Why I'm out of the closet.

"If you have information that would help other people if you shared it, but you keep it hidden, then you are guilty of what Mark Twain would call a 'silent lie.'" -Dr. Albert Bartlett

I believe that people have a right to know what enlightenment is and what it isn't. That's why I came out of the closet with regard to my own enlightenment, even though I knew that doing so would expose me to ridicule from people who believe that an arahat is a super-being and that almost no one ever gets there. I want to normalize enlightenment and let people know that it is possible even for "regular" people. It's not necessarily easy, but it's possible. It's also worth the trouble, as it brings a kind of sanity and a kind of happiness that can't be found anywhere else.

Kenneth

"I believe that people have a right to know what enlightenment is and what it isn't. That's why I came out of the closet with regard to my own enlightenment, even though I knew that doing so would expose me to ridicule from people who believe that an arahat is a super-being and that almost no one ever gets there. I want to normalize enlightenment and let people know that it is possible even for "regular" people. It's not necessarily easy, but it's possible. It's also worth the trouble, as it brings a kind of sanity and a kind of happiness that can't be found anywhere else.

Kenneth"

Kenneth - your "coming out of the closet" and sharing your knowledge and perspectives has made all the differrence in my practice by evoking clarity that wasn't there but was truly needed. I'm immensely grateful to you. Thank you.

Michael

Sounds like you're in a club that we'd all like to join. I have nothing but respect for your decision to let others know. It seems for the most part that you are coming out into a world in which many western people now have the capacity to relate to what you are saying. If you were in this position 30 years ago no one would have anything but ridicule. But the times they are a'changing. ...for the better.

What Michael said goes swimmingly for me, too, Kenneth. But you know that already, I hope.

Gratitude. Much gratitude.

People in spiritual circles downplay the electronic/virtual connections to a teacher. In my case the benefit of participating in a sangha like this as well as having access to teachers like this goes beyond description.

Normalization of enlightenment. Maybe that is the next turning of the wheel.

Again much gratitude and may all beings awaken in this lifetime.

Andrew

funny , two quotes from completely different sources that came up for me tonite..are both are present in this thread. (kenneth, you asked for a definition of synchronicity once).

from town waits: "And the wind will tell the turn from the wheel"...

important (imo) to note the difference.

is it a 'happiness' though...i /recently/ had some moments of rigpa...great **** no doubt..& as a /terminally unhappy person/ yes it's a "happiness"...but yet i experienced it as beyond the bounds of happiness.

the mark twain quote was the other point of reference..anyhoo...