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anyone actually found enlightenment?

radiohead said:
So what makes you guys believe in stuff like E and buddhism?
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Experiences I've had on psychedelics, as well as off and some background information.
 
I've had some experiences with psychedelics which have opened my mind as well (or maby closed it), but I don't necessarily believe in E.
I wouldn't like to reach "enlightenment". It seems as if it would be boring.
I rather live life and learn as I grow.
I feel like there is always something new to learn and there is no possible way to be absolutely be contempt with everything.
 
Doing mushrooms definately changed my beliefs on life.
My last experience made it seem as if I could only view everything that existed as oranisms and that emotions no longer existed. Everything was just stimuli. During the comedown, it made me appreciate love and emotions. It wasn't a bad trip, nor was it a good trip because I felt no emotion. After the trip I felt as if I wouldn't want anything to be the way it was in the trip.
Therefore I don't know if the trip is a fake experience or if its real.
So I'm confused about life and feel like I can never understand it.
 
radiohead said:
I've had some experiences with psychedelics which have opened my mind as well (or maby closed it), but I don't necessarily believe in E.
I wouldn't like to reach "enlightenment". It seems as if it would be boring.
I rather live life and learn as I grow.
I feel like there is always something new to learn and there is no possible way to be absolutely be contempt with everything.
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it cannot be boring because there is no individual left to get bored. it's like becomming nothing.
 
Personal experiences, without drugs. Everyone has an ego, a belief system, a type of internal structure set up to help that person survive but its limited and inferior. You wipe that away, and you get the true nature of the self. Ultimately I feel it is possible to have an enlightened society, full of enlightened beings. Bloody marvelous that would be.

But there are many different states of awarness you can get into. Just cause you had an experience with drugs or without drugs doesnt mean that you glimpsed enlightment. Maybe you did, but until you actually break through the ego you got no idea what the possibilities are or the reality of living in such a perfect state.
 
asmodeus256 said:
^ I disagree. Mdma has helped me find the path of beauty in everyday, mundane life. It has allowed me to feel things that are above and beyond my physical body.
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Well, if that's your idea of enlightenemnt then I'm afraid we aren't reading from the same book... Which is cool, it's not exactly something one can quantify, but my idea of "enlightenment" is much deeper than finding beauty in mundanity. It's more like seeing the illusiory nature of reality, of which both mundanity and beauty are a part of, for what it is; a figment of our minds. That's sort of thing takes eons of lifetimes to cultivate, it's not the sort of thing you can get by popping an e. Although, regarding psychedelic experiences I read an interesting thing by a western guy who spent years studying mahayana and was blown away the first time he took acid because everything he'd learnt he suddenly understood at a deeper level than just intellectual. He likened the experience to a traveller looking for a lost city, the psychedelic experience was like a photo of the city, the traveller is heartened because he knows the city really does exist and isn't just a myth. But a photo can never compensate for actually finding the city, the psychedelic experience can orient one in the right direction but it is only a guide and should never be mistaken for true enlightenmnet
 
killarava2day said:
Well, if that's your idea of enlightenemnt then I'm afraid we aren't reading from the same book... Which is cool, it's not exactly something one can quantify, but my idea of "enlightenment" is much deeper than finding beauty in mundanity. It's more like seeing the illusiory nature of reality, of which both mundanity and beauty are a part of, for what it is; a figment of our minds. That's sort of thing takes eons of lifetimes to cultivate, it's not the sort of thing you can get by popping an e. Although, regarding psychedelic experiences I read an interesting thing by a western guy who spent years studying mahayana and was blown away the first time he took acid because everything he'd learnt he suddenly understood at a deeper level than just intellectual. He likened the experience to a traveller looking for a lost city, the psychedelic experience was like a photo of the city, the traveller is heartened because he knows the city really does exist and isn't just a myth. But a photo can never compensate for actually finding the city, the psychedelic experience can orient one in the right direction but it is only a guide and should never be mistaken for true enlightenmnet
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I read that same thing, I think. It was a very interesting read.

I agree though. My experiences have shown me, that I learn more about how things work, just living my life, than meditating, and doing drugs. I do meditate too BTW, but for reasons other than enlightenment.

yougene said:
It may be true that not everyone was meant to be a Buddhist Monk. After all where would future generations of humans come from. But I think you are wrong if you believe that the average person cannot alter their state of mind through various practices such as meditation and benefit from it.
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I respect your opinion, more than most people's here on this board. Probably the most. Well, other than a certain female, and she know's who she is. ;)

I will argue though, that those different states are really not different states at all, and reality is still the same, but those altered conditions are like filters placed upon the pattern, that is your brain. These filters simply block certain things, but allow others, that you normally would not notice in.

This would explain, why sooo many people can see the same thing, but sooo many others can can have totally different experiences. All of this off the same batch, and at the same time, together in a group.

I've done a lot of thought on this, as you can see. If you wish, I can go more into detail with it, but I think you already understand what I'm getting at.
 
^^i think i've had similar thoughts. for example when people say drugs alter consciousness, do they mean that they alter consciousness or simply alter what you are conscious of? i guess that depends on the definition of consciousness but if you take it mean simply being or experiencing then isn't there some reality that never really changes? is that what you mean?
 
There have been times when I felt enlightened.. the literal meaning of the word, to me, can be interpretted under many lenses.

To be enlightened on a subject... that you know very little about, brings on awareness of that subject... but that is not the enlightenment we speak of here.

To me, true enlightenment is an on-going process. It is not a state you reach, and just quit. Somebody in this thread said it was living life to it's fullest, every day, everymoment, all the time.

I tend to agree with this statement.

This, in itself, tends to say a lot about enlightenment, but it keeps the doors open to exactly what enlightenment is.
 
I dont see it as a process. It is considered that there are different levels or stages to enlightment, but once you break through that barrier, and see the world for what it is... thats it. Struggle over. Everything about your state changes, and this type of thing has been mentioned in various stories related to church folk, its not just an eastern religion thing. The state goes beyond ideology, its who we are, we all can access this. I do feel getting rid of the ego is a big part of it, to make room for something greater. You cant really illistrate how utter and complete the changes are, or how meaningless a lot of the shit you let go to get there is.
 
after some of my ego loss experiences i think i've experienced what some people call a "change at the base" meaning my normal awareness has changed. i am always aware to some degree of the self beyond the ego.
 
I have had a few moments in my life where I have felt as if I understood everything that was relevant to me. It's the best feeling in the world, especially for someone whose ultimate goal is a complete understanding.

It has only happened when I am standing on the fine line between a dream and reality, and disappears as soon as it's 'detected' due to my overanalytical nature (I should work through that with some lucid dreaming exercises, in fact I think I will).

Is that enlightenment? Who's to say? Probably not, but it sure feels like it.



As a side note, I 'realised' for myself the illusory nature of our consensus reality a couple of years back. It was something that changed my perception on every level. I personally don't think that's enlightenment either, but it's certainly a step in the right direction.
 
I think of it like in Monkey, Trippitaka and co. keep thinking they have reached India but everytime they realise that they have been fooled by some trickster demon and that they are nowhere near the end of their journey.
 
Yeah it is definately more about a change in the base then feeling happy within your current state. Its happened to me heaps of times that I go out searching for something, have an ok experience, and settle there. I'd presume enlightment was something more then an entertaining experience. Man, buddha and the like must have had massive drive to go all the way and then jump off into the infinte.
 
the way people describe enlightenment here; i'm not so sure if it's really where i want to get. i understand that it might be an amazing mindset, or state of being, but it seems far too close to "content" for me to stand.

and i don't like "content". for me, that has always been emblematic of a stage in my life where i have achieved all that i want, and have no driving force to push my life forward. i understand (and empathise, as much as is possible) that for some (most?) people, this is the ultimate goal, but i just don't feel that. if i have nothing to strive for, my life is over.

seriously, i crave the feeling of satisfaction and contentment, but never to the point where it takes over my being - i always need something to strive for, or i risk being depressed and suicidal (which, perhaps, is just a personal neurosis rather than a philosophical point-of-view, though i prefer to view it, and do so, as the latter).

i guess what i'm saying is that - by most people's definitions - i haven't achieved enlightenment, and i hope i never do.

funnily enough, my own personal definition of it (say: "a state of clarity [which other people *have* mentioned] wherein nothing is approximate and everything is focused; everything is in perspective; and personal goals are in perfect harmony with the world's own well-being") is what i also strive for, and i actually feel somewhat close to.

the only problems i have, day-to-day, are getting over my own personal issues and esteem issues - i feel pretty enlightened with the world, because i live by the oft-mentioned mantra of "the only thing i know is that i know nothing" (socrates).

:)
 
there is an old buddhist saying...what to do when one gets to the top of the mountain? Go down the other side.

Enlightenment is just a word that represents an unshakeably blissful mindset, it's not an escape from reality, but more like a total immersion in it.
 
^^^ That's what Shaolin mantra for struggle is translated to in English. I'm not sure if that is where it's originally from, but that's where I heard it.

It actually means more to the actual struggle itself, it goes along with the process of conquering as well as aftermath. As after you conquer any obstacles, you still have to deal with the aftermath. IE Once you are grown, and go through college, your life is the continuation of what you did as a child, and what you messed up.


Originally posted by onetwothreefour
the way people describe enlightenment here; i'm not so sure if it's really where i want to get. i understand that it might be an amazing mindset, or state of being, but it seems far too close to "content" for me to stand.

and i don't like "content". for me, that has always been emblematic of a stage in my life where i have achieved all that i want, and have no driving force to push my life forward. i understand (and empathise, as much as is possible) that for some (most?) people, this is the ultimate goal, but i just don't feel that. if i have nothing to strive for, my life is over.
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Enlightenment is not about feeling content. It's about being yourself in the fullest. It's seeing the inner self, without having the 'you' there to distract you. There is no 'you', there is only one, the body, and mind are one. Not a duality.
 
^^Lolz

I have found enlightenment many times but always seek to pass it to those less fortunate in thier searching; I've always been good at finding things and I'm sure they can't all be for me.

There are many questions you need answering, if only you realised you already knew the answers and that the confusion and non understanding you feel is a product of your own minds frustration with the uncomfortably small reality you alow yourself to believe in.

That was my piece and I said it ;)
 
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