“I think some ideas or notions have crept into Buddhist thinking that it’s going to take a long time to wake up. That’s not necessarily the case. I don’t recommend thinking that with any seriousness, any belief or attachment. I’m not a Buddhist per se, but what I’m here to represent is that awakening is possible for anyone who really wants it.
I think the “really wants it” is a big part. So I’m here to help. But in the meantime, you can have a better life, a more functional life.
When I work with people, if I’m doing a workshop, more formal than a talk, more intensive, I’ll make sure that people understand that this work is consecrated to awakening. As long as you understand that, you won’t think it’s a bait-and-switch where maybe you got into it for personal improvement, and somewhere along the line you realize that the self that you’re trying to improve is going to be gone.”
– James Wood, Ending Suffering
Svaha 