“The Buddha said that we are never separated from enlightenment. Even at the times we feel most stuck, we are never alienated from the awakened state.”
~ Pema Chӧdrӧn, The Places That Scare You
I love when I encounter a universal truth in a new form. I get a quick shot of adrenaline, a flutter in my stomach, and a rush of excitement in my heart every time. That happened to me when I read the above quote in Pema Chӧdrӧn’s book The Places That Scare You.
Pema Chӧdrӧn is an American Buddhist nun who has a brilliant way of simplifying big concepts into two sentences. (I highly recommend any of her books! A few of my favorites are listed below.)
For me, the concept of never being separated from enlightenment falls into the category of those things that, the moment you hear it, just strike you in your soul as the truth. And then, once you know that truth, you see it in different forms and versions all over the place, further reinforcing what you have come to know to be true.
Years ago, when I was first starting to think about my impact on the world and the impact I have on my own life, one of the first truths I heard and experienced as innately true was that all the answers are within you.
I mean, wow!
All the wisdom you need to thrive in life is already within you. You’re walking around with all that wisdom as part of who you are at this very moment.
When I first heard that truth it was like remembering something my soul knew.
Now, I hear it and see it in different ways regularly, and every time I see different versions of this truth, I get excited. That is what this quote sounds like to me, a different version of that truth.
To say, “You are never separated from enlightenment,” is a powerful and profound way to say you have all the wisdom and answers inside you. Always. You are never separated from that state of knowing, from enlightenment.
Knowing this is the case, it then becomes a matter of finding ways that help you uncover and discover that wisdom. I think that discovery usually includes a combo of approaches.
For me, it’s talking things out, processing what’s going on within me with a friend, with a coach, with a therapist. I approach this like I am mining for gold nuggets of truth and wisdom.
For others, it’s meditating that brings them that deep connection to themselves and their inner truth.
For some, it’s a connection to/relationship with God or spiritual practice, like Buddhism.
For some, they uncover their wisdom within through science and exploring nature and the Universe.
What ways have you found to tap into your innate wisdom?
Whatever ways you have found, keep using them because every time you discover a new piece of wisdom, you get to know yourself better, and, some might say, that brings you closer to enlightenment.
Happy Mining!
My Favorite Pema Chӧdrӧn Books!
Start Where You Are
When Things Fall Apart
The Places That Scare You
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