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I have awakened, it hurts...
thug4lyfe
Explorer
I have awakened suddenly one as an athiest, it took a long painful process which was unknowingly to me. Now reality and my way of thinking cannot be the same again. Infact I didn't even know which "religion"'s teachings was closer to all this love and compassion I am feeling after I have awakened. Then I starting reading materials from buddhism and realised whats described is closest to what I am feeling.
I've been doing okay until now... It's actually really hard, you want to tell people about what you know but your worried about how they will react.
I've realised I am completely free to choose what I do with this enlightenment, whether to abuse it or achieve the next level or just sticking around the help people, but it's hard to make this sort of decision.... :sadc:
I've been doing okay until now... It's actually really hard, you want to tell people about what you know but your worried about how they will react.
I've realised I am completely free to choose what I do with this enlightenment, whether to abuse it or achieve the next level or just sticking around the help people, but it's hard to make this sort of decision.... :sadc:
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Comments
I think I've gained a reputation around here as being an unabashed Mahayanist. In Mahayana, a bohdisattva is one who sticks around to help people. I myself have been a nurse for 32 years and I'm damn glad of it. In my humble opinion, and very biased at that, I think Mahayanists have more fun. I hope people don't think this is another "Theravada drive-by"- it's just my humble opinion.
My motto is, "when in doubt, do something nice for somebody".
Another stage past enlightenment?
Abuse it (enlightenment)? How?
Nios.
Many people come to suddenly realize certain qualities of nature, and through that realization become a little awed and unbalanced as they try to take in everything they're seeing. With a billion choices in front of you at each second, how can it not be confusing!?! So, what to do next?
If you go to your friends and try to tell them where you are now, maybe one or two of them will understand, but unless you're friends with a bunch of philosophers, most won't. What might happen is that you'll come across as snooty or sounding like you think you're better than them. I feel you could avoid this... if its possible for you not to simply blurt your mindset.
If you want to stabilize your new perspective, use the compassionate energy you're experiencing to help other people. Look for ways to be giving in some way, like making room in your mind to look at another's stories, giving a hug unexpectedly to someone who needs it, giving some of your money to charity that you would have otherwise spent on entertainment or chemicals, or maybe take your mom out to dinner and tell her how much she has helped you become who you are. These are only a few examples, and with some reflection, there are usually countless compassionate acts you can follow in the moment.
If you work selfishly with the visions you are having now, they will fade. The resonant joy you're feeling will disconnect as though you've pulled the plug on a vacuum. I don't mean this as a threat, but if you can see the "pulling away from compassion" that selfish intent has, you can see how you'd be distancing yourself.
Congratulations on the new beginnings of your journey of insight and healing. I wish you well!
With warmth,
Matt
This is a fairly common experience (it doesn't make it any less powerful and profound), if you would just use the search function in this forum, you will find a bunch of testimonials and find people who shared your experience.
You've just found out that reality is actually different than what you always thought it was. This is a paradigm shift, like a magician trick, once you see it, you can't go back believing it is magic and be amazed by the trick.
But this is just a glimpse, you saw the illusion but you are still swimming in it ("It's actually really hard", "your worried", scared, ovewhelmed etc..)
Practice meditation, and walk down the path... many more surprises awaiting you.
We may not understand because we cling, but there are new words that express new thoughts (and thought patterns) and can illuminate the teachings in these modern times. What the Buddha taught was more easily digested by those of similar mindset, but the mindset of humanity as a whole has changed in these 2500 years. Paradigm Shift.....brilliant.
Consider 'subconscious'; consider 'evolution'. These were not common knowledge in the Buddha's time, and the way in which he had to teach of reality would have been more difficult. They can be applied in understanding the teachings, if one is so inclined to release from traditional words/terms. In my opinion the Buddha would approve of making use of whatsoever means one can to understand the teachings, even reinterpretation with our new knowledge.
Namaste