There are two paths to an awakened and vital life. Each are based on a different premise. The first, the direct path, asserts that the awakened state, is already and always within us. We don’t see our true nature because it’s obscured by our acquired personal self with its opaque mental activity and personal dramas. Once these obscurations are removed our true self is revealed.
Now let’s consider the second, the gradual path. It is based on evolutionary or developmental theory. It asserts that by improving the quality of day-to-day life we incrementally develop or evolve the awakened state. By progressively loosening the grip of the personal self, we grow closer and closer to the essence of life. That’s the gradual path.
I sense that these two paths are complementary rather than contradictory. It can be held as a truth that the awakened state is always and already within us and simultaneously held that moving our life progressively towards greater, truth, kindness, and virtue can enhance the probability of experiencing a stable awakened state. Yes, there are those rare ones that touch enlightenment and never return to ordinary experience, but if you are reading this, as I am writing it, it is clear we are not amongst those few special beings. We are special beings on the gradual path, but at any moment, any moment, we have the capacity to directly experience the awakened state.
Our way is to directly experience, as frequently as possible the clarity of the awakened state – in formal practice and in daily life. In formal daily practice, we train dropping directly into a pristine awareness and presence. We drop in multiple times during the day by stopping, taking a few breaths and breath holds, and experiencing our still self for moments at a time. In this manner we emphasize the direct path and direct experience. With practice and familiarity these moments coalesce into larger moments and we notice our life is undergoing transformation. We are increasing living in the unfiltered experience of the vital present.
Simultaneously, we apply efforts towards enhancing the quality of our day-to-day life. We aim for a more virtuous life, one that minimizes suffering for ourself and others. We seek to transform self-centeredness into selflessness – self-serving into other serving. We bring past traumas into the light of day, moving away from fear, defensiveness, disconnection, and reactive behavior towards an open heart. As we enhance the quality of our life mind-chatter slows down, afflictive emotions diminish in occurrence and intensity, and life becomes increasingly serene, kind, patient, and heartfelt. When we clean up our life and mental content we remove the barriers to recognizing our ever-present true nature, and simultaneously support the stability of our larger self.
In this manner both paths can work together. The balance between the two – where you put your major effort – is determined by what works for your aspirations and style. I believe it is most important to begin with the direct path and supplement it with the gradual path of self-improvement. Why, because it is too easy to get caught in the fallacy that self-improvement, which is work on the personal self, can in itself take you directly to the awakened state. It cannot. It operates solely within the personal self. However, it can serve to open the doors to a direct experience. But, the awakened state that is revealed is not created by self-improvement. It is always present.
So, these are the two paths – the direct and gradual – work with them as fits you, but be aware of the role each plays.