Realization and Enlightenment
The Japanese word 悟り (satori) is generally read as Japan's word for "enlightenment" in the Buddhist sense.
Notwithstanding this, 悟る (satoru), the verb from which 悟り (satori) is derived, is employed by the Japanese as an active verb, not a state of existence verb. That is to say, "satoru" is not used in a manner that could correspond to "To Be Enlightened"; rather, it is used in a manner consistent with "To Realize."
Thus, 悟り is, in a more literal sense, realization, per se. We Westerners are reading it as enlightenment because it is the word Japanese people are using for what Westerners would call enlightenment.
Enlightenment is, therefore, the realization of truths that are already in existence. They are not discovery, nor learning, because in Zen, we human beings are thought to know the truth already; we just need to strip away all the layers of denial stopping us from seeing the truth.
As Buddhism goes, this is a radical notion. A serious Buddhist following Indian traditions would be hard-pressed to call Zen "real Buddhism." Many, in fact, do not.
As readers of my previous articles are aware, this is about Zen, the attitude, and not Zen, the religion. There are simple, practical reasons for this. The only one I need cite is that I am not a Zen teacher trained at a monastery.
No, what is important is the principle of Zen, which I can sum up like this:
The Truth is inside us. We simply need to realize that it has been there all along.
Don't use Zen to remove clutter from your life if your top concern is external validation. Zen is about internal validation, knowing - and feeling - that you have a little more insight on yourself, and the world around you, than you did before.
In life, we must celebrate the small victories and take solace in them. It is this realization that brings us to enlightenment about ourselves, and through ourselves, everything.
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