Enlightenment Is Not As Important As Illumination
Learn to be rather than just do
The word “Enlightenment” is tossed around loosely by many spiritual seekers and so-called spiritual teachers. Who is to say who is or isn’t enlightened? On a Wisdom Path, Enlightenment is a deep insight into the purpose and meaning of all things, including communication with or understanding of the mind of the Divine. This can be stretched to include the communication with or profound understanding of the creative force or a fundamentally changed consciousness whereby everything is perceived as a unity. In the East, words such as freedom from the mind, egolessness, knowledge of the truth, bliss, and pure love may be used synonymously with Enlightenment.
Many spiritual traditions agree that Enlightenment cannot be achieved by dogmatic beliefs, intellectual insight, rituals, ceremonies, or charitable acts alone. Enlightenment is clarity of thought and awareness so unique and profound as to be indescribable. It is physical existence beyond the material world in a thought-transcending realm of emptiness, non-duality, and unconditionedness. It is a state where ego, and the self, have been transcended. One might even say that Enlightenment takes place when one realizes the non-duality of the observer and the observed and where there is no suffering. In this state, the traditional reality is an illusion.
How does one actually become Enlightened? You don’t — Enlightenment happens. In Japanese, there is a word “satori” which describes a sudden flash of awareness or Understanding. If there is such a thing as an Enlightened Being, he or she surely knows who they are without assistance from the rest of us. Enlightenment is really a Western concept superimposed on teachers of great understanding and wisdom. In the Transmodern Zen community, where I am a teacher, we use the word “Awakened” instead. Many great Sages say that “the Enlightenment that can be described is not true Enlightenment.” Enlightenment simply “Is.” Whether a spiritual teacher is Enlightened is irrelevant to the conversation. Such a person likely has a full range of experiences many of which transcend ordinary ways of seeing and interacting with the world. In each of these experiences, there is the chance that a teacher is “Awakened” or simply working on self-improvement, and personal development.
A number of these experiences are understandable and accessible to all people. Peak experience, emotional ecstasy, and various altered states of consciousness are there for the embracing. Still, many of these experiences will never, ever be described accurately with words. They are beyond words and must be experienced in their essence.
Now illumination is much different!
Takeaway
Illumination, in the spiritual sense, is “turning on the light” of understanding concerning love, wisdom, and the sacred. Throughout the ages, people in every culture and religion have claimed some kind of revelation from God. When that pure wisdom deals with understanding and applying knowledge already given through spirit, we call it illumination.
Author: Lewis Harrison is an author, speaker, and seminar leader. He focuses on problem-solving, self-improvement, personal development, and sharing love with the world.
“I am the former host of a talk radio show on an NPR affiliated station in NY. I have a bottomless passion for the application of game theory in decision-making. My game theory/business website is AskLewisGameTheory.com.”
“I am always exploring trends, areas of interest, and solutions to build new stories upon. Again, if you have any ideas you would like me to write about just email me at [email protected]”.
The Book: The translation presented here from the Tao te Ching was arranged by Lewis Harrison (the author of this post).
Learn more about this translation and meta-analysis at:
……………..Lewis
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