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**alex_loudermilk** · 04-20-2011, 08:55 AM

but if it was all that were needed, and it was simple to do, there would be a lot more enlightened people.

As we insist in make things difficult, it is clear enough that there has not been neither tranquility nor insight... and that is just the beginning, the starting point to see not-self, unsatisfactoriness and impermanence.

In the quoted teaching at post #12 there is no comment about being enlightened once we achieve tranquility and insight, but:

[...]the path is born. and after the path is born, then...

He follows that path, develops it, pursues it. As he follows the path, developing it & pursuing it — his fetters are abandoned, his obsessions destroyed. So yes, this clear view is not enough just by itself but has to be developed and pursued. Which path? Insight and tranquility.

But there is also a fourth case, given in the same teaching:

Then there is the case where a monk's mind has its restlessness concerning the Dhamma [Comm: the corruptions of insight] well under control. There comes a time when his mind grows steady inwardly, settles down, and becomes unified & concentrated. In him the path is born.[...]. This fourth case is really important. The Buddha is not pointing to insight and tranquility as an starting point but just to be restless about the way we approach a teaching. In the practice of Soto Zen, this is at the aim of a teisho before or after sitting meditation.

Also, to be restless about the teaching points, IMO, to the practice of silent learning that is about to settle the mind while the teachings settles too. If we are troubled about the teaching we will never give ourselves room enough to its practice and to discern the skillful means about its result.

Again, to grow inwardly and to be restless indicates insight and tranquility as an essential condition for practice. And the path is about insight and tranquility.

04-20-2011, 08:55 AM	#18
alex_loudermilk Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 469 Senior Member	but if it was all that were needed, and it was simple to do, there would be a lot more enlightened people. As we insist in make things difficult, it is clear enough that there has not been neither tranquility nor insight... and that is just the beginning, the starting point to see not-self, unsatisfactoriness and impermanence. In the quoted teaching at post #12 there is no comment about being enlightened once we achieve tranquility and insight, but: [...]the path is born. and after the path is born, then... He follows that path, develops it, pursues it. As he follows the path, developing it & pursuing it — his fetters are abandoned, his obsessions destroyed. So yes, this clear view is not enough just by itself but has to be developed and pursued. Which path? Insight and tranquility. But there is also a fourth case, given in the same teaching: Then there is the case where a monk's mind has its restlessness concerning the Dhamma [Comm: the corruptions of insight] well under control. There comes a time when his mind grows steady inwardly, settles down, and becomes unified & concentrated. In him the path is born.[...]. This fourth case is really important. The Buddha is not pointing to insight and tranquility as an starting point but just to be restless about the way we approach a teaching. In the practice of Soto Zen, this is at the aim of a teisho before or after sitting meditation. Also, to be restless about the teaching points, IMO, to the practice of silent learning that is about to settle the mind while the teachings settles too. If we are troubled about the teaching we will never give ourselves room enough to its practice and to discern the skillful means about its result. Again, to grow inwardly and to be restless indicates insight and tranquility as an essential condition for practice. And the path is about insight and tranquility.
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