Three Kinds of Enlightenment

Seung Sahn Seon-sa said, “Okay, now I will explain. In Zen, we teach that there are three kinds of enlightenment.”

Then, holding up the moktak, “This is a moktak. But if you say it is a moktak, you are attached to name and form. And if you say it is not a moktak, you are attached to emptiness. So is this a moktak or not? This is one of the elementary kong-ans that we use. If you anwer by hitting the floor or shouting ‘KATZ!!!’ or hitting me, this is first enlightenment. Everything becomes one. Buddha, you, me, the moktak, the sound, KATZ, HIT -all becomes one. The ten thousand dharmas return to the One.” The student snapped his fingers. “That’s correct. This is first enlightenment.

Next is original enlightenment. Is this a moktak or not? This time, you answer, ‘The wall is white, the moktak is brown,’ or, ‘The sky is blue, the grass is green,’ or, ‘Three times three equals nine.’ Everything is like this. This is original enlightenment. Okay?” “Okay.”

“Next is final enlightenment. This is very important. What is final enlightenment?” Seon-sa hit the moktak. “Only this. Only one point. The truth is just like this. So we teach that there are three kinds: first enlightenment, original enlightenment, and final enlightenment. At first they seem to be the same. But they are not the same. Is it clear now?” “Much clearer than usual.”

“Only this. If you do hard training in Zen, you will soon understand.”

-Zen Master Seung Sahn