Intro to the questionnaire sent to Dharma teachers

We often hear and teach that the Dharma serves to point us to awakened life. We endeavor to bring the practice on the cushion into our daily life in order to live awakened life. But what exactly does it mean?  What is an awakened life and what is an awakened moment?

I offered the following questions to seven of our dear, wise and long-standing friends in the Dharma who hold the role of teachers and whose voice has been a great contribution to the process of awakening – my own and for many others in our Israeli sangha.
Their generous responses have created a rich and enlightening tapestry, each adding another color and angle and depth.
Awakening is not a "thing", and as such cannot be described, yet they all made a brave, humble, open and eloquent attempt to describe it, to shed light on this intriguing, elusive yet most significant theme. On that which is the ultimate goal of the path, yet is contained in every moment.

Each of the views expressed here is unique, yet it is interesting to note some common threads, such as that an insight or deep understanding is known by its results: it must have an expression in our life, must result in a difference in the way we think, speak and act, must produce a shift in the way we view the world and in our priorities. It must transform the mind.

Another common thread is that there is no hierarchy between the spiritual and the mundane, the ordinary and the extraordinary, the everyday and the "unformed, unmade, and limitless", as Christopher puts it. In this context, I love the words of the poet Rumi:
"When you look for God,
God is in the look of your eyes,
in the thought of looking, nearer to you than your self..."

These answers serve as reminders. Let's enjoy these words of wisdom with gratitude and joy, because what better thing is there to do with our lives than to aspire to be awake in every moment for – as Stephen wrote – its own sake?

The questions:
Please answer some or all of the following questions:
• What is to you an awakened life or an awakened moment?
•  What is your definition of spiritual awakening or awakening in daily life?
• Please share with us an insight you've recently had.
• Please write any other thoughts or anything else that you may like to add.

Sandya Rakefet