Has any one ever reached Enlightenment?

Question

I was talking to one of my friends about enlightenment and how i'd like to reach it and they told me that it wasn't a good idea. She said it's a total state of nothingness, which sounds a lot like death to me and if i were to reach it...um....how would i get out of that state of mind?

Answer 1

i experienced the void for 20 earth minuets, and I'm still slogging in the pig mud of this planet. the experience was given to me, so some other force was in charge. if you aren't ready for it ,you wouldn't be able to stay there.

just because it is --NO-THING, doesn't mean she doesn't think, and have MASSIVE POWER.i believe people have to develop [personal power], like the space shuttle cant achieve orbit unless it reaches 17, 000 mph, the same way we cant escape the gravitational; pull of this planet , unless we attain [SPIRITUAL ESCAPE VELOCITY]by meditation and gaining inner energy.

all life exists in the void, so you don't have to worry about being alone

i have the same fear about, physical death, not the void....i was very STONED ,FOR WEEKS AFTER THE EXPERIENCE.you may be too high to leave.the SUPREME INTELLIGENCE will watch over you.you wont get stuck it doesn't want you their mucking up the place un till you are ready, any way.

Answer 2

Buddha and the Dalai Lama.

Added:

The Dalai Lama is the reincarnation of an enlightened being who chooses to come back to earth to help others.

Enlightenment is a condition of being totally at one with the universe. There is nothing frightening about it, there are no demons or devils or hell - that is all illusion, things that we use to frighten ourselves with.

When one is enlightened, the past and the future become one, the farthest reaches of the universe are as near as your fingertips, you exist everywhere and everywhen. It is ecstasy, serenity, wholeness. It is what we all long for, it is the only thing which will fill that hole in our hearts that we try to fill with earthly things like drugs, alcohol, food, or other addictions.

Love - genuine love between people, whether between parent and child, brother and sister, husband and wife, friend and friend - is generally the closest that any of us comes to enlightenment in this plane.

Answer 3

Its dangerous.
Im serious. If you survive it, which you have no way of assuring yourself that you would, you come back being incapable of sharing the experience with anyone because the human tongue is not designed for relaying such experiences.
People would think youre nuts.
Good luck though, heres something to keep in mind. We often find the things we are seeking, when we stop looking for them.

people who tell you that there are demons, have never been where they claim to have- theyre just making crap up. Theres no DEMONS there- but you do go thru a TYPE of hell to reach it. Like I said, words cant describe it. Words are not DESIGNED to describe it. I wouldnt wish the journey on anyone, yet in the same breath I wish everyone could experience it.

Answer 4

well your friends answer was close but there's so much more to it. yeah in a way enlightment means nothingness that you're not attach to anything or any one. because you are not attach, your mind is free. therefore you don't have disturb thoughts like, sadness, lonely, anger, frustration etc.
the best way to achive enligtment while still having attachments is to study your self your thoughts patterns and understand them. be open and be honest to your self. my girl friend tells me that she feels like she is going out with a terminator who doesn't show any emotions. when you learn how to chose and control your emotions it's easy to live life. for me i only have 1 emotion i always accept any thing with a little smile on my face regardless i have a very good thing to celbrate or there was some thing really bad happens that i would cry for hours still i would accept it with a lil smile, even if some one says chmal your mother died i wouldn't cry. learn to live your life with an even frame of mind, with no over joy no over sadness, chosing the middle path is the best way to live. i strongly believe in it as a buddhist.

Answer 5

Enlightenment is the polar opposite of death, enlightenment is the final understanding of life. I don't think you reach it, per say, but you work towards it daily.It is peace, love, happiness, fulfillment, or simply known to the spiritually advanced as the Universal mind, Oneness, or Reality. It is infinite existence. I think the Tibetan Monks reach it, I don't know about common folk, certainly not Americans. We've got too much going on here to get our minds to that level of peace.

Answer 6

She is correct. It is a state of altered consciousness and nothingness. The biggest issue is the exposure to demons which live in that realm. Not a fun place to go. Specially if you are a Christian. Should not be playing with that sort of fire.

Also if your friend really is your friend you need to warn her as well. Odds are that she will not listen to you because she has been exposed to the evil already. If she does not listen to you, you need to cut your ties with her and keep her in prayer. Fail to do so, will bring you down and eventually you will get involved.

Answer 7

I just watched the repeated special with Barbara Walters last night. Even the Dalia Llama said he hadn't reached Enlightenment yet.

Answer 8

Yes. But it sounds as though your friends is expounding Buddhist teachings without really knowing much about it. If you are really interested you could start reading books about mystics from different traditions including Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist. Try some of the new age bookstores in the cities.

Answer 9

Its not nothingness, its supposed to be complete and perfect happiness (which is not subject to conditionality like standard hapiness), you wouldn't want to get out of it as it is the best state of mind to be in (perfect contentmetn with the world).

Answer 10

Of course, but enlightenment is not nothingness. Illumination occurs when certain key insights are grasped. One 'sees the light', so to speak.-------------If by 'nothingness' you mean nirvana, then run from it. Never let your individuality be absorbed by any being...