Last year, one of my friends told me that there is a sage in town. People are saying that he is enlightened and recently meditated for 15 days locked in a room. He said that he and his dad were going to meet him and he invited me to join. I thought it’d be fun, so I agreed.
Somehow, I couldn’t reach in time so skipped it. Later my friend told me that the sage had a mobile phone, he even got angry on people and was asking for money too – on basis of all these observations they decided that he wasn’t enlightened. This provoked a greater discussion between both of us about enlightenment.
This discussion, later, grew with other people too. These series of discussion with people was rather a ‘Q&A session’ where they asked questions and I found the answer and clarified. So here is refined version and summary of all that those questions provoked.a
Enlightenment is Not What You Think It Is
Enlightenment is not about ‘never being angry again’ it’s about knowing the way back home and knowing that the reason for anger is inside not outside.
Enlightenment is not about ‘never having a desire again’ but knowing how to fulfil it – that’s the power of Jesus’s instant manifestation.
Many people believe that Buddha said that ‘desire’ is root of pain and suffering – he never said that. For even desire of enlightenment and desire of no-desire is desire still. Instead he said “The unfulfilled desire is cause of pain and suffering.”
And sure we do agree; when what we want is not fulfilled the suffering begins.
Enlightenment is Not Forever
Enlightenment is not a degree that which once attained is yours forever. It is a state of mind constantly reached for. Buddha, states that always when he talks of nine states of being.
It’s a feeling that comes and goes but since you know way back home – you go there again.
Enlightenment is not about ‘never having a desire again’ but knowing how to fulfil it
We know that ‘knowing’ is more like a feeling than knowledge and so is with enlightenment – it is a feel that comes when you know that which Buddha, Krishna, Jesus and God knows. You’ve been enlightened so many times in this lifetime – you have known that which they knew.
Enlightened People Know, That Which You Don’t Know
Enlightenment is feeling which makes Jesus say, “Seek and you shall find.” It is being-ness from which Krishna says, “All your desires rise from me and are fulfilled in me.” It is that knowing from which Buddha says, “Lotus grows in a pond of mud.” And it is same place from which Abraham says, “You are that which you call God.”
In nutshell, enlightenment is feeling which comes from knowing that which Buddha, Krishna, Jesus, God, Abraham, Ram, Nature, healers know. And if you will ask of me, “What is that they know? I want to know it too and be enlightened.” At least my friend asked me. I told him, “If you are not ready to listen yet, then it will sounds like most stupid thing to you, but if you are ready then it will make most sense to you.”
Read What They Know, You Might Know it Too
He asked me, “Well how do I know if I am ready?” Well there is no sure shot way – although when you feel appreciate then you are ready – in fact then you know it already – so keep remind this to yourself and when it makes sense then know that in the moment your are enlightened!
Now, the time to tell you what they knew and became enlightened, there are many ways and many words. I will use closest to my heart:
“All is well.”
Jesus – crucified – knows that. Buddha – alone in jungle amoung murderer- knows that. Krishna – in middle of one of greatest wars – knows that. All is Well.
Did it make sense? You are enlightened! Awake! Don’t worry if it doesn’t, you are on your path – keep going. Reading doesn’t equal knowing, you’ve read and soon you will know it too.
How do I know? I’ve lived it – time and again – lifetime after lifetime. Am I enlightened? If you are, you will know if you aren’t then you can’t.
PS: That sage was enlightened or not is not the questions. Was he enlightened in a moment or not… for most of the time or not? I am least worried.
Photo Credit: BIG Buddha by LondonBrad, on Flickr, Two initiate monks, Tharlam Monastery, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal by Wonderlane, on Flickr
{ 9 comments }
Sid.. I disagree on your take on “enlightenment”. Your post is about ‘good living’ I’d say. If the person knows/understands more than the the people around him/her, is enlightened, what would you call the REAL enlightened people? I’m talking about the the ones who live in spirit vibration and do not identify themselves with their name, body or mind. Going back and fro from the mind state of anger, lust, greed, etc.. everyone is doing that already. And it is understood the there is no end to desires, it keeps going forever – a human mind can hardly be satisfied. Enlightenment is about understanding and realizing your own mind that you have assumed to be yourself. Buddha’s teaching on enlightenment is about detaching from this world and self. You think he would left his kingdom and family if it is not the case? Also consider the fact is this system has limited resources and everyone cannot have everything they desire, its a given. Even if they do, that would be ‘stealing’ or ‘borrow’ due to limitations. Besides, you wouldn’t even feel you have earned something if you had not worked for it.
Hmm… I know what you are getting at and certainly the enlightened ones (let’s collectivly call them Buddha, we always do) know much more than “All is well.” and I have a feel that this is going to be rather wonderful interaction.
So here is the thing. Enlightenment is not about detaching from the world, but its about not being bothered about it so much that you loose the power to create it. Buddha knows he creates his own world.
Its not about detaching from self (in the least, Buddha’s sutra are all about self) but realizing your ‘true self’ which is beyond this body and world.
It’s not about fulfilling desire or not having desire but knowing that every time you desire – it is done and that when you are not bothered about it as desire but are tending to it as manifested desire then it comes. That’s the secret behind Jesus’s and Krishna’s instant manifestation. They did not see what is but were fixated upon what has come of what is – desire fulfilled and a desire fulfilled is way different than a desire.
It’s clever then someone’d know or would have guessed it to be.
Often people see them as detached from world – which is flawed premise because they are not detached from world; they are seeing it they way you won’t they are seeing the new world that they have created that’s why Jesus always said, “What you seek is already here, if you could see it.”
About Buddha’s leaving his empire and son and going in meditation: On his enlightenment and somewhere around the first sermon he said that he has lived both lives of extremes: one that of king and being dependent on what-is and the other one of sage deperving of all goodness.
That’s what his final teachings ‘The Lotus Sutra’ (later summarized in ‘Nirvana Sutra’) he states that one doesn’t need to go in extremes of meditation or kingship to attain enlightenment – you can begin where you are and be enlightened. For to know your true self, to know well-being, to feel desire fulfilled even before others can – all this summing up to a knowing… a knowing of your own true nature and having a creative control – nothing else is needed but a look inside. And they seem out of the world!
Now it makes sense when Krishna says (and Buddha says too in other words) that the greatest secret to creation is knowing that this world doesn’t exist out of me. This world is focused in me not me in this world. It’s such a liberating knowingness!
That liberation is enlightenment – no doubt every Buddha uses that word.
Just one more thing. All that I wrote will not make sense from a perspective of humility and false knowing that some greater power (some call it God) exist outside of me. But it makes sense when you know who you are. No doubt Buddha never mentions God, always mentions self. No doubt Jesus says, “Father and me are one.” and no doubt Krishna uses the words, “I, Me and Myself”
Hope that explains what I meant. And that well-being you talk about using words ‘good living’ comes from knowing your ture purpose and fulfilling it and you know it when you are enlightened or vice versa.
Inspiring
Enlightenment is uplifting.
Siddy, If your explanation is that it is the feeling and understanding, then wouldn’t you agree that the title is misleading? Enlightenment by definition is different to the essence of the above post. Attaining enlightenment on a single post, seriously dude? Liberation is enlightenment I agree but not in the context of our daily life eventuality. On some points, we are agreeing on the same thing but it appears we are using different terminologies. What I meant by ‘detaching from self” is ‘detaching from mind’. I should have been more accurate. I’m sure you know about the ‘I’ they talk in spirituality. That is the ‘I’ that is of higher conscious self, the knower of knowledge and the knower of ignorance or in otherwords, who or what is that in you which is observing this life. If you do thought separation practice, that is to observe the thoughts that come to your mind and goes, you will understand that you are not your mind. Mind is most of the time is filled with thoughts about the past or the future and hardly in the present moment. An enlightened person is someone who is established in the present moment. The mind makes the world different to individuals as they make their own world using the very mind (as told by the many REAL enlightened beings) – “Your thoughts determine your reality”. Thoughts are functions of the mind and enlightenment is detaching from the mind and uniting with the ‘I’ or the higher consciousness. Also notice enlightening is an experience of understanding which can be used casually but enlightenment is not a term that I see fit to be used casually as any spiritual book talks about enlightment with buddha as the icon example and not buddha with enlightenment as an example. There are many pretending gurus who target keywords such as ‘enlightenment’ to grab the attention of the public but that doesnt make it right. There are many people out there who are lazy and want everything with minimum or no efforts. These gurus feed on all these ppl who’s primary desire is to remain lazy and enjoy life, why wouldn’t they want to listen to anyone who admits thats possible?
I agree that we agree on many points so direction is not disputed but my liberal usage of words is.
If you’d just go thought the post, I’ve not told ‘How to Attain it’ but just given a hint. For it cannot be told only be attained. Either you are, in the moment, or not.
As far as ‘mind’ is concerned. There are two fields / planes / point of attractions that exist – a lower or smaller one – that is consciousness in this physical body which is part of higher plane or higher self – the ‘I’. Enlightenment is merger of two – so we do agree on that part.
As far as attaining it is concerned – have you noticed that when you observe the thoughts – there are no thoughts? When you are happy its pretty much the same – no thoughts – just feelings. Those thoughts are non-physical hence non-verbal. That state is enlightenment and it happens when you and you or me and ‘I’ merge into one. From there one has access to infinite intelligence – knowingness (Buddha, Jesus and Kirshna etc – all show this trait) and in that state one is not affected by outside world.
And it is not forver, that we know – but knowing the way to go there again and again and stay there often is possible – that’s what enlightenment is.
This post was about realizing that how many times we attain it everyday or are at brink of it and how we can milk it more and prolong it. This post is about how important those brief moments of pure connection are. And if we could go there often – enlightenment is prolonged so much that no one notices when you go out of it.
So I hope that I’ve cleared the intent behind this post. And as far as those people who use this as ‘keyword’ I will not comment on that for I know that more I talk or criticize them the more they come in my awareness – I’d rather focus on my enlightenment then condeming their – even if it is fake (or else, how’d I know?)
The title not matching the intent of the post, exactly my point – “how to” titles usually follow steps. understanding that no thoughts = happiness is not possible by reading unless one has tried it (and keeps at it). Just like the plains and fields in the mind, in the process of thinking, one could be in the present moment from time to time (say 10 seconds or 2 mins, etc) but that doesn’t make anyone an enlightened person (it happens to people normally – no deliberate attempt). Disciplining the mind to think is the first step in the path to enlightenment, and we all agree on this, which has been highlighted in the post but not clear in reference. I checked the meaning of enlightenment on the net and it doesn’t talk about temporary absence of thoughts (the post says enlightenment is not forever). Whoever spoke of the redifned meaning of enlightenment, I hope they are not attention seekers among the masses. The real enlightened beings don’t dwell on the internet or in the commercial space (money doesn’t mean much to them) as desires don’t mean much to them either. If anyone who really knows the path to enlightenment, I wonder why they SELL their books or CDs in high volumes when they can be given FREE out of true passion to enlighten everyone around. Thats what I’ll do if you ask me. But perhaps in the modern times, it is inevitable that the meaning of a term like ‘enlightenment’ has transcended to something everyone can talk about and believe to be in. It is now a word which has different schools of thoughts and belief (from the east and west mostly). In my view enlightenment will happen when all attachment to the “material world” has been resigned.
LOL…..just had a long response set up to add to your great discussion and guess what? I erased it. I’m going to leave it be…..the universe is talking to me….it’s time for dinner and I can’t rewrite now.
What I will say is that I feel enlightened beings are people who didn’t cling, grab, or hold on to anything. They no longer identify with their thoughts, feelings, or bodies. They are pure awareness – as we all are – and they knew it. They simply accept everything as it “Is”, embrace it and whatever it brings, and move on to the next moment.
They knew that our awareness has a short stay on earth before it heads into the Great Beyond. On more than occasion Jesus broke up funerals and raised people from the dead, to show people that the idea of “death” was foolish. Awareness does not die, and we are awareness. It reminds me of his quote “Let the dead bury the dead”, meaning let the spirtually dead bury the dead body.
Enligthened beings get angry, they become upset…..Christ yelled at the Pharisees and Sadduccess and cried when Lazarus dies….but they don’t hold onto the feeling.
Enlightened beings are not perfect people but they are free. Free from identification with their thoughts, feelings, and bodies. Another quote from an Indian sage “I am no body.”
I think that we’ve all had glimpses of being in harmony with everything. This is enlightenment as for a split second everything is Light and we realize that we are a tiny part of the Great Living Presence which moves toward greater life. Many times we have moments and then run back into the ego’s room, where it’s more comfortable.
So in my view enlightment is letting go of everything from moment to moment. No holding on, no clinging, no attaching. Just letting life live itself.
Thanks Ryan for highlighting an important keyword ‘awareness’ and it just remains and observes life as and when it happens. Life is the show, awareness is the TV. To the enlightened beings desire/interest = thoughts and to be free is when you have no thoughts. The reason why they don’t attach themselves to anything in the material world. For person who has a lot of desires, regardless of how many times he or she practices ‘no thoughts’ for a few minutes, the thoughts are going to come back for sure. And if the those thoughts were forced to surrender to reach the no thought state, the mind is going to come back strongly as resistance on thoughts will only make it worse. It is even noticeable even in any debate or argument, if one’s point is not accepted, for the mind it is like its being under threat and wants to prove it anyhow.. coupled with ego, it is the reason why some countries have wars. But the truth is there is nothing called right or wrong, just whats effective and ineffective with our mind’s conditioning (illusion). Which makes knowing one’s self very important.
‘All is well’… such a great feeling. Thanks for that message Sid. Telling to ourselves/realizing that “All is well” connects everyone to ONENESS. This is a beautiful thing. Everyone sees themselves separate from others, one feels their feelings and emotions are to themselves only. But the primal feeling in any living thing is ‘belonging’. Everyone is seaching for this feeling in this distracting world. Since everyone is feeling the same feeling, that makes all of us belong together as one. Mind is a wonderful thing, the creator within ourselves. Whatever we believe in our minds is also true as it will manifest in the material world if one truely believes in them. But if we make our minds superior to awareness, we become slaves to our mind. Have a great weekend!