Has anyone here "found" enlightenment? If so, can 'you' point 'me' in the right direction?

Question

I ask with humility. I don't know if I know anything, including the meaning of "I". Using the word "I" is problematic, but i don't know how else to communicate. i have sought enlightenment in many ways, including "not-seeking". And though i have learned/unlearned much, fundamentally i cannot say i have "experienced enlightenment." Please help! :-)

To those recommending your holy texts e.g. "the Bible" (which Bible? the Protestant one, the Catholic one, the Orthodox one? How about the original manuscripts? The New World Translation?), please stop... you'll only end up convincing me that enlightenment is a delusion.

Firstly, I do want to thank all who have given their time to attempt to answer my question.

Sandra L. Butler: The website you link to is promoting your own book! I will give you the benefit of the doubt and believe that you really were really trying to answer my question.

Still the comment I have already made stands - both to yourself and to those trying to foist there own holy scripture onto me, whether it be the various Bibles or the Bhagavad Gita (or the Quran, the Vedas, the Tao Te Ching, The Book of Mormon... need I go on?). In my quest I have found most Scriptures to contain deep insights. I'm just not impressed by anyone trying to push their one holy book on me.

I suspect I'll be accused of arrogance... if you are truly enlightened you will be able to see if this is true or not and more importantly if it is true, help me transcend it!

Spelling correction: I meant "their own", not "there own".

Re: The Tao Te Ching
I hold Lao Tzu's text in high regard. I agree that it is a wonderful philosophical work.
Unfortunately, my understanding was that religious taoism does exist and in this context the Tao Te Ching is held as a kind of holy scripture. (Please correct me if I am misinformed on this point.)

Thank you for all your answers. Many of them contain much wisdom.

I especially thank those who have offered to discuss this further with me.

I hope to leave this question open as long as I can.

Jess O -- thank you for your comment; it was kind; too kind! (Unfortunately i have no way of contacting you!) i don't really think any one 'person' 'deserves' 'enlightenment'... Phew, that's a lot of 'quote marks'!

Answer 1

I wish I could point you to it :(
You seem like someone who not only deserves it; but cares enough to seek it as well.
But I don't believe that it works exactly in that way....
What "enlightenment" I have, to what extent I do; is there because I found it....or more likely it found me.
We all have our own paths that lead us there;
and once you arrive, I promise you won't regret stumbling through a few "wrong" paths.

Blessed be.

*EDIT::* my apologies, I have my email up now :]

Answer 2

well done for bringing wood uncut out of hiding for starters

I cannot help you with the direction for enlightenment, outside of the one trick I do know - that there is no ego there all I must be gone.
We have a duty towards now which binds us more relevantly to this world than disappearing into the godhead can - that's for eons to come right now we need to fix what we have broken.

i hold scorn in the same way as you for total reliance on a singular holy book, but please reconsider the idea that the Dao de Ching is the buddhist's holy scripture almost all of the personal development it fosters comes from you it is far too vague to be considered exclusive or guilty of forcing ideas on the reader - that is the problem I have with holy books and i have no problem with lao tzu he's a philosopher not a theologian or the representative of a god

all good dude! - more worthwhile interaction next week!

Answer 3

Enlightenment is a constantly expanding condition however there are specific stages that help us in that direction. As you say the use of the word 'I' is problematic, it is also the beginning. The first thing we have to understand is what we are, human lplatform begins when we question our existence. The first question is who am 'I' and the answer to that is 'aham brahmasmi' (sanscrit) 'I' am spirit. We are essentially different from the body, the body is merely a vehicle for the soul and the mind is like an interface that allows us to act in the material world. So we have to learn to discriminate between matter and spirit, basically everything that lives is animated by spirit soul, when the soul leaves the body it is dead, but the person inhabiting the body is not dead, he is eternal and enters another body. The reason we are imprisoned in the body is that we are subject to 'karma' (action and reaction) and we take bodies accordingly, to suffer or enjoy the results of our karma. Ultimatly however we need to get out of the cycle of birth and death'samsara' and go back home where we belong. We are all eternally related to God in a loving relationship but we have forgotten who we are etc. The process of enlightenment is to remember. So we need to re-establish our relationship with God and there are several religous processes to help us in that direction. I think if you are serious to understand this information you should obtain a copy of 'Bhagavad Gita' as it is, by Srila Prabhupada and you will find everything is nicely explained therein.
Also if you need anymore info. from me I will be happy to corespond with you. I will keep my eyes open, hope this helps.

Answer 4

There is no "right direction." Each person creates their own path, and usually the path turns out to be a circular journey, that is, there is no path, no direction. You are already enlightened, you simply chose to forget this when you were born. Meditate. Try 'walking meditation'. The only book I will recommend is not a 'holy book', but a work of fiction:

Robert A. Heinlein... A Stranger In A Strange Land

Answer 5

I'm not very comfortable with most folks' pronouncements about what enlightenment is (pretty much any idea we have of enlightenment will be formed on a less-than enlightened basis).

I am, though, very comfortable with statements suggesting that there is indeed such an experience, especially when they are combined with descriptions of practical techniques for uncovering that way of experiencing. And I have found a number of such practices profoundly wholesome and helpful. They are typically very simple, and seem to have more to do with cultivating an intimate, open-hearted, mindful RELATIONSHIP with experience, rather than achieving a set goal-type experience per se.

And such techniques are present in different traditions, drawing to themselves different vocabularies for their expression, but when you get right down to the actual practice, they're very similar -- and at times identical -- in their essential features.

Zen shikantaza, Vipassana mindfulness, and Christian via negativa apophatic contemplation have all been immensely worthwhile practices for me. Those are all rather complicated terms for a supremely simple experiential technique ...

coming to rest in a naked, blind, feeling of being ...

your issues will come up, growth will occur, but in the end, my sense is that it is just the fact that anything at all is which is THE miracle.

I've glimpsed moments where THAT was oh so much more than enough.
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Answer 6

Enlightenment? Sorry, not sure I can help there. I suspect that even the 'right direction' is something you have to find for yourself. Though looking is a good start ...

I have pretty much given up on that enlightenment business. I found that if I focus on the small things in life, enjoy what I have, don't fret what I don't, try and live in the moment it makes me happier.

'What is enlightenment?' I asked myself. 'Surely it's got to be something that anyone can have, not just hermits up a mountain, or what good is it? And if it's just 'understanding', what good is that if it doesn't make life 'better'?'

But life is life, it just goes on. So I guess 'enlightenment' must be in our heads. How we perceive things. But what it 'is', I don't know that. Maybe it's nothing?

A happy life though? Now that is something.

Namaste.
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Answer 7

Anyone wishing to discuss the meaning of life or Absolute Truth may email or im at [e-mail]

Enlightenment is a term used to convey the annihalation of the darkness of ignorance, th eopening of that tenth door of ones mind, and the shedding of that great light that makes clear all things, and brings peace and freedom unto humanity. The light, that which manifests itself at the end of the lifes journey of the pure in heart, indicative of heavens door. Enlightenment, to gain that pure, supreme heavenly ascension whilst here on earth. Heaven and hell are states of the mind etc. The fine line between genius and insanity is dependant upon genius's ability to communicate effectively the word to those who would listen. Be Happy, The Eternal and Universal Supreme Spirit bleeds when we are unhappy, and vice versa.

Answer 8

If I could give you enlightenment, I surely would, for I sense that you are genuine and my heart goes out to you. Enlightenment can barely be described....oh it would seem we all have it in us, and that the little invisible film that keeps our eyes to our soul shrouded from it, is denser than the unimaginably subtle closeness of its proximate reality. All I can say to you is, if you want it, say it with absolute sincerity, and it will someday be so. Hold fast to it as real and know that it is yours. Heaven and earth combined contain what you seek and I believe that you are nearer to your goal than you think. An uncluttered, untrammeled mind is your greatest asset, and following the sound of your own heart will bring you closer than any book may. Keep the faith in your own way, for it will surely be yours. Peace be yours, friend.

Answer 9

learning and unlearning are both extreams (although i don't think you can unlearn something) just practice doubs will come problems will happen, but just do the practice. do you meditate? if so do the practice develop consentration, and analise what is troubling you eventually doubt will cease, then you can practice in another way, then another. enlightenment is not something that has a timeframe it happens when it happens, it could be 10 - 20 - 30 years of practice but it happens eventually

Answer 10

If unlearning fundamentally means you have unlearned what you have been taught through religion, that is a level of enlightenment.

The next step will be to unlearn what you have been taught throughout your life on a personal level, what you have been taught to believe that was in error about yourself, and about certain aspects of life... like relationships, money, sex, etc.

Enlightenment is the process of replacing all darkness (all error in belief, be it religious or personal) with the light of truth.

Enlightenment is coming into the truth about ourselves. Understanding why we think, feel, and act as we do, transforming our negative and destructive energy into positive and constructive energy.

This process of enlightenment or transformation is detailed in the biblical text, in the book of Genesis, chapter 49, where Jacob tells his 12 sons what will befall them in the last days.

click on link below.