Enlightenment

Summary

The author reflects on their complex relationship with the concept of Enlightenment, grappling with cultural identity, personal skepticism, and the commercialization and appropriation of Buddhist principles.

Abstract

Lucy, known as The Eggcademic, discusses her struggle to understand Enlightenment and Nirvana, despite her Buddhist upbringing. She admits to rejecting religion in the past and only passively engaging with Buddhist traditions. Although she speaks about mindfulness, a concept revisited through therapy, she does so with hesitation, recognizing it as a religious principle repackaged for broader consumption. Lucy critiques the irony and glibness of using Buddhist concepts like Enlightenment in Western contexts, such as advertising and political rhetoric, which often erase the origins and true meanings of these ideas. She expresses concern about speaking over authentic voices and the misuse of Buddhist values. Ultimately, she calls for personal reflection on these issues, acknowledging the prompt by Diana C. for pushing her to articulate these thoughts.

Opinions

The author feels unqualified to speak about Enlightenment and Nirvana due to her tenuous connection to Buddhist values.
She is critical of the way mindfulness has been commercialized and detached from its religious roots.
The author is wary of contributing to the cultural appropriation of Buddhist concepts in Western society.
She acknowledges a personal tension between her cultural identity and her reluctance to fully embrace Buddhist teachings.
Lucy is concerned about the dilution and misuse of Buddhist concepts in various sectors, including advertising, home decor, vegan food naming, and political discourse.
She emphasizes the importance of individuals reflecting on their use and understanding of these concepts to avoid perpetuating appropriation.

Poetry Prompt: Enlightenment

Photo by Callum Parker on Unsplash; filmed in Hong Kong

I know not of Enlightenment nor Nirvana, so when a fluttering carrier pigeon dropped this mission on parchment, I tucked it away for recycling.

My family is Buddhist though in coping with adversity, I fiercely denied religion, so I have adopted, in passing, the motions of a few traditions having yet to truly embrace its values.

Even when I speak about mindfulness, a concept reconnected through therapy, I hesitate.

A religious concept stripped without context, introduced to me as a panacea for anxiety partially formed from being constantly stripped away from my roots, for fitting into but not belonging to a world that says you are not one of us seemed sour, ironic, glib.

So I cannot yet speak in my true ignorance about Enlightenment nor Nirvana, regardless of my cultural identity as someone brought up within Buddhism,

but I can voice up on my reflections about Enlightenment: yet another concept stolen, packaged and commercialized — origins erased.

I can voice up on my fears of speaking over those who have embraced these values throughout their history and culture, and for approving — through silence — the misuse of these concepts in ads, home decor, vegan food names, the intentional appropriation of Buddhist values for political purposes by American poets.

I can voice up, and urge you into your own reflections, for you to do the same.

Lucy (The Eggcademic) wants to thank 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘊. for this week’s prompt, one that really pushed her beyond her existing boundaries, that threaded together a few of her past thoughts, reflections and poetry into one culminating piece.