What is enlightenment?

[Unseeking Seeker]

I found this video illuminating ~ https://youtu.be/dgKI8hx6tic?si=fA7iTpdtKPYDjJ-n

Some Sanskrit words are used here and there but it is easy to understand, being in English and explained by the Swami in simple language.

[Miss Hepburn]

WELL, ok....that does it.
I want to listen to and write out the last few minutes, (there is only 12:22 minutes).
Selfless service! I must stop re-enforcing the EGO!! YES,
I mean if someone is really serious about this Path they get it.
Thank you, Unseeking.

[Unseeking Seeker]

True Miss H and yet when we perform a service, purportedly selfless, if the urge to do so arises spontaneously like a reflex instinct, wherein we seek no recognition at all, neither from anyone else, nor from ourself in solitude, in my view, only then is the service useful in annihilating the ego. Intent must be rooted in purity of being and we must simply be an agency performing the action as of God’s will.

We never attain anything, simply because there is no one here. What we can do however, is to become ~ we become the flame, as an analogy, just as a caterpillar becomes a butterfly.

[J_A_S_G]

Witness the "I" thought - Yes. Objectify ego - Yes. These are tied at the hip as in everything we 'witness' by definition is an object and the "I" thought is the heart of ego. I think an important point to understand is the difference between one thought attending another thought and That which knows the experience of both thoughts and also the experience of the "I" thought.

And yes, traditional Advaita is heavy on both service/action (Karma Yoga) and devotion (Bhakti Yoga) as a means of purifying mind, which is considered a prerequisite for the knowledge path (Jnana Yoga) along with clarity of mind which is cultivated by meditation (Raja Yoga).

[AnotherBob]

"Enlightenment is what comes when all that's left of us is love."
~Anne Streiber

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[ThatMan]

Originally Posted by AnotherBob

"Enlightenment is what comes when all that's left of us is love."
~Anne Streiber

That's what I experienced a few times, really really rare, an explosion of love, pure joy - complete connectedness with all things. If the grass was speaking with me and saying that I am finally hearing it telling me how much it loves me.

I am not joking, I am sincere, never took drugs or anything like that, sudden outburst of pure joy and love, in fact, it was too much, I was about to explode each time, of too much love.

[JustBe]

Originally Posted by Unseeking Seeker

We never attain anything, simply because there is no one here. What we can do however, is to become ~ we become the flame, as an analogy, just as a caterpillar becomes a butterfly.

I feel when you completely acknowledge all of you, recognition falls back to self. You recognise in others what you recognise within yourself. The service is not rooted in anything, in fact there is no service. You’re being and doing what your heart is moved to be and do. It’s the natural extension of each one’s uniqueness in this way.

[AnotherBob]

Originally Posted by ThatMan

.... it was too much, I was about to explode each time, of too much love.

The human system as it is can be upgraded to be able to conduct far more energy than we currently do as a rule. However, it takes a lot of dedicated effort for most of us to achieve even a fraction of our potential as energy beings. As we evolve it will become more natural.

Currently, there are various Yogic practices that serve to expand the capacity for conducting high frequency energy, for example, if one has the aptitude, sincerely and consistently applies themselves, and finds a good teacher for initiation and training, but that combination is rather rare, especially these days at the end of the old cycle where the sheer density of vibrations is intense and the mind easily gets distracted by the plethora of competing attention demands.

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[AnotherBob]

Miss Hepburn: ". . .my soul leaps when I read things like that."

mine too, it's part of remembering what we're here to do!

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[Gem]

I agree, and when paid to do work remember you're working for another's happiness.

My latest prog is a garden in which nasty palm fronds with spikes hurt the guy's children, so he hired me to clean up and make safe, but my mind imagines a paradise in which children can play be happy, because if there's one thing I want, it's that people will be happy. If you adopt this attitude you will start to find yourself much more deeply motivated by the benefit you bring to the world, and far more satisfied with your efforts.

I was stabbed by spikes about 100 times on that job, but to me it's nothing. I changed the palms from overgrown menaces into lovely pineapple shaped features, and it's very satisfying to look at your work and say, 'Looks good'. Doubly so by knowing the impenetrable mess is now a beautiful space - a sanctuary no less.