Don’t Detach—Engage
Enlightened people are not detached from life; they are detached from the illusion they are in control of life.
While many spiritual people speak of being detached as a sign of their spiritual maturity or (God forbid) enlightenment, what they are really saying is that life sucks so badly they don’t want anything to do with it. While it may make sense to step back and not be controlled by your desires, feelings, thoughts, and Twitter trolls, it makes no sense to detach from life itself.
As Lao Tzu would have tweeted, “Do your work, then step back. The only way to tranquility” (Tao Te Ching 9).
And as would-be bodhisattvas chant, Shu jo mu hen sei gan do: “Though sentient beings are innumerable, I vow to save them all.”
And as the first-century sage Rabbi Tarfon taught, “It’s not your responsibility to complete the work [of perfecting the world], but neither are you free to abstain from it” (Pirkei Avot 2:21).
Living an enlightened life means respectfully engaging with what is and then doing your best to make what is next a bit more loving, kind, peaceful, and just.
The only difference between ordinary living and enlightened living is the notion there is a difference between ordinary living and enlightened living.
RR