Questions of Buddhist Enlightenment?

Question

This is probably going to sound extraordinarily conceded and what not, but i have to ask. at many times I feel in a state that, from what i have learned, is the definition of buddhist enlightenment or nirvana, but i am a very inexpeirenced buddhist and i have only recently made the choice to become one after i have gone through a very long spiritual journey, without buddhism. essentially, i am wondering if nirvana is something common or if it is only of historical figures and if it is possible that mabye i iam in or approaching such enlightenment. once again, this is really just how i feel and i am trying very hard not to come across as a cocky kind of person.

Answer 1

Theoretically, Nirvana or Enlightenment are attainable for EVERYBODY... not just historical figures - who were once considered "modern" in their times by the way... and probably quite revolutionary & unconventional.

If you feel it is Nirvana or close to Nirvana, it may very well be Nirvana (or not). Don't let anybody tell you whether it is, or isn't. Trust your (Higher) Self. Because whether it is Nirvana or not, either way it will show & expand in your Life.

So if it "feels right", continue going in that direction & see what happens. If it doesn't feel right, consider changing directions.

And even if it they are merely glimpses of Nirvana, these glimpses ARE Nirvana. Who is to say that Nirvana is only like the Full Sun at High Noon.... and not also the glimpse of the Sun at the early hours of dawn?

Answer 2

Make sure you are constantly keeping your ego in check. As long as you are practicing the rest will come naturally. It's a gradual process, so yes, you feel a little enlightenment as you go. Things become more and more clear. Just make sure your ego doesn't get in the way of your progress. To be clear, if you were completely enlightened you wouldn't ask such a question.

Answer 3

I've studied Buddhist philosophy for some years and I have the impression that Nirvana is unattainable for all but a very few completely dedicated and focused individuals. What most of us can attain is only a spiritual awakening- an awareness of some higher consciousness existing but short of living a monastic lifestyle and rejecting all forms of materialism complete spiritual enlightenment isn't really attainable.

Answer 4

A very good philosophical-religious question

We try to detoxify ourselves from all the arrogance and ignorance present in our behaviors however the idea of complete enlightment without these traits is seemingly impossible considering how we are susciptible into easily thinking that we can do anything. Wisdom usually comes through reflecting through failures and depressing thoughts but don't be too self-deprecating you can also hurt yourself that way. Try to find your balance of reasoning in the world and uphold only the values you want to obtain and good luck for trying to reach that horizon

Answer 5

Through meditation and contemplation, a focused mind can reach higher states of consciousness. Chances are you are experiencing a mere glimpse, as there are few genuinely enlightened beings.
Do yourself a favor. As you practice, try not to get hung up or attached to these feelings, as good as they may feel. As the Buddha says: Go beyond that and then beyond that.

Answer 6

Nirvana level or state is hard to achieve and hard to understand. When you can attain to this level, it must be permanent. There are some few tests you can consider:
1st level: free from all desire (material or physical or mental)
2nd level: feel something that you never feel before (when meditation)
3rd level: know something you cannot know (your last day)
4th level: only attained when you reach Nirvana or you were born to be Buddha!
Usually, the highest monk so far can attain to 3rd level, that is why!

Answer 7

If you have to sit and wonder if you've attained it, you haven't. Not being mean or anything that's just the simplest way of putting it. You can measure your progress by how much ego-clinging you've subdued as you practice, and the less you react in ways that you may have once reacted, from ego-clinging perspectives, the better you're doing. That is the general "measure" taught in lojongs, since all of Buddhism is about subduing the ego attachments that cause us so much suffering.

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Answer 8

attaining Nirvana is extremely rare because this calls for the vanquishing of ALL worldly desires.this means one has to live a celibatic lifestyle and very strictly disciplined.

that being said,one need not give up hope.there are many ways that one can live one's lay life happily and also be a very good Buddhist.

since enlightenment has to be obtained through many lifetimes ,all we can do is be the BEST we can during this lifetime since then we will shed a small amount of our desires during this life,a little more the next life and in the final life,we will shed the last bit.

this does NOT mean that there's a "predetermined" final life.one has to be determined towards achieving thios goal.

i know that this reincarnation concept may sound a bit batty :P lol but one must not distract oneself by endless ponderings of whether or not there is a next life etc,because this is pointless...WE will never know that for sure.so what we must do is ,live our life according to Buddha's teachings as much as we can.

just as a note:

this reincarnation thingy can be explained like this (but please don't think belief in reincarnation is essential to follow the teachings,i'm merely explaining):

say,if a human's life span was one year and his memory span lasted only one day-that means every morning when he got up,it's like a new life for him because he cannot remember anything that happened in the previous day.so each day is equivalent to a new life for him.now a man who has meditated enough and enlightened his mind so that one consequence is that his memory span is much longer,can see that a human's life IS actually 365 days though the normal man cannot remember this.

similarly ONE life of ours is also just one episode of the whole sansara....it's just that WE can't remember what happened to us before.

but don't attach too much importance to whether or not this could be true,because it is irrelevant when following his teachings :) hope this helps ,tc!

Answer 9

Enlightenment is open to all people, but essentially there is a ladder that you need to work up through out multiple lifetimes. Sounds kinda lame that you'd have to wait that long, but I think along the way you get glimpses of it that'll keep you interested.

Personally I dont think of myself as buddhist, but I do have my mind open to it more than anyother religion. Anyways, stick with it if you think that it's doing you good

Answer 10

You have taken one big step in knowing yourself,for he who knows what he do not knows is indeed wise,we are advise to settles our greatest work of life right in this life,for to be able to hear the name of Buddha is like a turtle under the ocean coming up for fresh air got his head in the hole of a diffing plank,for one to come into contact with Buddhism,he/she had accumulated much merits,do not let this chance slip by for it will take many,many lives to come across the chance,let it be as natural as possible,live your life as the Buddha teaches,that is the middle way,not by clinging to what is enlightenment,this man is good with the practice,he is annattO,his site is http://www.UniversalDharma.com for the conditions we need, click on tan e.May Buddha be with you