(Photo by alicepopkorn)
Who doesn’t want to get enlightened? Surely, advice given by a highly practiced monk on “Stages to Enlightenment” would get me there, I thought. So it was with much anticipation that I attended the talk (during which was shared the story of Play The Wishing Game – more discussion to follow down this article) by Ajahn Brahm last Saturday. I was all ready with my notepad.
Mentally, I was prepared to take down notes for difficult-to-grasp steps in an ancient religious language that I could barely pronounce. Well, the content of what was shared was not quite what I was expecting. Essentially, Ajahn Brahm gave the topic on getting to Enlightenment a practical and easy-to-understand spin. Here were his tips:
Opening The Door Of Our Hearts. To be enlightened requires us to open the door of our hearts. We give others the sense of being cared for. We do not make our love conditional on them performing a certain act or achieving a specific goal. We are genuinely concerned for others.
Act of Self Forgiveness. Often enough, enlightenment is a personal journey. It is not just about loving others but also about opening the door of our hearts to ourselves. When we open the door of our hearts to ourselves, we are really referring to the act of self forgiveness. No matter what mistakes we have made in the past, we give ourselves grace. We make peace with ourselves.
Freedom From Desire. Ajahn Brahm had used the story Play The Wishing Game (published in my last post) for illustration. In the story, chid#4 wished for the infinity of wishes while child #5 wished that he was so contented that he would never need another wish. The difference lies between freedom of desire (depicted by child #4) and freedom from desire (depicted by child #5).
The freedom of desire is really about how our society is like. Many of us go after material pursuits in the external search for freedom. Having lots of money, in our mind, translates to the freedom to do what, when we and where we want. There is no doubt that the idea of financial freedom appeals. However, it is to be noted that the too much wanting of material desires, if left unchecked, creates dukkha or suffering. Here is a fallacy in thought that many of us have: I will only be happy and free the day I have passive income working for me.
Freedom from desire is symbolized by contentment. The ending of all wishes. Nibbana, as explained in Buddhist text, refers to this state. It is the complete ending of all sensory desire, ill will and delusion. It is the stop to craving. It is when pure peace ensues. It is at the point when Enlightenment is reached.
Freedom from desire does not mean that we become lazy either. Take monks or any spiritual teacher for instance. They are contented beings but at the same time, work hard to spread messages of love, hope and inspiration. Hence, freedom from desire just means that we become free from craving. We are contented when no matter what happens to us externally, we are not emotionally affected. “It is wanting more that stops us from enjoying what we already have”.
(My thoughts on Play The Wishing Game story: I would like to think that it is possible to be contented and yet have wishes. What we have to be aware of is that the intending of wishes does not become an attachment or craving. We are already happy in the here and now. Even if our wishes are not fulfilled, we do not skip a beat. For more insights, read also Deepak Chopra’s classic bestseller The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
Making Peace. Enlightenment is about making peace. It is about making peace with everything and everyone around us. Remember this quote “You cannot change life but you can change your relationship with life”? We make peace with our poor state of health, our work and life. Peace is gained when we understand life through insight.
Ajahn “Everything”. To be enlightened is to make peace with everything, even with mosquitoes. As a monk who had stayed in the deep forests in Thailand for several years, Ajahn Brahm had often encountered mosquitoes. They were his constant companions while meditating. If you don’t already know this, the practice of loving kindness applies to all beings (even mosquitoes). So even while he was meditating, he was not allowed to kill any mosquito. He would call the mosquito “ajahn” because it taught him life lessons.
Applying the same principle, we take each little irritation, frustration or trouble we experience as our “teachers”. “Ajahn” in Thai means teacher. Difficulties in life are not viewed as periods of misery but rather as opportunities for learning and growth.
The Speck Of Wisdom That Lies Within. Enlightenment is not found in a religious text. Sutras are merely tools. The way to becoming enlightened is to meditate. “Meditation is the holy book of Buddhism”. Meditation allows for insight to arise from within.
Ajahn Brahm recounted the story of Koran flush story in 2005. Newsweek had reported in its issue dated May 9 that U.S. military investigators found evidence that interrogators placed copies of Islam’s holy book in washrooms. One interrogator apparently flushed the koran down the toilet to get inmates to talk. When the Newsweek report got published, there were ugly protests, triggering days of rioting in Afghanistan and other Muslim countries in which at least 16 people were killed.
A reporter for an Australian paper called the perth-based Ajahn Brahm to ask for his views. What would the Ajahn do if it were the sutras (Buddhist religious text) that had been flushed down the toilet?
Ajahn Brahm’s response?
Call the plumber.
His answer was pointed. He said that he could not imagine how he was going to be able to use a choked toilet thereafter. With the story, he cleverly illustrated that no one could flush down truths which lived inside each of us. There was no need to get upset, therefore, if anyone should threaten to do any act that appeared to mock our religion.
As I write this article, I am also reminded by a saying
“The finger pointing to the moon is not the moon”.
Likewise, any religious text is merely a guide. Our spirituality, that comes from an inner connection to the Divine, can never be destroyed.
How Do We Know that We are Getting There?
With what can be distilled from Ajahn Brahm’s talk, enlightenment in simple terms does not appear to be all that elusive. It is a journey no doubt. But one that we can gradually work towards.
Next question is how do we know if we are in the right direction? By recognizing that we are increasingly happy, loving and more compassionate. Ajahn Brahm suggested setting aside regular time for the practice of contentment – essentially meditation – to help us gain enlightenment.
Share Your Thoughts On Enlightenment
I have been reading an increasingly number of articles on Enlightenment on the web. So my questions are: What do you understand by “Enlightenment”? How do you tell if a spiritual teacher or person is truly enlightened or not? Can the state of enlightenment be something that can be easily attained in a physical lifetime and in the third-dimensional Earth plane?
Popularity: 2% [?]
My Vision Board above is featured in #1 Bestseller Book 
{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Evelyn,
I feel for most of us enlightenment is a journey. There are those like Mr. Eckhart Tolle that in an instant “awaken” usually due to a tragedy or a life changing experience. For him it was just before he would take his life and the simple statement “I cannot live with myself” made him realize there were 2 people he was talking about and who WAS the I that couldn’t live with himself…. For most though it is first those moments we take in meditation or other quiet time for self where we realize WHAT it is we need to address in our lives. Then there is the process of taking the steps to forgive ourselves and others, break what might be years of bad habits and deal with self limiting beliefs…and to practice gratitude and being in the moment on a regular basis. Usually all of this can not be accomplished in one instant.
I think we know we are getting closer because the moments of awareness come more frequently. We can sometimes STOP ourselves from doing a negative behavior or if not, right afterward realize we did it and notice where our mind was when we did it. There are some areas of my life I feel so awake and enlightened and some I know will take a bit more “work”.
Thank you for your post, enjoyed and stumbled!
Love,
Jenny
[Reply]
I feel that enlightenment start with us being comfortable in our own skin first. Then we open our heart and just listen without judgement. When we hear a call to action, we act up on it. Just Be…
That is what I think. Thanks for a great post.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
[Reply]
When I am enjoying what I am doing, when time stops and I can see something that haven’t seen before (sort of like an aha moment), when I am present – all of that is part of enlightenment.
The more those moments we have – the more fulfilled and happier we feel because in this kind of moments we getting closer to the source energy.
As you mentioned Evelyn, it is a journey and the more we learn to cultivate those kind of moments, the more we getting closer to what we called enlightenment.
I like to research various sources of information such as Ken Wilber’s integral approach on things, Deepak Chopra, Bob Proctor. It gives me much deeper prospective on enlightenment and any other interesting concepts.
Good topic for thoughts, Thanks
[Reply]
Thanks for sharing, I’m interested in what he had to say as I find the topic quite amazing. I think the whole outlook that you’ve posted is actually wrong. Why? Enlightenment isn’t something you ‘get to’ – it is. Right now, right here is the only time you can become enlightened.
“I am enlightened because I dont feel superior for saying so” is a quote I remember.
Thanks for the discussion, I’ll definitely check back to see what others have to say
Cheers,
Glen
[Reply]
Self-forgiveness is HARD. I think many of us tend to be really hard on ourselves. Sometimes it’s so much easier to forgive someone else than it is to forgive ourselves.
[Reply]
Simba Reply:
June 21st, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Shake of the guild, that’s one way to find some relief…
[Reply]
@ Vered – I agree. I am really hard on myself, but I do in fact quickly forgive others.
While I am not sure if I will ever reach enlightenment, I am continuously working towards being more content. I suffer from the samething that most people suffer from, always wanting more, even after reaching a goal.
Great post!
[Reply]
Thank you, Evelyn. Wonderful insights.
“To be enlightened requires us to open the door of our hearts.”…that’s for sure!!!
love and blessings to you and all your dear ones,
CG
[Reply]
Hi Evelyn – I keep meaning to say I just love the images you put on your posts – so I’ll say it now before I forget.
I heard a definition of enlightenment recently that I liked – it was “finding your own light” – or something like that.
I like your take on the Wishing Game – I’d say the same. When we are content with where we are, we feel inspired to go out and create, and may desire the tools to to that – but the “desiring” has a quality of excited inspiration, not grasping at things to fill a hole.
I do believe we can attain enlightenment here on the physical plane (and our consciousness also exists and can be expressed on other planes as well). I even think it can be easy! The first section of ‘What if? The Movie’ is about what enlightenment means to various people.
Cheers Evelyn! – Robin
[Reply]
@Jenny, what you’ve written tells me that you are moving in the right direction already
Yes…the moment of awareness comes more frequently and stays longer. Getting unstuck is so much an easier process!
@Giovanna, I like your tip about being comfortable in our own skin. Very often, our problems stem from not knowing who we really are. We identify so much with the stories that play in our head that we are really unconscious, unaware that they do not create your identity. It’s much harder to love others or even ourselves when we are unconscious.
@Peter, I like how you define what enlightenment means. For a while, I thought it would be a state that would be difficult to achieve. I did not realize that easy simple steps are stepping stones to our Being. They are essentially steps towards building a connection to Oneness.
[Reply]
@Glen, oh yes…I did realize that the title of my post is a little bit of a misnomer. I decided to use it in the end because it is a common perspective that enlightenment is an external thing. Ajahn’s title for the afternoon was really “Stages to Enlightenment”. I decided that the word “stage” is not really appropriate either. Nonetheless, it is obvious that enlightenment is not an external state to “arrive at” but one that arises from within.
@Vered, self forgiveneness is especially hard for the person who does not love herself in the first place. I get tons of emails on this topic, making me realize that there are a lot of people out there suffering from inadequate self love.
@Happiness is Better, always “wanting more” denotes lack. It will be a good idea to consider embodying making peace within your Being. Then, sending out the right intent to the Universe will perhaps yield better results.
@CG Walters, thank you for finding the post helpful!
[Reply]
Robin,
Thanks for liking the images I put up on my site. I am particular over the pictures I choose actually. I can spend hours sometimes looking for the right one. A waste of time? Perhaps. Still, in the interest of time, many of the images are sourced from flickr. I would have liked to do them myself really. I don’t think it is too difficult to produce an image like the one I have on this post, but I cannot imagine starting a new venture now. I’m already splitting hairs just trying to squeeze everything I want to do in my regular half-a-day on the web.
I love what you shared about the definition of what enlightenment means. I really have to get down to watching “What If”. I’ll be going over to your site to get more details once again. Really? Enlightenment is possible in the physical plane on Earth? Hmmm….I’d be interested to find out what it really means to various people. Thanks for sharing!!
Love ya!
Evelyn
[Reply]
Hi Evelyn, I love the story about calling the plumber! That is so practical. In my experience, the most enlightened people are practical, focusing on the task at hand instead of tying themselves up in knots over perceived slights, things not ‘done right’ and all that.
I also like the point that being at peace does not mean not striving or being lazy. I used to feel guilty that I was so contented while my friends were still in the rat race. I thought there was something wrong with me for not wanting more in life. Now I know it’s fine, that I can choose what I do next not from urgings of the ego, but from what makes sense.
Glen, I like your point about enlightenment means being able to say “I am enlightened” without the guilt of feeling like I’m boasting. That’s true detachment!
[Reply]
Daphne,
Oh yes…I also find that the wiser people are the ones who are usually less uptight over things. They take things less seriously and often have a humorous perspective towards life.
I’m glad that you are choosing differently. Not being in the rat race does not mean that you are not motivated to create value in other ways. Those in the rat race will find it difficult to understand our choices. They do not realize that we are discovering much more and the inner peace and happiness we have is not substitutable.
I’m not sure about saying that “I am enlightened” to begin with. It’s interesting that I have this discussion just last week with a friend who is spiritually advanced in her practice. She said that the truly enlightened ones will never say that they are enlightened. There is no need to, in a sense.
Namaste,
Evelyn
[Reply]
Hi Evelyn,
I see enlightenment as love, acceptance of self and others, presence, awareness and non attachment. I don’t believe we need to transcend the physical to reach enlightenment as I believe it is right here, right now. Spiritual aids help us see what is already within us but behind the veil. Personally, I determine enlightenment from a spiritual teacher by the level of simplicity they use to communicate truth. Also, I think we can get a sense of warmth and their vibration even when they use “hard truth” to wake us up.
I must head to flickr…stunning images!
[Reply]
Evelyn,
Thanks for asking the question(s) about enlightenment, this prompted me to share my defination of enlightenment:
Enlightenment: The ability to create and dis-create at will.
Everything starts with a thought. The more thought energy you put into it and align yourself into the same thought energy pattern, the faster the creation (or manifestation).
An example of a creation:
(1) You ask;( for what you want— the creation)
(2) you align your thought with your asking;
(3) Relax and allow yourself to receive your asking.
Regards,
Wilson Ong
PS: a creation can be a thing; can be a situation;
can be a emotion feeling; and can be — anything.
[Reply]
Making peace with oneself is not only the first step toward enlightenment, but is vital for any further development in this thing we call life.
peace,
mike
livelife365
[Reply]
Hi Evelyn – What a fascinating post.
For quite sometime now I’ve felt contented. Not that I don’t want for more, but I’ve gotten past wanting those material things I desired when I was younger. Now when I think of what I desire, it’s things like good health, world peace, and stuff that makes me and the world better.
I feel I will continually be a work in progress and with each “step” I take, I’m getting closer to total enlightenment. It’s a great journey to be on, isn’t it?
Thank you for sharing what you learned in the talk. It must have been awesome to be there in person.
[Reply]
Evelyn,
Well it’s a good attempt at enlightenment but I tend to think that you don’t find enlightenment, you let yourself experience it by slamming down the false beliefs that are hindering you to experience it in THIS moment.
Enlightenment is not some destination we have to reach at, or some “thing” we have to get, or some skill we have to acquire. It is here, already. All around us. Inside us. We have all these walls around us, of duality, of our confusion about duality that keep us from experiencing it.
And for desire and getting rid of desire, I think we just can’t. Logically, the desire to get rid of your desire is still a desire. Is it not? It’s more of a question of giving a direction to your desires.
Anyway, good discussion here. I enjoyed it. Thanks for writing and keep on writing.
[Reply]
@Monica, from what you are saying, am I right to infer that you believe that enlightenment is not an ultimate state and that there can be people at various stages of enlightenment? I infer this because in reality, all of us are at different levels of awareness, presence and the practice of love.
Also, great observation there about spiritual teachers. Those who are really advanced teach simply but very much to-the-point. We get a very good feel when around them.
@Wilson, your definition of what enlightenment means is new to me. It appears that more of us are defining it to be an increased state of awareness and an expansion in consciousness. Thanks for sharing a very interesting perspective!!
@Mike, maybe the word “enlightenment” simply means transcending our everyday trials and tribulations?
[Reply]
Good stuff.
You did a great job capturing,sharing and distilling the keys.
Here’s my favorites points:
- a fallacy in thought that many of us have: I will only be happy and free the day I have passive income working for me.
- We are contented when no matter what happens to us externally, we are not emotionally affected.
- Peace is gained when we understand life through insight.
- Difficulties in life are not viewed as periods of misery but rather as opportunities for learning and growth.
I like enlightenment as a destination and journey.
[Reply]
Sunny,
I am not sure I quite agree with the “slamming” down of false beliefs. To me, slamming implies force and therefore struggle. Anything borne out of strife and ill will does not bode grace, forgiveness and love.
As I have already shared in one of my comments, the words “getting to enlightenment” is a misnomer because most of us believe that it is an external state to arrive at. I have at the end of the post, showed that it is really the opposite. It is about the speck of divinity that comes from within.
You are right. The desire to get rid of desires is still a desire. Hence it is important to practice non-attachment through making peace, even whilst we have certain needs that we wish fulfilled in the third dimensional physical reality.
Peace, joy and light,
Evelyn
[Reply]
If enlightenment is understood as a state of transcending desire and suffering, then to what degree you permit emotions to control you makes a statement about where you are on a journey to self-discovery. Inner knowing requires no description and no justification. It does not result from education do much as deconditioning, surrender and love. The formless and imperceptible exist to those who reconnect with truth.
[Reply]
I know I have many life lessons to practice opening the door of my heart. Giving others the sense of being cared for is a priceless gift. I do this for my children every single day. I also realize I need to do this for more and more people to truly move closer to enlightenment.
[Reply]
Wow, peace with mosquitoes even. That’s gonna be a stretch for me. I seriously don’t think I can go there if a mosquito is buzzing after my blood in the night. I’m not that enlightened,I fear.
[Reply]
@Liara, if enlightenment is understood as a journey in itself and not just an ultimate state, then there is every chance that we get clouded by our emotions along the way. Obviously, it is our intent to transcend over them at any one point. I definitely agree that inner knowing requires no description or justification. Once we start to grasp, reconnection ceases.
@Stacey, how wonderful for you!! Don’t we all benefit from doing the same?
@Jannie, same here….LOL!! Well apparently, many of the practiced monks just allow the mosquitoes to feed themselves while they are meditating. I’d assume that there can be plenty of mosquitoes if they are meditating in the deep forest in Thailand.
[Reply]
Hi Evelyn. I was collecting my thoughts to leave a comment and had a surprise when I landed on Glen’s comment. He wrote exactly what I had been thinking. “Enlightenment isn’t something you ‘get to’ – it is. Right now, right here is the only time you can become enlightened.” It jolted me more awake than I was
I think the word journey works in one aspect of this. Looking for enlightenment can be a journey. But I do agree with Glen, and your response to him that it just IS.
[Reply]
Davina,
Oh yes…enlightenment is very much an internal experience and is often likened to be a journey. Although it is in a way true that we can become enlightened right here and now, I doubt that most of us will call ourselves enlightened. As J.D. Meier puts it, it is both a destination and a journey.
Have a great weekend,
Evelyn
[Reply]
Hi Evelyn,
Great post! It is really wonderful to know that the ENLIHTENMENT has become matter of common discussion. Is not it the shift of awareness itself? We have only two choices; DIE or BE Enlightenment.
[Reply]
I have been thinking for ages about writing a post on values that contradicts everything I’ve said in the past.
I have always believed that values are sacrosanct and different for everybody. But over recent months I have started to think there is one Meta value that all others lead to. When I explain this to clients now about 4 in 5 agree with me, although whether they are just trying to keep me happy is another matter
It’s the value of peace. With peace of mind we can deal with anything in our lives. I think total peace is very much a state of enlightenment and one that I aspire to. I’ll let you know when I get there!
[Reply]
Hi Evelyn – I have more hurdles to overcome to reach enlightenment than I thought. I have a severe allergy to mosquitos, so I’d have a hard time not trying to swat them if they were biting me.
Like you, I have been reading quite a bit on enlightenment this morning. But it’s hard to find accurate information on it, as most of the people writing about it haven’t achieved it, so they can’t tell us all what it’s like.
Many people bloggers claim to have achieved enlightenment. But I read some of the other stuff they’ve written and I kind of suspect they’re full of shit. But it’s hard to know for sure when I am nowhere near achieving enlightment myself.
[Reply]
@the journey within, the common definition of enlightenment is some kind of end state. However, as you’ve pointed out, it can also be simply a “shift in awareness”.
@Tim, if you’ve read some of the comments here, you may consider yourself as already “are there”. Are you not peaceful? Are you able to make peace with this present moment? I’d like to think that you are Peace.
@Cath, it may well be that everyone’s definition of what enlightenment means differ, as the comments to this post are also showing. If it is defined simply as “a shift in awareness”, then those who claimed that they have achieved enlightenment may well be right. If it means total transcendence of all ill will, desire and sloth, then enlightenment may or may not be true for these people. I’m glad to know that you are practicing some discernment. There is a lot of stuff on the web. It is helpful to check against our internal guiding system whether something we read resonates well or not. One more thing: like you, I am unable to call mosquitoes my friends at this stage.
[Reply]
No, not all the time by any stretch. To be completely at peace I don’t think you can frustrated, annoyed, irritated, envious, nervous, worried or any other negative emotions and I have all of those on occasions.
[Reply]
This tells me that everyone is responsible for the extent to which he/she has attained enlightenment because everyone holds the key to the door of enlghtenment, which is the door to his/her heart. Life is all about the choices we make. I think attaining freedom from desire can be a bit challenging. But determination is all it takes to attain this kind of freedom.
[Reply]
Hi Evelyn!
I have to tell you this is one of my most favorite topics and the reason for that is that as you say “wouldn’t everyone want to be enlightened?” – to me it is indeed like “graduating” to the next level of being human.
But believe it or not I do know a few people who are so closed within themselves, they are completely no open to any kind of “light”, let alone enlightenment.
So for me enlightenment like a few others have said is a journey and I think it is very obvious to one in fact when they are moving in that direction. I know personally from my own life, and clearly see how all (and I do mean all) negativity has been consistently melting away and pure love, compassion, joy and peace infiltrating the new spaces. It feels so wonderful that one cannot miss it in my opinion.
Now having said that does that make me a guru of some kind for others, not at all – it is my growth and others have their growth. And I think that is the biggest part of moving towards enlightenment is realizing that the more you know, the closer you are to others, not above them, or better than them in any way. After all each of our souls have their own time and space for their own evolution and it does not ultimately matter when we get there – the point is all of us eventually do get there.
(Oh I could go on and on about this – perhaps in a future article
[Reply]
@Tim, hopefully we can extend the pockets of peace that we are already experiencing into longer and longer stretches.
@Lizwi, I’m glad that you pointed out what the post discussion is about: instead of thinking that enlightenment can only be attained by some spiritual guru or teacher, it is really available to all of us. In response to the fact that the “freedom from desire” being challenging, let us remember what Henry Ford said: “If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.”
@Evita, I would love to read your thoughts on this topic. I have just read an article that beautifully illustrates to me that “the ordinary mind is the Buddha mind”. Our ordinary mind is really the doorway to our infinite existence and the recognition of our own divinity.
[Reply]
Hey Evelyn!
I think enlightenment is both a process and end state. The end state is the common definition of enlightenment which many are familiar with. The process of enlightenment is being able to live in the present moment/now. Continuously raising your consciousness and not having it be impacted by anything around you. Great post – thanks a lot for sharing and triggering this thought in us! 
[Reply]
Great article on practical dharma (teachings about enlightenment and life). Enlightenment is not elusive, it is ordinary. Enlightenment is not just for monks or the elite, it is for everyone.
I’ve found Daniel Ingram’s perspective on enlightenment very interesting and useful. Here are some of his articles:
http://interactivebuddha.com/talkinboutit.shtml
http://interactivebuddha.com/arahats.shtml
And a portion of his book on the models of stages of enlightenment:
http://bit.ly/XJIL
Enjoy! This has been an interesting topic for me to explore with dharma friends.
[Reply]
Excellent Post! I really enjoyed the quote: “The finger pointing to the moon is not the moonâ€.
It was Eckart Tolle’s The power of Now that open a little crack in the doorway to enlightenment. I remember one simple part in the book that talks about tasting food you’ve been craving. Usually the first bite will taste amazing, and the second will be great, the third really good…. Until your almost done, and you hardly taste it at all. Enlightenment can be as simple as tasting every bite like its the first one that you have been craving for. Now, Cheeeesssburgers never tasted so GOOD…
Pura Vida
Jonathan
[Reply]
Wonderful post with great insight!
I think the journey toward enlightenment is all about opening our hearts to loving kindness and discovering serenity within the storm.
Shann
[Reply]
Evelyn, I just wanted to say I loved this article. Really needed to read this today. I think “the finger pointing to the moon is not the moon” is both true and beautifully phrased. What a lyrical sentence. As for enlightenment, I don’t really have the attention span today to write a well thought out answer to all your questions – am overloaded with work right now and the fact that I am here reading means I am procrastinating! But I see enlightenment as striving for a sense of inner peace, knowing my place in the world and the universe, and an awareness of my eternal spirit. This then manifests in non-judgment, compassion, overflowing love and empathy.
All sounds good!
Kelly@SHE-POWER
PS. You’re posting so much I can’t keep up with my reading. Have you been eating creativity jelly beans?
in essence I not only
[Reply]
Hey Evelyn!
Thank you for bringing up this topic. You’ve hit on one of my favorite subjects.
Enlightenment, to me, is not really a helpful word. I prefer the term Self-realization, as it more precisely points to what it’s actually about on a practical level. It’s about realizing the Truth of your Self, who you actually are beyond name and form.
It’s not about any experience or ability. It’s not about becoming more loving, or more peaceful, or a better creator, or more in the now. These things may certainly happen in accordance with the deeper transformation, but those changes are just surface level changes. They’re not the root.
It’s like taking off a halloween costume. Every experience, every role, every sense of self and sense of identity is a costume you can wear. It’s not who you are. Period.
Awakening to your true nature is the realization of what is always here, your true nature.
It is what is inside every costume you could wear and is present throughout all experiences.
It is the realization of what you are as that which is being while doingness happens.
It is not an achievement anymore than it’s an achievement for someone to turn into a human. You already are a human. The quest is to stop buying into the belief that you are the halloween costume you are wearing.
Ultimately, you’re not a more loving or less loving person. You’re not a more in the now or less in the now person. You are what is, regardless of all states of being, regardless of all experiences, regardless of all doingness.
It is what is ALWAYS here and thus it’s not anywhere you go or something you accomplish or create. It’s not a destination. It’s the realization of who and what you REALLY are.
[Reply]