In Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, etc do they say that trying to reach "enlightenment" is what everyone is supposed to do? Or do they see it as just one path to take in life? I've heard that after one becomes enlightened, they see life as just a game, perhaps a play. They're free of attachments; they can have preferences about what they'd like to happen, but they don't need this or that outcome to be happy. But do folks who are enlightened recommend this as the ideal path in life for everyone?
2007-06-15 01:18:09 · 10 answers · asked by ComfortZone 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No. Speaking as a Buddhist, even among practitioners there are different paths. It is believed that one of the reasons that Buddha Shakyamuni taught so many practices was because he recognized the uniqueness of individuals and that no single prescription could possibly be right for everyone. And one of his most important teachings was that each of us should challenge the teachings themselves, and only proceed along the path that is a perfect fit for our unique self -- provided that it cause no suffering for ourself or for others.
2007-06-15 02:10:21 · answer #1 · answered by buddhamonkeyboy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Realizing Enlightenment is in everyone's best interest...but there is no "supposed to do" or "should" or "ought". If you are fine with life as is and don't want to, then by all means keep doing what you are doing.
It is a fixed game. No matter what you do, you are making progress. There is only one summit and everyone is heading that way regardless. Some just want to reach the top in this lifetime.
Life is a game or play. There is nothing to be attached to and no one to be attached. Happiness and Bliss is not determined by what happens in the world - it is our essential nature.
"But do folks who are enlightened recommend this as the ideal path in life for everyone?" - there are many paths and which one is best is dependent upon one's disposition/tendencies and where they are at the moment.
~ Eric Putkonen
2007-06-15 01:36:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about those religions but here is an answer from a Christian point of view. Nothing is wrong with meditating and seeking or reaching enlightenment. That's what you do when you pray. You try to clear your mind of all daily and earthly happens and reach a peaceful plain where you can converse with God. When you reach an enlightened state with God and accept his will in your life, each day does not have to be happy and filled with cheer. Sometimes a valley and sometimes the mountain. The answer is not always yes and in time frame we want. But the ending is just the same, eternal peace, with quite a bit of peace while still on this earthly plain. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT FOR EVERYONE!
2007-06-22 12:33:42 · answer #3 · answered by bubbleheadyeoman 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The enlightened one never say that there is only one path to truth.
Though they come to street and try to explain the truth to people, yet they know that only a few out of million come to them.
They know that even if they don't meet those few,
Enlightenment will happen to those few people.
The enlightened one says whatever you are,
your purpose of life is to realize the truth or god.
They simply accept life as it is, and teach the same to everyone.
It is like floating on a river without going against the current.
River is flowing towards the ocean, today or tom morrow it will reach goal.
Here River is life and ocean is truth.
So whatever happens ones journey is towards truth.
What is the necessity to fight the life.
No one knows in which path, the river is flowing.
Here we call it as pathless path.
So the enlightened one simply accept others and their path.
2007-06-15 02:33:21 · answer #4 · answered by poorna 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I learned meditation from a Jain center (link below) Jainism might be a little extreme for you, (not killing or harming any being) but a lot of their philosophies are really right on it is a very peaceful philosophy, and i think everyone could benefit from using at least some of it. even if it's just meditation. they do mantra meditation, which I find helpful. the mantra they gave us at the class was 'So Hum', which means 'That I am' in Sanskrit. that mantra is for the heart chakra. good luck!
2016-05-21 01:07:07 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A man walking in the forest does not have to cut down every tree or every bush or every thorn that comes in his path. He might as well as wear a pair of slippers or shoes. So too, we need not worry about converting the whole world to any particular religion. It is better to work on one's own self or one's own vision. When vision is changed we see the whole world in a different perspective, without the need to forcibly paint the whole world in the colors that we feel is right, in our limited parochial understanding.
2007-06-15 16:11:41 · answer #6 · answered by Vaibhavi 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
..what i know in enlightenment, is that, this is the top most of ones' destiny..everybody wants to be enlightened...for when you are one...you would truly understand the purpsose of life..its meaning..it doesn't necessarilly means you're free from any circumstances, but you'll be able to deal it with wisdom, and some even sees it before it will happen...enlightenment gives you ultimate happiness...utmost freedom not from responsibility or whatever...but of any error in making choices in what paths to take...
2007-06-22 17:08:34 · answer #7 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are several religions now and people are looking for something or someone to bring them enlightenment, peace, etc. True joy and peace is making Jesus your Lord and Savior and reading the Bible.
2007-06-22 17:25:19 · answer #8 · answered by pdanusis 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Dalai Lama said that everyone should stay with the religion that they are born with, and raised in.
2007-06-22 12:41:53 · answer #9 · answered by sage 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Meditation has no regional or religious limitations.
2007-06-18 16:36:34 · answer #10 · answered by Uncle Wayne 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋