#COAI#

#COAI#
Holy Path
Saints are not naturally chosen; they come from the same source as ordinary people, and the difference lies only in the fact that their cerebral system has reached the highest level of understanding of their time. This state of "great awareness" is not a mystical experience but a clear understanding of the meaning of life and a clear comprehension of the ways of action. Saints are holy only because they have uncovered the wisdom that also exists in ordinary people, but has yet to be activated.
In history, those who are called saints and sages often lead extraordinarily simple everyday lives. Confucius, traveling through the kingdoms, also faced hunger and thirst, Socrates discussed philosophy on the streets of Athens with cobblers and fishermen, and Buddha, before enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, experienced six years of ordinary life as a practitioner. Their uniqueness does not lie in being detached from human life, but in how they, with fully awakened minds, engage in ordinary affairs. The thinker of the Ming era, Wang Yangming, stated directly: "A saint is a saint only because his heart is pure according to the heavenly order, not mixed with human desires." This "heavenly order" is merely a way of thinking that corresponds to the essential laws of things.
The human brain has an amazing plasticity. Neuroscience research shows that prolonged mindfulness training can reshape the connections between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala, enhancing the ability to regulate emotions. MRI scans of Buddhist monks' brains demonstrate that long-term meditators have indeed experienced measurable changes in brain function and structure. "Great enlightenment" of the saint is essentially a process of tuning the brain to an optimal working state through specific training methods — high concentration of attention without tension, extraordinary clarity of thought without distraction, deep and stable emotions without numbness. This state allows the cognitive system to penetrate through shells, reaching the essence.
The awakening of wisdom has distinct features of the epoch. The rational thinking of the ancient Greeks, the moral insights of Chinese philosophers from the pre-classical period, the spiritual quests of Indian practitioners – all reflect different civilizational approaches to the "great enlightenment." In the modern age of information explosion, the awakening of wisdom is more manifested in the ability to filter vast amounts of information, vigilance regarding technological deformation, and the desire to return to the essence of life. Einstein once said: "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." A modern saint does not necessarily have to be a sage living in the mountains; they can be ordinary people who remain conscious in the data stream and maintain their authenticity amid the wave of utilitarianism.
The restoration of the saint as "an ordinary person who unveils wisdom" shatters the false contrast between the sacred and the secular. Within each of us lies untapped potential for knowledge. American psychologist William James estimated that the average person uses only a small fraction of their mental capabilities. Extraordinary talent is not required for the discovery of wisdom, but systematic learning is: expanding the boundaries of thought through deep reading, refining judgments through the reflection of practice, and enhancing awareness through concentration training. The ancient Roman philosopher Epictetus said, "Philosophy is not a system of teaching, but a daily practice." The path to wisdom begins with awakening to each moment of everyday life.
The saints, in their essence, are witnesses of human potential. They prove that extraordinary spiritual flowers can bloom in ordinary flesh. This potential does not belong to specific epochs, races, or classes, but is an innate gift of humanity. Realizing this, we can neither blindly worship the saints nor despise ourselves, but walk the path of awakening with a balanced heart. As Zen says: "When sleep comes, sleep; when hunger comes, eat," by maintaining awareness in everyday life, everyone can touch that light of wisdom that illuminates life at certain moments.