Expert: Joe McSorley - 11/16/2008

Question
Hello Joe

Without going into all the details of the past 10 months of my life, what would you say if I said I thought I had become awakened when I have no Buddhist background whatsoever?  Only a great deal of self awareness my entire life.

Kind regards


Answer
Hello Janet,
 Awakening is not confined or defined by Buddhism so you don't need any background in Buddhism to become awakened.  It's like music, it is not contained or defined by the instrument but simply expressed by it.  Zen and Buddhism are just instruments towards awakening.  I don't know what experience you have undergone but it obviously means a lot to you.  True awakening is beyond experience and beyond any idea of self, completely and utterly transforming and is sometimes described as 'mind and body fallen off' meaning it is not contingent on any idea of self or self existence.  There are many tremendously life changing experiences we can go through that are not the true awakening talked about in Eastern Philosophy. Nirvana means extinction, awakening is not something that happens to you, it is the end of you as you know yourself to be, the extinction of the individual self and the awakening to the universal self.
 I hope what you are experiencing is deep and lasting.
  Take care,
        Joe