What is spiritual enlightenment? You often hear the term
"enlightenment" in deep spiritual discussions, but it is almost
impossible to find anyone who can definitively say what
"enlightenment," "awakening," "union," or "self-realization"
actually entails. In fact, many religions differ as to their
proposals for the highest state of spiritual attainment -- which is
often called salvation, liberation or becoming one with God (union)
-- that often do not even include enlightenment, or they may simply
recognize it under a different name.
Enlightenment is the direct realization of our self-nature,
source essence, or true self. This awakening constitutes directly
experiencing the source and essence of reality, the original
dimension of equal identity where mind and matter are one because
you have found the ultimate underlying, true nature of all things.
Enlightenment means to directly, experientially realize that basic
substance of cosmic life where matter and consciousness are the
same substance, which then consequently opens up various powers and
a universal visage.
That transcendental source nature you discover is often called
God, Ein Sof, Allah, Brahman, dharmakaya, fundamental nature,
Buddha-nature, Tao, Emptiness or Self. Some of the secular
designations include Pure Consciousness, pristine awareness, one
mind, uncreated light, clear light or infinite universal
illumination to denote the fact that It is the ultimate substratum
that gives birth to the knowingness of manifest consciousness.
The way to this realization is through meditation and other
spiritual practices that teach you to stop clinging to states of
consciousness. You must always allow consciousness to arise, but
should not cling to thoughts to thus become a perfectly free,
effortless, natural and spontaneous individual. As your thoughts
quiet down because of this practice, your body's chakras and chi
channels will open up (you will experience a kundalini awakening)
and you will gradually stop identifying your body and mind as your
self. In time you can attain a pristine realization of selflessness
(a state absent of the ego, I-thought or sense of separate
"I-amness") that constitutes enlightenment.
Regardless of your religious tradition, when you diligently
cultivate spiritual practice you will gradually pass through many
transitional stages of progress and particular spiritual
experiences. These experiences can include special degrees of
one-pointed concentration (absorption) called dhyana and samadhi
attainments, which prepare you for enlightenment if you cultivate
far enough. Many religions, both Eastern and Western, describe
these possible achievements in great detail, and many such
experiences that are not enlightenment are analyzed within so that
practitioners do not incorrectly assume they have actually achieved
awakening when they have only experienced inferior attainments. The
various achievement levels to this awakening of self-realization
that are explained.
This book is the first of its kind to collect not only the rare
autobiographical and biographical accounts from many traditions of
individuals who achieved enlightenment (because it is a
non-denominational accomplishment), but also the relevant passages
in each tradition's scriptures that reveal the characteristics of
the original nature that everyone awakens to (such as perfect
purity, changelessness, infinity, eternality, and bliss). The
reader quickly comes to the conclusion that despite sectarian
differences, everyone is actually awakening to the very same thing.
It cannot be anything else The pathway to enlightenment is analyzed
using many different religious paths and frameworks. Many common
errors of spiritual practice and misinterpretations of spiritual
states are also revealed to help individuals become correctly
oriented so that they can attain enlightenment as well.
General
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