attain enlightenment

This needs to be a serious goal. One Buddhist monk said that if you don’t attain the first stage of enlightenment in this life you have wasted this human birth. And if you totally waste this human birth you can forget about getting another one.

Really, why shoud’t you…?

My enlightenment comes and goes for a few months at a time. I miss it. I got it by doing something really similar to the power of now, just thinking about how incredibly good each moment feels. Modern people (except the chronically ill and other special cases) are almost always physically comfortable and most of my problems are concerns about the future or myself. Even when I am physically uncomfortable it’s the thought of what I wish I was doing or how much longer I have to be uncomfortable that really bothers me.

Enlightnment can be atanained by anyone, enywhere, anytime and anyplace

In fact, i think it’s more a process

I think it’s NOT redemption

It just comes when it comes…

In this process, this will be repeating over and over again

I don’t know if the process has an end or not. But at time, you’ll be on the good way

I’m in process to enlightenment. I have done this.
(not full enllightenment, if there’s something as “full” enlightenment…)

I just want to say: It is closer as you might think ;)

The Buddha was perfectly enlightened.
His mind was completely at peace -
completely free of any form of sorrow, lamentation,
pain, grief and despair;
any form of selfishness or greed or craving or attachment;
any form of ill-will, resentment, aversion, hurt feelings, righteous indignation;
any form of delusion or ignorance which could lead to doubt and confusion;
any form of conceit or any conceiving of a self.
His mind was perfectly at peace,
abiding in complete knowledge of reality.

What exactly is enlightenment?? How would I know if I had attained it? Is it the same for everyone, or different?

These are just a few of the questions that pop up for me when I consider this question – rationally. And considering these questions, I feel completely removed from the whole idea; like the idea of enlightenment and me are mutually exclusive. It feels like I’m wishing that I could grow wings and fly. Something totally abstract, unachievable.

[I almost wrote that it was like wishing I had superhuman powers like a comic book hero – Spiderman, my favourite; but I want to cling to that fantasy a little while longer (even though I know it’s just that!)]

There are times when I consider myself unworthy and unable to reach “enlightenment”, whatever the hell that is!

And yet … and yet, even though there are times when I struggle through life; times when I feel inadequate, out of control and totally unevolved (if that is a word – it is now!); and the other times when I feel like I am flying, that I am in total control; that I could achieve anything. And I want to get away from the former as soon as possible and cling to the latter …

... there are other times when I feel – I can’t even put it in words. Somewhere in between (if it is between the two). I can feel the balance, see life as it is, feel the extremes of life and my journey between them; feel at peace deep in my core. Like I’m a sailor tacking and jibing; that I might be actually heading from one to the other, but my true course is either off to port or starboard. And I can see that, am not distracted by where the stern is pointing.

I don’t know what enlightenment is. I’ve read a little here and there on the subject (although reading on this sort of stuff doesn’t really do it for me); I love the “idea” of zen (assuming I know what that is); can grasp the idea of “reality as an illusion”. But for me, these are all abstract concepts. Words trying to capture a concept beyond words.

[Like this entry … ;)]

Yep, I don’t know what “enlightenment” is, but I know how I feel when I feel whatever it is I feel that makes me feel centred, balanced, at peace … and you know what? Whether I am actually experiencing “enlightenment” in that moment is suddenly of no importance at all.

Not sure this will ever get ticked off, but it’s a nice reminder.

I am a Buddhist (Tibetan, Kagyu lineage) yet I still struggle with our Western sense of doubt and cynicism. We want to be independent and find our own way and express our selves, yet we also want to experience unity and communion with the One. I’d like to find a way to incorporate both.

I meditate a lot, and I can reach that place where I’m feeling very very good and zen and all that junk, but I can’t seem to make it last..

I have begun my journey, a few books of interest are Power Versus Force by Dr. Hawking and the The Ego Identity Crisis. I live in the middle of no where so the chances for a teacher are low and I feel confident on my current progress. Soon, though I will be unable to post and I am researching a few Buddhist communes and will most likely visit one for a year. Well until next time may peace be with you!

I have been studying metaphysics, religions, philosophy, art, music, and books for years in search of this esoteric state and I am a thousand steps closer than when I started.
I suggest to everyone who wishes to attain enlightenment read Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. It’s not a manual for enlightenment but a useful tool to help your growth!