Are you enlightened?

[DaveTyler]

I've seen so many people who truely understands enlightenment so much, and if you understand it and believe it, then your enlightened right?

So how many of you are enlightened, and what are the benefits?
Do you feel sense of "I" as a person after enlightenment?
Can a enlightened person make music, have sex and act as a normal human?

[modern_monk]

I wish those enlightened people will react to your post.
Same questions I am asking to myself.

Meantime maybe you would like to listen to :

Jed Mckenna - Enlightenment Guaranteed,
Spiritual Enlightenment - The Damnedest Thing

or
Eckhart Tolle

They should give you some answers.

I would very much to speak with an enlightened person.

Greetings

[DaveTyler]

Yeah, I've read about that "The damnest thing" but I have come to a point where I can't read more about it, I just confuse and scare myself to death.
I need to know if this is what enlightenment is about

[Erock]

Hey I am definitely not enlightened, but I do spend a lot of time reading about spirituality. Enlightenment is not as complex as people make it seem to be, but simply "knowing" what it is in no way means that you actually are enlightened. Basically, enlightenment-the way I understand it-is the undoing of some *very* engrained habits.

The most basic of those habits is identifying yourself with your body. If you want to read more on that I posted about it here (click)

Another habit that seems to coorespond with enlightenment is the quieting of the mind. All spiritual gurus that I have read talk about how important a quiet mind is, and I think an enlightened person's mind is infinitely silent.

Finally, the last habit that I think needs to be discarded is the habit that Americans enjoy the most, and that is becoming unconscious. For example, watching tv, movies, playing videogames, exc. All of these are examples of going unconscious, or not being aware of yourself. This also happens when one is lost in their thoughts.

Break these habits, and you are well on your way!

But it's a lot harder then it seems.

Erock

[Anima]

I see myself as enLightening.

[modern_monk]

Originally Posted by Erock

Hey I am definitely not enlightened, but I do spend a lot of time reading about spirituality. Enlightenment is not as complex as people make it seem to be, but simply "knowing" what it is in no way means that you actually are enlightened. Basically, enlightenment-the way I understand it-is the undoing of some *very* engrained habits.

The most basic of those habits is identifying yourself with your body. If you want to read more on that I posted about it here (click)

Another habit that seems to coorespond with enlightenment is the quieting of the mind. All spiritual gurus that I have read talk about how important a quiet mind is, and I think an enlightened person's mind is infinitely silent.

Finally, the last habit that I think needs to be discarded is the habit that Americans enjoy the most, and that is becoming unconscious. For example, watching tv, movies, playing videogames, exc. All of these are examples of going unconscious, or not being aware of yourself. This also happens when one is lost in their thoughts.

Break these habits, and you are well on your way!

But it's a lot harder then it seems.

Erock

Thanks a lot for your message !

Do you think we can atteint the enlightenment during our life?

[Craig1129]

The question I have is why do we want to become enlightened on Earth if when we leave our human form we become enlightened anyway? Doesn't enlightenment simply mean that you are fully conscious?

[modern_monk]

Originally Posted by Craig1129

The question I have is why do we want to become enlightened on Earth if when we leave our human form we become enlightened anyway? Doesn't enlightenment simply mean that you are fully conscious?

I dont think we automatically become enlightened after death.

We have our human life to become enlightened, some says we need many lives to accomplish this....

I think you right; there must be something about the level of consciousness.
This must be one element.

fully conscious = fully aware and not reacting
just allowing things be as they are

[Antarananda]

Originally Posted by Craig1129

The question I have is why do we want to become enlightened on Earth if when we leave our human form we become enlightened anyway? Doesn't enlightenment simply mean that you are fully conscious?

Who says we become enlightened when we leave the body? It's not as simple as that. You may remain in a subtler plane of existence for a while, but ultimately the deeply embedded desires to experience being embodied will pull you back into another body.

In Sanatana Dharma, we refer to Enlightened ones as either jivan muktas (those that are liberated while still in the body) and videha muktas (those that are liberated while leaving the body). Both types of liberation are not just automatically achieved by the vast majority of humans living on the planet. Even most all so-called spiritual people are rarely completely liberated from the wheel of birth and death, and shall continue to reincarnate again and again.

Most of us have an imagined concept of what enlightenment is largely through our own fantasies or desire for wish-fulfillment of what appears to be an ideal state of functioning of the human organism to us.

[Anima]

Originally Posted by modern_monk

I dont think we automatically become enlightened after death.

We have our human life to become enlightened, some says we need many lives to accomplish this....

I think you right; there must be something about the level of consciousness.
This must be one element.

fully conscious = fully aware and not reacting
just allowing things be as they are

When you say "fully conscious = fully aware and not reacting", what are you basing this idea on? I wonder then what do you think we do when we are fully conscious? I may not understand what you are saying. By "allowing things to be" are you meaning we then don't create, or teach, or touch people's lives?

[Acting Like Godot]

1. It is untrue that death automatically (or even usually) brings about enlightenment.

2. It is also relevant to note that there are different levels of enlightenment.

3. Knowing (intellectually) about enlightenment is not the same as actually being enlightened. The difference is ... VAST.

4. Here is a modern account of one person's enlightenment in 1953. This is Osho, one of India's spiritual masters. He passed away in 1990.

[Craig1129]

Ok so you believe that our spirit/consciousness did not choose to take human form but that we had to because we did not reach enlightenment in past lives? I have come across this belief before. This is what Buddhism teaches right? So do you believe that once your spirit leaves human form and becomes one again with source that not all spirits are at the same level of counsciousness and that your time spent in human form affects this?

Edit: I was replying to Modern_Monk with this post

[DaveTyler]

Is there any hope for enlightenment to be ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥?
That we're individual for a reason?

[Craig1129]

Originally Posted by Antarananda

Who says we become enlightened when we leave the body? It's not as simple as that. You may remain in a subtler plane of existence for a while, but ultimately the deeply embedded desires to experience being embodied will pull you back into another body.

In Sanatana Dharma, we refer to Enlightened ones as either jivan muktas (those that are liberated while still in the body) and videha muktas (those that are liberated while leaving the body). Both types of liberation are not just automatically achieved by the vast majority of humans living on the planet. Even most all so-called spiritual people are rarely completely liberated from the wheel of birth and death, and shall continue to reincarnate again and again.

Most of us have an imagined concept of what enlightenment is largely through our own fantasies or desire for wish-fulfillment of what appears to be an ideal state of functioning of the human organism to us.

Thanks for replying. Do you believe that once you achieve a certain level of consciousness in one human lifetime that you begin again at that level in your next lifetime or is it like starting over again?

[Anima]

Originally Posted by DaveTyler

Is there any hope for enlightenment to be ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥?
That we're individual for a reason?

We are individual for a reason. And when we become enlightened, we are still individual. We are the drop of water who understands it is also the ocean, so our perceptions are greatly expanded, as well as our power.

[Antarananda]

Originally Posted by Craig1129

Ok so you believe that our spirit/consciousness did not choose to take human form but that we had to because we did not reach enlightenment in past lives? I have come across this belief before. This is what Buddhism teaches right? So do you believe that once your spirit leaves human form and becomes one again with source that not all spirits are at the same level of counsciousness and that your time spent in human form affects this?

Edit: I was replying to Modern_Monk with this post

You may watch this video of my own spiritual Master speaking on some of the subjects discussed. He is the top Enlightened Master I have met, and has given me some deep inner experiences and clarity:

The Power of Wisdom

[Antarananda]

Originally Posted by Craig1129

Thanks for replying. Do you believe that once you achieve a certain level of consciousness in one human lifetime that you begin again at that level in your next lifetime or is it like starting over again?

Yes, definitely. Actually it is determined by the predominant thought at the moment of death. If you spent your entire life reflecting on consciousness and liberation etc, and your actions mirrored those thoughts, then it will remain the strongest desire at the moment of departure. It is even said that it is pure grace that you've even thought about these concepts in this very life. So you're already on the right path

[DaveTyler]

The whole day was strange, stunning, and it was a shattering experience. The past was disappearing, as if it had never belonged to me, as if I had read about it somewhere, as if I had dreamed about it, as if it was somebody else's story I have heard and somebody told it to me. I was becoming loose from my past, I was being uprooted from my history, I was losing my autobiography.

Is how OSHO, from that link u gave me described it

This exact thing has happened to me a few days ago, does this mean I've achieved enlightenment?
a 18 year old boy from the West who never thought about enlightenment before it happened to him? Doesn't that sound retarded and false?
But OSHO uses "I" in every setence, so.... he can't have killed his ego?

I know many of you will say "after what you've said it doesn't seem like you are enlightened" but it's like the scary part of it is that I feel like I TOTALLY get enlightenment, but I don't want to at all.
I suck at explaining in English as I'm from Europe and skipped all my English classes so I've learned it on my own :P

If so I should have reached or is going to reach it in near future, does this mean death of ego? I will never feel desire, lust, sadness, happiness, accomplishment, or any emotions at all?

I can wave BYE BYE to my childhood dreams of becoming a artist?

Also does it exist some spiritual guru's who can read my aura/soul or whatever and finally say if I'm enlightened or not?
I read some ************ about people with GOLD aura's being VERY spiritual/enlightened

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by Antarananda

Yes, definitely. Actually it is determined by the predominant thought at the moment of death.

That is correct.

The difficulty is that the vast majority of human beings have not sufficiently disciplined their minds (through prayer, meditation, contemplation or faith) during their lifetimes.

During the final process of dying, they are too disoriented. They will all see the light at the end of tunnel (as always described by people who have had near-death experiences - google "Raymond Moody" for more info), but most will lack the consciousness required to merge with it.

So they will pass away from the light and in time, (possibly after interacting with non-physical beings as described in Dr Brian Weiss's accounts of past-life regression hypnosis with his patients) be reincarnated. (One example of such a non-physical being would be Abraham of Abraham-Hicks, but of course there are an infinite number of such non-physical beings).

Some people who have died may take a long time to be reincarnated. These are either people who are spiritually very limited - eg people who led violent, lustful, rather base, sorts of earthly lives, with little connection to their inner selves; or people who are unable to let go of their earthly existence, eg they feel that they have too much unfinished business. Upon death, they may not even realise that they are dead, but will continue to exist as ghosts.

(They are not to be confused with other types of non-physical beings).

Those people who died and who had very clear consciousness (eg a monk who has spent his whole life preparing for this moment; or very strong faith, eg in Jesus, that they will enter heaven) will have sufficient clarity of mind to merge with the white light.

In Buddhist terms, we would say that they have broken free from the karmic cycle. In Antarananda's terms, we would say that they have become videha muktas. In Christian terms, we would say that they have entered heaven and gone to rejoin the Father.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by DaveTyler

This exact thing has happened to me a few days ago, does this mean I've achieved enlightenment?

No. You probably had a peak experience. Google "Abraham Maslow" and "peak experience" to learn more. It is much, much, much more common than enlightenment, but still rare - so if that is what you had, congratulate yourself and be happy.

Peak experiences, unfortunately, don't last for long.

[DaveTyler]

maybe... but I was mostly scared than happy with this(if it was) a peak experience.

Another fear and obsession I have is that my almost "wanting to die" thinking pattern is that I have achieved enlightenment and just want to die to enter the light.
Someone please explain why this isn't true so I can let go of my suicidal thinking.

[Anima]

We all move through certain developmental stages through our lives. The majority of people will settle into their lives and while growing and learning to a degree, have their energy tied to the 3-d realm. They are ensnared by the sensory realm. The majority will live out their earthly lives at this level.

Others of us will continue to progress, and find ways to climb to greater degrees of self-REALization. Some of us will have spiritual experiences where we perceive at a far greater level than we usually do. And then we must go back and continue our usual existence at the usual level earning our way to higher planes as we progress along. Although we've experienced a higher plane, and we develop insights from higher levels that can fuel us where we are presently at, we cannot stay at that level of perception and energy because we have not yet learned how to make that level an integrated part of our daily human life. When enLightenment is achieved, one has earned that level of consciousness by discipline and by experience and one understands the dynamics of such understanding. It is ingrained and and incorporated to whom one is.

[Anima]

Originally Posted by DaveTyler

maybe... but I was mostly scared than happy with this(if it was) a peak experience.

Another fear and obsession I have is that my almost "wanting to die" thinking pattern is that I have achieved enlightenment and just want to die to enter the light.
Someone please explain why this isn't true so I can let go of my suicidal thinking.

If you have become enlightened, you would understand the answers to the questions you are asking. You would understand yourself, your path and your purpose.

You must earn your way into merging with the Light. You cannot cheat in order to merge with the Light.

[DaveTyler]

Thanks Anima, you've been GREAT help in this.
I can't even explain how much "give and you shall recieve", you can expect some great things in your near future.


So a enlightened person would never want to die? As I've wondered about this, all the enlightened people has lived LOOONG after enlightenment.

[Craig1129]

For those seeking enlightenment what do you do about human/ego desires? Do you fulfill those desires in hopes of someday being able to transcend them or do you ignore them completely and solely seek raising your consciousness?

[Anima]

Originally Posted by DaveTyler

Thanks Anima, you've been GREAT help in this.
I can't even explain how much "give and you shall recieve", you can expect some great things in your near future.


So a enlightened person would never want to die? As I've wondered about this, all the enlightened people has lived LOOONG after enlightenment.

You are welcome Dave. Thanks for such a nice comment.

First, the enlightened person knows death is an illusion. So dying, in of itself, as mentioned by others here, is not what merges us with the Light. The enlightened person is ALREADY one with the Light, all the while living out daily life, and therefore does not need to do anything to merge with it--they know they are it.

[DaveTyler]

Ahh yeah that make's more sense Thanks

[Anima]

Originally Posted by Craig1129

For those seeking enlightenment what do you do about human/ego desires? Do you fulfill those desires in hopes of someday being able to transcend them or do you ignore them completely and solely seek raising your consciousness?

One cannot become enLightened when they are tied to their earthly desires. So one ultimately must give up all vices and addictions/attachments in order to REALize the Light on an ongoing basis. Any addiction, disorder or loss of Self to attachment signals separation from the state of enLightenment.

At the same time, one can be enLightened and live an earthly life. It is like when you put your hand in the stream and feel the water flowing all around you. You may experience the sensation of water for as long as you'd like. And if you try to grasp a handful of water, it slips through your fingers and you lose it. We can experience life joyfully and fully without being attached to it. Once we grasp and try to hold onto the experience, we lose it.

[Anima]

Originally Posted by DaveTyler

Ahh yeah that make's more sense Thanks

You're welcome, Dave.

[DaveTyler]

My last question is: one should not fear death?