An expert on Western Buddhism, author Jack Kornfield makes a surprising statement: Enlightenment does exist. However, while it is possible to awaken to a state of timeless grace—and he maintains that these experiences are more common than one might think—they do not last. While transformative, these spiritual realizations pass in the light of everyday living—for after the honeymoon follows the marriage.
In
After the Ecstasy, the Laundry, Kornfield stresses that there is no such thing as “enlightened retirement.” Although blissful awakening usually occurs at the end of a spiritual story—giving the impression that the awakened person lives happily ever after—what transpires afterwards if often the “harsh” reality of life. Quoting Zen Master Suzuki Roshi, “Strictly speaking, there are no enlightened people, there is only enlightened activity.” This remarkable statement, says Kornfield, tells us that enlightenment cannot be held by anyone—it simply exists in moments of freedom. Some of the sage observations you’ll find in
After the Ecstasy, the Laundry include:
- When we honor the gate of suffering, what arises is the wondrous power of compassion. This compassion is described as the fluttering of the heart in the face of the pain of any other being. It is a tenderness for all forms of life, and sometimes it is compassion for ourselves.
- There are two central principles for awakening to this wholeness. First, each major area of our experience on earth must be included in our spiritual life before freedom can blossom fully…The second principle…is that consciousness in one area does not necessarily transfer to other parts of our lives.
- If we go to spiritual community in search of perfect peace, we will inevitably meet failure. But if we understand community as a place to mature our practice of steadiness, patience, and compassion, to become conscious together with others, then we have the fertile soil of awakening.
Kornfield asks questions of Western Zen masters, lamas, rabbis, abbots, nuns, yogis and teachers in the attempt to discover what a Westerner’s spiritual journey looks like in the midst of complex society. Providing their heartfelt comments and stories,
After the Ecstasy, the Laundry asks:
- What draws us to the life of spirit and what difficulties do we have to pass through on our way?
- What happens after the ecstasy, as we mature in the cycles of spiritual life?
- Is there a wisdom that includes both the ecstasy and the laundry?
