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What Is Enlightenment?

DaltheJigsawDaltheJigsaw Mountain View Veteran
edited September 2011 in Philosophy
"I wish I had an answer to that because I'm tired of answering that question." --Yogi Berra

Enlightenment. It's why you practice, right? To become enlightened? You probably have your own ideas about it.

The end of suffering. The end of karma. The end of confusion. Free from the struggles of life. The end of anger or greed or stupidity. Free from neuroses and neurotic thinking. Ultimate sanity. Know what life is and what life is about. Emptiness. Free from subjective interpretation. See things just as they are. Free from bias and prejudice. Total objectivity. Infallible. Transform all experience into wisdom. Special powers. Complete and total moral integrity. Beyond reproach, beyond question in everything you do. Know exactly what to do in every situation and do it effortlessly. Able to help others out of their misery. Union of emptiness and compassion. Able to change the world, transform society, heal and cure all that is wrong with the world. The leading edge of the best hope for humanity.

It all sounds pretty wonderful.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ken-mcleod/what-is-enlightenment_b_960127.html

Comments

  • jlljll Veteran
    That's why Buddha is a genius.
    There are many stages, stream-entry, once returner, etc.
  • genkakugenkaku Northampton, Mass. U.S.A. Veteran
    I vote with Yogi.
  • ddrishiddrishi
    In my humble view, enlightenment is just a skill to see each moment of our life as it is.
  • justsheajustshea Explorer
    To be able to smell McDonald's french fries and NOT want some.
  • betaboybetaboy Veteran
    To be able to smell McDonald's french fries and NOT want some.
    If you smell it, you wouldn't want it anyway.

  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    To be able to smell McDonald's french fries and NOT want some.
    Man, I must be WAY enlightened then. That makes me want to vomit (McDonald's fries, not enlightenment)... :)
  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    To be able to smell McDonald's french fries and NOT want some.
    Man, I must be WAY enlightened then. That makes me want to vomit (McDonald's fries, not enlightenment)... :)
    I'm with justshea. It may be cheap, nasty, nondegradable food - but I still want some.
  • painpain
    wow.. that was a wonderful article. thank you!
  • DakiniDakini Veteran
    McDonald's french fries
    eewww! Majorly gross! :P

    I think enlightenment is equanimity and insight/wisdom. Thanks for a good article, Leon.
  • DaltheJigsawDaltheJigsaw Mountain View Veteran
    welcome! anytime!
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