Is Buddhism waking people?

lobster

As an un-buddhist, beginner and refugee from a completely different path, I have to adapt to a new way of being. For example eating animals was never an issue and left up to personal conscience. Living in the world is considered praiseworthy and so on . . .
I have noticed that a great variety of practitioners and interested parties are here. Wow . . . that is good . . . surely . . .

Why are so few Buddhists enlightened? I notice some people here have been on this path for decades. What are they doing wrong? Are they too humble to offer the lions raw? Why are they not awake? Is Buddhism so weak, so unworkable? Or is stress relief and a little ego rough edge smoothing the best we can expect? :scratch:

Gui

There are as many answers to your questions as there are people practicing.

Citta

Practice is Enlightenment.

music

How is one to measure progress? A guy may not experience any change or progress in the worldly sense, but he could be eliminating karma just the same. So from that standpoint, it is still progress, right?

genkaku

Why are so few Buddhists enlightened?

@lobster -- What makes you think they're not?

RebeccaS

I think it's just really difficult.

caz

I think there are very many accomplished beings about, Buddhist who demonstrate exemplary compassion and wisdom I've met a lot. Realization isn't that difficult it just requires effort and familiarity.

how

@Lobster
So ..your path is the visiting of this one?????

BhikkhuJayasara

Its a gradual practice over many many lifetimes, it also goes against the grain of what we consider normal... Its no wonder why there aren't that many humans even practicing the path.. Let alone enlightened.

taiyaki

Fear and laziness.

Its very easy to be a Buddhist.

Its completely different to run with that path onto ones own personal journey.

Half the time most people are fantasizing about enlightenment or many are stuck doing preliminary work and never getting to the heart of all practices.

But it all comes down to what we perceive as enlightened. And I don't think we have the clarity enough to recognize whether or not people are liberated.

And of course there is a vast difference between enlightenment and say nirvana. Enlightenment is recognizing the voidness of reality. Nirvana is the end of construction through ignorance, aversion and attachment.

Though to counter everything I just said. I have met very auspicious individuals. And hell to be on the path is something even to respect. Do you see how many people don't even remotely care about Buddhism or any form of spirituality. Hehe.

mfranzdorf

I like to think that I have moments of enlightenment. Could it work like that? Who is to say other than me?

how

I wonder if a lack of acceptance of the uncertainty of my practise is the motivation to perfect certainty providing definitions of it.

Jeffrey

Any perception can connect us to reality, properly and fully.
What we see doesn't have to be pretty, particulary; we can appreciate anything that exists. There is some prinicple of magic in everything, some living quality.
Something living, something real, is taking place in everything,

Chogyam Trungpa

@lobster, is the creator of the heart chakra a smoking nun or a smoking gun?

Inc88

I believe there are enlightened people out there but part of the reason so few people reach enlightenment is because even with a good practice, strong meditating skills, strong morality/compassion, and great wisdom some don't make arrangements to go into a homeless life. Even beyond the sangha and becoming a forest dwelling hermit with no possessions, family, friends, permanent home/bed, relying on the generosity of the lay people during alms rounds to keep them few and alive.

Not saying this is needed to reach enlightenment but i feel with the proper frame of mind and everything mentioned above it brings a better chance of that happening. The other issue too imo is with the way most of the world is progressing it causes people to become more attached to their possessions for the convenience and the media(movies/music/tv) is completely backwards from buddhist/moral ideals making it more difficult to follow that path to the end

But thats just my 2 cents....

David

If enlightenment is a goal, it is not enlightenment.

Gui

There is no thing to attain.
There is no one to become.
Your search only takes you away from what is.

footiam

lobster said:

As an un-buddhist, beginner and refugee from a completely different path, I have to adapt to a new way of being. For example eating animals was never an issue and left up to personal conscience. Living in the world is considered praiseworthy and so on . . .
I have noticed that a great variety of practitioners and interested parties are here. Wow . . . that is good . . . surely . . .

Why are so few Buddhists enlightened? I notice some people here have been on this path for decades. What are they doing wrong? Are they too humble to offer the lions raw? Why are they not awake? Is Buddhism so weak, so unworkable? Or is stress relief and a little ego rough edge smoothing the best we can expect? :scratch:

It would not be a surprise if one smashes the alarm clock when it rings in the early morn. Probably, the alarm clock would not wake you up unless you want to wake up. That said, forget about Buddhism. You have to wake yourself up.