What is spiritual enlightenment?

[YmirGF]

So, you don't believe that Snow Monkeys are conscious?

Sometimes a pencil really is a pencil.

 

[Gambit]

So if a Buddhist attains a higher state of consciousness in meditation does that make them spiritually enlightened? That would seem to follow from your definition.

I believe Buddhists refer to this higher state of consciousness as "nirvana."

 

[Windwalker]

So, you don't believe that Snow Monkeys are conscious?

Sure, they're conscious. What does that have to do with discussing human enlightenment?

 

[Rick O'Shez]

I believe Buddhists refer to this higher state of consciousness as "nirvana."

So would you regard that as being "spiritually enlightened"?

 

[Gambit]

You said "You implied that the term "spiritually enlightenment" was a more meaningful concept than God."

I said enlightenment is being One with with God, Allah, your Buddha-nature, or who or what ever you trust or base your life on. Enlightenment is a result of your relationship with your faith not a concept above your faith or the God (or who/whatever) you believe in.

To someone who believes in God, God could be his enlightenment. I am saying being One with God becomes the enlightenment for that person.

Okay.

 

[Gambit]

Sure, they're conscious. What does that have to do with discussing human enlightenment?

We were discussing the illusion. Previously, you stated that "we" create the illusion of the world in our minds. How does the consciousness of my snow monkey play into this illusion? Do all sentient beings help to create the illusion of the world? Or, only human beings?

 

[LuisDantas]

You implied that the term "spiritually enlightenment" was a more meaningful concept than God.

Is there any doubt?

 

[Windwalker]

We were discussing the illusion. Previously, you stated that "we" create the illusion of the world in our minds. How does the consciousness of my snow monkey play into this illusion? Do all sentient beings help to create the illusion of the world? Or, only human beings?

The illusion is in the human mind because we create a symbolic framework of reality that we interact with the outside world through, and mistake the models in our heads to be reality itself. We are literally what we think, and unaware who we really are. Enlightenment is waking up to that condition.

Enlightenment for a human is to move beyond that illusion. Are monkeys "enlightened"? It doesn't really pertain to their state or condition. They are aware as they are aware. But are we aware as we can be aware, or are we just happy in the mentally created world and nothing more, sleeping as it were half-aware, half-awake?

 

[Gambit]

So would you regard that as being "spiritually enlightened"?

Maybe. To awaken from a dream presupposes a dreamer.

 

[Gambit]

Is there any doubt?

It would appear that there is no consensus on what spiritual enlightenment means.

 

[Gambit]

We are literally what we think, and unaware who we really are.

What does this mean?

 

[JRMcC]

Doesn't the meaning of "spiritual enlightenment" depend on which spiritual school of thought one is working with?
I would think that in Buddhism spiritual enlightenment is attaining Nirvana, or perhaps fully understanding the Buddha's teachings. In Kashmir Shaivism I think spiritual enlightenment would be understanding that the inner self is Shiva, while in the Advaita school of thought spiritual enlightenment is realizing that everything is Brahman. I agree that the term doesn't apply to Abrahamic religions for the most part. How's that?

 

[LuisDantas]

It would appear that there is no consensus on what spiritual enlightenment means.

Among other reasons, because there are those who want to define it in relation to God.

 

[LuisDantas]

Doesn't the meaning of "spiritual enlightenment" depend on which spiritual school of thought one is working with?
I would think that in Buddhism spiritual enlightenment is attaining Nirvana, or perhaps fully understanding the Buddha's teachings. In Kashmir Shaivism I think spiritual enlightenment would be understanding that the inner self is Shiva, while in the Advaita school of thought spiritual enlightenment is realizing that everything is Brahman.

There are those who believe that sufficiently advanced development of one's path allows one to realize some core truth that manifests and/or is taught in various forums, hence the various schools.

I subscribe to that idea to a point, because it must be noted that there are misguided schools as well.

I agree that the term doesn't apply to Abrahamic religions for the most part. How's that?

"For the most part" being the operative expression. There are authentic Dharmi in the Abrahamic religions. It just turns out that the religions themselves generally don't particularly encourage such practice.

 

[Gambit]

Doesn't the meaning of "spiritual enlightenment" depend on which spiritual school of thought one is working with?
I would think that in Buddhism spiritual enlightenment is attaining Nirvana, or perhaps fully understanding the Buddha's teachings. In Kashmir Shaivism I think spiritual enlightenment would be understanding that the inner self is Shiva, while in the Advaita school of thought spiritual enlightenment is realizing that everything is Brahman. I agree that the term doesn't apply to Abrahamic religions for the most part. How's that?

There's mysticism in all three of the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam).

 

[Aupmanyav]

Agreed. But if you're engaging in spiritual practices in order to achieve spiritual enlightenment, then you're engaging in mysticism.

Now, did I mention spirit/soul or mysticism? Spiritual has many definitions, one simply is 'not being limited just to materialism'.

 

[Aupmanyav]

It could mean being One with God, your Buddha-Nature (Buddha), the Goddess, the Mystic Law. Anything or one that helps you bring yourself to life's full self and what it (or He or She) offers you in return.

No It, God or Goddess is compulsorily necessary. It is simply not having or having answers to life that satisfy one. If there is no conflict in one's mind, and the person knows what to do in a particular situation, then life is happy, peaceful; and that person can be termed as 'enlightened', 'realized', 'having obtained nirvana' (not lost in a forest), 'mukta' (delivered from doubts), etc.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Do all sentient beings help to create the illusion of the world? Or, only human beings?

Yes, all sentient beings have illusions. A lion thinks of a deer or a lioness. A deer thinks of a expanse of grass and of course, a buck. Humans being the most imaginative have the maximum illusions. The same disadvantage can be turned into an advantage, because the humans can use their brains to get out of illusions. Of course, some people voluntarily like to remain with their illusions. Well, this is a free world. People can do whatever they like.

 

[Aupmanyav]

There's mysticism in all three of the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam).

My view, atheistic advaita, is totally bereft of mysticism.

 

[Gambit]

Among other reasons, because there are those who want to define it in relation to God.

Buddhists don't agree on what constitutes spiritual enlightenment.