Where to start? I came to this forum because I wanted to record and share some of my thoughts at the moment, and they do not fully fall under the SFQ format. Then I saw this thread and read the many ideas. I won't try and address all the great ideas here or even make the appropriate linkages to previous authors, although many of my thoughts echo theirs.
I'll start by trying to focus on several of my thoughts that stem from the original post, and we'll see where I end up.
First, I'm not search I really know what enlightenment is. I've read from different traditions and there seems to be some commonalities in the qualities of people of wisdom / knowledge / enlightenment. However, there are also significant differences between the ideas of how the universe works and how we relate to it and how we get to this pinacle level in these traditions. The science side of me favours the commonalities in these teachings. It also seeks a prespective that can embrace all the apparent differences, as merely different aspects or experience of underlying commonalities. To find and understanding that accepts the variants as natural possibilities.
I don't consider myself as a seeker of enlightenment, but perhaps I am. I see a lot of people traveling my way that say they are. I am seeking something, I'm not quite sure what it is. I have some ideas about what it may be, or how I might experience it.
I wasn't seeking anything except to create more happiness in my life, when I did have one of those WOW-life-isn't-what-I-thought-it-was experiences. It has changed my perspective on the universe and myself. But I didn't decide enlightenment was what I must achieve. Shortly after (or maybe before (a day or two)) I discovered my life's purpose. This all happened at a time when I didn't believe in a life's purpose and really hadn't cared about the whole idea.
I also recieved guidance that I should follow SFQ, and gratefully I have. In the years that have followed, I have learned much and explored many aspects of self and self-potential. For the most part I see the same thing, with only a different vocabulary and different routes to the same destination.
Moving on to another idea, namely you can't be taught enlightenment. I agree that you can't be taught it. You must experience it. Self advancement must be experienced. The teaching may give you great help in having the experiences we label advancement.
The idea that a external party Must change you is almost a matter of symantics for me. Everyone is energy. Every idea we share interacts with us and changes us. Every idea we send out into the universe changes us. So being around people who have an energy signature you wish to duplicate is great. Thinking about them and their teaching (their energy) brings you into greater harmonly with their energy. So yes I think teachers are good, although I've already said that teaching doesn't advance you. I say this because it isn't the knowledge that changes you it's the interaction of the energy and the changes in you, in your thoughts and actions, that advance you.
Digressing a little, at one time I spent a lot of effort trying to recreate that experience that changed my view of the universe (you might call it an awakening). I've since realized that one must let go of ones attachment (desires and avoidance) for the good as well as the bad. You must release the desire to recreate the past or create the future. You must be in the now. You can create now as anything you want.
I have had that energetic experience a few more times. However, only when I was in the now. Not when I was trying to recreate it. I always came apon me when I was doing something that was aligned with my purpose.
Branching onto another idea again. The idea of the universe, and I, and you (all of you) as one, is what is central to my belief and experience. This is also an idea I've since read about in other traditions. I'm not sure it you call that enlightenment or awakening, and I really don't care about the labels. Especially, since they tend to be relavent in a single tradition.
My expectation is that those who are seen at the pinacle of each tradition, are not necessarily at the pinacle. They are just the ones who have traveled the farthest along those paths. I appreciate all they have achieved and all they share. I understand that I can benefit by learning from each and advancing myself in the direction they have traveled. I also realize that my path may be someplace different from theirs.
Okay, I've made this about me again. However, that is what I know best. There are other ideas I wanted to talk about, but maybe at another time.
You are perfection,
Iam2
