In a variety of philosophies, the concept of enlightenment includes a variety of features from self-awareness to the ability to achieve states such as happiness or contentment.
How will we know if we have achieved enlightenment?
How would you recognize someone who is enlightened?
2007-06-29 15:08:02 · 13 answers · asked by guru 7 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
It seems illogical to pursue something that you cannot define. No wonder people cannot achieve it.
"I'm going to look for a key -- but I don't know what a key is."
2007-06-29 16:53:53 · update #1
Being able to pack it up and go ( Laughing Chinaman ).
We all have our moments, but they don't always last.
By the simple process of elimination, virtually nobody is enlightened, and certainly not all the time.
Anybody I haven't crossed of the list gets the benefit of the doubt, and I can of course always put them back on the list !.
2007-07-02 12:14:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is a question to which there is no concrete answer because it's abstract by nature. I think that enlightenment is a realization about something, a split second where you feel that something has changed and that your whole being and the world surrounding you was different a second ago and now has become something else. I don't know if you can ever achieve enlightenment, I think it's something that is meant to be sought after and touched upon briefly but not absorbed into daily life because then it would become ordinary and lose its mystery. I really don't think that you could recognize a person who is enlightened. You can recognize people who seem to have some sort of inner peace within them, a balance that controls their life, or a sort of intuition that guides them. I don't think that any of those are enlightenment though, they're merely symptoms of those on the path to enlightenment, or steps on the ladder that lead you there. Does that make any sense? lol
2007-06-29 22:16:48 · answer #2 · answered by Nerdy Knitter 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It can't be defined so why try? A person would know if they reached it, but wouldn't say so or try to describe the indescribable.
Not having ever met a truly enlightened person, I don't know how I would recognize them. But I think I would. Just don't know how.
Comment: You cannot define it because it is beyond all concepts. You cannot use your so-called rational mind to define it because it is beyond the concepts of the rational mind. That is why the Buddha never defined it, just pointed to it. It is also why Zen Buddhist call it "the unborn mind". It is the mind before thought. How can you define that. Thought is always connected with opposites-good/bad, dark/light and so on. The mind is also always either reaching out to grab what it wants or push away what it doesn't want. With such a mind, how can it know what enlightenment is. It is the place before concepts and perception take over and control the mind into grasping or pushing away.
2007-06-29 23:14:44 · answer #3 · answered by Jim San Antonio 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The eternal search for self and universe through wisdom, philosophies, nature and self awareness and the limitations of man and his expestations through the various degrees of awareness on his three planes of existence and knowing that there is never a conclusion but just a mere transformation of energy.
2007-07-03 20:48:55 · answer #4 · answered by Grateful Will 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
(in my amatuer opinion)
I always thought of enlightenment as just a generally happy person, one who isn't always peaceful but usually is pleasant, people who just have a sunny disposition and are okay with the world.
but it's not like I'm a monk or anything so....u probably shouldn't take my word for it.
2007-06-29 22:14:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
in light in mind, enlightenment. The Will is positive, the Judgement is negative. The meaning is positive and the positivity as product of its reality shall negate your negatives so that your Will is freer to act on its own nature, i.e. the good teacher.
2007-06-29 22:19:50 · answer #6 · answered by Psyengine 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This is three questions, hope we get triple points!
1. The awareness that you do not have it!
2. If you think you have, you haven't
3. If they say they are, they're not. If they are, you'll know
Namaste!
2007-06-29 22:16:16 · answer #7 · answered by Pilgrim Traveler 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know it's kind of lame to quote a movie, but in this case it's truly how I feel. (it's from dogma)
People have the idea of beleifs right, but it shouldnt be a beleif, it should be an idea, because no one will ever know for sure, you cant change your beleifs as easily as you can an idea.
2007-06-29 22:16:40 · answer #8 · answered by ♫♫My Heart Belongs to Band♫♫ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One day the abbot Rennyo asked the master, Ikkyu, "I have heard that you are an enlightened being. Is it true?"
Ikkyu's answer: "I never did such mischief."
-Zen mondo
2007-06-29 23:40:13 · answer #9 · answered by zentoccino 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When I am enlightened the little "light bulb" hovering over my head goes on:)
2007-06-29 22:24:00 · answer #10 · answered by i had to go im so sorry 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋