How you describe enlightenment?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Alway was wondering about what is enlightenment means. Should it come all together one day, or we constantly have a moments of enlightement?

yesterday, i suddenly [U]realized[/U] that this is not the awesome music that goes to my ear, but the ability of the person to hear and percept the music the way that it excites the person.So it is not about music, not about person, but about the ABILITY.

I knew this concept but yesterday the [U]understanding[/U] came tnot through the mind, but something else.

Do think things like that are considered as moments of enlightenment?

#2

I certainly believe you are right about that. I think that different people with different characters all have some enlightened aspects within themselves.

I frequently have experiences like that concerning compassion. I’m not perse a very compassionate person. But now and then, just when I am speaking to, or observing people, I see their inner needs, and I feel that all everybody wants, is just to be happy.
And just like you experienced, it does not come trough the mind, but something else. Through the soul perhaps?

Maybe enlightenment is something like that, but then 24/7?:slight_smile:

#3

Enlightenment is a state. But, Yoga Sutra really describe two states with very fine distinction. One that is reached consciously (but there is a hint of duality left in this) and one that is pure consciousness itself (a complete isolated unity)

With no direct experience of the unity, I would limit myself to the conscious one. Having reached it through progressive stages, one can enter the state of enlightenment and stay in it as long as desired. This makes it possible to remain fully absorbed in Self even in the midst of a crowd. If needed, it is also possible to step down and partake in the daily chores. But, each such stepping down leaves some residues that needs purification before re-entering a purely enlightened state.

However, it is also correct to say that the enlightenment (in the absolute sense) blooms like a flower and does not just happen one-day or gets delivered. One’s chaotic thoughts are progressively arrested, slowed down, controlled and suspended at will. Physical posture is steady, emotional posture is equi-poised and intellectual posture is non-egotist. The tamasic behavioral preferences turn into rajasic and then sattvic. Ability to concentrate turns inward to be able to target subtle things and eventually nothing. Wisdom accrues no more from thought-churning, but more and more through insight and eventually intuitively. The dwarfed mind unfolds its ability to absorb that wisdom and not meddle with it, finally reincarnating as the universal mind.

So, does enlightenment show in various aspects? Sure. Is it different for different people at different times? Yes (until it becomes absolute) Enlightenment is a culminating point of one’s pursuit of happiness, provided one is ready to work on it and not just be complacent. After all, simply put, enlightenment arises like a re-appearing sun from behind the clouds with realization that I am the sun and I had brought a veil of clouds by mistake.

#4

I think enlightenment is when the Bulb goes ON and No question is asked after that. Whatever is to be known is known and nothing else matters at that moment…

Till the time a person has questions and searching for answers, the enlightenment has not happened…

Enlightenment is the end of the journey - Once you reach that state you become “Buddha” or similar state.

#5

[QUOTE=ramils;43376]I think enlightenment is when the Bulb goes ON and No question is asked after that. Whatever is to be known is known and nothing else matters at that moment…

Till the time a person has questions and searching for answers, the enlightenment has not happened…

Enlightenment is the end of the journey - Once you reach that state you become “Buddha” or similar state.[/QUOTE]

So, one can experience multiple glimpses of enlightenments? and the one final major one?

#6

As I said earlier, enlightenment is a state which one can enter and exit at will. It is another thing that it is such a blissful state that one may not come out of the state unless one must. But, one who reaches there is a different individual unlike most of us. Those great masters participate in missions for the whole humanity unknown and unfathomable for us. So, the knowledge gained is not for its own sake. Even the Masters are not exempt from living out any karmic life remaining in balance.

Being a “buddha” and gaining the knowledge is certainly not an end of the journey. Like self-absorbed billionaires, the Yoga Masters are not selfish hoarders of bliss. The knowledge that ends all the questions makes them very humble and they take upon themselves to help others to solve theirs. The real ones make their work humbly and without fanfare, leaving room for such misconceptions to gain currency.

#7

[QUOTE=CityMonk;43183]Alway was wondering about what is enlightenment means. Should it come all together one day, or we constantly have a moments of enlightement?

yesterday, i suddenly [U]realized[/U] that this is not the awesome music that goes to my ear, but the ability of the person to hear and percept the music the way that it excites the person.So it is not about music, not about person, but about the ABILITY.

I knew this concept but yesterday the [U]understanding[/U] came tnot through the mind, but something else.

Do think things like that are considered as moments of enlightenment?[/QUOTE]

First off, Hey everyone. I’m new here. Post #1! :slight_smile:

Yes, we all have these moments where the truth of our existence shines through the veils of illusion. I’d say don’t ever worry about the big one happening. I’ve seen it happen for some that way, but for most we get glimpses of it which continues to deepen our awareness of our self. Like you said about the music, don’t look at enlightment as an experience. It’s not the content, but the context. Not the music you hear, but the pure joy in our ability to hear. Experience comes and goes, as does any state of consciousness. But we are not the states and experiences; we are the space that holds it. So it appears we “get it” then “lose it” but what needs to be seen is the seer. What is it that sees this? Who is reading these words? Here is where you let go of the thoughts about it all. Who is it that sees the thoughts? Stay with this simple curiosity. I think it’s beautiful you see the knowing that is not of the mind. Now watch what the mind will try to do with that.

#8

Enlightenment is something spontaneous Sahaja. Like a egg becoming bird.
See Samadhi Pada for description:
http://www.swamij.com/yoga-sutras-14051.htm

THE INNER POWER

#9

Awakening is perhaps a bit more tangable… You “awaken” to pure consciousness, to reality.
The big aha!!! Is awakening.

However enlightenment has to do with the shift of one’s identity into “that”

Enlightenment is just a hairy word. As there can be no end to enlightenment, just further and further dissolution into the mystery.

What j gathers from limited experience and research is that…

You act, speak, and think from the silence.

You are in constant and conscious recognition of truth at all times. In fact You are TRUTH and you realize it could not be any other way and that it never was any other way.

Enlightenment differs from awakening in that awakening is the insight, the realization. Enlightenment is the shift of identification, the embodiment and stabilization of “that” as your identity.

From j’s experience this differs from person to person. Some souls like Ramana had an intense yearing to dissolve in to “that” other souls, like these neo-advaita types, have the awakening and decide ‘game over’, go write books, teach satsans and milk their awakening for all it’s worth.

Either way, awakening is just the beginning.

#10

I am just going to reply to the title of this thread because I feel that way inclined.

I really should sig this though for all those who keep asking about how Enlightenment, The Soul etc can be described:

The tao that can be told
is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named
is not the eternal Name.

The unnamable is the eternally real.
Naming is the origin
of all particular things.

Free from desire, you realize the mystery.
Caught in desire, you see only the manifestations.

The Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu

#11

[QUOTE=Nobody;43815]I am just going to reply to the title of this thread because I feel that way inclined.

I really should sig this though for all those who keep asking about how Enlightenment, The Soul etc can be described:

The Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu[/QUO
endeed