Deep

Mahasamadhi is the same as regular death. When an enlightened person dies, people give it a different label. Enlightenment is about overcoming suffering. It's nice to experience higher consciousness but that's a bonus. You don't have to experience samadhi or awaken kundalini to be enlightened. We just talk about it here for fun, but we aren't forcing anyone to do anything. No one is demonizing manifestation and human perspective (that's your assumption).

I think you're unnecessarily worried. Gurus don't talk about certain things because they can't be conveyed in words. You can learn everything about enlightenment by reading scriptures and doing practices on yourself. In nirvikalpa samadhi, you realize your immortality. It doesn't make any difference if you leave the body at that point. You're always immortal even if you aren't experiencing samadhi. You're God so there's nothing to be afraid. Enlightenment will change your perception so you will "chop wood and carry water" with a different attitude.

@Shanmugam Some people in my family know about enlightenment, but they believe in dogmas.

Those are beliefs used to scare people. There is no evidence for such a thing. If Jesus was enlightened, I doubt he would teach that.

More importantly it's God's will. Through certain people, God wants to re-discover itself, and through others it doesn't.

Another meaning of non-duality is: there is no separation between God and creation. Everything we see is God.

@Ether It's possible to meditate permanently. It's called sahaja samadhi.

@Dan Arnautu I have trouble knowing what I want in life. My mind is weak. It makes me sad.

You can't wake up from the dream and still be identified with things from the dream. If you succeed in yoga, your whole perception of reality will be changed. Yes, that can become a problem because we aren't living in 3,000 BC anymore. The only safety I know is, you have to keep a little bit of ego intact to function.

This going to be hilarious! One thing I find wrong about modern enlightenment teachings is: You have to remove the ego to be enlightened. I haven't come across any ancient teaching that says the ego has to be removed. If someone knows maybe they can site the source. Most people here believed what Leo told them. You don't know for sure that removing the ego is the solution. You don't know for sure that you're God. Enlightenment is just a belief on actualized.org. The criteria I would use to determine enlightenment is: One has to feel like God (either during meditation or 24/7). If we're God we have to feel like it, to know it. I'm not making a correlation that removing the ego will make one feel like God. If one feels like a finite being, they aren't enlightened yet. I don't even know if enlightenment is true. I am reading The Gospel of Ramakrishna currently. Here is a quote I like: “How silly! This jug is God! This cup is God! Whatever we see is God! And we too are God! Nothing could be more absurd.” Sri Ramakrishna came out of his room and gently touched him. Spellbound, he immediately perceived that everything in the world was indeed God. A new universe opened around him. Returning home in a dazed state, he found there too that the food, the plate, the eater himself, the people around him, were all God. Swami Nikhilananda. Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna (Kindle Locations 1884-1887). Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York, Inc.. Kindle Edition. I would only believe one is enlightened if they were able to prove it to me, like Ramakrishna was able to prove to Narendra. Maybe there is a master in some remote village who can do that. If this is true, most people in the world have a VERY long way to go to reach that level. I practice Raja Yoga from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali; along with Karma Yoga. I'm not going to write out the whole technique here. I don't practice it as rigorously as a yogi because I'm not perfect. The Yoga Sutras don't mention removing the ego. It says the goal of yoga is, "citta vriddhi nirodh," which means, "stop the mind from modifications." Once the modifications stop, the witness behind the mind will be revealed. That's what Ramakrishna practiced as well. The Yoga Sutras outline a process to do this. They give 10 observances that one must follow to control the mind: 1. truthfulness, 2. celibacy, 3. not accepting gifts, 4. not stealing, 5. non-violence, 6. surrender to God, 7. thinking positively, 8. contentment, 9. self-development, and 10. renunciation. These 10 observances only make the 1st limb, there are 8 limbs in total. In modern times, these behaviors can be seen as anti-social, narcissistic, snobby, and rude. Other people would be like, "Why the fuck isn't this guy doing what we're doing?" "There must be something wrong with him." God wants to become completely deluded in the Dark Ages. That's why Osho says a Buddha will always be misunderstood:

I have a lot of interests besides enlightenment. I engage in "low consciousness" activities sometimes. Nothing else is in the world is worth pursuing. Once the mind rises above the material plane, it's very hard to bring it back down.

No thanks! I can't stay here for that long. Much love! I agree that there aren't different definitions of enlightenment. It seems like you feel threatened by what I'm presenting. You should be okay with what I present as long as it's within the forum guidelines. Are you saying controlling the mind comes after enlightenment? How can seeking end if the mind is still present? I respect Shanmugam, but everyone on this forum is a bullshitter (including me). We all have a long way to go. By meeting them. Everything sounds egoic to you.

modifications of the mind @Shanmugam It sounds like you're trying to convince me that what you know is more correct than what I know. I'm not here to prove you wrong or anyone else. I'm just presenting different ideas to facilitate discussion. Let's talk about this in more detail. The following is only my opinion not a fact. Some people's idea of enlightenment is detaching from all concepts and just living life (partially true imo). Some people's idea of enlightenment is being at peace with everything (partially true). Some people's idea is realizing you're not the ego (partially true). People have many ideas about what enlightenment is and it makes enlightenment complicated. My previous understanding of enlightenment was also like that. Now I think enlightenment is simply about controlling the mind. That's it! It's not even about finding God. The universe is a projection of the mind. When we see objects our mind is labeling them without us being aware of it. It's usually very subtle so we don't know that we are doing it. All of us have a similar mind, so when we see a chair, for example, we label it as a chair (except for blind people). When the mind holds still we don't see the objects as they appear to be, but we see the underpinning. In 2016, I was meditating one day. All of a sudden it felt like I merged with my surroundings. The experience only lasted for 5 seconds; but it was the most INTENSE experience I've ever had. If I experienced that for 5 minutes, I wouldn't even be here. Let me share some videos with you. This guy's name is Jay Lakhani. He is a physicist in London. He's not a non-duality teacher, but in my opinion, he's one of the only people who know what they're talking about, when it comes to enlightenment. I think you might be wrong about this. Some yogis have tremendous control of their mind; hence their able to transmit experience to others.

Brahman.

@Shanmugam My conclusion about enlightenment is: we have to experience ourselves as God to know that we are. That's all! I know all enlightened people don't share the same characteristics.

@Key Elements I don't really know much about karma.

Actually, it's the only book I've read about a yogi. It might be too radical for you. Are you saying Ramakrishna wasn't enlightened? I would say 99% of information on enlightenment is a myth, but this is the 1% that is true. I've also heard people had experiences in Ramana Maharshi's presence. I haven't read books about him yet. My intention behind this post is: if you want to experience yourself as God, do it. If other people believe or disbelieve it doesn't matter.

@Ether I read what you said but I think it's wrong. Enlightened people can influence other people's mind because they're in touch with consciousness. Consciousness is an infinite field. I don't know but I'm open to that. You don't seem open to it.

Technically everyone is moving towards God. Most people just take a detour. I don't have any choice in seeking enlightenment or not seeking. I think Karma yoga is the most natural thing. lol There has to be control in the beginning right?

That's a huge assumption. You don't know that. @Saumaya Do you think what I said was arrogant?

I don't think I'm special and I'm not into enlightenment. Swami Vivekananda went around asking people "Have you seen God?" Most people were unable to answer that question except for Ramakrishna. He was searching for a true master and found him. It's not about proof, it's just what happened. I'm not really seeking enlightenment. I'm just messing around because I have a lot of free time. I made a mistake in the past. I dropped out of college because I wanted to start a business. The business idea is not fruitful so I'll have to finish my degree and get a job. Eventually I'll leave this forum.

Ever since 2015, my conceptual self has been destroyed. It's hard to explain. For most people the usual path of life is to go to school, college, get a job, get married, have kids, and die. I don't feel the need to play that role. I could do that but I'm also okay with not doing that. I'm more flexible in how to live because reality doesn't have any rules. I don't have concrete goals right now. I just do whatever I feel like doing in the moment. I feel like I'm going crazy some times. How do you adjust to life after the "separate self" is gone? Is attachment to concepts necessary for success?

@SOUL Yes, I agree. That's how I feel.

Yes I do. I'm not against thinking. I'm against being trapped in the maya. You run the risk of becoming more delusional if you sit on this forum and talk about spirituality all day. Your philosophical studying has to be balanced with practices in real life. It's not a personal attack against you. Anyway do whatever you want.

@SOUL How did you come to the conclusion that enlightenment causes memory loss?