He observed that some Buddhists and Buddhist writings talked about the path to enlightenment “as if it was the destination on a road map, and the road goes to the top of a mountain, above the clouds.” But, he continued, “That seems to contradict everything I’m learning about Buddhism. You’re supposed to be in the middle of suffering, right in the nasty, ugly, filthy swamp, and not turn your back on it.” “That’s not enlightenment,” Pema explained, “at least not the way I think about it. Yes, enlightenment is often taught as going to the top of the mountain, but then what about all the suffering
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