Let us go and put ourselves in the way of enlightenment.
When I first heard about enlightenment, it was the stuff of myth and legend, far away and magical. The more I learned about it, the closer it got. I discovered it was a real thing, there were real people alive today who were enlightened. You could learn from them. It was possible. Then I met someone who was enlightened and I spent as much time around them as I could, hoping it would rub off on me. Then in 1996, I met another enlightened person and it did.
That was many years ago. I have been living with it ever since. Quietly to myself for the first 15 years, then talking openly about it since 2011 when I wrote Maya Noise.
For the majority of people, enlightenment stays in the realm of myth and fairytale, something that other people did at other times.
For the remaining minority, enlightenment is something they may be drawn to discover more about and they learn about it as an academic subject.
Some may even go to study with someone who they recognise as enlightened.
Then there is an even smaller group who have the audacity to entertain the possibility that enlightenment is something they could achieve for themselves. The idea of enlightenment calls to them. Is this you?
Process
Below is a deceptively simple process. On the surface it is about getting clearer about enlightenment and what it means to you. If you approach it seriously it has the power to obliterate any separation between you and the enlightenment you are looking for.
What is it about enlightenment that attracts you?
Of all the things you could be interested in, why are you interested in enlightenment?
Why do you want to get enlightened?
What will it look like when you get enlightened?
What problem will getting enlightened solve for you?
What problem will getting enlightened solve in you?
Part 1
When did you first hear about enlightenment? What was it about enlightenment that attracted you?
Make a list of all the attributes of enlightened people you have heard or read about.
Take a day before going on to part 2.
Part 2
Make a second list of what attributes you will have when you get enlightened.
Not someone else, you.
Review this second list, eliminating any attributes that are not essential to you being enlightened.
For example, there are many stories of enlightened people being able to do remarkable feats like levitating or bi-locating. You might have such feats on your list initially. Are they essential?
Ask yourself, “If I cannot do this, or be this, will I still be enlightened?”
If the answers is, “Yes – if I cannot do this, or be this, I will still be enlightened.”
Then take it off the list.
Keep eliminating attributes until your list only has attributes that if they were missing, would mean you are not enlightened.
From this you will have a list of what are the essentials of enlightenment for you.
You may be surprised to find that this is a short list.
Take a day before going on to part 3.
Part 3
Look at your list of the essential attributes you will have when you are enlightened.
Now here is the big question – What is the gap?
Why don’t you experience these attributes right now and all the time?
What is getting in the way?
Bear in mind enlightenment will happen inside you, not externally, so in your response only talk about internal reasons.
Let me know how you get on with the process and if you have any questions you would like some reflection on.
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