In the current era, learning Buddhism depends on the awakening of the self. The Buddha is the awakened one, an awakened sentient being.
How can a practitioner transcend the six realms of existence if they fail to be self awakened? Only by attaining spiritual transcendence can the mortal be transformed into the divine.
现在学佛靠自觉，
佛就是觉者，一个觉悟的众生；
不自觉的人如何能修出六道？
精神上的超越，才能转凡成圣。
– Master Jun Hong Lu, Words of Wisdom Volume 7
