AboutJoe McSorley Expertise I can answer questions dealing with Taoist philosophy and Zen Buddhism. I studied under Dr. Richard DeMartino and Masao Abe of the Kyoto School of Zen.
Expert: Joe McSorley Date: 7/3/2008 Subject: awakened
Question QUESTION: Hello Joe.
Do you agree with these sentences:
"Someone who has recently awakened --having had a powerful enlightenment experience --will not be suffering much at all for a period of time, since the whole "self notion" will abate. Yet even then, given time, the self-mind will reestablish itself as he continues to cling to self-survival. Some of his past difficulties may have dissipated altogether, since some of the self attachments will have ended, but many will remain and these will always cause struggle."
Experiencing enlightenment does not mean that it will last forever???
Thanks
Have a good day!
ANSWER: Luke,
What you describe here is not true awakening but an experience of awakening. A true awakening does not and cannot fade because you are completely transformed like a caterpillar to a butterfly, it does not go back.
Joe
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you for your answer Joe.
Could you please explain to me what the author of these words meant by: the self-mind will reestablish itself as he continues to cling to SELF-SURVIVAL.
Could you make these words clearer to me?
Thank you
All the best
ANSWER: Luke,
I have a question for you. Why don't you ask the person who wrote these words what they mean? I am only interpreted someone else's words. It is much better that you go to the source of them.
Joe
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Joe!
I will ask the author, but as far as I know he will be available no sooner than at the end of August.
take care, Joe!
Answer Luke,
My teachers always made it clear to me that the grand awakening does not fade or alter, the self as we know it is completely annhilated and recreated. They took great pains to make us realize that so called smaller satori's or awakenings, though profound and life changing, will fade. When I myself went through this they were quick to correct me and push me harder for a genuine realization. From that perspective the author of your lines is in perfect accordance with my teachers from what little I know of his writings you sent me. Who is this person?
Joe
