Once you've obtained enlightenment, how do you interact with ignorant people?

Question

And why?

There's obviously some egocentrism embedded in the question. Note the use of the word "obtained"--as if there's a self to possess enlightenment.

The thing is, whether you feel any particular way about it, there are ignorant and enlightened people. Good and evil are facts. Anyone who says otherwise is just trying to disguise his evil as good. "There's no such thing as evil, therefore I can get away with my bullshit."

Self-professed open-minded individuals are often the most intolerant and closed-minded people. To even hint that they might be other than they profess to be sets them into an ego-reaffirming loop of violent disagreement. It seems impossible to communicate with them on any but the most superficial levels.

"Ohhh...you just claimed that evil exists. There's no such thing as evil! I hate you! You're so evil!"

It's a big problem, because it makes it difficult to tell the difference between ignorant and enlightened people. How can you communicate with anyone?

Say that "Group" is engaging in some form of willful ignorance. "Outside Individual" points this out to them. Then Group Members A, B, C, D, E, F, and so on...everybody denies that it's happening and labels Outside Individual. This happens every time such a situation arises. It doesn't matter what tack Outside Individual takes--he/she will always be labeled Evil and will never get through to Group.

Let's say Individual is very persuasive and compassionate, managing to get through the situation without being labeled Evil and apparently convincing Group that it is wrong. What's going to happen? Group is going to go right back to their old ways again as if nothing happened. All the compassion has done is made things easier on Individual.

Group's tactic is to say, "Judge not lest ye be judged. You should turn the other cheek," and so on. Those are simply self-serving cop-outs.

Ignorance just wants to remain ignorant.

Answer 1

The fruit of true enlightenment is humility not arrogance.

Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer of the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men. Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts. Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation, a " fruit upon the tree of humility ".
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Answer 2

Hi Sabrina,

Your question is very apt.

I think, to answer it: "very carefully".

With some, the "dust" would be less thick than with others, so a little more confidence & freedom could probably be exercised.

About 'messengers' being shot; I can totally empathise.

Sometimes, the people we associate with can be like the zombies in "Shaun of the Dead". Stuck in the mud & quite happy to keep things that way. :-)

I guess we're all growing at our own paces.

W.r.t. Enlightenment; in the monastic discipline of the Buddhist community, it is an offence to not accept constructive criticism / rehabilitation for unwholesome behaviour - from co-monastics.

They thus should grow together, by mutual support & admonition; like a family.

I think if one's outgrown one's 'family', the advice is generally to seek pastures anew.

Hope this has been helpful.

Best Wishes,

G. F.

Answer 3

"Ignorance just wants to remain ignorant." Quite possibly. But that doesn't mean that you just give up.

I believe that a truly enlightened individual does have an effect, even on the most 'ignorant'. Because as other people have said no one is actually 'ignorant'. They just lack the awareness that they are already enlightened. And even though it is not on a conscious level, we recognise enlightenment in others.

But ultimately, not everyone is ready. As the Tao Te Ching says,

"Higher people hear of the Tao
They diligently practise it
Average people hear of the Tao
They sometimes keep it and sometimes lose it
Lower people hear of the Tao
They laugh loudly at it
If they do not laugh, it would not be the Tao."
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Answer 4

Someone who has truly obtained enlightenment will have already figured out how to interract with people of all kinds.

Enlightenment denotes wisdom, understanding, compassion, etc. With true enlightenment comes to the ability to accurately discern the needs of others. There are not many people who will get that right, every time. All on this mortal plane are still ignorant in one way or another, and seeking enlightenment.

Answer 5

The answer to part of your question can be found in the koan: "why did Bodhidharma come from the west?" The answer is to help fools like us. The motivation is compassion.

As to how, there seems to be no form just more of an intuitive interaction based on every individual. The teacher addresses the student's issues when they come into contact with them. One of the ways to get these issues to arise is through practice.

Answer 6

It's not really obtained, it is realised. Ignorance is only temporary, enlightenment is eternal. I must free all before enlightenment is complete. ~ : ) Some think there is power in numbers [the group] but it is the individual who gives there power to the group.

Answer 7

With more awareness...increased enlightenment...a person as that is tender, patient and aware of all ' levels ' of people.

Does a person of a higher grade level feel that they are ' better ' then others of more under grade levels ? No. Those others just haven't yet reached the higher grade level due to their age or not caring to study more. But to think of them as ignorant with the attitude of ' how can you stand to be around them ' ?

Person's of increased awareness of enlightenment...A person as that simply sees that some others have not yet come to the understanding and awareness of increased enlightenment. To me enlightenment simply means to ' see more clearly '...that more light has come into your understanding.

All persons are to be ' interacted ' with. Some you may not like and choose not be be around them because they are ' emotionally toxic ' to your environment...aside from that...all are cool.

Answer 8

the more enlightened you become, the less YOU there is to be egocentric.

Meditate more and look further ahead in your life -- be less fearful about your own boundaries (death, money, lifestyle). Those are the things that will increase egocentrism and bring your enlightenment back in on itself.

As the You slips away you will be more quiescent, more open to meeting others on the path you are also on, and you will not look "down" on them as you are so enjoying now.

Every person is a teacher.

Answer 9

education of the ignorant
charity work
doing good when and wherever you can
all these good things brings you closer to enlightenment and to understand the quest you are on here
to deal with ignorance is part of the journey
ask the dalai lama
hes not confined to his room avoiding the ignorant hes laughing and sharing his gifts as must you

Answer 10

Those who attain true enlightenment would interact with ALL other people with compassion and understanding, knowing that they themselves were at one time unenlightened. They would know that enlightenment is available for all when the time comes.