In Buddhism we are following a path of exploration. This is not an exploration of the external world. We are plumbing the depths of our innermost selves. When we start on the path we soon realize that it’s not easy. There are plenty of obstacles in our way that we have to overcome.
Success on the path is up to us. Our teachers and texts give us the tools and guidelines that we can follow. But in the end it is up to us to walk the path. No one else can do it for us.
There are a few things that often happen along the way. Knowing what to expect can be helpful to us.
Things we often notice along the way are: Impermanence, Suffering, Emptiness, and No Self.
Impermanence: things are changing all the time, including us.
Suffering: because everything is impermanent, we suffer. We tend to want things to stay the same.
Emptiness: when we realize that impermanence and suffering are the nature of things, then we can become aware of emptiness. Things are empty of self-nature.
No Self: once we become aware of emptiness, we can realize that there’s no one becoming aware. We come to understand No Self.
These are just the things that are often seen on the path. Individual results may vary.
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