Is enlightenment?

Question

something that can be achieved instantly if people stopped searching or is it something that takes time to try and get over the habit thinking patterns our brain has created from teachers of early childhood and society inflicted methods of how we should be thinking?

Thanks for the answers guys there really helpfull.

Answer 1

Hi Sky,

Enlightenment isn't something that is achieved or even achievable. It's like asking "How high is UP?" Enlightenment isn't something we arrive at -- it is a perpetual journey of discovery and renewal. Like the eternal unfolding of a flower, it is growth, pure and simple. It never ends.

Answer 2

wow, not trying to be a jerk but most answers were not true definitions of enlightenment, pretty misimformed (except for Len Andres and hyper 33 whos answers were good, the only problem with your answer hyper is that according to doctrine once we attain Buddhahood we return to the world because of our infinite compassion for others in an attempt to help them, those are your Bodditsavas)

Anyway, hyper was right about something and that is that it takes a long time, many life times. But enlightenment is not just a matter of the mind and thought, its concioussnes itself. You see we follow the 8 fold path (being a good person) in order to eliminate suffering, when we reach a state of zero suffering it is because we realize that what you see is an illusion, we separate ourselves from our fake idea of the "self" and therefore we are able to understand the entire structure of reality.

In other words you are a stream of concious thought, your not a "you" but you think you are because you have a body, a brain and thoughts. That is why you suffer, "I got hurt", "this dosnt benefit me". but when you truly are able to see past this illusion (good word Len Andres) you see the true nature of things.

I can write hundreds of pages on the issue of enlightenment, and I am very ignorant on the subject, so it is a very rich question im unable to answer just here. But the above summary is the best I can do

Answer 3

Enlightenment can be achieved instantly the moment you realize that you are a pure soul and others are pure souls as well
and the actions are being taken by people are only in the state of illusion. That ends your participation.This understanding (not on the mental level) but from the core of your being is achieved you are emancipated or enlightened.

Answer 4

It is something that has to happen by itself. All we can do is to work towards making the possibility more , than just waiting for it happen by some kind of a chance(there have been indeed instances where it happened to look like a rare, effortless, unexpected incident ! ).
All spiritual practices aim at creating a situation where the possibility is far more than normal situation.
Consciously, if a person can silence the mind, the perception can deepen far beyond the sensory level, and the rest will follow.

Answer 5

Yes to the latter, it takes time to learn how to see things clearly. . .
Further still, to achieve true-enlightenment is to achieve a state of nirvana. You will not exist in this world anymore once enlightened. . . And it can take millions of years to achieve this state too. So, not to worry either, we're all here to achieve the same thing, enlightenment. Or else we would be somewhere else. . .
: )

Answer 6

I think it's a perpetual journey where each day should bring us a tad bit more enlightenment. It is something we work at, consciously or not, and over time the entire human race as a whole will raise itself up more and more. We see individuals setting the example and more and more attempt to emulate that.

Answer 7

Enlightenment is a gift that has to be sought and found. Once found it can never be lost. It can be achieved instantly or it can take years to achieve it. It all depends on your faith.

Answer 8

Gautama the previous Buddha stated that we have always been "enlightened".
So if this is true then I say 'remembering' or 'awakening'
is a gradual process which occurs instanly.
Stop thinking and start BEING!

Answer 9

Enlightenment is knowing who you are as a human being and what you choose to do or be in life and on this planet for as long as you are alive and then you will see what death holds for you.

Answer 10

Enlightenment is seeing the false as false.

It means you are no longer confused.
.

If you can really distinguish the false from anything in front of you then, you are enlightened.