Does "knowing" a lot mean one is "enlightened"?

Question

When people proclaim themselves to be enlightened, and then have the need to belittle the faiths of others? And have to puff themselves with false pride over the faith "they" have chosen? And want to talk men-hating stuff? Or lust after women? Do you think they are "enlightened"?
I think NOT!
Now hate on me, and tell me how you can hurt me with the "knowledge" you have! Which shows again how "enlightened" you're NOT!

Answer 1

yes

Answer 2

You're right. It is not enlightenment when someone claims to be as such and then demeans everyone else. I can only assume that someone who was "enlightened" has done to you what you've mentioned in the details of your question. And, i think you have every right to be mad at someone for doing that nonsense!

I have to say that Knowledge is merely learned information. But to be enlightened is to exude wisdom. wisdom is knowledge that has been applied to one's existance.

I mean, yes, everyone knows that if you cross a street during rush hour traffic, you can get hit...that's knowledge. But where enlightenment and wisdom is evident is when we choose to use the crosswalk and the signals that are provided for us to ensure our safety and release from liablity for causing any accident. Just a little analogy...maybe not the best, but still i believe it gets the point across.

If you need further assurance towards true enlightenment, take a look at Mahatma Ghandi. Or, if you're a feminist, Mother Theresa. LOL!

Someone once said "It is better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt"...so when someone boasts that they are 'enlightened' but insipid dribble continues to spill from their mouths, then you already have your answer.

Keep up the good work to you, brother! Don't listen to the miscreants that think they have to be empowered by the brow-beating of everyone else.

Answer 3

No. Enlightenment is the state of having been freed of the self-image. How long varies with each person. They always rebuild it (or they wouldn't function).

With some it is a glimse that changes their lives. With others it strips them and stays with them in all aspect for as long as they live, so that others see the difference, but cannot understand it.

Some teach. Some just live. Not all become "Buddhas" or "gurus". Some, falling back into the depths of self-image find themselves with nothing but more pain and kill-themselves, looking for the oblivion of another lifetime.

Knowing has little to do with it. Knowledge is a very different thing from wisdom, wisdom being the ability to see past/through the mental constructs of man to the reality hidden behind it in plain sight.

Enjoy the search.

Answer 4

Knowldge is not the same as enlightenment. Enlightenment is being able to gather all of your knowldge together into a cohesive understanding of reality. How you interact with others is a reflection of this understanding. An enlightened person would never use the knowldge to harm another living thing on this planet, and would certanly never denigrate the beliefs of another person. On the other hand, they would point out how those beliefs were perhaps ill informed given contradictions between those beliefs and known facts. The motivation of an enlightend person's interactions with others is the desire to help people transcend their human nature and grow closer to the Divine.

Answer 5

Many who believe they have been enlightened have only been illuminated by the light of someone else.

Enlightenment is nothing to do with knowledge, it is in fact all about letting go of the drudgery's of everyday life - money worries, stress, keeping up with the Joneses, etc - just let it go, and live with a free mind - be at one with yourself...

Simply - its common sense...

It isn't easy to be Enlightened, when you are being PROGRAMMED by the TV, listening to addictive music sources (such as IPODS); remember the Brain takes in everything you see, even if you do not consciously acknowledge all that you see - limit the amount of clutter that enters your mind

Answer 6

I think to be enlightened is not about knowledge but as Kira said more about understanding. You have to be open in mind and spirit to be enlightened. Unfortunately many educated people are very close minded as are many who are committed to a religion.

Answer 7

A truly enlightened person has love for everyone and is tolerant of all beliefs, whether different from their own or not.

Lusting after women is in a completely different category, however. We're all sexual beings, and lusting after the opposite sex (depending on your preference) is very normal.

Answer 8

^If a person is truly enlightened he or she would not belittle other people or their faiths. To be enlightened means to understand all people and to embrace their sameness as well as their differences. To know all and be all, but not be a know it all.

Answer 9

The knowledgeable seem to think so. The enlightened do not.

Answer 10

Friend,

A disciple after completing his Vidyabhaas at Gurukulam returns and tells his father that ,he has learnt every thing.

Then the father asks the questions to his son...

Did you learn that thing after learning that there is nothing left in the universe to be learnt?

Did you see that thing after seeing that there is nothing left in the universe to be seen,?

Did you enjoy the happiness ,after enjoying that happiness there no other happiness Left in the universe to be enjoyed?

The boy replies ''NO''...and the story goes on....

So Learning a lot is NOT AT ALL A MARK OF ENLIGHTENMENT.

Answer 11

If ' knowing' is synonymous with acquiring facts, and being ' enlightened' is synonymous with wisdom then no, one does not mean the same as the other. As for the rest, I can't see what point you are trying to make.