Enlightenment reveals the indescribable—a paradox that initially confuses and alienates. Yet, as this confusion settles, it leaves behind a subtle but persistent beacon, drawing us inevitably forward.
Suspicions are confirmed that there exists something profoundly wrong with the world; through that transcendental experience, we recognize ourselves as prisoners of our own minds within the cycle of conditioned existence (samsara). Eventually, one commits to finding this hidden and perilous path towards liberation (moksha).
The process resembles thawing.
For a time, nothing appears to change. All movement at this stage is mental, a reconstruction of being with new goals and ideals. This is our embryonic Buddha-nature (tathagatagarbha)—the innate potential for awakening—developing as we quietly gestate an entirely new form of consciousness.
As inner transformation deepens, we gradually find our way back to conventional life. We begin carefully, remembering the ancient Zen koan:
Before Enlightenment, chop wood, fetch water. After Enlightenment, chop wood, fetch water.
We must attend to our daily needs while nurturing this emerging consciousness. Like ice melting, there might be sudden fractures, and whole segments might fall away. This is natural, and one must cultivate patience (kshanti), compassion (karuna), and loving-kindness (metta) towards friends and family who might struggle to understand our sudden transformation of character.
It will be the most challenging, relentless, and painful work you have ever undertaken. Yet, paradoxically, it is also easier than anything previously attempted. Why? Because now you possess spiritual direction. Every thought turns towards Nirvana and liberation from conditioned existence. Though ultimate success is inevitable, can you sustain the wait?
The initial steps are almost imperceptible, mere subtle nudges that establish one on the path before awareness of treading it arises. For a time, there are no rewards, and one advances through sheer faith alone, like wading through mud.
Eventually, one reaches what could be viewed as a midpoint between the alchemical stages of Nigredo (the blackening) and Albedo (the whitening), where one finally emerges from the subterranean cave of being to feel the first weak rays of sunshine on one’s face—as if for the first time.
At this point, confidence soars as not only has direction been established, but now one journeys in sunlight. This emergence marks not an end but a beginning—the dawn of true practice. As awareness deepens, the path becomes simultaneously clearer yet more subtle, each step revealing new depths of understanding. Every obstacle becomes a teacher, and every setback an opportunity for growth, as we progress inexorably towards complete awakening.
Further Reading
- Buddhist Meditation (Wikipedia)
- Ajahn Punnadhammo’s YouTube Channel
- Enlightenment in Buddhism (Wikipedia)
Recommended Books:
- The Mind Illuminated by Culadasa
- Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha by Daniel Ingram
- Manual of Insight by Mahasi Sayadaw