The Israeli sangha Tovana recently asked a group of teachers, including Ajay, Jaya, Christopher, Shaila, Stephen Fulder, and others, for responses to some questions on awakening.
On awakening (Jaya's answers excerpted) Jaya: "Not to think that awakening is what we think it is, what we imagine it is, what we hope and fear it is. Yet, awakening is a clear end -- of distortions of the mind and being. We cannot imagine it, yet it is real, precise, and possible.... I love how some of my favorite Indian texts encourage us to expect deep experiences along the way. And to keep going. Not to think that awakening is what we think it is, what we imagine it is, what we hope and fear it is, or what we can see or hear or measure. Yet, at the same time, Awakening is a clear end -- of distortions of the mind and being. We cannot imagine it, yet it is real, precise, and possible. Freedom from our own ideas, as the Tao Te Ching says. And also: freedom from the ideas of others, from biology, from collective forces... And then what is left? Bright, ordinary, fresh, carefree. A brightness that has its own fuel. An ordinariness that is unstoppable, dignified power and skill. A freshness that is familiar, ancient, shocking, clearing. Carefree heart that cares without holding back."