Supremely So

Supremely so:

when asked what he was, if he was a god or man, the Buddha simply replied - I am awakened. And by this he meant supremely so, that he saw through the conditions of suffering and their cause, no longer caught in a cyclical existence of grasping for what's always out of hand. He was at peace with life exactly as it's found and only wished his teachings to serve others to awaken. The irony here is that we're all capable of this awakening, right now, and yet to strive for such a goal will only lead to suffering. Enlightenment is a concept that's forever out of reach as long it's pursued. The Buddha's way is joyful surrender to each moment, not denial of suffering but to addresses its cause with the discernment of true and gentle seeing - and with this we find ourselves awakening, maybe not yet supremely so, but with a greater ease and helpful grace to our everyday living. 

it's enough to make a difference. 

the Buddha offered his Eight Fold Path as a means for our awakening, and many Buddhas since have given their own way for us to follow. Jesus on the cross taught salvation through forgiveness, supremely so through the moment of his greatest suffering. Wisdom from A Course in Miracles tells us that the only true lesson of the cross is that we will all survive our own crucifixion, forgiveness being the means of our salvation and resurrection is our awakening. When Jesus said "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do" he spoke of our ignorance as to who we really are, urging our awakening through the example of his suffering and later resurrection. 

these are great teachers, supremely so.

and yet not the path for everyone. 

some people awakening spontaneously and through no means or way of practice. The great sage Ramana Maharishi reached an instant and initial realization through an existential crisis at the age of 16, a sudden fear of death gave cause to an inquiry that lead not only fear but ignorance to fall away. Many others have had such awakenings, a glimpse for some perhaps, and a deeper realization for a few. It seems purely the means of grace for this to happen, no path to follow, no practice to lead them on the way. There 's no real answer as to why it happens in this way, and if asked they often answer with a smile. 

the way of grace remains a mystery.

here's my story, told briefly, it's of awakening, life unfolding and sometimes there's a clear and easy seeing, insights, a realization of the perfect grace of every moment. But not always, or at least not always apparent. My story is told as life, fully expressed through grace as well as suffering, seeing and aware, yet often blind to depth of my true presence. It's my own path, wondrous, joyful through it's every presentation of gain and sorrow. It's simply how life happens, and I find myself grateful as to how it all unfolds...

supremely so. 

~

Peace, Eric