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As persons, we’re responsible to culture and to others, and we are constantly changing, open-ended phenomena, not isolated, self-existent phenomena. We are part of a spatial, temporal, and social complex, not standing outside of it in a dualistic relation.

Jay L. Garfield, “To Be or Not to Be”

Sometimes compassion will arise spontaneously, like the clouds parting to reveal the blue sky. At other times we may have to make a conscious effort, which is a bit more like imagining what the blue sky looks like, even when it’s obscured by clouds.

Andy Puddicombe, “10 Tips for Living More Mindfully”

I see them as guiding lights for behaviour in daily life. They can inspire, even when they choose not to be teachers. I also think Bodhisattvas show up in many unexpected places, especially when circumstances are difficult.

I would even say, anyone you see being acclaimed as a Bodhisattva in a religious setting is unlikely to truly be one.

I remember reading about hot boredom and then cool boredom as legitimate or charted parts of the meditation path. Try not to think "I mistakenly had the meditation that isn't supposed to happen". Maybe get curious about the boredom? or say "Chaat" and then return to the breath

I'm taking a break from meditating as part of my usual cycles. It will call me again I have experience of my cycles spiral learning

With breath meditation, my understanding is that all manner of thougts will arise and our practice is the same: gently return to the breath. It should be the same with body scans, gently return to scanning the body.
The mind will conjure up endless tricks to suck us in. 'What does boredom during meditation mean?' is just one such example.

Been playing with Chat GPT and thought to ask a question along these lines. The two points that stood out to me, and reflect my own learning.

Ontology vs. soteriology: The question mixes two angles. Ontologically (what is enlightenment?), many Buddhist traditions teach that awakening is the recognition or removal of ignorance about the true nature of mind and phenomena — it is a seeing of what already is. Soteriologically (how does one become enlightened?), awakening happens through a causal process: ethical conduct, meditation, wisdom — i.e., conditions and effort.

And then the Madhyamika understanding of emptiness and its relation to enlightenment. This is the tradition I developed my sense of Buddhism in.

Madhyamaka: Emphasizes emptiness. Enlightenment is the experiential realization that all phenomena lack inherent existence. This realization is not a “thing” that’s created; it’s a correct cognition that arises when ignorance ceases.

Practical summary: Buddhism generally resists the notion that enlightenment is an invention or addition to a self. It’s better described as the cessation of ignorance and the direct realization (revelation) of reality — a change that occurs through causes and conditions, not creation ex nihilo. The upshot for practice is the same either way: cultivate the conditions (ethics, meditation, wisdom) that allow the revealing to occur.