descriptions of great awakenings usually appears at the end of a spiritual story... enlightenment comes, the person enters the stream of wise beings, and everything follows naturally after that...
In essence we are left with the impression that the awakened person lives happily ever after. But what happens if we stay with this story and ask to hear further chapters?...
times of great wisdom, deep compassion, and a real knowing of freedom alternate with periods of fear, confusion, neurosis, and struggle.
why?
because, strictly speaking, there are no enlightened people,
there is only enlightened activity
to recognize spiritual longing is not enough.
the heart needs inspiration for renewal, it needs support to find forgiveness, to awaken freedom, to open to grace.
we must find a vessel,
an honorable practice to carry us on this journey,
a trustworthy discipline that is able to bring us back to the present and open us to mystery... not in order to become someone else,