment is to be an ordinary person”. This delusion is a main focus in the passage. Delusion is not being able to see things clearly or be clouded by something false. In order to have an “awakening” and be a Buddha, one is aware that delusion exists in this world and in spirit rises above to understand things through this cloud.
The author continues to focus on letting go of the idea that we must search for enlightenment, and rather letting the self become enlightened naturally. To find a true awakening, the individual must not get caught up in the bliss of finding enlightenment, for they will be deluded and mislead in this search.
It is almost as if the author is warning that the truly enlightened individual must surpass the “honeymoon” stage of ones relationship with spirituality in order to find a TRUE awakening.
“To study Buddhism is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by all things”. The enlightenment BY ALL THINGS is a fundamental belief in Buddhism which I find has truly great meaning. It is not often as humans that we look beyond ourselves and trust ALL THINGS for answers. Buddhism teaches that in order to be truly enlightened you must realize that nothing is permanent and that in realization of the changing lives of all things, awakening occurs.
The concept of no permanence seems strange at first, but really makes sense if you think into it. Although we tend to be more comfortable with material and non-changing items, it is important to understand that the world around us changes every day. I found this another interesting point in the reading that made me think more about the profound teachings and ideas in the Buddhist quest for true enlightenment.
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About Me
- Michelle Arensman
- Hi, Im Michelle. I just finished my first year at UC Santa Barbara and I loved every second of it. I am back in Rocklin for the summer and am so lucky to be able to visit with my friends and family for a few months, but cant wait to get back to my home at the ocean.
2 comments:
“To study Buddhism is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by all things”. I enjoyed your blog and I liked how you applied this phrase in your blog. I agree with what your saying, in order to forget the self one must be open-minded.
Hey Michelle. I really liked this reading and I think you echoed the message pretty well in this blog. I didn't have time to blog on any of the passages yet, but you really took the words out of my mouth. I think a lot of the time, people get so caught up in doing what their religion asks of them, following it word for word, regardless if they themselves feel that it is wrong, scientifically or morally. Sometimes religious dogma goes against what a person feels and thinks is right, especially in an everchanging world; that is what I like about Buddhism: it asks you to look inside yourself in the present time and place to find the truth.
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