“There's a path in enlightenment called the path of negation where we intentionally throw ourselves into experiences that are extremely transient. In other words, we do all the stuff you're supposed to normally avoid to become enlightened, intentionally.” PhilosophyStuffPathEnlightenmentEnlightenedTransientNegation Author:Frederick Lenz
“Awakening is not a state but a process: an ethical way of life and commitment that enables human flourishing. As such, it is no longer the exclusive preserve of enlightened teachers or accomplished yogis. Likewise, nirvana-the stopping of craving-is not the goal of the path but its very source. For human flourishing first stirs in that clear, bright, empty space where neurotic self-centredness realizes that it has no ground at all to stand on. One is then freed to pour forth like sunlight.” WayFirstsHumansSelfStatesProcessGoalRealizingSpacePathClearTeacherSourceCommitmentEmptyAwakeningPreservesAccomplishedEnlightenedEthicalSunlightStoppingCravingExclusiveNeuroticFlourishingEmpty SpaceYogi Author:Stephen Batchelor
“So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that ancient path, that ancient road? It is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.” ActionPastViewsEffortPathSawsSpeechMindfulnessIntentionAncientNobleEnlightenedConcentrationTraveledMonkLivelihoodRight ActionRoads Traveled Author:Gautama Buddha
“If we think that we can somehow gain control of the US government, bring it under popular, enlightened progressive control, preserve a habitable climate, and rein in the dangers of nuclear and other warfare, then we should. However, if we think it's more likely that California can achieve those goals by secession, then we should go down that path. There's no question. It's an absolute moral imperative.” IfsThinkingShouldGovernmentGoalMoralPathAchieveDangerGainsAbsolutesClimateNuclearPreservesCaliforniaEnlightenedProgressiveWarfareImperativesReinsSecession Author:David Swanson