Does enlightenment only come "with strings attached"?

Question

Or is it true freedom?

Strings in this *case* are binding. ~ : )

Yes, yes, alot of *great* answers, I bow to all of you. ~ : )

Answer 1

When all the strings are severed, enlightenment comes

enlightenment is not a thing to be achieved... it is hidden due to bindings and strings.... cut them all and lo you are there

Answer 2

Yes and no. Freedom is attained through accepting responsibilities and working for others as much as oneself. As one becomes enlightened, the strings that bound one to maya, glamour and illusion have been severed but the strings of responsibility have grown. We've seen those who we considered as enlightened are those who teach others, set examples, and pave the way for others. The freedom exists to walk away but the inner ties of compassion bind them to assist others to find enlightenment also.

So, I think it's a graded freedom. Until we have a car we anticipate that great freedom of driving then realize the responsibilities that go along with driving. From our perspective the enlightened ones appear free but I think when we get there we'll find the strings have merely changed because no man is an island.

Answer 3

Such an interesting question, and so many answers.....

I'll throw in my two cents, although I come to this late.

As I understand Enlightenment, it comes upon us in stages, as the "seeker" becomes more and more available. There is no responsibility, nothing to maintain or uphold, as earlier suggested. It is clarity, it is being in the state of right action without having to figure anything out. Right action being where you move though the now, always seeing the path to take, the course that is most beneficial to all..enlightenment creates certainty towards the attitude of "win win" in all things, for all people - and anything else is simply perceived as contradiction.

I don't see any strings, in that no one is keeping score, holding strings, or anything else...except you, the seeker. In the end, it is known that you held the judgments that constrained you all along, and once you move into a state of allowance (enlightenment), that falls away.....

Answer 4

The strings are that there are no strings. But, this isn't so simple as it first seems. True freedom doesn't mean feral. A wise, disciplined, moderate approach to everything would be more accurate. Enlightenment is when we find joy in being stretched beyond endurance and understanding that it is in the stretching that we grow and are transformed into a new creature. Gold is tested by fire. Steel is tempered by fire. No one, no one escapes this life without being tested. Escaping from life in the mountains (I'm not meaning a temporary respite) is running away from life. It is the attitude towards our tests that shows whether or not we are enlightened.

Answer 5

Enlightenment in Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism is to awake to the true nature of life, including the profound realization of the interconnectedness of all things — the inseparable relationship between the individual and the environment and the ability of each human being to powerfully influence both. This means that Those Strings Attached are the factors that allows you to gain enlightenment.

E.g. I have encountered a friendship problem. Instead of running away, I challenged the issue. With faith, courage and correct teachings, I overcome it. The process after achieving your goals (righteously and positively) is attainment of enlightenment.

Therefore, without your environment and worldly attachment, one is not able to attain enlightenment. Problems arise inevitablely, one who dares to challenge and overcome, emerge as victors. Buddhism is about winning in life. There are only winning or losing, no place for in between. :)

Answer 6

The 'string' attached, from the perspective of ego, is that the individual you think you are, along with all it's successes and failures, it's achievements and labels, must die; total annihilation of the egoic self. The absence of the idea of 'me' is liberation from suffering. There is nobody to attain either Enlightenment or freedom. There is nothing left to free.

Answer 7

No... your conscience and your compassion prevent you from running completly amuck!

There is a Zen Buddhist monk in Korea that practices unlimited action. Now that is just wild!Still, compassion is part of the nature of the path or the conclusion depending how you experience your journey and condition. Even an evil being can become enlightened.

Freedom? Freedom is subjective. Freedom is when you 'feel' free or transcended.

Those that are closest to the centre are often pounded by the surounding conditions because they become out of sinct with the blanket of illussions we exist in, yet, are free in that they become conscious that they are in a state of Buddha nature.

Peace!

Jamie

Answer 8

Only " strings " I can think of is the attentiveness and focus to hold to the responsibility to remain in that enlightened state.

Once a person is married there is a responsibility to maintain the cherishing love that brought two together to begin with. One a person plants a tree, there is an attentiveness that's required to maintain the health and benefits of that tree. Yet...I see that being more of a treasure to want to maintain than " strings ".

Same as with enlightenment...Once awareness / enlightenment is stepped into...there is a responsibility to maintaining that sight and openness of being enlightened.
.

Answer 9

an unfettered human being. Knows how to snip the strings that are constantly trying to draw you back into the program that life sets up.

Enlightenment, is really an action of staying free. You have choices about that in every moment. Most of us have active lives that are built right inside of the ratrace. LIke the "eye" of the storm is how I see it.

That's why I call it a dance. A matter of knowing when to engage and when to pull out. Just enough to have affect.
Without being infected/affected.

Enlightenment is true freedom of understanding completelyl inside and out that life has no meaning. To be bound by meaning is to be stringed along...

Answer 10

Individual Beliefs & Enlightenment permeate the same space...

However, Beliefs are like "Pinocchio on strings"...
While enlightenment is a "Real Boy"...

With that being said, I leave you with this song...

I've got no strings
To hold me down
To make me fret, or make me frown
I had strings
But now I'm free
There are no strings on me

Hi-ho the me-ri-o
That's the only way to go
I want the world to know
Nothing ever worries me

I've got no strings
So I have fun
I'm not tied up to anyone
They've got strings
But you can see
There are no strings on me

Answer 11

Enlightenment cuts the strings that attach. Including freedom.