American Buddhists A Dharma Melting Pot

Beliefnet -- You write in the book about the Three Pillars at the heart of Western Buddhism? What are they?

One is mindfulness and the practice of mindfulness. If we’re not mindful, then no insights are possible.

The second is compassion. And I think this is also a theme in all of the Buddhist schools. The Buddha was known as The Compassionate One.

The third is wisdom. That’s enlightenment, which frees the mind.
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The deepest philosophical issue is the one I mention in the book, and that is the nature of enlightenment and freedom. Is it something that transcends awareness? Is it a state beyond awareness? Or is pure awareness itself freedom? That’s the nutshell question.

Some traditions say awareness itself is a conditioned phenomenon and that ultimate freedom goes beyond even that. The other traditions say pure awareness is freedom.

Not this Dharma.