ENLIGHTENED LIVING

[alanantic]

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

This is a really great thread !

A lot of people here have had a Glimpse, even long periods of that higher perspective. Some may be fully self-realized, and stick around to provide guidance. We're the bling men describing an elephant. When that thing we're discussing is by definition, beyond comprehension, The challenge takes on a whole new dimension! I also might add that any "discussions are between 2 beings hiding their Oneness to enjoy Shiva's dance. We "suspend our disbelief"! That gets me back to...isn't this Drama all an act of pretension?

Originally Posted by alanantic

Kinda makes ya think that talking in first person simply reinforces our sense of personal identity. If, we refer to our body/mind as something have as opposed to something we are, we have a better chance at "breaking the tie that binds"...

One way for the Jnani aspirant to approach it is the Karma Yoga practice of Work as Witness. That is in all action rest in that "space" of Witness vs. doer of action. That's why I also highly recommend practicing do nothing meditation because it familiarizes one with that "space".

Plus that goes beyond just thought and speech. For instance it applies to composing this post and anything and everything we do throughout the day. Of course it's a challenge to maintain that 24x7 but the more one practices the more it becomes second nature. In essence it's spiritualizing every aspect of life.

An equivalent practice for those more inclined to devotion is Work for God where all action is an offering in service of God.

As a practical consideration it's kind of clunky to speak in terms of this mind-body and that mind-body. When in Rome do as the Romans. Just Realize you're not a Roman. LOL!

[psychoslice]

Stop fooling yourself, you are already there, unless of course you don't want to be, then, keep playing the game, maybe one day you will get sick of it, and who knows, you might wake up. ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

[alanantic]

Originally Posted by psychoslice

Stop fooling yourself, you are already there, unless of course you don't want to be, then, keep playing the game, maybe one day you will get sick of it, and who knows, you might wake up. ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

Ah, Ma! I don't want to wake up! I just put another quarter in!

Originally Posted by psychoslice

Stop fooling yourself, you are already there, unless of course you don't want to be, then, keep playing the game, maybe one day you will get sick of it, and who knows, you might wake up. ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

If it was only so easy.

[Still_Waters]

QUOTE 51 EXCERPT:

Originally Posted by alanantic

I also might add that any "discussions are between 2 beings hiding their Oneness to enjoy Shiva's dance. We "suspend our disbelief"! That gets me back to...isn't this Drama all an act of pretension?

Not an "act of pretension" at all --- just a fun "role play" performance for those who can see relatively clearly.

As people approach physical death, however, the "role play" becomes less and less engaging for many and one welcomes getting off the stage and out of the "insane asylum". LOL

[Still_Waters]

Originally Posted by alanantic

Ah, Ma! I don't want to wake up! I just put another quarter in!

I too am enjoying the drama now ..... but there is indeed a foreseeable point at which enough is enough.

[alanantic]

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

QUOTE 51 EXCERPT:
As people approach physical death, however, the "role play" becomes less and less engaging for many and one welcomes getting off the stage and out of the "insane asylum". LOL

Yeah, I'm putting up a brave front. I'm a mess. My liver doctor says Ive got about 2-3 years... I can't wait!, actually. :-)

[NoOne]

Hi Uday,

Great topic.

I have some experience with enlightenment, though it is a term that is frequently misunderstood. Let me just dissect your original post and we may find some answers:

Enlightened Living

Who is “Enlightened” ???

Whom should you call Enlightened ???

What criteria should apply ???

Technically, the enlightened are those, that are filled with light. That is a hard concept to grasp, but easy once you have experienced what that means.

The real enlightened ones are the Devas, as they are made entirely of light. We can sort of approximate their shining countenance for short periods of time, some can maintain their "shining" as a permanent feature of life, those are the ones we know as saints, Boddhisattvas, etc...

I believe though, based on my own experience, that true enlightenment comes only after death, because the human body simply isn't capable of holding a being of light.

1. Anyone who is totally comfortable with himself and with the “Other” …… End of Dualism
2. Anyone who is totally comfortable with himself and with the “Rest of the World” …… End of Duality….
Such a person who does not experience any separation with the “Other” or with the “Rest of the World” would qualify to be called as “Enlightened”

It is indeed true, that in enlightenment, duality ceases. This is usually symbolised by the merging of Shiva and Shakti. It is when they meet that a person becomes light, when they really are nothing else. But, this causes one to exit the body and expand into infinity, to experience universal consciousness, boundlessness and a lack of separation.

Non-duality is again very hard to explain to someone who may not have experienced it, because language itself relies on duality. In a non-dual state, there is no language, there isn't even thought in the classical sense of the word. There is just knowing, which is instant and infinite. In non-duality a person is omniscient, but when he returns to his body, by necessity he must become dual again and he can only bring back so much of his experience of non-duality.

How does such a person Live ?......
How does such a person Act ?....
How does such a person React ?….

When in a physical body and in a normal state of consciousness, they must by necessity be pretty much like everyone else. But they do have the ability to remember their non-dual existence and some of the lessons they have brought back with them, so they can impart wisdom unto others. They can also access the light, to heal or to connect with higher beings. Some will have the ability to pass on the light to others, to fill them with light.

Sages have claimed that for such a person “Karma” ceases.

That is true. All the fruits of karma are burnt away by the fire and light that rises in enlightenment. A person is essentially dead and then reborn, as a newborn baby basically, with all their previous karma and attachments (gunas) wiped out. It is a very disconcerting experience and one is helpless like a baby at first.

How ?........ Because
Such a person performs only “What is needed” in any situation, be it with regards to “Others” or be it in respect of the “Rest of the World”……. Nothing more … nothing less. Hence, no positive or negative “Karma” accumulates..
Now the million dollar question is “How such a person knows, what is needed in any situation ?"
Well ! The answer is … “Such a person does not KNOW”…
Whatever needed to be done in any situation, just happens…

I would refer you to the Bhagavad Gita here and Krishna's teachings on non-attachment to one's actions. It's not that an enlightened person doesn't act or doesn't have wants or needs, it's that basically he doesn't care, he has no attachment to the outcome of his actions. He does things for their own sake, or out of an inner compulsion, following the guidance of a higher power, but has no skin in the game so to speak. Simply put, such people do not have fear, because whatever happens as a consequence of their actions is irrelevant.

At worst, they can die and that's ok, because they have seen death and been beyond it, much like people who have had profound NDE experiences. They know, not just intellectually, but as an unshakable conviction, a deep inner knowing, that they are immortal and that whatever happens with or to this body and in this reality is largely irrelevant. Sure, certain things need to happen, certain tasks need to be carried out, we all have a "mission" to fulfil, but this reality, this existence, this body is fleeting and temporary, here today, gone tomorrow.

Due to this, a person who has experienced enlightenment is essentially fearless and always calm, no matter what the situation.

[psychoslice]

Originally Posted by JustASimpleGuy

If it was only so easy.

The joke is, yes it is easy, unless you believe otherwise.