What is Enlightenment?

[jonesboy]

Originally Posted by RyanWind

Well no that is not Buddhism. Must be some other "guru's" teachings. I've never heard of spiritual or religious teachings that mention the "nervous system."

The term "nervous system" is from biology and is the network of nerve cells and fibers that transmits nerve impulses between parts of the body. But then anything goes as far as what people teach.

They all do Ryan.

The sushumi, the central channel or Lung in Tibetan being Buddhism are all examples of the central nervous system.

Energy practices are common in various traditions.

[RyanWind]

Originally Posted by running

bliss and silence. That is the real. That is the only common denominator. And part that matters.

Well everybody can follow any path they want. I would say the opposite. Experience is worthless, silence is worthless, bliss is worthless. What matters is how you treat others and yourself. In the end, all that will matter is if you created suffering in yourself and others or eliminated suffering in yourself and others.

Unconditional love, selflessness is the only common denominator.

But really if you are a true path, you become selfless, more caring and compassionate, full of non-judgement, empathy love etc. So one doesn't give up one for the other. Silence can be lack of ego, or some experience someone selfishly seeks..so it's really up to the person what they get out of teachings.

[RyanWind]

Originally Posted by jonesboy

They all do Ryan.

The sushumi, the central channel or Lung in Tibetan being Buddhism are all examples of the central nervous system.

Energy practices are common in various traditions.

Oh I don't follow Tibetan Buddhism. Has no appeal to me. That's where the belief in a "rainbow body" comes from too. I stick with Zen and Buddha's words pretty much as far as Buddhism goes. So yea no "nervous system" stuff.

[jonesboy]

Originally Posted by RyanWind

Oh I don't follow Tibetan Buddhism. Has no appeal to me. That's where the belief in a "rainbow body" comes from too. I stick with Zen and Buddha's words pretty much as far as Buddhism goes. So yea no "nervous system" stuff.

Tibetan Buddhism is tantric, zen like a few other traditions is Mahayana based.

It believes in direct transmission of the natural state a bypassing of needing to do any energy practices. Yet still a very direct use of energy.

Yes many traditions believe in a rainbow body or the different Buddha bodies.

Daoism believes in becoming an immortal for example.

I don't think you really understand what the vajra body represents.

[running]

Originally Posted by RyanWind

Well everybody can follow any path they want. I would say the opposite. Experience is worthless, silence is worthless, bliss is worthless. What matters is how you treat others and yourself. In the end, all that will matter is if you created suffering in yourself and others or eliminated suffering in yourself and others.

Unconditional love, selflessness is the only common denominator.

But really if you are a true path, you become selfless, more caring and compassionate, full of non-judgement, empathy love etc. So one doesn't give up one for the other. Silence can be lack of ego, or some experience someone selfishly seeks..so it's really up to the person what they get out of teachings.

Sure. I waz speaking about what they all have in common. Weather that has value or not is up to the person. Being right and living right. To specific standards is your way. Perhaps start a thread on rightiousness. Im not being sarcastic its just why such a long conversation about what is enlightenment? When your interest is in rightiousness.

The bliss and silence is non judgemental. And makes being compassionate and so on much easier. Cause the power of the shakti and the silence in the mind are always bringing one into joy and contentment through like a gravitational pull. Being centered in the heart probably has a lot to do with its development. But what is right is a matter of the mind through its programming of conditions. Imo

[Gemcrusader]

It is about desire, longing, for the desire for a thing in the belief it will make one happy.

At some point, also after enlightenment, one has to do stuff. Now for reaching enlightenment ego disattachment is crucial. A desire isnt said to make one happy but simply what somebody wants to do.

[django]

Originally Posted by jonesboy

They all do Ryan.

The sushumi, the central channel or Lung in Tibetan being Buddhism are all examples of the central nervous system.

Energy practices are common in various traditions.

The central nervous system is the brain and spinal cord, it is the physical level, while the sushumna is a subtle channel, not physical, it cannot be seen by x-rays or on the operating table or post mortem as the brain and spinal cord can be. Lung is a Tibetan reference to an energy that can flow in the subtle channels, translated as 'wind', again Lung is subtle, and cannot be seen on the physical level.

[django]

Originally Posted by RyanWind

Well everybody can follow any path they want. I would say the opposite. Experience is worthless, silence is worthless, bliss is worthless. What matters is how you treat others and yourself. In the end, all that will matter is if you created suffering in yourself and others or eliminated suffering in yourself and others.

Unconditional love, selflessness is the only common denominator.

But really if you are a true path, you become selfless, more caring and compassionate, full of non-judgement, empathy love etc. So one doesn't give up one for the other. Silence can be lack of ego, or some experience someone selfishly seeks..so it's really up to the person what they get out of teachings.

Experience, silence, bliss, they can all be driven by ego and attachment, and they can all continue to feed the ego, so I agree they are not an indicator of enlightenment or spiritual attainment.

To me enlightenment would have to include unconditional love and profound intuitive knowledge though.

[Gemcrusader]

Im basicly referring to when the guru feels a true connection with a "student". I agree they should not seek for sexual pleasures with students. And yes can simply let sexual energy pass by. But the same goes for a normal job.
I read it all also a bit as in a seeker should not eat meat and such. Which isnt true as well.

[lemex]

Originally Posted by Krosser

I just want to see your definitions of it.

You should be enlightened in what you have heard. This is a living example, can you relate to it. There are levels and all is enlightenment, yes or no.

Here's something you may want to do. Begin a journal and date it. Write what you see today. Return 20 years later and rewrite the subject written about before with a new date and then compare. And repeat.