Hi Deci

Who knew that the Tibetan Book of the Dead, while being a valuable incentive for those living during a time of death and dying without the will to enlightenment, also serves as a reference and source of comfort for the living in terms of its provisional tenets at a time of social loss, must, as well, be seen as a last-ditch device for the dying by its upholding the possibility of sudden enlightenment for those with the karmic potential at the time of their death, in order to see essence without needlessly having to experience the bardic realm when the veil between Creation and Nonorigination finally dissolves.

This is a reductive perspective which honestly seems dismissive of well respected books written by well respected masters. Isn’t it possible that monks trained in Buddhism for their lives actually have a deeper understanding than a layman?

You’re right Buddhism didn’t invent enlightenment. Many generations of Buddhist practitioners just dedicated their lives to chronicling the process because the main principles involve overcoming suffering and should be shared with humanity. Even suffering itself is based on perspective. If you alter your perspective you no longer suffer. Though this might require action or acceptance.

From experience, I can understand that it can take practice to get to a state of non-practice. A beginner at meditation may struggle to sit and do nothing due to the discomfort with thoughts originating from their own mind. Personally, I struggled to do breathing meditation initially due to trauma. I had to learn other kinds of meditation before I was comfortable enough with the practice to overcome that trauma response. It is very difficult for people to incorporate mindfulness into their everyday lives without practicing meditation.