The Experience of Life for Enlightened Beings: What Exactly is Enlightenment?
When we hear of enlightened beings, how do they experience life? What exactly is this enlightenment that brings such profound transformation and freedom? In this article, we will explore the concept of enlightenment and the remarkable life lived by those who have realized true wisdom and spiritual understanding.
Understanding Enlightenment
Enlightenment is more than just a philosophical idea or a spiritual concept; it is a profound and transformative experience. It is a sudden, non-conceptual, and visceral insight or revelation that dispels ignorance and shatters illusion, bringing clarity to who you are and the nature of reality. The insight instantly shatters the illusion of 'me' and the illusion of separation, leading to a life free of suffering, loneliness, boredom, anxiety, and regret.
The Three Kinds of Consciousness
To understand enlightenment, we need to explore the three different kinds of consciousness: thinking, feeling, and the ultimate enlightenment:
Thinking Consciousness
Thinking consciousness creates or realizes the external, impersonal reality of the physical universe. As we all know, this reality is experienced in a three-dimensional form because thinking itself is a form of three-dimensional consciousness.
Feeling Consciousness
Feeling consciousness creates or realizes the internal, personal reality of our sensations and emotions. Every feeling is characterized by two aspects: what kind it is and how strong it is. This reality is a two-dimensional reality because feeling is a form of two-dimensional consciousness.
Enlightened Consciousness
Enlightened consciousness creates or realizes the enlightened reality. This consciousness is transcendental and holistic, going beyond all the differences discovered by thinking consciousness. The enlightened reality is neither internal nor external, neither personal nor impersonal. Because it contains no differences, it has no parts or components, making it a pure, whole, and holistic reality.
Spiritual teachings often describe the enlightened state as an oneness of being. In enlightenment, the difference between consciousness and reality is lost, leading to a state where there is no difference between 'me' and 'you' or between your being and anyone else’s being. This oneness of being further emphasizes the interconnectedness of all beings with the divine.
Taking Steps Towards Enlightenment
While enlightenment is not something that can be forced or made to happen, there are actions one can take to increase the likelihood of achieving this state. Enlightenment is a state brought about by 1-dimensional consciousness, and the more time you spend engaged in 3-dimensional and 2-dimensional consciousness, the less probable enlightenment becomes.
Meditation
Meditation is a powerful tool to help you let go of 3-dimensional and 2-dimensional consciousness and cultivate 1-dimensional consciousness. By spending more time in meditation, you can reduce the time spent on thinking and feeling, which in turn increases the chance of experiencing the enlightening state. The key aim of meditation is to help you stop thinking and feeling, allowing you to engage in 1-dimensional consciousness and attain the state of enlightenment.
Overcoming the Wild Animal Analogy
It is often said that trying to become enlightened is like trying to feed a wild animal. Just as you can't force a wild animal to eat from your hand, you cannot make yourself enlightened. However, if you don't try, then enlightenment will never happen. Therefore, while you cannot make yourself enlightened, you can do things that make enlightenment more likely. The less time you spend in 3-dimensional and 2-dimensional consciousness, the more likely you become to experience 1-dimensional consciousness and the enlightened state.
Conclusion
Enlightenment is a transformative experience that brings an end to suffering and leads to a life of joy, fulfillment, peace, and contentment. While it is not something that can be forced, by understanding the three kinds of consciousness and making conscious choices, you can increase the likelihood of experiencing enlightenment. Meditation and mindfulness practices are key components on this journey towards a holistic and enlightened state of being.