THE VIRTUAL SELF

It Has Been My Experience And Observation Of Students Of Buddhism That After An Initial Period Of Enthusiastic Practice They Get Stuck. They Come To The Edge Of A Gap And Can'T Go Back But Are Stuck Going Forward. The Edge Of This Gap Represents The Boundary That Defines The Results Of Their Efforts So Far. Serious Effort Has Been Given To Practice And To Incorporating The Fundamentals Of The Buddha'S Method Into Their Lives. Nevertheless The Practitioner I Have In Mind Feels Not Only Stuck But Somewhat Disheartened Perhaps. Having Exhausted The Youthful Enthusiasm That Naturally Arises Upon Discovery Of The Buddha'S Path One Now Feels A Lack Of Joy. Looking Beyond The Boundary Line Of The Gap There Seems To Be A Vast Space Between Where One Is Now And The Ultimate Goal Of Enlightenment. The Virtual Self: Beyond The Gap In Buddhist Philosophy Offers Some Suggestions For Renewing One'S Inspiration And A Way To Joyfully Navigate That Sacred Space Beyond The Gap.