The ten stages for attaining awakening. Delivered May 21, 1984

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, explores the true measure of human existence.

She contrasts superficial attachments to time and material accumulation with the eternal, timeless reality of spiritual awakening. Drawing from Zen Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity and ancient philosophical traditions, Lola challenges listeners to move beyond conventional definitions of life defined merely by passing days or sensory indulgence.

The story of three monks who are asked by the Buddha how one should measure a man's life. The first two superficial answers, measuring by calendar days or by the duration of a meal. The third monk answers, "by the breath."

Breath is not merely a biological function, but a vital bridge between the temporal world of form and the eternal realm of the formless.

Lola shares the metaphor of a stick appearing crooked when placed in water. It’s the same way consciousness becomes distorted upon entering time.

Referencing Taoist and Biblical passages regarding how "the crooked shall be made straight," Lola emphasizes that spiritual alignment does not wait for the afterlife. Freedom from self-display, self-assertion, and ego striving must be practiced immediately in the present moment.

Lola describes humanity's tendency to seek artificial security and identity through rigid ideologies, social clubs, and routine busyness, marking days like the tallying of a gasoline pump. That is unconscious living.

True life wells up from invisible inner roots during silent meditation, where the practitioner transcends chronological aging and connects directly with the divine light.

Lola explores the ten grounds, bhumi, or progressive stages taught by the Buddha for attaining spiritual awakening.

These transformative stages:

1. Pramuditā (joyous, motiveless delight in living).

2. Vimala (innocent acceptance of one's ignorance and moral discipline).

3. Prabhākarī (maintaining the steady, patient, luminous flame of consciousness).

4. Samadhi (or Arciṣmatī - vitality, diligent energy, aliveness free from dull righteousness).

5. Sudurjayā (courageous welcome of life's adventures and challenges, meditative concentration).

6. Abhimukhī (immediate, unrehearsed engagement with reality).

7. Dūraṅgamā (the far-going willingness to step into the unknown and die consciously, skillful means).

8. Achala (immovable, unwavering grounding amidst the fluctuations of praise and blame).

9. Sadhumati (the synthesis of reason and heart intelligence, good thoughts).

10. Dharmamegha (the showering of grace where the teachings become one's lived reality, awakened awareness).

Lola quotes the timeless adage on how sown thoughts ripen into acts, habits, character, and ultimately destiny.

Delivered May 21, 1984