Enlightenment is like everyday consciousness but two inches above the ground.
Interpretation
Enlightenment is an elevated state of awareness that transcends normal consciousness.
D.T. Suzuki's quote suggests that enlightenment is not a vast leap from daily awareness, but rather a subtle, higher state of understanding that enhances our perception of reality. It invites individuals to recognize that profound insights can be found in the ordinary experiences of life, encouraging one to remain grounded while seeking deeper awareness.
In practice
In a meditation workshop, this quote can inspire participants to seek deeper awareness in their daily lives.
Zen, in its essence is the art of seeing into the nature of one's own being, and it points the way from bondage to freedom. By making us drink right from the fountain of life it liberates us from all the yokes under which we finite beings are usually suffering in this world.
The basic idea of Zen is to come in touch with the inner workings of our being, and to do this in the most direct way possible, without resorting to anything external or superadded. Therefore, anything that has the semblance of an external authority is rejected by Zen. Absolute faith is placed in a man's own inner being. For whatever authority there is in Zen, all comes from within.
Who would then deny that when I am sipping tea in my tearoom I am swallowing the whole universe with it and that this very moment of my lifting the bowl to my lips is eternity itself transcending time and space?
The rocks are where they are- and this is their will. The rivers flow- and this is their will. The birds fly- this is their will. Human beings talk- this is their will. The seasons change, heaven sends down rain or snow, the earth occasionally shakes, the waves roll, the stars shine- each of them follows its own will. To be is to will and so is to become.
We teach ourselves; Zen merely points the way.
I am an artist at living - my work of art is my life.
Of course it is a very simple matter to identify genes which might modify intelligence or memory and start thinking about whether you want to enhance a human, and the next generation is going to have to deal with that issue. Should we be trying to enhance humans rather than trying to educate them and so on?
Information is the currency of democracy. It's denial must always be suspect.
Similarly, knowledge of the future was incompatible with free will. What made it possible for me to exercise freedom of choice also made it impossible for me to know the future. Conversely, now that I know the future, I would never act contrary to that future, including telling others what I know: those who know the future don't talk about it. Those who've read the Book of Ages never admit to it.
People are always trying to be on top. And not always with a macabre agenda, but I think that people are desperately trying to remain in control, rather than being honest.
I've spent most of my mature life trying to prove that I'm not irresponsible.
I am 100 percent in favor of the intelligent use of drugs, and 1,000 percent against the thoughtless use of them, whether caffeine or LSD. And drugs are not central to my life.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.