Your ‘version’ of enlightenment is as worthy, pure, noble, fine and as disappointing as Buddha’s. Disappointing like the other qualities is all based on someone’s set of standards. So what will yours be?

For myself, my first standard was to be as honest with myself about what was going on for me now. (Yes, “being present” figures big in this – but there are ways become proficient in it naturally.) My second standard was to add some love (even the wish that I could) to whatever I found to be present – both inner and outer.

I was very sloppy at this, but in time I realized that this too was part of what was present and I began putting love with my ‘sloppiness’ and not judging it as being wrong for me – right and wrong judgements are usually a sign of being apart from what is present and from your self.

You will find, if you haven’t already, that being honest with yourself can be unusually hard to do at times. By adding love to whatever you find you develop the capacity to face the things you cannot face and embrace the things that keep you separate from the reality of yourself.

As you practice meeting your life with a loving awareness of what is present (rather than assumptions about what is present) you will very quickly feel the power of waking up. There is a definite energising effect that you experience in consciousness – its very much like a feedback mechanism. Keep it as a reference point for your journey.

Also, you need never doubt what you are doing. What you do and don’t do become perfect components of your enlightenment process. It is a superb thing to do and is intrinsically perfect.

Finally, if you haven’t done so already, make a clear and conscious decision to become enlightened. Its essential.

Do these things and I guarantee, upon my soul, that you will encounter the experience of enlightenment – and a lot more than this.

Enlightnement conveys an ever-evolving experience of joy and if you dive into it you will find sheer bliss; and it is not static, it grows. However, never set joy as the goal – it is only a side-effect of doing love and truth with yourself.

All my love to you in this wonderful (and eternal) moment.