Realization

Week of August 1, 2004 - Realization

After we have faith, and we begin to understand and practice, what is next?

Realization. Realization is not the understanding or accumulating of external knowledge. It is the internalizing of this understanding, where what one comprehends becomes a part of one’s nature.

There are two levels of realization:

First is the experience of realization - it is just a foretaste of the true attainment to come.

Second is the attainment of realization – where realization becomes a part of one’s nature and will never vanish.

Take concentration (dhyana) for example:
After we start practicing meditation for a while, we experience some kind of absorption and are able to focus much better; this is the flavor of concentration.
For Buddha, every single moment was a moment of concentration, no matter the activity.

Take kindness (compassion) for example:
We are taught by our parents and teachers to be kind to others. We perform acts of kindness with a motivation - to be nice, because it is the right things to do, because if we are nice to others they will be nice to us in return. We are interacting with the external environment in the way we have been taught.

If we have truly realized kindness, we will be kind for no reason, but simply because it is just a part of our nature. Kindness will flow from your pure heart and you will expect absolutely nothing in return.

There are two things that death cannot take away from us. One is our karma and the other is the realization that we have attained.

So keep on having faith, expand your understanding, continue your practice, and realization will come to you. For faith, understanding and practice we have to expend our whole effort. For realization we just have to wait, we cannot rush it; it will come somehow sooner or later if we keep on practicing on the correct path.

Let’s be “Friends” and help each other on the Bodhi path!