Enlightenment

I've decided I want to become enlightened. I have to admit I'm a terrible Buddhist but I've given up antidepressants,coffee,and other drugs. I should study Scriptures intensely and meditate. But how do I reach enlightenment? Do I go on a journey as the Buddha did? I'm a Teenager so that would be highly unlikely.

 

Absolutely everything in Buddhism is aimed at getting you enlightened. So, just pick a path and follow it.

Just remember that enlightenment is not something you gain, but what is left when all the obscuring junk has been eliminated.

 

Alright. Thanks for the help.

 

enlightenment is not a reality for the simple reason that one would have to have to decide something permanently which would assume that the mind could be final, which itself is ignorant, so one would have to throw out the mind in order to find the state of mind which wasn't going to change, but then one would be mindless which is worse than idiotic, thus

most 'enlightened' people are worse than idiotic....

where did Buddha ever say he was enlightened? show me something from the nikaya.

he spoke about nirvana which meant cessation, which was where one had burnt out all their seeds of causation.

even the Hindus do not speak of 'enlightened' they speak of 'liberation.' that is a time according to varnashrama when one has given up even dharma and retreated to the forest.

'enlightenment' is a concept extrapolated by theosophists, western occultists and acid heads

 

but of systems which speak of final enlightenment i personally enjoy Dzogchen the most and my favorite speaker is Longchenpa

 

Probably be shot down in flames here, but giving up ADs and seeking enlightened shouts warning bells to me, but that's just because of friends who "found" spirituality.

Can't you get a firm grounding before making that choice?

 

Good point. The path of spirituality is not a substitute for medication.

 

We're not speaking about Nagarjuna, who replaced Buddha's words with the notion of emptiness. Buddha didn't teach emptiness, he taught ultimateness. He also didn't teach a lot of things ascribed to him, which came from later scholars.

Nonetheless, realization of emptiness, is enlightenment how? One would still have to reify that realization continually for it to be something to act upon.

Yes, it's very true, one can be enlightened. Enlightenment can be very horrid, as in the case of being molested by priests. Enlightment can be very awesome as in singing bhajans in a groups of thousands outside Kamakhya temple during Maa's period.

A DMT trip can show you wonders.

The quality however of enlightenment over realization is how it effects the rest of your life, and how it changes very little even as you mind changes.

That sort of enlightenment can belong to anyone, and don't the religious get all unenlightened when they learn of some new enlightenment.

However, a short lived enlightenment like from a good/bad acid trip wears off and then say you made the journey east with no money, welll all of a sudden you are wondering how the fuck you got there and you get mugged, raped, and sold into slavery. It happens all the time.

Does that mean you shouldn't seek realization? Not at all. But you should know the differentce between terminology and not seek some permanent solution. You suffer. You want to not suffer. Buddha saaid he could fix that. But he couldn't. You might be able to practice what he taught. If you have faith. And joy.

But many Buddhists do not believe in what Buddha taught. I am card carrying Buddhist, but I do not believe in reincarnation or karma. I mean, I can't remember yeasterday, and what is the karma of a tongue?

 

It has nothing to do my friends. I was just thinking to myself one day. Also I am not using it to substitute medication I'm only giving them up to stay mindful. I use ad 's for bipolar depression and social anxiety.

 

Thank you for corrections and the advice.

 

The easiest way to enlightenment is exploration of your emotions with respect to historical events in your life with someone who is understanding. Eventually you will become understanding enough to explore on your own. A guide is a good way to start. Finding someone who is understanding is difficult. Lana Lensman is one person I would recommend. If you talked to me regularly you would become "enlightened". I would recommend a therapist over a Buddhist to start. Many Buddhists claim enlightenment, but only the Dalai Lama displays any advanced understanding. Buddhists can be very egotistic and cryptic about their understanding of enlightenment, hence their own failing. They do not have an all encompassing view. The Dalai Lama's in-person stuff these days is very good. James Gordon's Mind-Body Medicine courses are excellent. At any rate, enlightenment is such a poor term it immediately implicates whomever is using it as having less understanding then is possible. The term enlightenment may denote a point in time or suggest a permanent state of being. Anyone can be enlightened, that is experience a change of perspective such that they feel a weight lifted from their shoulders. Going on vacation is enlightening. If enlightenment is defined as a meditative experience with the sensation of light than at what point? how much light? A pinhole of light, a flooding of the mind with light? A halo of light? Been there, done that, a fantastic beyond belief experience. It doesn't matter though if it doesn't translate into changes in your life as you live it, not when you are training for it. The good news is if you measure your progress by how your life changes, then you will be successful. You can have a wonderful experience living. This is a quick reply; I'll finesse it if there are any questions.

 

Granted, "enlightenment" is a foor choice of words, but like it or not, it is the English word used historically for what is called in the Buddhist scriptures "nirvana". It has nothing to do with light or any of the other semantic nonsense games that people play with it.

It is an understanding the true nature of reality, and the cessation of suffering.

 

You will find many opinions; you have to judge which is the best. Generally, each opinion reflects a degree of understanding. In KeithBC's case, the tone of his words, his choice of words, and even what the words are intended to communicate reflect upon his state of mind as he wrote. This broad commentary upon his words should be sufficient, instead of examining each word, right down to the telltale typo of foor instead of poor reflecting the man's hesitation at making a negative remark about my words. This is a man intent on maintaining unnecessary conflict in his life. This is largely counter to any effort to attain enlightenment.

An exception is when one opens up to their emotions which occur in reaction to another individual's words. If you allow yourself to open up, you will find more compassion for others. However, understand all emotions are there to help you. There is an obvious hierarchy to them, yet any one of them may be appropriate for a given circumstance. A typical reaction might be anger, detachment, empathy, and compassion in succession. As you develop experience, the time spent in anger will fade and the time spent in compassion will grow.

The perception of light within the mind is such a common occurrence that it is well documented in literature and a hallmark of enlightenment. Notice I use my words very carefully, the light does not exist as candlelight, from a flashlight, gas light, it simply exists in the mind. Use google to search for images of enlightenment and you will find light is a recurring theme.

 

I'd say learn to meditate, and study the basics of the Dharma, the four noble truths, the eightfold path, the precepts.

But most importantly, learn to meditate. A daily practice is important.

Also, if there is a group or temple in your local community, it would be a good idea to contact them. Going off on a journey is a romantic notion, but the advice and company of the Sangha would probably be more beneficial


edit: That is when they can stop bickering about 無 on the internet.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-Prime

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb-2vSXpIKc"]Robert Anton Wilson: The Benefits of E-Prime - YouTube

 

Everything you really need to know is within always. If you have to apply that to modern world it's tricky to accomplish. You have lots of learning about ego etc and there are levels and layers of the self to always uncover in the ups and downs of this life . Striving for enlightenment is like striving for an end... Like being somewhere you are not. Just be right now. Honor yourself in the now.

Enter each day each moment not missing a thing as complete as you are .. Honor that and even in that space there is growth

One of my most loved books is fully shown online it's called merging with siva and is a priceless book if I were you I'd buy it. I got it when I was about 18 and it's always by my side and is the best source for this info if u ask me

 

It will dawn on you.

 

I have a question... Someone said on this thread that through the original Buddha's teachings, their enlightment achieved ultimateness or however they said it lol, but from I am told, enlightment is complete nothingness that isn't even nothing. Basically you feel not even nothing, you think nothing because you would be perceiving and thus suffering. I have come to believe that I have had it pop to me at random, I felt at complete peace within myself, with my surrounds and with the universe cycling around me, yet I wasn't even thinking, I was just existing. I was I, I am. Enlightment is very complex because if you have to ask yourself or anybody else that, this is enlightment, then you are not enlighted. I was going to write something else, but I have forgotten, so my question would be, What exactly did the original Buddha achieve?? Is there more than one type of enlightment??