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| Enlightenment...
Posted: 9/5/2008 10:19:14 AM | ... stretches across divisive lines.. no ONE religion or spiritual path can claim exclusive rights toward enlightenment.. so I am curious... what is enlightenment to you?
You may include your opinion of the process in getting there, which is always interesting, but my main focus is:
What do you think enlightenment is?
What distinguishes an enlightened person from a non-enlightened person?
Is it an end in and of itself, or a process/journey?
What is the purpose of enlightenment.. ?
Thanks for sharing 
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Posted: 9/5/2008 10:58:34 AM | IMO
Before enlightenment your thoughts are in control of you.
After enlightenment you are in control of your thoughts. | |
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Posted: 9/5/2008 11:03:25 AM |
Is it an end in and of itself, or a process/journey?
It is funny you should ask. I tend to think of it as a journey and a process. I think I just found the universal symbol of enlightenment. It's been right in front of us for so long, yet we evade it, and ruminate over it. We plaigerize it. We scoff at it. We misunderstand it. We accuse it of bias, hypocrisy, and scorn. We become angered and frustrated by it. When we make mistakes, we edit it. Wise men seem to use it regularly.
The universal symbol is this:
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Posted: 9/5/2008 11:18:47 AM | In my opinion, one of the definitions of enlightenment is the ability to forever eschew self governance by ego, whether by thought, word or deed.
One is not always the best judge of how far along we are on our journey to enlightenment. A more compelling indicator is how those around us perceive us and I am NOT talking about family, friends and POF testimonials, lol.
A complete stranger may have a much more honest appraisal. If that appraisal appears to be or indeed is critical, our reaction to it is very telling. Can we hear another's viewpoint with equanimity and serenity or is there an attachment to a self induced feeling of self righteousness and victimization, whereby perceived trauma morphs into unnecessary drama ? | |
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Posted: 9/5/2008 11:36:18 AM | Hi sassyaquarius,
Awesome post by the way! When I look at your profile and see you mention such words as synchronicity I wonder if you have ever read any Carl Jung. I would say being enlightened is the awareness that we are all one. Having said that I feel we are all interconnected through energy and that you are apart of Me just as much as all things are in this entire universe. When you have become enlightened and are aware of the universe and all the cosmos you realize that all emotions such as happiness or sadness are created in the mind and one can be happy simply just by being.
We are here as a scool of learning and the difference between an enlightened person and a non enlightened person is shown in their everyday life and the way they perceive the world. As far as a process or journey I feel it is somethingwe will strive for the rest of our lives until we make the transistion into spirit where we will realize we should have loved ourselves and others more because of the awareness of a lack of time and space and these concepts.
I agree no one religion can embrace these concepts but surely every religion has the divine spark. The purpose of being enlightened is to awaken our inner potential and to become more then human. Thanks for letting me share and asking such a snazzy question! | |
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Posted: 9/5/2008 3:30:03 PM | I’ll let http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluralism take care of the pluralist side of my nature…
• Scientific pluralism, the view that some phenomena observed in science require multiple explanations to account for their nature, and hence the denial that there is one unified scientific method
• Methodological pluralism, the view that some phenomena observed in science and social science require multiple methods to account for their nature
• Pluralism (political philosophy), the acknowledgment of a diversity of political systems
• Pluralism (political theory), holds that political power in society does not lie with the electorate but is distributed among a wide number of groups
• Pluralism (philosophy), entirely unrelated positions in metaphysics and epistemology
• Value pluralism, the idea that there are several values which may be equally correct and fundamental, and yet in conflict with each other
• Cosmic pluralism, the belief in numerous other worlds beyond the Earth, which may possess the conditions suitable for life
• Religious pluralism, a term used to describe the acceptance of all religious paths as equally valid, promoting coexistence
• Cultural pluralism, when small groups within a larger society maintain their unique cultural identities (see Multiculturalism)
• Economic pluralism, the diversity of economic methods including capitalism, cooperatives and laissez faire
• Legal pluralism, acknowledges the existence of differing legal systems in the world
• In art, accepting as valid the wide diversity in artistic styles and methods, e.g. the art of the current period where every style is practiced, characterizing late 20th and early 21st century Contemporary art
• In the sense of holding multiple ecclesiastical offices, see benefice
• Pluralist School, a Greek school of pre-Socratic philosophers composed by the great Greek Gods, Miki, Noki and Bsus
…and conclude that through meditation, much of this and more, I would be seen as a ‘New Age-er’. I consider liberalization and pasifism necessary for my spiritual growth and Enlightenment. | |
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Posted: 9/5/2008 4:20:50 PM | What do you think enlightenment is?
Difficult to say. I have the intuition that it is a more enlightened and open-minded view of life, that encompasses more of everything in a rich holistic tapestry, that remembers both the overview and the detail.
What distinguishes an enlightened person from a non-enlightened person?
I once heard it said: An ordinary man gets up in the morning, works all day, eats dinner, makes love to his wife and goes to sleep, and does this every day, for his whole life. A wise man gets up in the morning, works all day, eats dinner, makes love to his wife and goes to sleep, and does this every day, for his whole life. What is the difference between a wise man and an ordinary man? An ordinary man has no questions and no answers. A wise man has lots of questions and lots of answers. They live the same life, but for entirely different reasons.
So the enlightened person isn't that different from the non-enlightened person to us, but the enlightened person has a completely different view of life for himself.
Is it an end in and of itself, or a process/journey?
I used to think it is an end. Now that I've begun the process, I realise it is only a beginning. Once we begin the journey, we see that the road that we thought stretched 1000 miles, really stretches a million. When we make inroads to the million, we realise it is a trillion. We never really get past the first step. But oh, what a view! The view alone is worth it!
What is the purpose of enlightenment.. ?
To find one's place in life. Happiness and sadness are like love and hate, 2 sides of the same coin. Sometimes we love and sometimes we hate. Sometimes we are happy and sometimes we are sad. Sometimes we are successful and sometimes we fail. So those things don't really matter, because they come and go. What matters is that we get more in tune with the world, so that we have less conflict with the world and we cause less conflict. Sometimes, in order to reduce the conflict in the world that is there already, we need to make conflicts of our own. But the more we find our place in life, the more we look for solutions that disrupt nature as little as possible, and so the more such conflicts will be less disruptive anyway.
Really, it is all about getting in tune with the world. | |
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Posted: 9/5/2008 5:25:08 PM | My personal definition of enlightment is this: One who embraces unconditional love above all else.
Anyone can be enlightened, from the holy monk who meditates on a mountain top, to a small child living in the worst possible squalor. It is simply a state of 'being', of living one's life and seeing the world through the eyes of their soul.
That's my view.  | |
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Posted: 9/5/2008 5:52:42 PM | | It's when you know something for how it is, as opposed to believing it is how you would think of it for any other reason. So in spiritual terms enlightenment is what you know after having learned about spirituality by experiencing yours. | |
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Posted: 9/5/2008 6:43:38 PM | Sassy, I sat some time and thought about what enlightenment means to people who are hungry for more then they know. Then I had the thought many don't know what they hunger for. So many become consumed in finding what it is they are missing. They fill their lives with material things and go on tangents searching for something wasting their time and energy and still haven't found what it is they need or desire. Some find enlightenment in love with a mate and family. Hoping this fills them like nothing else can or will. Others find Jesus, and others its success, knowledge, money and power.Even drugs, alcohol, exercise and sex. There are many different ways people will journey to find a state of enlightenment. Meditation is even used. Many people at some time during friendships and years of acquaintance ask " How do you find enlightenment?"
Silence and listening to the quite loneliness down in our being, hearing truths that enable spirit and heart contentment. We don't have to know every single mysterious answer. Many equate this to a religious experience but its much more as no one is the same or can experience for another. It is the journey of being in tune with the supernatural and natural existence of spirit within and surrounds all things in balance, harmony, a single moment in time that transcends imagination and reality, the creators very presence flows with your being in heightened knowing of whom you are, that this is what can be and more. This are some thoughts I have on enlightenment. | |
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Posted: 9/5/2008 8:32:08 PM |
What do you think enlightenment is?
First thing that popped into my mind was truth. Mind went in circles after that initial thought though, read the responses here . Funny, first thread I ever read, where all the posts seemed right. So have come to the conclusion that it is individual truth. Self truth, maybe at times self doubt, seeing the light and maybe at times realizing at times you are blind. First time I thought about a word, and realized it was an oxymoron, yes a single word, how can that be?
But it is to me.
What distinguishes an enlightened person from a non-enlightened person?
A person I think, who can question her / his, own being and beliefs. But, some seem so sure, do not need to question, seem to have an inner knowledge of what truth is. Has no doubt or questions!
Maybe we who qusetion are not so "enlightened" after all?
That " common " man mentioned earlier, maybe the enlightened one, satisfied with their life.
Is it an end in and of itself, or a process/journey?
This is the easiest of all to answer for me, it does not have an end or beginning, process of reaching it changes all through our life, so it is a journey I think. Travel the stars for eternity, finding the end of enlightenment, all the same.
What is the purpose of enlightenment.. ?
Finding the truth.
My journey, has been on a very twisty road, gone too fast at times, spun off course, gone too slow at other times, got passed along the way. Was so sure I knew the truth at one time, right and wrong, every thing made sense to me.
Doubts came, went, stayed.
Learned the truth that many things I have done were wrong, sometimes for the right reason, sometimes for the wrong. Hated what I was at times, then became to accept my humanity, did not have to be perfect. But that in it self, is a sign of not being enlightened , but wrong.
For me, it is a journey, circling in the bush, until I get my bearings and see what direction I should be going in, to try and find that state called enlightenment. | |
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Posted: 9/5/2008 9:02:00 PM |
no ONE religion or spiritual path can claim exclusive rights toward enlightenment..
True, But some are better at helping you realize it than others.
What do you think enlightenment is?
The Experience of the true, ever-present nature of all that is and the realization that it was always there, right in front of you the whole time.
What distinguishes an enlightened person from a non-enlightened person?
Ever unfolding, wordless luminosity..
Is it an end in and of itself, or a process/journey?
It never ends and it never began..
Enlightenment will only be experienced with practice. Mere belief can never get you there, in fact rigid adherence to belief can stand massively in your way. | |
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Posted: 9/5/2008 9:02:52 PM | Neat thread, Sassy. I'm probably not going to sound as deep as some of the other wonderful posts thus far, but you already know I can't resist one of your threads, so here goes... :) Hope you don't mind if I try to answer all the O-post questions interwined, as opposed to separately.
What do you think enlightenment is?
What distinguishes an enlightened person from a non-enlightened person?
Is it an end in and of itself, or a process/journey?
What is the purpose of enlightenment.. ?
I think it's part and parcel of the same thing, because I don't really think that the process/journey towards enlightenment can really be separated from the end result. After all, if one never starts the journey, one never reaches their destination. I guess the best way I could sum it up for me, would be that along the journey, one has many epiphanies. They are always wonderful when they occur, and help shape new thinkings and beliefs that we hold to be true for us. Sometimes we discard them for new ephiphanies along the way, and learn and grow as we go. I don't think for me that 'enlightenment' is ever a 'final' state though...I think our own personal enlightenment comes with a feeling of sympatico each time we achieve it, and I believe we achieve it many times. Sympatico mainly with ourselves, and whatever stage of growth or understanding we are at at that particular time.
Now, here is why I say I don't think the two can be separated, or that even enlightenment is an everlasting state sometimes...even while feeling sympatico with the world and ourselves, there's still always the opportunity of a new epiphany. Which in turn leads to new understanding and growth, and a new sympatico and enlightenment. It's a never-ending process for me. Right now, I'm feeling complete sympatico/enlightenment with myself, and have been for several years now...but 1, 5, or 10 years from now? That sympatico will probably be very different from the one I'm feeling now because of things I will learn and new thoughts and ideas I wil have in that time. Enlightenment might be the 'destination' but...I think the destination is always changing as we grow.
I think the purpose of enlightenment is to teach us to grow. And possibly the only "unenlightened" people are the ones who never WANT to grow? Enlightenment means something different to everyone though, so maybe the people who don't appear to be growing still are, so it's tough to say.
Neat thread! | |
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Posted: 9/5/2008 9:29:24 PM | An individual journey to know self.
I feel that we have but one mandate in coming into each incarnation, which would be to make known the unknown. Enlightenment is manifested in someone who has gained wisdom of self through the reflection of lifes experiences. There are no coincedences, every person and experience is in you life is for the expressed experience. The observer reflects and owns the experience.
An enlightened person sees their lifes experiences as a reflection of the aspects of self.
An unenlightened person is like the walking dead, never seeing theirselves in any experience in their lives. Often the victim or tyrant. No self reflection.
The purpose of enlightenment? To come home ; - >
Thanks for posting Sassy | |
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Posted: 9/5/2008 9:37:50 PM |
What is the purpose of enlightenment.. ?
You mean other than being the concept behind Daylight Savings Time? | |
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Posted: 9/5/2008 11:10:00 PM | yellow44,
You have probably given one of the best descriptions.
Enlightenment will only be experienced with practice. Mere belief can never get you there, in fact rigid adherence to belief can stand massively in your way. .
I percieve enlightenment ( if I may use a metaphor without being accused of being one of the dreadful Christians) as the falling of the Temple of Beliefs. When you begin to rebuild it with the stones of truth alone, and scatter the rocks of untruth until they have been reproven, then you have started the journey of enlightenment. If your temple is mostly built, and it still needs a little work, you are probably enlightened. If something proven to your satisfaction becomes a stone of your temple, and later proves false; you need to rebuild again. I have rebuilt mine a few times. | |
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Posted: 9/5/2008 11:27:59 PM | BRAVO DUNRICH !!!
and "DITTO" thats exactly how I feel.... thanks
I remain,
One who dances on the earth... | |
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Posted: 9/5/2008 11:44:54 PM | | Great thread: I believe enlightenment is most definitely a journey. The first steps would be open mindedness - open heartedness - an open spirit. I believe that each time I can approach a day without judgements, pre-disposed ideas, and dogmas, I am in a position to be enriched with enlightenment because my head and my heart are not filled with my own perceptions, deceptions, experiences and destinations. Definitely a journey - the destination, I believe, is on the other side :-) | |
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Posted: 9/6/2008 4:02:13 AM | Here is my dumbass analogy for what enlightenment is.
Say there is a room with mirrors, swirls, lines, circles and such.
Everyone who has walked into that room sees something different in that mass of madness.
One day someone goes into that room and happens to stand in just the right spot, that they realize the room's scrawlings were actually an anamorphic drawing of a woman's face.
From that point on, every person who enters that room can easily see the drawing of a woman's face. Now that it has been discovered, it becomes obvious to everyone. There can no longer be any doubt. | |
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Posted: 9/6/2008 5:24:20 AM | “What do you think enlightenment is?” Enlightenment, to me, means a new or different perception of what had been previously held as my “take” on something. A door is opened, so to speak, where before I might not have even seen the door, let alone what might be behind it.
“What distinguishes an enlightened person from a non-enlightened person?” Don't think I have the right to make that call because it seems like that would be a personal judgment that wouldn't be fair or right, on my part, to do. Think that might bring in a “prejudice” factor. That's like expecting someone to know what I know, see what I see, and if they don't, then ... well... judging them.
“Is it an end in and of itself, or a process/journey?” I think it could be both, depending on what the “enlightenment” pertained to.
“What is the purpose of enlightenment.. ?” Is someone seeking enlightenment, or just being enlightened? Does there have to be a purpose? Never really thought about it before.
This is an enlightening topic! | |
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Posted: 9/6/2008 7:27:28 AM |
What do you think enlightenment is?
Knowledge.
What distinguishes an enlightened person from a non-enlightened person?
Equanimity.
Is it an end in and of itself, or a process/journey?
It is both. One begins the long journey to enlightenment when one first begins to wonder about the “why” of what is. The process to erudite clarity of all is forever unless one can become a God by which time the journey will be at an end.
What is the purpose of enlightenment.. ?
The ongoing process of amazement in the journey to the end. | |
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| Enlightenment...
Posted: 9/6/2008 7:28:33 AM | A deep quiet in your mind that reaches to your soul, when nothing seperates you from this eternal moment.
And if you ever met someone who is in or even close to this state, you can see it in everything they do. | |
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Posted: 9/6/2008 8:08:52 AM | Great ?
Lets say life is a maze and we have the choice to go in any direction we want and we think there are many outcomes. Enlightment to me is when you realize that someone bigger laid out the map and there are many exits that lead to death,but only one that leads to life. | |
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Posted: 9/6/2008 9:38:30 AM |
A deep quiet in your mind that reaches to your soul, when nothing seperates you from this eternal moment.
And if you ever met someone who is in or even close to this state, you can see it in everything they do.
There are people who confuse Nirvana with enlightenment. Nirvana resembles the state you describe, and enlightenment is the path to Nirvana. If you in Western Society, there are motivations to provide the tools the tools of enlightenment to others, opposed to resting in a peaceful state. There are those who can accomplish it, but the basic state of enlightenment is not defined this way.
I was going to say that an enlightened individual is compelled to teach enlightment, but nothing is taught and there is no compulsion but for the lack of enlightment among his peers. The student must take initiative to learn. An enlightened individual need not seek students in a society which encourages people to become enlightened. In western society there are many students who pay for enlightenment, and recieve indoctrinations which are so far from it that they have robbed and loooted the temple. They have confused the perception so well that one who percieves himself in Nirvana within the Western World, is either blind, or lacks empathy. While empathy in itself is not enlightenment, it is (in my perception) a higher enlightment than is first percieved by most who have found the path. | |
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