what is enlightenment?

[sky]

Originally Posted by catsquotl

Not necessarily.
If I understand correctly he said that what he taught was the end of suffering.
I.E
The 4 Noble truths.
suffering, it's cause, its cessation, the path to it's cessation is what the Buddha taught.

Not what it was to be enlightened.

WIth Love
Eelco

According to Pali Cannon Suttas ' The Liberating insight ' which constituted the Awakening/ Enlightenment of Buddha are defined as ' The insight into the Four Noble Truths '.

A HANDFUL OF LEAVES
The Blessed One was once living at Kosambi in a wood of simsapa trees. He picked up a few leaves in his hand, and he asked the bhikkhus, ‘How do you conceive this, bhikkhus, which is more, the few leaves that I have picked up in my hand or those on the trees in the wood?

‘The leaves that the Blessed One has picked up in his hand are few, Lord; those in the wood are far more.’

‘So too, bhikkhus, the things that I have known by direct knowledge are more; the things that I have told you are only a few. Why have I not told them? Because they bring no benefit, no advancement in the Holy Life, and because they do not lead to dispassion, to fading, to ceasing, to stilling, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbana. That is why I have not told them. And what have I told you? This is suffering; this is the origin of suffering; this is the cessation of suffering; this is the way leading to the cessation of suffering. That is what I have told you. Why have I told it? Because it brings benefit, and advancement in the Holy Life, and because it leads to dispassion, to fading, to ceasing, to stilling, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbana. So bhikkhus, let your task be this: This is suffering; this is the origin of suffering; this is the cessation of suffering; this is the way leading to the cessation of suffering.’

[Samyutta Nikaya, LVI, 31]

[Taking a Break]

Hi, I believe statistically far too less people are enlightened, so I'm waiting/looking/searching for a revolutionized enlightenment or kundalini awakening program/course, anybody know something?

[jonesboy]

Originally Posted by Taking a Break

Hi, I believe statistically far too less people are enlightened, so I'm waiting/looking/searching for a revolutionized enlightenment or kundalini awakening program/course, anybody know something?

What is your current practice? Do you feel energy now within your practice?

[Taking a Break]

I did Transcendental Meditation on and off the past 15 years but now I'm like a little boat lost at sea.........

[Rain95]

This is a great topic and lots of great insightful posts.
Here is the philosopher Immanuel Kant's (1724 – 1804) definition.

Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use one's understanding without guidance from another. This immaturity is self-imposed when its cause lies not in lack of understanding, but in lack of resolve and courage to use it without guidance from another. Sapere Aude! [dare to know] "Have courage to use your own understanding!"—that is the motto of enlightenment. Kant

Kant's definition actually fits with Zen's definition:

In the Zen Buddhist tradition, satori refers to the experience of kenshō, "seeing into one's true nature". ... Satori and kenshō are commonly translated as enlightenment.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satori

[sentient]

Thank you Rain95

From
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satori

This is beautiful, got to love these Zen poems:

A thunderclap under the clear blue sky
All beings on earth open their eyes;
Everything under heaven bows together;
Mount Sumeru leaps up and dances.

*

[Taking a Break]

Free Books http://atmavarta.com/books/

Kundalini-Tantra - Swami Satyananda Saraswati

Methods of Awakening
Chapter 5 page 30

According to the tantras, kundalini can be awakened by various methods which can be practiced individually or in combination.

However, the first method cannot be practiced, because it is awakening by birth.

The second method of awakening kundalini is through steady regular practice of mantra.

The third method of awakening is tapasya, which means the performance of austerities. Tapasya is an act of purification.

The fourth method of awakening is through the use of specific herbs. For this reason, aushadhi is a very risky and unreliable method.
The fifth method of inducing awakening is through raja yoga and the development of an equipoised mind.

The sixth method of awakening kundalini is through pranayama.

The seventh method of inducing awakening is kriya yoga. It is the most simple and practical way for modern day man as it does not require confrontation with the mind.

This eighth method of awakening kundalini through tantric initiation is a very secret topic. Only those people who have transcended passions, and who understand the two principles of nature, Shiva and Shakti, are entitled to this initiation.

The ninth method of awakening is performed by the guru. It is called shaktipat.

We have discussed the nine established methods of awakening kundalini, but there is a tenth way - don't aspire for awakening. Let it happen if it happens: "I am not responsible for the awakening, nature is accomplishing everything. I accept what comes to me." This is known as the path of self-surrender, and in this path, if you have a strong enough belief that your kundalini will indeed awaken, twenty thousand years can pass in the twinkling of an eye and kundalini will awaken instantly.

[Samana]

.

To find out more about what the Buddha said about enlightenment (Nibbana), I recommend reading (including the Introduction) "The Island - An Anthology of the Buddha’s Teachings on Nibbana" by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro.

Here's a link to the PDF of the Book:

https://cdn.amaravati.org/wp-content...pdate_2015.pdf


With metta,

Sam _/|\_

.

Thanks Sam.

Nice to see a Buddhist on this forum - you have a really nice presence.

Thank you for this link:

It is the Unformed, the Unconditioned, the End,
the Truth, the Other Shore, the Subtle,
the Everlasting, the Invisible, the Undiversified,
Peace, the Deathless, the Blest, Safety,
the Wonderful, the Marvellous,
Nibbæna, Purity, Freedom,
the Island,
the Refuge, the Beyond.
~ S 43.1-44

Having nothing,
clinging to nothing:
that is the Island,
there is no other;
that is Nibbæna, I tell you,
the total ending of ageing and death.
~ SN 1094

Beautiful

Anjali,

janielee