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Anyone seeking enlightenment?

Geoff-Allen

Resident megalomaniac
Hope you're all well!

Here's a little site I found from a recent Google search -

A Zen student goes to a temple and asks how long it will take him to gain enlightenment.

“10 years,” says the Zen master.

“Well how about if I work really hard and double my effort?” the student asks.

“20 years,” comes the reply.

This story beautifully points out the paradox of the spiritual path:

The more we chase enlightenment, the more it eludes us.

Or in more technical terms:

Craving is intrinsically linked to suffering, and one must practice overcoming craving without craving to overcome craving to attain the cessation of suffering.

You can read the restof this site here -

Enlightenment: Seek and You Shall NOT Find

Enjoy your day!
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
In Revoltifarianism, to be inquisitive & considered is the goal.
Whatever it is this leads to is just icing on the cake.
But we don't claim "enlightenment", for one would become full of oneself.
 

siti

Well-Known Member
Craving is intrinsically linked to suffering, and one must practice overcoming craving without craving to overcome craving to attain the cessation of suffering.
Suffering is what comes of wanting what we don't have - it is overcome not by attaining but by not wanting. If we seek to learn but do not crave enlightenment we will not suffer - just grow. The 'enlightened' person is the one that is cognizant of his ignorance and knows that he will spend a lifetime learning and yet, in the face of such a vast and complex reality, remain profoundly ignorant. The 'most enlightened' person is not in the least bit perturbed by this and continues learning. But there is no short cut - a life time of knowledge can only be attained by a life time of learning. I think that might be way a ancient sage once wrote "the day of death [is better] than the day of one's birth" - Ecclesiastes 7:1
 

Geoff-Allen

Resident megalomaniac
Thanks for the feed-back ... wasn't sure what to expect :)

I also found this list of traps - esp number 2 for me -

Trap #2: Identifying Yourself as a “Spiritual Person”

This false identification is universal in both religious and new age circles. You are neither spiritual or material. You transcend and include them both.

Identifying yourself as being spiritual is a sign of a spiritual ego or inflation (discussed below). Again, shadow work will help you see that you’re no different or better than anyone else.

Full article here -

Spiritual Awakening Signs: 10 Authentic Symptoms + 5 Spiritual Traps

All the best!
 

Geoff-Allen

Resident megalomaniac
ego-traps.jpg
 

siti

Well-Known Member
@Geoff-Allen - sorry but the first one caught my attention...

I reckon if you can ride your bicycle to work without judging everyone who drives a car, you probably qualify for sainthood!
 

Geoff-Allen

Resident megalomaniac
@Geoff-Allen - sorry but the first one caught my attention...

I reckon if you can ride your bicycle to work without judging everyone who drives a car, you probably qualify for sainthood!

I'm no saint - believe me!

No need to apologise ...

Anyone on our busy streets on a bike I wish them all the best cos many motor-car drivers is a little impatient to get where they is goin ...

:)
 

Geoff-Allen

Resident megalomaniac
I guess it is just one of those days - I keep finding sites on the theme of enlightenment but I am definitely not like one of those people who goes around thinking I am better than the masses :)

Anyways ... here is an author I may look into - one of them is called back to sanity - I doubt if we ever were really "sane" in the first place -

The Leap – Steve Taylor

Enjoy your day!
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
In Revoltifarianism, to be inquisitive & considered is the goal.
Whatever it is this leads to is just icing on the cake.
But we don't claim "enlightenment", for one would become full of oneself.
Becoming full of the true self and thus empty of self is the goal.
 

Geoff-Allen

Resident megalomaniac
In Revoltifarianism, to be inquisitive & considered is the goal.
Whatever it is this leads to is just icing on the cake.
But we don't claim "enlightenment", for one would become full of oneself.

Worthy goals indeed - I often wonder what happens to our sense of wonder ...


Cheers!
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
Your goal is to be "empty", eh.

I love faux profundity!
How about this one....
The goal is to know black is white, up is down, & nothing is everything.
As an atheist, naturally you disparage those with a spiritual frame-of-reference. Especially when they approach reconciling apparent opposites.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
As an atheist, naturally you disparage those with a spiritual frame-of-reference. Especially when they approach reconciling apparent opposites.
Perhaps you missed it, but I gave my spiritual perspective.
However, I admit the fault of disparaging oxymoronic woo woo aphorisms.
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
Perhaps you missed it, but I gave my spiritual perspective.
However, I admit the fault of disparaging oxymoronic woo woo aphorisms.
Your use of the word "spiritual" is entirely different from how I use that word and thus underlines my point.
 
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