Is spiritual enlightenment real?
After reading the other responses, an anecdote came to mind. Groucho Marx was reported to have said, “I would never join a club that would have me as a member.”I enjoy reading the deluge of responses to questions like yours, irresistible click bait for certain types. Snagged me too!After a half century of reading a wide variety of literature on this subject and having spend a good deal of time planted on my cushion, legs folded underneath me, working to bring my wandering attention back to the present moment over and over again, it appears that the word “enlightenment” entails the sudden realization that the narrative self is just that, a story made of words and images, memories of experiences that the body lived through. Rather than the self being the entity it feels like and seems to be, it is just a kind of reference point, and it is possible to experience the body and the life it lives without that reference point.I wouldn’t put that much stock in it; of course it does seem to reduce the conflict with other people because it becomes evident that other people - bodies - also operate being directed by this narrative self and that self tends to be possessive, anxious, nervy, blustery, and so forth, all rather annoying traits when encountered in others, and presumably others are annoyed by the same in me.Meanwhile, far more interesting (for me) than the conquest of the narrative self via spiritual practices, is the possibility for learning how to intentionally (not verbally) direct one’s little sliver of attention on the sensation of the mass of energy that the body is made of, which is connected to the whole of existence. Rather than sitting down in the classic posture of meditation, this is best experienced when standing up, as one can feel the downward pull of gravity on one’s entire mass; it’s quite interesting. Try to find a street with a mild incline to walk (slowly) up while shutting off the internal dialogue and direct your attention to the mass of energy that your body is made of, and let me know what you experienced.
Is there a difference between enlightenment and spiritual enlightenment?
‘Enlightenment’, as the secular use the term, such as in the case of the European movement bearing the same name, is more akin to learning / erudition.There is nothing ‘spiritual’ about it… it’s just a time when a rather backwards and simple people began to wise up to reality in more complex doses.‘Spiritual enlightenment’ on the other hand, is a ‘halo’ / ‘crown of life’ from ‘whatever God is’ / ‘the supernatural divine plane’. It is actual LIGHT (golden coloured), coming down in the mind during a state of profound apotheosis. The experience is fleeting, but not forgettable, and the memory enforces the transition from ‘normal human’ to ‘enlightened being’.The problem is… both words are employed in different contexts, yet their meanings are virtually polar opposite, for a huge aspect of the former ‘enlightenment’ is usually the preserve of the intellectual elite and atheists.Spiritual enlightenment is confirmation that there is a ‘God’, and he’s ordained you with his biophoton unction.EVERYONE can EASILY be ‘enlightened’ in the ‘acquiring of knowledge sense’, but VERY FEW PEOPLE AT ALL know the truth of spiritual enlightenment. One could call the elect few who HAVE been illuminated ‘the true illuminati’ as ‘illuminati’ is purely Latin for ‘the enlightened ones’.Just type ‘halo’s in religious art’ to see various historical characters who may have shared this holy, gnostic comprehension.(And don’t listen to false teachers like Jonathan Black or Dan Brown, who FALSELY teach ‘halos’ in religious art are somehow based on ‘Ancient Egyptian sun worship’. This is not true, and thoroughly ignorant).
What is Enlightenment? What does it actually mean?
That word can have several meaning depending on your view! Some see it as Religious and others just intellectual awareness. Depending on your faith or non faith it can have different meanings to each individual. So my view of it may not be the same as anothers or even yours. All we can do is give you our opinions but you will have to form your own in the end though. To me it is like an awakening or your inner self. knowing yourself inside and out better than ever before and passing that on to others to help make them find that same awakening I felt and hopefully make them better people in the end. I guess it stays afterwards as long as you continue to practice what you have learned to enlighten you. Now a wise a ss might say in means going from the dark into the light!! that is very vague. hope that helps you some and you find the meaning you are looking for!
None of the contemporary spiritually enlightened seers or sages did discover or invent something what scientist like Einstein, Tesla or Newton did. Don't you think enlightenment or Nirvana or Illumination is overrated?
Thanks for A2A.The possibility that Enlightenment is overrated? Come to think of it - you might be right. Have you heard of the saying, it's about the journey, not the destination?Our journey is towards Enlightenment.Engaging in worldly matters, building families and homes, fulfilling materialistic pleasures - all this seizes when you've reached your destination.You no longer take 'pleasure'. Game over.After that, the bliss that you experience is definitely unparalleled, but at the same time, you no longer are experiencing life as just a human.You have fully actualized your soul into the body. Everything has changed now. No person seems sexually attractive, no food seems 'tasty'.Does sound kind of overrated if you're a human that's fully enjoying all this right now. :)So it's a trade-off really. Scientists are great for the world while we're here. They're a necessity - they make our lives easier and possible.On the other hand, sages and enlightened folks are just as important, to teach us how to mentally live a better quality of life by giving us small anecdotes of techniques that bring peace in life.And also - to remind and assure us that life isn't always so tough. That we are never alone, are always Divinely guided and we can choose to stop engaging in the world if we truly want to.The real question is - do you want to leave this Illusion, this 'moh-maya', or do you wish to stay here a few lifetimes longer? :)Love and Light,V
How far along the Dark Path do you have to go to find Enlightenment?
Dear Brother, A path is simply a path... Enlightenment is but a small stepping stone upon any chosen path... "A human being needs to identify the nature of the poverty that assails man. False wisdom which is the cause of 'ignorance' is indeed a man's true poverty. If a man can rid himself of that 'ignorance' and attain wisdom, he will enjoy honor and the wealth of God, upon which ever path he may choose to travel." False wisdom will lead one into the darkness and at the same moment shield one from the "Light of Truth". *footnote - One must ponder that which has been subtly spoken of above, ever so carefully! Peace be always with you. Amen and Ameen,
Is enlightenment necessary? Is awakening an option?
What are the options available to each and every human being? ...Sure, enlightenment is an option. ...Sure, awakening is an option. One must first become a "True Human Being", before either of these options can become manifest. Enlightenment is no doubt very enchanting. An awakening is no doubt very startling. Both of these fascinations must eventually be transcended. If not transcended, one will clearly have "opted out". If these two fascinations are not transcended, one will have run into a brick wall. One will then be faced with, being recycled. And more than likely be recycled into a lower level of consciousness, than the level of consciousness in which one is experiencing, this very moment, "now" (in this very birth). These are my meager understandings of the terms. Out of necessity, one must to decide to "opt in"! ----- and may you, my brother, have a great day also! :-) *footnote - Nothing is beyond the light. All things are contained within the light. One must observe the Light, within the light. The Light within the light, is the Source of the light. That is a magnificent power. That is the cause of "Illumination". Peace be always with you. Salaams,
What is the difference between enlightenment and satori?
The most obvious difference is that one is an English word and the other is a Japanese word. Even if someone translates it for you you still will probably lack the nuances of the foreign term. A second level of difference is that you probably have no idea what either term really means even if the term is in your own language. That said let me throw in my two cents. Satori means transcending back to the Source. This translation is based on it often being described by classical Japanese masters as seeing your original face. Enlightenment on the other hand means understanding what the Source (Being) IS. The reason these two ideas are so often confused is because people naively believe that returning to the Source guarantees understanding what the Source is. To show you how difficult this actually is consider what Gautama Buddha said to try to describe the Source. Gautama Buddha called it, "not-Nothing." If you understand that you can consider yourself enlightened. Do you?