Rationalizing Awakening Away

Tue, Jun 10, 2008

A phenomenal quote from Jack Engler’s article, Practicing for Awakening:

Instead of practicing for awakening as a real possibility, we hold enlightenment up as a remarkable and rare attainment, the highest ideal of the spiritual life. But enlightenment doesn’t work as an ideal. As an ideal for a few, it distances us and discourages us. At the same time, of course, this puts it comfortably out of reach where we can venerate it without feeling we have to do anything about it. And then we have to defend ourselves against our disappointment that it will never be ours. So we take the opposite position that it doesn’t really matter anyway—all that matters is being awake in the moment.

This may be true, but here it is used as a rationalization. By minimizing its importance, we make our own self-doubts and insecurities easier to live with. Idealizing awakening and minimizing its importance are both defensive, and repeat what has already happened in the history of Buddhism. Awakening was a common occurrence in the beginning if we believe the suttas; over the centuries it came to be viewed as a rarer and rarer event as it took on more of a mystical aura, and most Buddhists eventually abandoned the aspiration for awakening in this lifetime. Is this coincidence?

This is kind of what I was trying to get at here and here, but coming at it from a different angle. This point, I think, is super critical to our understanding of the spiritual path. If we don’t know that awakening is possible, and it isn’t our deepest aspiration and resolve, then the likelihood of actually waking up becomes almost nil. Engler, later in the same article puts it this way, “Without this will or desire or intention to awaken, awakening will not happen.” Clear enough.

(Hat tip to Dave Lovas for sending this article my way.)

This post was written by:

Vince Horn - who has written 807 posts on Numinous Nonsense.

Vince Horn lives as a modern monk. He spends part of his year in silence, meditating, introspecting, and developing spiritually. The rest of the time he spends engaged in the world, where he produces and hosts the popular show, Buddhist Geeks, works in the production department of the spiritual publishing company Sounds True, and writes for various publications—including on his personal blog Numinous Nonsense—and enjoys living in Boulder, Colorado with his wife Emily. Read his full bio here.

Contact the author

5 Comments For This Post

Duff Says:
June 10th, 2008 at 10:33 am

An excellent quote indeed, and very inspiring.

Steven Splinter Says:
June 10th, 2008 at 9:01 pm

An excellent quote.

One comment on the idea that we should see enlightenment as something we can achieve in this lifetime: it should be accompanied with the right attitude. Part of the reason I think many view enlightenment as something rare and unable to be achieved in this lifetime is because enlightenment then becomes a goal like in a video game. Practitioners can be trapped in striving after this elusive goal, and that action becomes self-defeating, like chasing a rainbow. Awareness of the moment is a good skill to have, and is a necessary part of enlightenment. It’s just one part of it, though, and that’s where the teacher, dharma and sangha come in to remind us to keep going.

Vince Horn Says:
June 11th, 2008 at 9:59 am

Hi Steven,

I would agree, partially, with your point. Right attitude (or right view) is a necessary ingredient, however in the beginning I don’t think the attitude matters so much as long as it promotes practice. The practice, if done correctly, will clarify the view. If people see it as a goal and are inspired to pour all of the their effort and energy into attaining it (as I did), they may have to grapple with the striving that accompanies that in their practice, but I think they’ll have a better chance at doing so than the people who don’t think it’s possible and thus don’t practice.

Best,

-Vince

Steven Splinter Says:
June 11th, 2008 at 9:13 pm

Hi, Vince.

There are other reasons people practice, though. They may wish to escape pain, or develop concentration in other areas of life, or please a partner, or other reasons. Their goals are different, at least initially, but if the correct attitude can be instilled in them, they can (hopefully) achieve their initial goals and be turned towards enlightenment as another goal. This is why I think attitude is more important.

Best back at you,

-Steve

Vince Horn Says:
June 11th, 2008 at 11:07 pm

Hi Steve,

I agree there are definitely many reasons that people take up the practice, some better and some worse, though I would argue that it’s almost impossible, no matter how you start practice, to start with a right attitude. Right attitude is almost always something that is refined through correct practice, and through real and lasting insight. I think we could both agree that some of the reasons to start are probably better then others, but if someone is sincere, and willing to question their reasons, then that is enough. Maybe that is what you mean by right attitude?

take care,

-Vince

Duff Says:
June 10th, 2008 at 10:33 am
An excellent quote indeed, and very inspiring.
Steven Splinter Says:
June 10th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
An excellent quote.

One comment on the idea that we should see enlightenment as something we can achieve in this lifetime: it should be accompanied with the right attitude. Part of the reason I think many view enlightenment as something rare and unable to be achieved in this lifetime is because enlightenment then becomes a goal like in a video game. Practitioners can be trapped in striving after this elusive goal, and that action becomes self-defeating, like chasing a rainbow. Awareness of the moment is a good skill to have, and is a necessary part of enlightenment. It’s just one part of it, though, and that’s where the teacher, dharma and sangha come in to remind us to keep going.
Vince Horn Says:
June 11th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Hi Steven,

I would agree, partially, with your point. Right attitude (or right view) is a necessary ingredient, however in the beginning I don’t think the attitude matters so much as long as it promotes practice. The practice, if done correctly, will clarify the view. If people see it as a goal and are inspired to pour all of the their effort and energy into attaining it (as I did), they may have to grapple with the striving that accompanies that in their practice, but I think they’ll have a better chance at doing so than the people who don’t think it’s possible and thus don’t practice.

Best,

-Vince
Steven Splinter Says:
June 11th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Hi, Vince.

There are other reasons people practice, though. They may wish to escape pain, or develop concentration in other areas of life, or please a partner, or other reasons. Their goals are different, at least initially, but if the correct attitude can be instilled in them, they can (hopefully) achieve their initial goals and be turned towards enlightenment as another goal. This is why I think attitude is more important.

Best back at you,

-Steve
Vince Horn Says:
June 11th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Hi Steve,

I agree there are definitely many reasons that people take up the practice, some better and some worse, though I would argue that it’s almost impossible, no matter how you start practice, to start with a right attitude. Right attitude is almost always something that is refined through correct practice, and through real and lasting insight. I think we could both agree that some of the reasons to start are probably better then others, but if someone is sincere, and willing to question their reasons, then that is enough. Maybe that is what you mean by right attitude?

take care,

-Vince

Numinous Nonsense