What is Enlightenment?

[Stookie]

It's possible there is no such thing as an individual soul, and maybe that's part of the realization that comes along with enlightenment.

[stone]

What is Enlightenment?

Enlightenment is a constant search for the truths of the universe.  There is no finish line, no completion, no bragging rights, and absolutely no way of knowing for certain that you are in fact enlightened.

Essentially, Enlightenment is a destination that is constantly on the move.  It can be sought, but never caught.

[knightlight]

Enlightenment comes when you realize it doesnt exist.  I cant describe it.  It simply cant be described.  It .... is.  If that doesnt make sense to you I am sorry.   :dont-know:  In a way I guess Ben K. is absolutely right.

[El-Bortukali]

It's possible there is no such thing as an individual soul, and maybe that's part of the realization that comes along with enlightenment.

but if there is no individual sou lwhy don't we reach enlightenment at the same time,or why aren't we all enlightened?

[Stookie]

We're all already enlightened, it's just most people don't come to the realization in their lifetime.

There is a realization about the universe that a person can come to which will change their perception of every experience and memory they have ever had. It can come in a fraction of a second and change that person's life dramatically and instantly. Some may call this enlightenment. However, it's not the end... there are still many, many, many truths to learn.

I'm one who believes (if this is "enlightenment") that it can come as an instant realization unrelated to time and experience.

[El-Bortukali]

hm,so if we aren't individual souls why don't we all share the same level of intelligence,skills,personality etc,and if we manage to destroy one soul we thereby destroy all of them?

oh and I've heard something around the lines that if we do 'evil' acts,and keep on doing it during several lifetimes,our conscience will diminish until it's gone

[Stookie]

hm,so if we aren't individual souls why don't we all share the same level of intelligence,skills,personality etc,and if we manage to destroy one soul we thereby destroy all of them?

We're all obviously individuals to some extent. Here's an idea: When you enter a dream and interact with the environment and people, they can seem like the real world. They seem external and not a part of us. As if, like in the physical, they are made of atoms and molecules. But they aren't - it's all your consciousness. It's all made of the same stuff.

Now apply this to the physical world. Who's to say that it's also not made up of consciousness? Our bodies, thoughts, molecules, atoms, and everything external to us. And not only on this level, but all astral "planes", astral bodies, spirits, souls, etc., all made up of the same consciousness. In this sense, the difference between an individual's dream world and the physical world is that the physical world is like a shared dream. In your dream you seem to have a body that is separate from the environment, but it's made of the same consciousness, as are our thoughts and feelings.

In this sense, we are all individuals in this consciousness, but we are also a "whole" consciousness. Just not aware of it. This awareness could be considered enlightenment.

Oh yeah, I forgot - the soul would only exist as a "rule" in consciousness, as everything else. Behind all of it there is only consciousness. Then, like MisterJingo said, "Chop wood and carry water".

[painterhypnogirl]

I have the same belief system as Stookie, regarding this subject.  So, since everything is all just One consciousness, then no illusory individual consciousness can be destroyed.

[El-Bortukali]

No problem then. i'll just figure out a way to destroy The Just  One consciousness,i suppose  i have eternity to figure how to do it

[Zentiger]

Thank you Tayesin :notworthy:.  It feels very contradictory to thank you, but still I believe it is worth doing.

I will continue my spiritual activities.  There is much effort and practice needed to remain in such a state of awareness.  I am intellectualizing this whole idea of Enlightenment too much.

Everyone's responses are awesome.:bouncy:  If this was so easy to figure out then would not everyone already know Enlightenment? Of course!


Best Wishes,
Zentiger

[Tayesin]

sometimes ignorance is bliss  


by the way,what kind of power are you talking about?
the power to destroy a world?
the power to create a perfect body out of nothing?
the power to give immortality to a  body?

it's power  that you can use in many ways... it empowers healings beautifully, and can be used for negative things too, but I think that is the least effective use of it. People feel it as a heat that you radiate. It can also be used to do things that we normally attribute to wizards and the like, bringing rain/storms, moving clouds, calling wind, and effects you can bring within other people. But all this is the least you can do with it.

Who would want to be immortal in the body? Not me, that's for sure.

And yes, ignorance is a blissful existence compared to awareness in this world and culture.