In this article I will discuss how I think Buddhist awakening should be defined.
Buddhism is explained at its most basic level by the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path which explain the cause of suffering and the end of suffering. So in Buddhism, awakening has to be about easing suffering. Most suffering is caused by attachment to the self-image and to diminish suffering those attachments have to be diminished. The fetter model of awakening in the Pali canon says that at stream-entry (the first stage of awakening) one loses identity-view. Exactly what losing identity-view means is subject to different interpretations. In my opinion, losing identity view should be understood to mean losing attachments to the self-image to the extent that there is a substantial reduction of suffering. I don't know if it is possible to lose those attachments 100% and I don't know that it is impossible either. But in my opinion:
Awakening should be measured by the loss of attachments to the self-image that result in lessened suffering.
Some people define awakening based on experiences that happen during meditation or by some type of non-dual or spiritual experience. There is no Pope in Buddhism and different people have different opinions. I can only say in my opinion:
Experiences only cause awakening if they also cause the loss of attachment to the self-image.
Just the experience by itself, without the loss of attachment to self-image, does not constitute awakening. The experiences by themselves are not necessary or in every case sufficient to cause awakening.
Since I would measure awakening by loss of attachment to the self-image and not by any particular experience, there is not a good way to identify a moment to call stream-entry. Actually, I would define stream entry as when you understand from examining your own mind that the self-image is just an image and not a thing. But that can happen without causing loss of attachments to the self image. So for these two reasons I would not encourage people to seek or view stream-entry as the first stage of awakening.
(The reason I use the term self-image instead of self is because all of our thoughts arise into consciousness from unconscious processes, we never see how thoughts are constructed they just pop into awareness, and any thought of self that rises from unconscious process is not the self it is the self-image, it is an image projected by unconscious processes into consciousness. We are not able to conceive of the self we only know the self image.)
I also hold the opinion that:
Enlightenment, for most people, is a gradual process independent of exceptional experiences.
Not every one has exceptional experiences and some people who have an exceptional experience don't lose attachment to self-image from it. Awakening is said to be gradual in the Pali canon. Shinzen Young says most of his students awaken gradually and I think that is true for the general population.
I also believe everyone, even non-meditators, have some level of insight into anatta and therefore some level of awakening.
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Most people understand when they get distracted by stray thoughts that they don't control their thoughts.
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Most people understand they don't control their emotions and they sometimes have impulses that are not helpful.
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Most people realize that their egotistical tendencies can cause problems (suffering) for themselves and they would be better off if they were less egocentric.
- People know that when they walk or do other tasks, they don't pay attention to every movement, our bodies operate by themselves to a large extent.
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