What does Enlightenment really mean?

1. 60

   hulah cagenposted 10 years ago

   What does Enlightenment really mean?
   
   

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2. 39

   bunnypoetaposted 10 years ago

   It can mean allot of things to you, me & to others that basically once achieved, it means:
   
   Understanding/knowledge
   
   www.bunnypoeta.weebly.com
   
   Best Wishes
   
   Bunnypoeta

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3. 76

   JimTxMillerposted 10 years ago

   Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.

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4. 52

   whonunuwhoposted 10 years ago

   In my personal opinion, this means a true understanding of why we are all here, and that is to share, care for others, and release the holds that greed has upon human kind. Until we have all received this enlightenment, there can be no rest and unison with other races and nations in this world. Sometimes through disasters, calamities and world shaking affairs, it is the only way we can achieve enlightenment. whonu

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5. 40

   Borsiaposted 10 years ago

   To me it means reaching the conclusion about what you can believe, as opposed to what you would like to believe, and being at peace with your position.

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   Sri Tposted 10 years ago

   It means absolute freedom from everything. A consciousness that is beyond everything. A blissful, euphoric state that comes from the awareness that nothing has ever existed, nothing exists, and nothing ever will exist. All are only temporary concepts. Beyond all the concepts, nothingness is the only reality. Abide as that. The state prior to your human birth.

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7. 85

   SidKempposted 10 years ago

   The term has many different meanings to different people of different times, religions, and cultures.
   
   I will speak of what the Buddha meant, because it is often misunderstood, and I like it. For the Buddha:
   - The word "enlightenment" is a mistranslation. The proper meaning of Buddha is one who is Awake, and the word translated as "enlightenment" is Budh, which means living awake, having ones eyes open, seeing things as they are and not being deluded.
   - In ancient Buddhism, Awakening is not freedom from everything. It is freedom, very specifically, from suffering. One who is awake does feel pain, say, during illness or at the loss of a loved one. But he or she is free of creating more pain than that - creating suffering through anxiety and worry, fear, anger, greed, avoidance, or any other kind of attachment or inappropriate relationship or connection to anything.
   - Awakening is not a final goal. It is an early step in the process. Ideally, we Awaken after 6 months to 3 years of meditation practice, and then go on to live an Awakened life, perpetually deepening our freedom and joy, and helping others to let go of their suffering and live more joyful, peaceful lives.
   
   I speak from the experience of deepening on this path for 30 years. I hope you will join me!

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      Rayne123posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Well great answer and totally agree with some added points , thanks

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   Rayne123posted 10 years ago

   Well I wrote a quote that says........"silence your minds and your soul will enlighten"
   
   So to me this also means freedom, hearing thoughts and words you would never hear with a clouded mind. When our minds are wondering and thinking/stressing 24/7 we dont have time to hear our souls/hearts
   
   When we quiet our minds we can hear the words of God the unknown, the peace within us we would otherwise not hear. We can see the beauty in the world created and know that nothing can take us from that if we listen to the words of God.
   
   Dreams we never thought possible when our minds are so clouded with stress/problems even hate and anger.
   
   Enlightenment takes our souls to another world a world of peace and freedom that only God can give us.
   
   So with that said, mediating on Gods promises will allow you to enlighten your soul.
   
   Have a good day
   Laurie

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      SidKempposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Beautiful! Another image is that the Soul is always alight with the Dvine, and we let that light through into the world when we clean the mind, which is like a glass lantern for the light of the soul.

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9. 51

   brent7750posted 10 years ago

   The two definitions of the word Enlightened is:
   - freed from ignorance and misinformation 
   - based on full comprehension of the problems involved . 
   
   Enlightenment is a state of mind or a state of awareness that can be reached during many experiences in life and allows you to understand things in a greater sense or purpose. When in enlightenment you view experiences and life in a whole new way, instead of the glass half empty, now it is half full. Every person on Earth can attain enlightenment and it is fairly easy to do, "Enlightenment is easy to attain, but difficult to retain." Taking this statement into account, you can now begin to see that it is not how do I attain enlightenment, it is how do I retain it!! Love is the answer!! www.merkaba.org/cddownloadsattain.html

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