Yours, Ian

Thanks for the observation =) The experience of satori is, indeed, often described in words which give us the impression that the experience is quite powerful. We also hear Zen masters saying that enlightenment itself is very ‘normal’, or ‘nothing special’. What gives?
The key here is that our actual awakening experience is indescribable in words — just like our words could never give the experience of hearing a beautiful symphony. So the trick that you caught onto in the above post is that any description is not so much an attempt to explain Awakening, but rather an attempt to point our perception in the right direction. In the above example, I’m ‘undoing’ common conceptions in an attempt to get our minds to actually SEE what it is that’s being spoken about, instead of just forming an idea of it. I want people to hear the symphony, instead of settling for an explanation of ‘how it sounds’.
When we’re attempting to encounter our truest manner of acting in this world (Mushin), it’s very easy for us to create an experience that corresponds to our idea of what mushin is. And one of the most common ideas we hold is that experiencing Now is a WOW-type experience. It may very well be, but if we attempt to move toward the experience with that assumption, we’ll likely find ourselves only encountering more of our own ideas. Mushin is what happens when all our assumptions and expectations are gone, and we’re left to be purely present.
Elsewhere you’ll find me describing Awakening in quite different (and sometimes opposite) terms. Again, this is because I’m not writing about enlightenment itself — the writing is rather a pointing sign moving us in the right direction. Because so many of us are in different places, I use many different methods of pointing, many from different angles. Some methods will be helpful to some and some methods might actually hinder others. It’s my hope that I include enough ‘undoing’ of my own methods that the hindrance can be reduced and the helpfulness increased =)
Thanks so much for your comment — I’ll hope to hear more from you!

Sweetwater,
Kenton

I would love to read more about your thoughts and experiences in the martial arts. Maybe in another article?

Thanks!
Dan

I’ll let this suggestion stew about in my head and see if anything comes about. I’ve thought about writing something like this, but just haven’t done it yet. Thanks for the nudge!

Sweetwater,
Kenton