|
This is just my opinion, well before that, I'd say a heck of a lot of incarnations is how/why he got enlightenment! (But then do we really know objectively without opinion or belief what enlightenment actually is?)
But yea we have this concept of arriving somewhere, this best and final state, and really that is probably not true at all. Reaching the state where we don't need an incarnation in a human body anymore to learn something is pretty low on the "spiritual" scale in my view. Earth, incarnations, is for beginners. Anyone still incarnating in an animal body is a beginner of sorts. In the big picture. Also, the idea the step out of human, animal, identification is some kind of final step? In the evolution of consciousness? A max state in awareness in intelligence and understanding? A max state in the understanding and skill in working and creating with energies that exist? Very unlikely. "Enlightenment" for some consciousness in an animal body would be a beginning step, not a final one.
But back to the topic at hand, the story of Buddha is very important in a few details. A very important point is the fact he lived as an acetic. This is basically wanting to be "spiritual" so bad, one pursues it focused like a laser beam. Extreme fasting and living conditions. Wanting nothing else besides enlightenment and willing to do anything for it. Give up all possessions and comfort. Siddhartha did that. Gave up his life as a rich prince. Then one day it clicked in him..... this was not working, not the way.
Think of that, if seeking enlightenment with your whole heart and mind was not the way, not enough, what was? This is where Siddhartha gave up the path and by doing so, found it. He gave up all his "spiritual" pursuits, concerns, and practices and worked on a river boat ferry. The issue was self concern. It is self generated conflict. Not loving ourselves and everything else unconditionally, as we are and this is. Change is a result of love and understanding, not effort. Effort is the creation of conflict. The "doing" seeking, desiring, wanting...are all delusional, ignorant in Buddhist terms.
We already have it and are it.....we are doing something that cuts us off from it... from enlightenment, from the source, and that thing is self centeredness. Siddhartha as an acetic was wholly concerned with self.
So to be enlightened is to love yourself and all others unconditionally. And also to give up all self concern, self interest, which is a very rare thing and difficult to do as we are programmed to do the opposite. To not judge. To be here now without generating one idea or feeling of it or now or me needing to be different in some way, some idea the present moment is not complete and perfect as it is...but then with an idea of judgement, mental interpretation, criticism, the now is not perfect... but then we made it that way.
|