Van clearly had an enlightenment experience, and these words are his trying to understand that. Enlightenment, though, is just not an experience, but a moment by moment surrender to "what is". It seems his enlightenment experiences informed a greater part of his earlier work, but like most enlightenment experiences, they are only temporary. It\'s painful to see Van now as a crotchety old man who\'s pissed because he can\'t give a concert due to Covid. The problem with Western spirituality is that we think it\'s a one and done deal. Enlightenment is the unfolding of every moment into surrender and devotion to the Real. Unfortunately, we do not have, in the West, the structures nor the inclination to practice complete Surrender. We are too attached to our Selves.
Van clearly had an enlightenment experience, and these words are his trying to understand that. Enlightenment, though, is just not an experience, but a moment by moment surrender to "what is". It seems his enlightenment experiences informed a greater part of his earlier work, but like most enlightenment experiences, they are only temporary. It\'s painful to see Van now as a crotchety old man who\'s pissed because he can\'t give a concert due to Covid. The problem with Western spirituality is that we think it\'s a one and done deal. Enlightenment is the unfolding of every moment into surrender and devotion to the Real. Unfortunately, we do not have, in the West, the structures nor the inclination to practice complete Surrender. We are too attached to our Selves.