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One should judge a tree by it's fruits. If Alan Watt's enlightenment didn't prevent him from being an alcoholic who couldn't take care of his family, then I do
by gerbilly 12y ago
One should judge a tree by it's fruits.
If Alan Watt's enlightenment didn't prevent him from being an alcoholic who couldn't take care of his family, then I don't think that is an enlightenment worth pursuing.
The Buddha was adamant about this fact: anything that depends on conditions (for it's appearance or maintenance) is not enlightenment.
This leads me to believe that the author's experience, however delightful, was not enlightenment.
I wish the author well, but I don't think he understands Zen or Buddhism.
- s3nnyy 12y ago> One should judge a tree by it's fruits. I have to agree on this one. An "enlightened" person is supposed to have a happy, reliable state of mind that serves as a mirror to the true potential of all beings. Only then practitioners can meditate on this person's state of mind. This is how meditation works in Vajrayana-Buddhism. A definition of enlightenment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCotuy5Y8u8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCotuy5Y8u8