Enlightenment

All awakening and all insight is sudden. It is a moment of an often powerful and abrupt change in understanding that once experienced cannot be erased. A eureka  moment! However it does not happen in isolation from our life (and training) experience.

The Buddha only taught one way of enlightenment, and that was to know the real architect of our life by our own direct experience. To know the true nature of the mind and body and so be at peace with whatever is presented knowing that it only ever has the power and value we give it.

So there is one system known by different names.

Dzogchen is Vipassana and Vipassana is Dzogchen.

Za Zen is Vipassana and Vipassana is Za Zen.

And so it goes on, different labels on the same practice, to know the mind completely through direct experience, and so know reality.

In the end with minor variations based upon culture and history, all are Satipatthana.

To say one system is faster, better or more reliable than another is either foolishness or a business ploy. Salesmanship from the promoters.

The difference is only the style our heart leads us to. 

Visudhimagga, the path of purification, is the Theravada way. A gentle opening into truth, but each moment of truth that is realised is always sudden even if the ground has been cultivated for a long time.

As the Japanese say; ‘water boils quickly, but it has to be on the heat for a long time first.’

This is the Dhamma.

May all beings be happy.