RE: [Zen] keeping the mind in balance

[uerusuboyo]

Merle,<br/><br/>You'll know because you won't have to ask anyone if you've 
awakened. Of course, a teacher can gauge the depth of awakening and what will 
help you deepen it. But just like you don't need someone to tell you if that 
McDonalds coffee is hot - with the same certainty you'll know your perception 
of the world has changed.<br/><br/>Just as reality is experienced moment to 
moment, so is enlightenment. Our conditioning and beliefs etc. go deep and even 
though our initial awakening might have blown much of the dust from our eyes, 
some of that conditioning still remains. It's very much a work in progress! The 
biggest mistake to be made would be to believe that the first glimpse of our 
true nature is *it* and no further practice is necessary (you can see here that 
some people still cling to their cherished beliefs of what enlightenment is). 
Before awakening 'letting go' is a struggle. After awakening you simply realise 
there is nothing to let go
 of.<br/><br/>Mike<br/><br/><br/>Sent from Yahoo! Mail for iPad