noun
“sudden enlightenment and a state of consciousness attained by intuitive illumination representing the spiritual goal of Zen Buddhism” Merriam-Webster dictionary
The word was encountered in “A Literary Visitor Strolls in From the Airport” by Charles Mcgrath
The sentence it was used was “It’s a work of beauty and a joy to behold,” he told the homeowner. The morning was foggy and unseasonably warm, and a few blocks later, near the entrance to Aqueduct Race Track, he shed his jacket and announced: “We’ll, we’re only a fraction of the way there, but in terms of my longer walk, starting in London, I’m already halfway, and I can say that I am ludicrously (Foolish or unreasonable) happy. I am in a state of almost absurd satori.”
The author utilizes the word to express the perfect state of happiness. With some research, Zen is to be “fully aware, here and now” which also translates to meditation. Because he says he feels satori which is Zen he’s saying that the walk is a way for him to meditate and be with himself. He’s feeling peaceful and relaxed on his walk and is grounding himself. When he later encounters someone who “couldn’t conceptually grasp the idea of walking to New York.” I think he’s trying to say is as a New Yorker you’re always on the move to get to your destination the fastest which makes us normally think, for example, the only way to getting to Manhatten is by train when there is a bridge to get there by bike or walking. But the bigger idea is that we don’t enjoy the scenery we have around us as it’s always changing. We notice when things get replaced.
