Awakening the Buddha Within _ Eight Steps to Enlightenment - Lama Surya Das [25]
“Instead of wandering around in this dangerous jungle seeking a woman and some money, wouldn’t it be far better to seek your true self?”
When Gautama, the Buddha, asked this question 2,500 years ago, the bachelor, completely struck by the Buddha’s peaceful shining countenance, recognized that his hedonistic life lacked purpose and meaning. His spiritual life seemed to him less profound than a wading pool. Immediately he began to take steps that would transform his life. Ultimately he did what men who wanted a spiritual life did in India those many centuries ago: He joined a monastery.
In all probability, today, the Buddha would ask Scott the same question as the one he asked the wealthy bachelor:
“Instead of wandering around in this dangerous concrete jungle seeking a woman and money, wouldn’t it be far better to seek your true self?”
Doesn’t that question have as much meaning now as it did back then? And Scott would probably answer, “What do you mean?” Scott’s question would be a valid one, because Scott might not have a clue as to where or how to start such a quest. Scott would want to know, “How do I seek my true self? Where do I go?”
“How do I start?” Isn’t that always the major issue for most seekers, particularly here in the Western Hemisphere? It can feel very frustrating and lonely trying to initiate and develop a spiritual path in the context of a busy contemporary life. Learned teachers, lamas, or gurus are not always readily available; spiritual role models and mentors are hard to come by; and as appealing as the notion of checking oneself into a monastery filled with other men and women on similar spiritual quests may often seem, for most people such a choice simply isn’t a viable option. So how do you start? It may be reassuring to know that the first steps today are the same as they were 2,500 years ago.
TAKING THE FIRST STEP
Acknowledge that enlightenment is a real possibility.
The Buddha was an actual historical person. Although he is among the leaders of the world’s great religions, he did not claim that he was, in any way, divine or otherworldly. Buddhism teaches that the Buddha was born a man, not a god. Because of his inquiry into the nature of reality, of self and the world, he achieved enlightenment. This enlightenment did not come about through the intervention of outside, mystical, or otherworldly forces. The Buddha Way is the way of clear-seeing rationality; it is the way of reality; it is the way of critical examination and sustained inquiry into the nature of life. The Buddha himself taught that blind faith and devotion alone do not lead to freedom and enlightenment, useful as they might be at a certain stage.
When the Buddha was living in his palace, he was a good person, kind to his wife, family, and servants. The potential for enlightenment may have been present for all to see, but it was the arduous inner work the Buddha did on himself after he left the palace that led to his perfect enlightenment.
The Buddha was born a human being not so very different from you or me. Through his own efforts, he was able to reach perfect awareness and self-knowledge; through his own efforts, he was able to know all things knowable. The implications of this are extraordinary: If the Buddha could achieve enlightenment, then we can all achieve enlightenment. If the Buddha could know the truth of things as they are, then we—you and me—can know the truth of things as they are. “What? Me?” you ask. Yes, you! Never forget the revolutionary gospel, the good news, of Buddhism: Each of us is fully endowed with luminous Buddha-nature, the potential for awakened enlightenment.
Tibetans firmly believe that there have been and still are many enlightened beings who walk among us. In fact, there are yogis living anonymously everywhere without calling attention to themselves. Spiritual giants are universally accepted as heros in Tibet where the names that are remembered aren’t those