Posted June 12, 2018 (edited) In case anyone is interested- "Enlightenment sickness boils down to this: if the apparent individual person — i.e. the ego — is claiming to be enlightened, then the ego has co-opted the knowledge and is using it to glorify itself. In such a case, “enlightenment” is just another badge of honor that the apparent individual person is pinning on himself and using to set himself apart from and usually higher than the rest of the ignorant masses in order to compensate for a deep-rooted and ever-obtaining sense of incompleteness and inadequacy. Thus, the vision of non-duality has obviously not been assimilated and the apparent individual person is still taken to be one’s identity. The Self (capital "S") doesn’t get “enlightened” because the Self is the light. When you realize who you are, you realize you are not the human being you appear to be. Nor is anyone else. Nor, for that matter, is there anyone else. There is only you, awareness, with innumerable “designs” appearing within your being. This is why we say moksha, or liberation, which is what constitutes “enlightenment” according to the scriptures, is from the apparent individual person, not for the apparent individual person." ~T. Schmidt Edited June 12, 2018 by Anna1 “You don’t have problems; you are the problem.” – Swami Chinmayananda Namaste ? ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted June 12, 2018 @Anna1 Nice! Are you calling a premature claim of enlightenment as enlightenment sickness? I agree that a truly enlightened person wont have this issue There's Only One Truth! My book on Enlightenment and Non Duality https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BHWCP7H Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted June 13, 2018 (edited) I forgot to reference my source, I've now added him (Ted Schmidt-Vedanta teacher) 1 hour ago, Saumaya said: Are you calling a premature claim of enlightenment as enlightenment sickness? Essentially, yes. So, If Self-realization occurs without assimilation, then the ego will re-appear after the experience (or actually non-experience) and claim "it" had an experience of the absolute. When the non-experience really showed "it" (ego) is an illusion. If it doesn't realize there is more work (assimilation of Self knowledge), then it (ego) may think it's enlightened...may even hang a sign and start teaching! Lol. Once Self-knowledge is fully assimilated then it's fully understood that moksha/liberation/enlightenment is FROM the apparent person. Although, awareness will continue to be "associated" with the apparent person. Edited June 13, 2018 by Anna1 “You don’t have problems; you are the problem.” – Swami Chinmayananda Namaste ? ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted June 13, 2018 21 minutes ago, Anna1 said: Essentially, yes. So, If Self-realization occurs without assimilation, then the ego will re-appear after the experience (or non-experience) and claim "it" had an experience of the absolute. When the non-experience really showed "it" (ego) is an illusion. If it doesn't realize there is more work (assimilation of Self knowledge), then it (ego) may think it's enlightened...may even hang a sign and start teaching! Lol. Once Self-knowledge is fully assimilated then it's fully understood that moksha/liberation/enlightenment is FROM the apparent person. Although, awareness will continue to be "associated" with the apparent person. Got it. Can you recommend some books on vedanta and zen? There's Only One Truth! My book on Enlightenment and Non Duality https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BHWCP7H Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted June 13, 2018 6 minutes ago, Saumaya said: Got it. Can you recommend some books on vedanta and zen? I have no background in Zen, but Vedanta books for Westerners- "Self-knowledge- The King of Secrets" by Ted Schmidt And "How to obtain enlightenment" by James Swartz James and Ted also have a free "full series" of Vedanta teaching on Youtube. I'm not pushing this on anyone, so please don't think that. It's just my background and if your so inclined to look into then, so be it. Peace♡ “You don’t have problems; you are the problem.” – Swami Chinmayananda Namaste ? ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted June 13, 2018 @Anna1 There is no such thing as the experiance of reality. Reality just is. If you believe there is an enlightened self experiencing reality, you're not enlightened. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted June 13, 2018 (edited) 7 minutes ago, cetus56 said: @Anna1 There is no such thing as the experiance of reality. Reality just is. If you believe there is an enlightened self experiencing reality, you're not enlightened. First off, are you calling awareness/consciousness reality? Second, I called it a non-experience. Third, I don't believe there is an elightened self (ego), that's the point of my post. Perhaps you don't understand what I wrote? Edited June 13, 2018 by Anna1 “You don’t have problems; you are the problem.” – Swami Chinmayananda Namaste ? ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted June 13, 2018 2 minutes ago, Anna1 said: Third, I don't believe there is an elightened self (ego), that's the point of my post. @Anna1 I see exactly what your saying. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted June 13, 2018 1 minute ago, cetus56 said: @Anna1 I see exactly what your saying. Cool, I'll be more then happy to clarify if not. “You don’t have problems; you are the problem.” – Swami Chinmayananda Namaste ? ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted June 13, 2018 @Anna1 Not necessary. If you read what I said you will see that I totally agree with you. Let me rephrase it. If there is someone who thinks they are enlightened, they are not enlightened. Would you agree? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted June 13, 2018 Just now, cetus56 said: @Anna1 Not necessary. If you read what I said you will see that I totally agree with you. Let me rephrase it. If there is someone who thinks they are enlightened, they are not enlightened. Would you agree? Agreed! “You don’t have problems; you are the problem.” – Swami Chinmayananda Namaste ? ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted June 13, 2018 (edited) @Joseph Maynor When did I say I'm enlightened? Seems you've missed the whole point of the post! Sounds like you have many judgements. None of which are my problem. Up until today, I had another poster following me around the forum proclaiming "he" was enlightened, but that wasn't me! I'm glad to be on my own. Edited June 13, 2018 by Anna1 “You don’t have problems; you are the problem.” – Swami Chinmayananda Namaste ? ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted June 13, 2018 (edited) @pluto Yes, awareness under the spell of ignorance, that has "seemingly" forgotten it's own true nature, playing hide and seek with itself. It's the only game in town..lol. Edited June 13, 2018 by Anna1 “You don’t have problems; you are the problem.” – Swami Chinmayananda Namaste ? ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted June 13, 2018 Some more good stuff from Ted- "Self-realization happens the moment you apprehend your true nature as limitless conscious existence. Self-actualization (assimilation ) is the unshakable conviction that your true nature is limitless conscious existence. This conviction occurs as the result of nididhyasana, which is a process of continuous meditation on the teachings of Vedanta and the apprehension of your true nature to which they inevitably lead. After the initial realization/apprehension of the true nature of the self, you must engage in nididhyasana until such time as you are as thoroughly and unshakably convinced that you are limitless conscious existence as you one were that you were the body-mind-sense complex with which you are associated" “You don’t have problems; you are the problem.” – Swami Chinmayananda Namaste ? ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted June 13, 2018 12 hours ago, Saumaya said: Got it. Can you recommend some books on vedanta and zen? If you have awakened then why do u still read those books? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted June 13, 2018 24 minutes ago, Ether said: If you have awakened then why do u still read those books? I dont need to. These authors seem interesting. There's Only One Truth! My book on Enlightenment and Non Duality https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BHWCP7H Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted June 13, 2018 11 minutes ago, Saumaya said: I dont need to. These authors seem interesting. How is living life awakened? Tell me about emotions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted June 13, 2018 16 minutes ago, Ether said: How is living life awakened? Tell me about emotions. As i said in my post enlightenment thread: Emotions come and go but there is no one to be identified with them There is no psychological suffering Honestly I do have thoughts and emotions but I am so disindentified with them that I rarely notice them. I dont have any ups and downs. Even if I cry, I am not really crying. The disindentification comes with lifelong contentment. Even if I do have emotions, as they rarely come, the default state stays as contentment. There's Only One Truth! My book on Enlightenment and Non Duality https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BHWCP7H Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
