To: K-list
Recieved: 2004/06/30 22:18
Subject: [K-list] Re: Maitraya, The Future Buddha/Christ
From: Jeffrey Brooks
On 2004/06/30 22:18, Jeffrey Brooks posted thus to the K-list:
Hello Deb , Ranbir, mychick eleven, J.1 G., and
thank-you all for your kind responses. I believe the
question, "What is enlightenment anyway?" is an
excellent question, and I am sure it is an ancient
one. I am sure also it has been answered by many
people in many different ways. Even in the discourses
of the Buddha, Sidharta Gotama is quoted describing it
in a wide range of ways. And his desricptions did not
seem to be all talking about the same thing. However,
I believe the central theme is if one is free of
suffering all of the time, or at least most of the
time, then we could say that person is "enlightened."
In one of his ways of describing enlightenment the
Buddha called it being free from suffering (dukkha).
He also called is a "pleasant abiding in the here and
now," because in his estimation that state also came
with being soaked and saturated with ecstasy (jhana).
Now, the question arises, what is ecstasy? Some
people believe ecstasy is jumping up and down saying,
"Praise Jesus", or "Hari Krishna," or "Go Raiders." I
am certain this is not ecstasy, but a very nice
emotional state nonetheless.
Ecstasy, according to the masters who articulated it
(Buddha, Dogen and Saints Theresa of Avail and John of
the Cross, just to mention a few), ecstasy is a
subjective state that arises as a consequence of a
contemplative life. Since I lead a contemplative
life, and I have given rise on a daily basis to
subjective states that seem to correspond to what the
Buddha called jhana, which was just his culture's word
for ecstasy, then I can confirm his assertion.
Ecstasy in my experience does come from a daily
contemplative practice that seeks tranquillity.
I believe "mychick eleven" is correct that we simply
stop worrying about it and everything else. Certainly
bliss, or ecstasy must be a condition that is free of
anxiety, resentment and other forms of stress.
But, is it the ecstasy that eliminates the anxiety and
stress (dukkha)? Or, is it the elimination of the
stress that brings about the ecstasy? I have found it
is both leading a life that is as free of stress as
one can, and cultivating the subjective states of
ecstasy, which seem to wash away the anxiety, as well
as inspire us to lead a stress free life.
Kindest regards,
Jeff Brooks
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