Can you slide back after enlightened ?

This is a great question.

Let’s begin with “The three general aspects of Buddhist practice (三學)” —— which are:

1. the practice of moral discipline 
2. the practice of concentration 
3. the practice of wisdom

The first two, the moral discipline and concentration will deviate depends on conditions.

In certain situation, we have to leave aside certain observation of discipline, for instance, due to health issues we have to consume certain food in certain time, then we can no more observer that discipline restrictedly.  

Regarding the achievement of the status of concentration, we may accomplish good practicing result while we are in good meditation environment, or in a long term retreat. However, the achievement may fall when we are back to our daily life, which has tons of things to distract us.

But, when we talk about the achievement of wisdom, which bring us enlightenment, there’s no backsliding. Just imagine, when someone truly understands the phenomenon of impermanence or the nature of emptiness, no matter what circumstances s/he is facing (even very ill), the nature of reality just pop straight up into her/his understanding. Hence, wisdom once attained, is no way to fade away.

Nevertheless, I have to say, there is a condition of “fake enlightenment”. Don’t get me wrong, the “fake enlightenment” I mention here, is not refer to someone who purposely self-flattering as enlightened one to get attention or to cheat for money, but the one who overestimated her/his achievement. Then, that kind of “enlightenment” may give us “a sense of backsliding”, in fact, that’s no such retrogression. Why? Those who overestimate their achievement of practice is actually never really attained enlightenment yet.

In short, if that is a authentic enlightenment, there is no backsliding.

The nature of reality and REALITY

The reality’s nature is some sort of nature that we can observe and perceive easily, compare to the Reality’s nature.

Through impermanence, we recognize the reality from the phenomenon of arising and ceasing. Again, from these phenomenon, we also realize that nothing can be controlled by us. What we can do is just try our best to maintain, to take care, to protect etc., by adding on certain conditions. 

For instance, we try to eat healthy, get good sleep, keep routine physical workouts etc., to maintain our physical health. However, the reality is, we can only try our best to preserve but we can’t really determine nor dictate the consequences.

Deep inside the phenomenon of changing lies a nature which we can’t really discern easily, which is the Reality’s nature —— emptiness (sanskrit : śūnyatā, śūnya). The Emptiness here is not a nihilistic concept, It definitely doesn’t mean empty, nonexistence or nothing at all etc. The nature of Emptiness, indeed, make room for all things to change momentarily.

Without the Reality —— Emptiness, how can something arise? And, without Emptiness, how can something cease? Without Emptiness, those already existed (or so-called existence), will never cease. Without Emptiness, those that have yet to appear, will never arise.

All the phenomenon of impermanence, the reality’s nature is based on the Emptiness, which is the Reality’s nature.

Healing thru writing

On Writing Letters to Famous Strangers

By A. M. Home

Came across this article unexpectedly.

Love reading it.

Share with me your thoughts, if you read.

Excerptions :

As a teenager, I wrote letters to strangers.

I didn’t write to strangers because they were famous. I didn’t want an autographed eight-by-ten. I wanted to tell them about my life, my day at school. I wanted to drive a wedge between my childhood and the larger world that I hoped I might join one day. I wanted a way out. 

We are all in more communication with each other than ever before: email, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc. But when you think about communicating, think about reaching beyond what is familiar. You can reach into the lives of others. You can reach into the heart of the world.

Click here to read the article: On Writing Letters to Famous Strangers