One reason that I’ve rarely included sharing circles in satsang is that there can be a tendency for spiritual practictioners to keep tabs, score points, seek approval, and make comparisons. The truth is that there isn’t “anyone” with any special, non-ordinary experiences, that there isn’t “anyone” who “traveled to” a higher state.

Far better to allow any experience to occur without any attachments, and quite a good thing to let each one go–indeed, to be quite quiet about all of them.

For each of us has whatever he or she needs right here. No special prerequisites or “heightened experiences” are necessary in order for there to be experiential understanding of our true nature.

The following story is told of the great Zen master Shunryū Suzuki: one day, during a question and answer session, a student asks Suzuki: “How come you never speak with us about your awakening experience?” Immediately (and, I imagine, with a Cheshire grin), his wife stands up and exclaims: “That’s because he never had one!”

Suzuki knew what he was, but this doesn’t mean that he was “suddenly” and “completely” awakened. The truth, so quietly, was revealed and that was that.

May we all be so; may we all live as if we were opening an old door and walking through a cold, familiar kitchen in the deep quiet of wintertime. May we fall into the night while leaving no traces behind.