You may have heard or read stories about enlightenment in Buddhism. Much like Jewish midrash, these stories are filled with wonder, miracles, and awe. Is there such a thing as Jewish enlightenment? And what is our enlightenment story?
This upcoming Saturday, we celebrate the holiday of Shavuot (what is celebrated in Christianity as Pentecost). On Shavuot, we celebrate the giving and receiving of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai. Shavuot is also called Zman Matan Torateinu – or the Time of Giving our Torah – and is a commemoration of the gift of receiving the entire Torah. Yet what does this have to do with enlightenment?
A Buddhist Exodus Story
In one of the most famous enlightenment stories, Prince Siddhartha left his life of wealth and luxury, searched for his enlightenment for six years, and then simply sat down. After six more days of his sabbatical year, he saw Venus in the morning sky and was enlightened. “I and all the great Earth and all beings simultaneously achieve the Way” (The Denkoroku, Case 1).
The young prince woke up! What he found that day was that what he sought, he already had and can never ever lose.
But what is Jewish enlightenment? The upcoming holiday of Shavuot offers us a rich and powerful glimpse.
Jewish and Zen?
I met a Zen Master for the first time in 1995. He was not Asian, Japanese, or even Buddhist! The first Zen master I ever met was a Rabbi.
Rabbi Don Ani Shalom Singer Sensei is a Reform rabbi ordained by the Hebrew Union College. After practicing Zen for over 20 years, he received dharma transmission – or formal permission to teach Zen – from a man named Roshi Bernie Glassman.
I have fond memories of sitting with Rabbi Singer in his home library in Malibu, with his beloved dog Puti on his lap or within an arm’s reach nearby. Zen meditation was still very new to me, and I was a bit scared.
Sitting quietly and still for half an hour was not easy! And I had lots of thoughts and concerns about practicing Zen as a Jew. It felt as if I were sitting with the weight of more than 6,000,000 souls on my shoulders.
Rabbi Singer taught me about Martin Buber’s Tales of the Hasidim and the goodness of creation. But more than that, he showed me how to walk this path as both Zen student and Jew.
Dharma Transmission
In time, over many years, I was no longer sitting in meditation with the weight of 6,000,000 souls on my shoulders, but doing so in service of – and behalf of – those very same 6,000,000 souls.
Of all the teachings I remember Rabbi Singer offering me so many years ago as a young college student during the formative years of my spiritual development, one particular thing comes to mind this Shavuot.
I forget why, though Rabbi Singer once told me that the year before he and I met, he received dharma transmission in 1994 on the Shavuot holiday. And as he said this, he had a broad smile on his face.
A Jewish Enlightenment
In another famous enlightenment story, the Buddha was giving a sermon at the top of Vulture Peak. He didn’t use any words, but instead raised and put out a flower and twirled it. Among the hundreds of monks sitting there quietly, only one monk understood. Mahakashyapa understood and became awake. (The Gateless Gate, Case 6)
Although 2,500 years apart, both Rabbi Singer and Mahakashyapa smiled. But was Rabbi Singer’s smile and Mahakashyapa’s smile the same or different? Was the Torah received by the Ancient Israelites 3,000 years – or perhaps lifetimes – ago the same or different than what Rabbi Singer received 24 years ago? Or the Torah we receive today?
What do we Receive on Shavuot?
Shavuot is a sacred day that celebrates the Ten Commandments, yet what we celebrate on this Shavuot is the free offering and receiving of wisdom, the light of compassion, and the joy and privilege of service.
Atop Mt. Sinai, the Divine showed his face to Moses and offers a Way to serve the Divine and human alike to All that is Israel. Do not serve false gods. Practice humility. Take the time to rest and enjoy creation. Honor those who give us life. Don’t take life for granted. Practice intimacy. Be satisfied with what you have. Keep your word. Do not take others for granted. Treat others justly.
While there are Ten Commandments, Five Books of Moses, and many books in the Bible, Torah is far greater than black ink on white paper. It is our very life (see this post); found in every nook and corner of creation (see this post), and the wide open gates to wisdom (see this post).
What we receive on Shavuot can never be described or contained by words and letters bound by linen and leather!
Kan VeAchshav! Here and Now!
I am afraid with all of these words, I have missed the mark and been circling around the question of Jewish enlightenment and placed socks on a snake’s feet!
What is Jewish enlightenment? I am not so sure it is different in experience at all from Buddhist enlightenment. Or Muslim, Hindu, or Christian enlightenment.
When you are hungry, eat something. When others are hungry, feed them. When you are naked, go and get dressed. When others are naked, clothe them. When you need love, accept and embrace love. When others need love, love them endlessly.
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Adam Fogel
www.mindfuljudaism.com