I was curious about a book and saw a review on Amazon that said: “Everyone is already enlightened”.
As usual, I would say “yes” and “no” and “it depends”.
There may be a few more nuances than what the simple statement suggests.
YES(ISH)
Everyone is Buddha Nature. To ourselves, we are consciousness. The world, to us, happens within and as the consciousness we are. And that consciousness is Buddha Nature.
So yes, we are Buddha Nature, although few would call that “enlightened”.
NO
In most cases, the consciousness we are doesn’t fully recognize its own nature. It tends to assume it’s something within its content, typically this human self and mental representation of an I, me, doer, observer, and so on.
For the oneness we are to recognize itself and its nature typically takes some intention, effort, sincerity, and guidance.
To keep recognizing it is the same.
Learning how to live from it requires the same dedication and engagement.
And allowing our human self and psyche to transform and align within this new context is an even longer process that requires dedication, courage, honesty, sincerity, and work.
IT DEPENDS
So it depends. It mostly depends on what we mean by the words.
For me, the simplest is to say that all beings already are Buddha Nature. To ourselves, we all are most fundamentally consciousness whether we notice or not.
The consciousness we are typically doesn’t fully recognize its nature, and may not perceive it clearly even if there are glimpses.
It typically takes work for the consciousness we are to recognize itself. And it’s a long process to keep recognizing this through situations and states, explore how to live from and as it, and allow this human self to transform within it.
It’s a process that appears to not have any finishing line.
ENLIGHTENMENT?
I don’t really know what’s meant by “enlightenment”.
Maybe it means what happens when most of our human self and psyche is on board with the awakening?
If so, it’s not something I am familiar with so I can’t say much about it.
INITIAL NOTES
Everybody already enlightened?
- Everyone is buddha nature (consciousness)
- But in most cases, that buddha nature doesn’t recognize or realize it
- And realizing it often takes some intention and effort
- Learning to live from and as it even more so
- And allowing the human self and psyche to transform align with it even more so
The consciousness we are typically doesn’t fully recognize its nature, and may not recognize the implications of it even if there are glimpses.
…..
There may be a few more nuances than what the simple statement suggests.