What does Awakening mean (in your opinion)?

Seems there are a thousand variations of people saying they are Ascended/Awakened/Enlightened on this Board.

What is your version?

[IndigoGeminiWolf]

It could mean you have realized your true self. Or it could mean that you're aware of duality of existence.

[LonLon]

I think it means you're truly on your own.
By realizing how much others help you be who you are.
By not seeking any social recognitions in order to prove something to others.
So you're only "doing your part" (=being yourself) and only in that sense you are on your own IMO (look at Nature).


In this physical world, people can prove to others that they're independent by making a lot of money, having a house to live in, being healthy and so on. Not needing much help from others can be their greatest evidence of their independence.

Yet on the contrary to their belief, the reality can be that they may be merely failing to realize making a lot of money and staying healthy themselves aren't enough; in order to allow you to make your own living, there's the system which makes people engage in different activities to sustain a prison's life so that you won't be needing to carry water when your job is writing a novel, for an example. As Buddhist would tell you, it's about interdependency and interconnectedness.


So I guess it can mean it's all about gratitude and love, may not even involve things about your own self!
.

[Unseeking Seeker]

Originally Posted by IndigoGeminiWolf

It could mean you have realized your true self. Or it could mean that you're aware of duality of existence.

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[iamthat]

Originally Posted by janielee

Seems there are a thousand variations of people saying they are Ascended/Awakened/Enlightened on this Board.

What is your version?

Perhaps these people on this Board who say they are Ascended/Awakened/Enlightened would be willing to share their experiences and realisations.

Then we might understand why they consider themselves to be Ascended/Awakened/Enlightened.

Peace.

[Miss Hepburn]

I only use the word Awaken or Awakening...'She had an Awakening.'
'To Awaken is the bomb!'
Using 'Awakened' is tricky cuz you can fall back asleep!!!
Having an Awakening usually means one has been graced with
Cosmic Consciousness for 'awhile', their eyes have been opened to Reality....or to
what this place really is....hahaha, 'Not What It Seems' ...LOL!!!
The Doors of Perception were opened for them for a time...long enough to change them forever.



Next episode: We may talk about what was perceived when the Doors were opened! LOL!!!!

[Anala]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

I only use the word Awaken or Awakening...'She had an Awakening.'
'To Awaken is the bomb!'
Using 'Awakened' is tricky cuz you can fall back asleep!!!
Having an Awakening usually means one has been graced with
Cosmic Consciousness for 'awhile', their eyes have been opened to Reality....or to
what this place really is....hahaha, 'Not What It Seems' ...LOL!!!
The Doors of Perception were opened for them for a time...long enough to change them forever.


Next episode: We may talk about what was perceived when the Doors were opened! LOL!!!!

Anxiously awaiting the next episode! I was just thinking about the new experiences and wondering, what does it all mean and then, it can’t keep going on this amazing pace forever.

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

I only use the word Awaken or Awakening...'She had an Awakening.'
'To Awaken is the bomb!'
Using 'Awakened' is tricky cuz you can fall back asleep!!!
Having an Awakening usually means one has been graced with
Cosmic Consciousness for 'awhile', their eyes have been opened to Reality....or to
what this place really is....hahaha, 'Not What It Seems' ...LOL!!!
The Doors of Perception were opened for them for a time...long enough to change them forever.



Next episode: We may talk about what was perceived when the Doors were opened! LOL!!!!

Yes please do if you wish, Miss H!

Another interesting thing is that many people have had experiences and seem to equate that with realization.

If it comes and goes, if it was an experience, is that a genuine transformation, an Awakening?

I am curious ...

[Shivani Devi]

Originally Posted by janielee

Seems there are a thousand variations of people saying they are Ascended/Awakened/Enlightened on this Board.

What is your version?

When you say "what is YOUR version", you are quite correct because the ultimate spiritual state, Nirvikalpa (Nirbija) Samadhi is beyond perception and therefore cannot be spoken of in words.

One must descend back down into the Throat Chakra (Vishuddhi Chakra) and IF they are very "spiritually skilled" get to dwell in the Heart Chakra (Anahata) and have both centres of communication and unconditional love operating both dependently and also independently, so as not to get caught up in Dvaita thus creating even more samskaras again.

As Patanjali one said: Chitti Vritti Nirodha. It is the cessation of associations with the fluctuations of consciousness.

Thus, I exist as the observer of my own actions and I get to consciously choose WHEN and HOW to react, instead of responding emotionally without intellect - However, BHAKTI YOGA being the ONLY exception to this rule, of course.

My "definition" of enlightenment? Allow me to get practical.

It is when you are so full of Divine Grace, that you are totally and completely satisfied, happy and wanting nothing more...not EVEN others to experience it.

Somehow, empathy goes to that same place EGO does...Now, exactly where and when was that again? (be back in a few hours...going to Astrally explore the Multiverse at a quantum, fractal level and then, work my way back).

Enlightened is being able to shrug off criticism like water off a duck's back.

"I KNOW I am not what they are believing about me, so why should I get upset about what another actually believes about me when it is NOT true? or should I educate them and then follow it up with a Shaktipat transmission?...Nope, they aren't quite ready for that yet" (...goes and reads the Akashic Records for a while and then discusses their contents with the Goetia and the Great White Brotherhood).

I could go on... Maybe later I will.

[Unseeking Seeker]

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The square root of minus one being an abstraction, ironically being ‘i’, we may just sigh at the impossibility of the subset of the set holographically conceptualising by intellectualising what lies beyond the set.

When the self as in self of thought of separateness dissolves in the boundless sea of Oneness awareness, there remains no difference between awakened in-form consciousness and formless being-ness.

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