Actively Seeking Enlightenment

[YmirGF]

C. All paths lead to God.

P.S. Some paths are much shorter.

And if One is very wise and extremely fortunate they will get over their silly notions about "god". That's when the fun really starts.

 

[Storm]

Ok, for the sake of this thread I am going to consider "actively seeking enlightenment" a spiritual path.

My question is this: In your opinion, is actively seeking enlightenment

A.Exclusivist : There is one way to reach enlightenment (i.e. Only Buddhists will reach enlightenment)

B. Inclusivist : As long as you are actively seeking enlightenment (or whatever you call it i.e. True Will), you are on the right path (i.e. Buddhism, Luciferianism, Thelema, Hinduism, etc are all ways)

C. Pluralist : Any path you follow leads to enlightenment, whether it is through actively seeking paths or normal religious paths (aka all paths lead to god)

C, Pluralist.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

D. If you're seeking enlightenment, turn around; you're walking the wrong way.

 

[no-body]

Not really sure if any of the options are for me, I feel we already all are enlightened we just need to awake to that.

Paradoxically we must first seek enlightenment before realizing we must let the notion go as that too is a hindrance to enlightenment.

 

[theirreverentconcubine]

How Zen of you.

I know, huh? Somebody's channeling the Buddha.

 

[Engyo]

I fall somewhere between Inclusiveist and Exclusiveist as defined in the OP. I don't think only one group has it right, but I don't think ALL potential paths lead to enlightenment either.

 

[1137]

D. If you're seeking enlightenment, turn around; you're walking the wrong way.

Please explain.

 

[Me Myself]

Please explain.

I read it as: the act of seeking is what doesn´t let you realize you are already enlightened.

 

[1137]

I read it as: the act of seeking is what doesn´t let you realize you are already enlightened.

If we are already enlightened and need to realize it, we still must achieve the stage of being enlightened. It is the same exact thing. If we are already enlightened we still have to tap into that.

 

[theirreverentconcubine]

Please explain.

Reads like a return to the source from here. A lot of the channeling of the Buddha going on in this thread.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Hopefully that sun of understanding will shine sooner, rather than later. Good luck on the expiration date.

Ah, That explains the moldy smell.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Please explain.

People who pursue enlightenment never catch it because they're primarily interested in the pursuit of it.

 

[Me Myself]

If we are already enlightened and need to realize it, we still must achieve the stage of being enlightened. It is the same exact thing. If we are already enlightened we still have to tap into that.

Yes and no.

This is my take on it:

When you pursue something you generaly tend to imagine how getting it would feel like. So if you pursue enlightment, then yuo imagine how enlightment would feel like. Reality is that enlightment doesn´t feel like you imagine it. It feels like when you don´t imagine anything

In other words, enlightment would be about inaction, not action, not about "trying to get enlightened".

Of course this is mere conceptual understanding of the "path" that I am spouting. What conceptually makes sense to me. Someone saying the complete opposite may be nearer to enlightment than me or even already enlightened. This is because words are mere tools, fingers trying to point at the moon.

To some, the "stop seeking" works. To others, it becomes a activity to repress the seeking and they would be more inactive by simply letting the seeking to occur.

 

[theirreverentconcubine]

People who pursue enlightenment never catch it because they're primarily interested in the pursuit of it.

...which is a "return to the source" consideration.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

...which is a "return to the source" consideration.

Yeah, I don't know what that's supposed to mean, but sure, why not.

 

[theirreverentconcubine]

Yes and no.

This is my take on it:

When you pursue something you generaly tend to imagine how getting it would feel like. So if you pursue enlightment, then yuo imagine how enlightment would feel like. Reality is that enlightment doesn´t feel like you imagine it. It feels like when you don´t imagine anything

In other words, enlightment would be about inaction, not action, not about "trying to get enlightened".

Of course this is mere conceptual understanding of the "path" that I am spouting. What conceptually makes sense to me. Someone saying the complete opposite may be nearer to enlightment than me or even already enlightened. This is because words are mere tools, fingers trying to point at the moon.

To some, the "stop seeking" works. To others, it becomes a activity to repress the seeking and they would be more inactive by simply letting the seeking to occur.

My finger points at the equations for gravitation.

My tao is a back and forth kind of thing. Do stuff, then stop doing stuff; to evaluate the effect of doing stuff. The Buddha spoke much wisdom in this area.

 

[theirreverentconcubine]

Yeah, I don't know what that's supposed to mean, but sure, why not.

It's a Buddhist thing. Pay it no mind, if Buddha is unfamiliar.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

It's a Buddhist thing. Pay it no mind, if Buddha is unfamiliar.

Were you saying something?

 

[theirreverentconcubine]

Were you saying something?

Who?

 

[MoonGrizzly]

I believe all paths lead to some sort of enlightenment, but whether or not it is positive or negative and to what extent depends on his or her choices in life.