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Go Back   Spiritual Forums > Religions & Faiths > Buddhism

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  #21  
Old 11-12-2011, 08:42 PM
Xan Xan is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Funny How Time Flies
If they have a purpose, then they can't be enlightened.

I don't know where you got that idea, Funny, but eople do have a lot of preconceptions about what it means to be enlightened.

My suggestion: Work toward enlightenment yourself and as it unfolds, then see what it is and how you are in it.

In Sanskrit there's a term, "parabdhakarma", which means the fulfillment of your purpose in this world after enlightenment and Self realization.


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  #22  
Old 11-12-2011, 08:44 PM
Xan Xan is offline
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There have been many 'buddhas' - awakened ones - in the world, before and since the historical buddha. Let's not start treating him like the "only one" as some other religions do.


Xan
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  #23  
Old 11-12-2011, 10:24 PM
oliness
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Buddhas have a purpose - to liberate all sentient beings. Bodhisattvas have that same purpose, and also the will to become a Buddha in order that they may be able to liberate sentient beings. What they don't have are selfish purposes. Only altruistic ones. Buddhas no longer have selfish desire, but they do have the desire to free all beings from suffering.
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  #24  
Old 12-12-2011, 08:27 AM
Samana Samana is offline
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We can speculate endlessly with our opinions on these matters - but best of all is to study the historical Buddha's teachings, meditate, practice mindfulness and loving-kindness - and walk the path ourselves.

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  #25  
Old 15-12-2011, 07:31 AM
Funny How Time Flies
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xan
I don't know where you got that idea, Funny, but eople do have a lot of preconceptions about what it means to be enlightened.

My suggestion: Work toward enlightenment yourself and as it unfolds, then see what it is and how you are in it.

In Sanskrit there's a term, "parabdhakarma", which means the fulfillment of your purpose in this world after enlightenment and Self realization.


Xan

I did work towards enlightenment for years. Turned out I was working towards a myth.
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  #26  
Old 15-12-2011, 07:22 PM
Xan Xan is offline
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What do you mean by 'myth', Funny?

Do you mean you never experienced the silence of being?


Xan
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Go within, beloveds. Go deep within to the Heart of your Being.
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  #27  
Old 15-12-2011, 07:36 PM
oliness
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Funny How Time Flies
I did work towards enlightenment for years. Turned out I was working towards a myth.

Enlightenment as defined in Buddhism is the total elimination of all negative qualities from the mind. That cannot be a myth, it would be like saying that a clean mirror is a myth. It's possible that if we think it's a myth we have unrealistic expectations of how easy it is to gain realizations. Just as it takes time to do anything, whether it's learning a language or getting fit, spiritual realizations and full enlightenment is possible but will not happen overnight. The traditions speak of many lifetimes of discipline required to get there....
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  #28  
Old 15-12-2011, 08:11 PM
Xan Xan is offline
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In my view, enlightenment is a process of discovering the pure awareness that is beyond the thinking mind...
and surrendering the false identity, including both negative and positive beliefs about oneself, into that beingness.


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