unconditional love, regardless of others' ignorance

Originally Posted by Xan

Yes... I call this the mind's backlash. It returns to the old familiar patterns, which gradually diminish.

Some aspects of the mind get transformed like this, and others just fade away without your noticing... until one day you realize, "Hey! I haven't done _______ for a long while!"

Well that's very good news.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by Charliemcsnarly

I do speak for myself, but I also ask for guidance. I don't know what the truth about Enlightenment is.

Well, there's a hundred people trying to TELL you ay?

Originally Posted by Gem

Well, there's a hundred people trying to TELL you ay?

Hehe, yes, there are.

But it's ok, I use it to incite contemplation, rather than believe concepts.

Greetings..

Originally Posted by Jyotir

Enlightenment is not ambiguous or arbitrary in the sense that it is a general tendency of Nature, an incessant universal process available to all constituents - the evolution of consciousness. It is subjective however, in its specific manifestations as experience within individual lives. When objective comparisons or definitions are attempted to be imposed on this phenomenon, it does create the appearance of arbitrariness or ambiguity, when in fact - all individual enlightenments are simply unique in terms of quality, 'degree', and timing.


~ J

You have demonstrated the ambiguous and arbitrary nature of enlightenment, and tried to disclaim it.. you start out saying what enlightenment is not, then describe it as what you say it is not..

Enlightenment is a belief, a word used to describe a shift in consciousness and understanding, a realization of expanded awareness, but.. it is the contents of consciousness and understanding that affect the actuality of existence..

Be well..

[Jyotir]

Originally Posted by Jyotir

Enlightenment is not ambiguous or arbitrary in the sense that it is a general tendency of Nature, an incessant universal process available to all constituents - the evolution of consciousness. It is subjective however, in its specific manifestations as experience within individual lives. When objective comparisons or definitions are attempted to be imposed on this phenomenon, it does create the appearance of arbitrariness or ambiguity, when in fact - all individual enlightenments are simply unique in terms of quality, 'degree', and timing.

Originally Posted by TzuJanLi

Enlightenment is a belief, a word used to describe a shift in consciousness and understanding, a realization of expanded awareness, but.. it is the contents of consciousness and understanding that affect the actuality of existence

Hi TzuJanLi,

If I understand what you are saying, imo, these represent the same thing and are not mutually exclusive.

~ J

Originally Posted by Charliemcsnarly

Hehe, yes, there are.

But it's ok, I use it to incite contemplation, rather than believe concepts.

You mean you see the participation of others as an encouragement to personal expansion rather than as a disturbance that must be controlled?

Amazing!

Originally Posted by Humm

You mean you see the participation of others as an encouragement to personal expansion rather than as a disturbance that must be controlled?

Amazing!

Haha.

I've actually come to find the mix of opinions and personalities on this forum quite a beautiful thing. It wouldn't be the same without Tzu disagreeing with Xan or Gem telling you not to buy into any of it.

Originally Posted by Charliemcsnarly

Haha.

I've actually come to find the mix of opinions and personalities on this forum quite a beautiful thing. It wouldn't be the same without Tzu disagreeing with Xan or Gem telling you not to buy into any of it.

You, my friend, are quite an enlightened individual.

Originally Posted by Humm

You, my friend, are quite an enlightened individual.

Haha, well I don't know about that. I'm sure it won't be long before someone catches me in a bad mood and presses my buttons.

Originally Posted by Charliemcsnarly

Haha, well I don't know about that. I'm sure it won't be long before someone catches me in a bad mood and presses my buttons.

With your attitudes I think you are a pretty safe bet.