‘I do not know if there is a way to trick oneself into noticing more of these instances of quality, nor do I know if enlightenment rests on the accumulation of little ecstasies, nor do I believe—at least anymore—that those of us who have sought the path through books, meditation, or study have any more access to “quality” than those who have not.’ (from the New Yorker)
This was an article reflecting on Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, which I have not read, so I felt a little disadvantaged. The point of it, though, was a rumination on the quality of “quality,” which I would simply translate as “attention,” (and re-reading the Tenzo Kyokun for the current class reminded me how often that word appears). But, to attempt to answer the questions, yes, meditation helps people access this, though not exclusively of course, and perhaps each of the little ecstasies is actually a moment of enlightenment.
Shundo David Haye 