[Forex Autopilot]

For what reason/s is this necessary?

A fair question.

--I sometimes read Shinzen Young's books and listen to his dharma talks. He casually mentions people he knows who are "totally enlightened." I can't help wondering, first, "How does he know?" and, second, "What does that mean, exactly?"

--My friend Danny thinks that he has a good chance at enlightenment in this lifetime if he studies and meditates assiduously. (He hasn't said whether he's aiming for relative enlightenment or ultimate enlightenment.) I ask myself, "Is this a realistic hope for Danny?" "Is it a realistic hope for me?"

--On a couple of occasions I have been in the presence of teachers who were enlightened, according to their students or followers. The followers told me I was very lucky to have the opportunity just to be in the presence of such a teacher. I felt uncomfortable and perplexed. What to think? What to believe? On both of these occasions, I did not feel any particular reverence for the teacher (no hostility either). Just mildly curious. Should I try to be more receptive to this teacher's wonderfulness? Didn't really know what to think. Still wonder about it.

(I ask about "enlightened," not "awakened," because this is the language they use. I agree that "awakened" is the preferable term.)

--I read the sutras, but they are not always so easy to apply to my day to day experience. In an attempt to understand better, I ask myself, "If my wife were awakened, what would that be like?" "If my receptionist were awakened would I know it? What would be the signs?"

Just a few representative examples of stuff I wonder about. By nature, I'm kinda curious, kinda skeptical.

To tell you the truth, I'm not always 100% satisfied with the sutras. Lots of good stuff there, of course, but some I just can't bring myself to believe. That's why I study philosophy and psychology, and so on. That's why I ask questions like this.


Bopshi