achieve enlightenment

But like upto Brown Belt level. Black belt might put me under a tree with a halo around my head. Not what I want. Want to do my work with immense energy at my disposal.

I think I’m on the right path but I have a long way to go.

5 Things keeping me from enlightenment:

1. chemical dependence (smokes, alcohol, etc.)
2. frustration, anger, fear.
3. selfishness.
4. laziness
5. bitterness and jealousy

I need to learn to let go of negativity and live for the moment.

And it’s going well. Most importantly I feel like I’m in the moment more often. I also feel like I’ve been able to let go of more thoughts of the past and future recently. One problem I have is that it isn’t a good goal to match up with ambitious “wants”. I feel that it’s strength is in that it releases you from those wants but some of them are needs and that is where it makes things difficult. If I need to earn a certain amount of money, sometimes releasing those thoughts of desire can stop me from going after those needs as much. Sounds strange I know, but the reality is I don’t feel bad about it. I might want money but I know that it’s that want that causes suffering, so releasing that want makes the suffering leave and I can work in the moment. The problem though is that I have a mortgage to pay! Then again, you could say that I could still focus on my work without the “want”, get the same result (making money) without all the suffering and stress caused by “wanting” it.

At the moment i’m concentrating on being as present as i can. As soon as i realise that I’m thinking thoughts of past or future I name them as ‘past’ or ‘future’ and then go back to being present in the ‘now’.
It sounds pretty boring but it has made such a positive impact on my life. Everything seems just so fresh and new.

I sincerely believe that to achieve enlightenment we must first learn to master our minds. This is a tall order for the majority of us since the knowledge of how it works and what we may do to control it is so primitive and limited that it almost defeats the purpose.It is easy for a monk to talk and preach to us about pacifying the mind but there is a difference between living and practicing spirituality in a secluded temple up in the mountains and practicing living in the now in the middle of a big city. I have read so many books about normal people like me achieving enlightenment, however what disturbes me is that many of them achieved it at a point in their lives when they were attempting or contemplating to take their own lives. I guess it was the moment of total surrender and it makes a sense that the experience may open some doors but I am not ready to do that just yet even though life is challenging me on all sides.

When seeking enlightenment most turn to religion or something of the sort. Personally i feel that religion can most certainly help towards your goal but it is not the answer to it. To achieve enlightenment, you cannot simply rely on a belief or a system, you must step out of your comfort zone and strive for the enlightenment. Some claim to achieve this by drugs and other things; but the truth is that I’ve been down that path and drugs will lead to nothing more than disappointment and regret. I believe that the best way to reach enlightenment is to not beg and pray for it, but to find it in its natural state through effort. To find it in its natural state is something remarkable; effort and time give way to success and achievement towards enlightenment.

Enlightement is defined as 2. Enlightenment A philosophical movement of the 18th century that emphasized the use of reason to scrutinize previously accepted doctrines and traditions and that brought about many humanitarian reforms.

To me the word reform stands out more than any other, simply because reform cannot be brought about by praying and belief, reform requires thought and action to achieve. Define enlightenment as you wish or accept it as what it is, achieving something that you strive for and believe in. Enlightenment comes in all different forms, religion for some, and simply happiness for others. I guess all im trying to say is dont rely on anything other than yourself to achieve enlightenment, just act upon your dreams/beliefs and you wont have to find it, it will find you.

We’ll i’ve always considered myself to be a little different. The more I work, the harder it seems – I once thought I was very connected spiritually, but during the last 5 or so years I feel very far away. Looking for a place to start so that I can find that happiness I used to have.

Would love to hear some thoughts!

What is there to say? I exist. I don’t know why, exactly. I want to understand this world. To do so, I will become enlightened.