The meaning of being awake

[Whitefeather]

Against the "gradual" awakening is the zen concept of Satori, where when you have experienced it there is a phase change, and things are never the same. You can't go back. Even if you try to go back to sleep you can't. The (rather technical and difficult to read) book "The Beacon of Certainty" by Mipham explains this from a Tibetan Buddhist viewpoint. At some point Faith is replaced by Certainty. To me, that's awakening.

Thank you for inviting the Satori in here... I agree that once the light is on, it cannot be put out! It is congruent with my comparison to a growing inner light when the inner knowing replaces all belief systems ... Are you a Tibetan Buddhist yourself?

@ Ankh, I love what you wrote above! It carries a sense of freedom to be.

Thank you for sharing such profound understandings about the inner light!

L/L/L
Whitefeather