Enlightenment
The destiny of every human being is to become enlightened. Enlightenment is not gaining something new. Enlightenment is the dawning of a full and unobstructed awareness of your true nature. Your nature has always been there, unchanging, you just weren’t aware of it because it was obstructed by the activity in the mind. Enlightenment is experiencing the real ‘you’ and feeling the oneness you have always had, with everything.
Enlightenment has many names. In ancient Sanskrit, the words Moksha (liberation) or Mukti (release) are terms used for enlightenment and they mean “the final extrication of the soul from the repeating cycle of birth and death and the bringing to an end all of the suffering involved in being subject to repeated death and rebirth”.
In Buddhism, enlightenment is called Bodhi (awakening) meaning one has gained complete awareness of the workings of the mind which kept us imprisoned in cravings, suffering and rebirth; or Nirvana, which means the steady stillness of mind after the fires of desire, aversion, and delusion have been finally extinguished.
In Mahāyāna Buddhism, enlightenment is called Prajñā (wisdom), meaning insight into the true nature of reality. In Zen, enlightenment is Kensho, meaning "seeing into one's true nature”. Buddhism considers the state of enlightenment is characterized by infinite compassion, wisdom and skill, when all limitations have been removed from the mind and one's positive potential has been completely and perfectly realized. All of these terms describe the same experiential reality.
The true goal of spirituality is the realization, “I am Spirit, I am Consciousness”, not as an intellectual concept but as a living reality.
Analyzing only creates concepts, realization is felt and is blissfull. Could someone know what love is from a description and thinking about it? No, you can only know love by ‘feeling’ love.
In enlightenment, the idea that one is a separate individual disappears and we realize that ‘me’ is not this limited form but an unlimited field of energy that is one with everything; sentient, intelligent and blissful. Enlightenment is transformation, but not into something new, only an opening of awareness is necessary as we are already that.
Realizing our Self as consciousness it like a fish realizing he is in water. There is a story about a group of fish looking to find someone who has seen water. In their search they find a fish who says his great grandfather spoke of knowing water. So they build a temple to the grandfather. For us, consciousness is like air, it surrounds us, we live and breathe consciousness, but we do not know it.
The enlightened Masters of antiquity have left behind guidance that can help us awaken our full potential. The basic message of finding the consciousness within has been consistent thru the ages.
Specific practices have varied in every age according to the needs and capabilities of the people at that time.
A practice suited to a time when people lived by candle light and worked in the fields may not work well in a busy modern mind which is hyper-stimulated from movie watching, high-pressure schedules & constant internet surfing.
Variations of meditation practice have always been advised in every age and culture because establishing a calm mind brings the opportunity to recognize our inner nature. Many teachers are here today saying the same thing. Every person has the same destiny, the same potential, the same immortal nature.
Spiritual knowledge is open and available to everyone, but pursuing it requires an open mind. A closed mind thinks it already knows and considers what it knows to be the only truth exclusive of all others. Religions can be exclusive and dogmatic, spiritual wisdom never is.
“You are a spiritual being immersed in a human experience”.
How does one become capable of seeking and understanding?’ If we ask this question sincerely then we are already qualified. Those who are not ready won’t pursue the knowledge and will discard it if it comes to them. No one who seeks sincerely fails, those who seek will find. As Buddha said “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear”, and Jesus said “Ask, and it will be given you."
Contact: adeepbreath@ gmail.com
Wisdom
"The moon is one, but on agitated water it produces many reflections. Similarly, ultimate reality is one, yet it appears to be many in a mind agitated by thoughts."
Yoga Vasistha (ca. 3,700 BCE)
“Nirvana is a life free from impressions.”
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (2012)
Links
"The moon is one, but on agitated water it produces many reflections. Similarly, ultimate reality is one, yet it appears to be many in a mind agitated by thoughts."
Yoga Vasistha (ca. 3,700 BCE)
“Nirvana is a life free from impressions.”
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (2012)
Enlightenment
The destiny of every human being is to become enlightened. Enlightenment is not gaining something new. Enlightenment is the dawning of a full and unobstructed awareness of your true nature. Your nature has always been there, unchanging, you just weren’t aware of it because it was obstructed by the activity in the mind. Enlightenment is experiencing the real ‘you’ and feeling the oneness you have always had, with everything.
Enlightenment has many names. In ancient Sanskrit, the words Moksha (liberation) or Mukti (release) are terms used for enlightenment and they mean “the final extrication of the soul from the repeating cycle of birth and death and the bringing to an end all of the suffering involved in being subject to repeated death and rebirth”.
In Buddhism, enlightenment is called Bodhi (awakening) meaning one has gained complete awareness of the workings of the mind which kept us imprisoned in cravings, suffering and rebirth; or Nirvana, which means the steady stillness of mind after the fires of desire, aversion, and delusion have been finally extinguished.
In Mahāyāna Buddhism, enlightenment is called Prajñā (wisdom), meaning insight into the true nature of reality. In Zen, enlightenment is Kensho, meaning "seeing into one's true nature”. Buddhism considers the state of enlightenment is characterized by infinite compassion, wisdom and skill, when all limitations have been removed from the mind and one's positive potential has been completely and perfectly realized. All of these terms describe the same experiential reality.
The true goal of spirituality is the realization, “I am Spirit, I am Consciousness”, not as an intellectual concept but as a living reality.
Analyzing only creates concepts, realization is felt and is blissfull. Could someone know what love is from a description and thinking about it? No, you can only know love by ‘feeling’ love.
In enlightenment, the idea that one is a separate individual disappears and we realize that ‘me’ is not this limited form but an unlimited field of energy that is one with everything; sentient, intelligent and blissful. Enlightenment is transformation, but not into something new, only an opening of awareness is necessary as we are already that.
Realizing our Self as consciousness it like a fish realizing he is in water. There is a story about a group of fish looking to find someone who has seen water. In their search they find a fish who says his great grandfather spoke of knowing water. So they build a temple to the grandfather. For us, consciousness is like air, it surrounds us, we live and breathe consciousness, but we do not know it.
The enlightened Masters of antiquity have left behind guidance that can help us awaken our full potential. The basic message of finding the consciousness within has been consistent thru the ages.
Specific practices have varied in every age according to the needs and capabilities of the people at that time.
A practice suited to a time when people lived by candle light and worked in the fields may not work well in a busy modern mind which is hyper-stimulated from movie watching, high-pressure schedules & constant internet surfing.
Variations of meditation practice have always been advised in every age and culture because establishing a calm mind brings the opportunity to recognize our inner nature. Many teachers are here today saying the same thing. Every person has the same destiny, the same potential, the same immortal nature.
Spiritual knowledge is open and available to everyone, but pursuing it requires an open mind. A closed mind thinks it already knows and considers what it knows to be the only truth exclusive of all others. Religions can be exclusive and dogmatic, spiritual wisdom never is.
“You are a spiritual being immersed in a human experience”.