The Illusory Nature of Enlightenment

[ZoweeZoe]

Is some ways, Enlightenment is what it is not. 

I am writing this post because I am thinking of the several different posts I have seen in the past stating things such as: "You are not awakened"; "Nobody is awakened"; "Everyone is awakened"; "only X person is awakened"; etc. 

I don't resent these posts. Rather, I find them quite hilarious while tragic. 

The thing is, all of these ideas about Enlightenment are correct, but not right among themselves. I think Enlightenment is a constant state of being something which knows it cannot be recognized. If you think you are enlightened, you are not enlightened. If you think you are not enlightened, you are enlightened. 

I think these things are reminders that while enlightenment is real, it can't be realized. I believe the best course of action to take in these circumstances is to not accept any of these idealizations as they are, but for what they are not. Even what I am saying.

 

[Breakingthewall]

enlightenment, or awakening, is realizing what reality is. when it is said: no one is awake here, it is the truth, no one here has really fully realized what reality is. but we all tend to confuse learned wisdom with understanding, and to think that by a few interesting insights we have gotten to the bottom of everything. This is a problem because it prevents us from really advancing in something possible and real. here and now reality is, and you, and me, are that. we are veiled, blind to almost everything, and the work is to lift the veils and see directly and cleanly, without contaminating ideas, neither from Buddha nor from Leo or from anyone else. humility is important, and the realization that only you can open your eyes and see 

And, If you think that reality cannot be understood, you are  wrong. reality is you, and you can fully understand yourself. As soon as you really realize infinity, you will see that you can realize everything. You just have to break the first barrier, the ice crust of the lake, and start diving. the depth is infinite, but you don't need to dive infinitely to understand its structure

Edited May 12, 2023 by Breakingthewall

[ZoweeZoe]

39 minutes ago, Breakingthewall said:

enlightenment, or awakening, is realizing what reality is. when it is said: no one is awake here, it is the truth, no one here has really fully realized what reality is. but we all tend to confuse learned wisdom with understanding, and to think that by a few interesting insights we have gotten to the bottom of everything. This is a problem because it prevents us from really advancing in something possible and real. here and now reality is, and you, and me, are that. we are veiled, blind to almost everything, and the work is to lift the veils and see directly and cleanly, without contaminating ideas, neither from Buddha nor from Leo or from anyone else. humility is important, and the realization that only you can open your eyes and see 

And, If you think that reality cannot be understood, you are  wrong. reality is you, and you can fully understand yourself. As soon as you really realize infinity, you will see that you can realize everything. You just have to break the first barrier, the ice crust of the lake, and start diving. the depth is infinite, but you don't need to dive infinitely to understand its structure

I don't disagree with you. 

I think all I am trying to say is that sometimes people confuse conceptualizations of enlightenment for the real deal.

[Moksha]

1 hour ago, ZoweeZoe said:

I think all I am trying to say is that sometimes people confuse conceptualizations of enlightenment for the real deal.

Absolutely, there is no real deal. There is only the absolute gradually awakening to itself within its dream. When it is entirely awake (which it always is, despite appearances), there is nothing to be enlightened.

[Razard86]

Word salad. Until you awaken you are just guessing. Nothing wrong with that, but words not grounded in direct experience is just empty sophistry. 

[Inliytened1]

On 5/11/2023 at 9:32 PM, ZoweeZoe said:

Is some ways, Enlightenment is what it is not. 

I am writing this post because I am thinking of the several different posts I have seen in the past stating things such as: "You are not awakened"; "Nobody is awakened"; "Everyone is awakened"; "only X person is awakened"; etc. 

 

Awakening is ego death- and coming back.  So when someone says you ain't awake - it means you ain't died.   It's Absolute and finally.  There are no degrees.  God is God and omniscience is Absolute.   There are no degrees to omniscience.   You can understand reality In a flash but you can forget it even quicker.  The fool believes there are degrees to grasping God.  There cannot be because God is beyond the human grasp.   There is only becoming God.  But enlightenment is very real, even if we are only left with the memory.   God becomes God for a short time - the rest of his time is spent being that which is other than God.  It's much more spellbinding.  To God, being God is boring.  It is much more enticing to be mortal.  

Edited May 14, 2023 by Inliytened1

[Razard86]

20 hours ago, Inliytened1 said:

Awakening is ego death- and coming back.  So when someone says you ain't awake - it means you ain't died.   It's Absolute and finally.  There are no degrees.  God is God and omniscience is Absolute.   There are no degrees to omniscience.   You can understand reality In a flash but you can forget it even quicker.  The fool believes there are degrees to grasping God.  There cannot be because God is beyond the human grasp.   There is only becoming God.  But enlightenment is very real, even if we are only left with the memory.   God becomes God for a short time - the rest of his time is spent being that which is other than God.  It's much more spellbinding.  To God, being God is boring.  It is much more enticing to be mortal.  

Finally the voice of reasons returns. One of the few people even when I disagree with, it's only in semantics of communicating. You know the TRUTH, ever word you communicate is soaked deeply in direct experience. It's funny you can easily tell who is authentically true or not so easily and its funny how this simplicity is elusive to many on this forum. 

If people on this forum knew the wisdom you have they would be shooting you messages left and right. A privilege to read anything you post even when I disagree, a treat I rarely get to consume.

[Moksha]

On 5/14/2023 at 4:45 AM, Inliytened1 said:

There are no degrees.  God is God and omniscience is Absolute.   There are no degrees to omniscience.   You can understand reality In a flash but you can forget it even quicker.  The fool believes there are degrees to grasping God.  There cannot be because God is beyond the human grasp.   There is only becoming God.  But enlightenment is very real, even if we are only left with the memory.   God becomes God for a short time - the rest of his time is spent being that which is other than God.

Absolutely, there are no degrees ("There are no degrees to omniscience").

Relatively, there are infinite degrees of the absolute realizing itself within its dream ("You can understand reality In a flash but you can forget it even quicker").

[Yimpa]

1 hour ago, Moksha said:

Relatively, there are infinite degrees of the absolute realizing itself within its dream ("You can understand reality In a flash but you can forget it even quicker").

Imagine remembering something forever? That would be madness!