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Can Enlightenment Be Taught?

Can Enlightenment Be Taught?

  • Yes

    Votes: 6 28.6%
  • No

    Votes: 15 71.4%

  • Total voters
    21

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
Could you or SS describe such an experience?

I'll email you within a few days, Audie. I've
promised a couple other people a description
as well, it's about time I freed up some
time to keep my promise.
 

Guitar's Cry

Disciple of Pan
How are you defining "state of mind?" As an intellectual experience of the brain?

Kinda. It's certainly an experience of certain stimuli being interpreted in a particular manner.

While I completely get that it is an individual experience that cannot be relayed in normal communication, to me, being "taught" is rarely about direct communication. It is about setting up the right circumstances for understanding to take place.

A teacher is no different than a particular pattern in water or a potent vivid dream: a stimulus that activates brain patterns leading to a new understanding of reality.
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
I'll email you within a few days, Audie. I've
promised a couple other people a description
as well, it's about time I freed up some
time to keep my promise.

I'll copy you too, Salix, when I email Audie.
My description will be inadequate, but
perhaps rudimentary enough to help
her understand something of what's
involved.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
I'll copy you too, Salix, when I email Audie.
My description will be inadequate, but
perhaps rudimentary enough to help
her understand something of what's
involved.

I may have experienced it, in mirror image opposite
 

Guitar's Cry

Disciple of Pan
A teacher is no different than a particular pattern in water or a potent vivid dream: a stimulus that activates brain patterns leading to a new understanding of reality.

To further illustrate my point, those who teach often come to the realization that they are only a part of process of something being "taught." A student reads a textbook, sees something in the media, is given a lecture, discusses the subject with friends; all these are a part of being taught. It is the experience of life.

Let's take Sunstone's example of sex: Reading about sex is completely different from having sex. But this reading is a part of the process of being a sexual being. Some never read about it. Some only read about it.

The same goes for enlightenment (if we are regarding enlightenment as the experience of being "It"- realization of your relationship with everything else). People come about it in different ways: there are many teachers. Maybe for some it isn't taught. And maybe for some enlightenment has a different meaning. Like sex, enlightenment- the mystical experience- is an expression of something that is ultimately inextricable from what we are.

Those who have never had it still participate.
 

Guitar's Cry

Disciple of Pan
I looked up "satori experience", having heard that term

I have an experience where it feels as though I have been watching myself from a distant place but am suddenly thrust into the awareness of my body. There is a particular, contradictory and awe-inspiring sensation of loss of self with a sudden immediate and overblown sense of self. I have some of the sensations like I am about to pass out- narrowing of vision and dizziness- but I am very much aware and awake.

This often occurs when I am quietly contemplative and focusing on my surroundings. I can sometimes bring it about purposefully but the more powerful experiences are spontaneous.

This is different from other mystical experiences I have, and I suspect it has to do with the brain condition where the state of the parietal lobe changes and we exerience "self" in different ways.
 

IndigoChild5559

Loving God and my neighbor as myself.
Enlightenment can only be taught to those who are ready for it.

For those who are not ready, it's just spinning wheels in the mud.
 

PruePhillip

Well-Known Member
Interested in your thoughts on it?

In my opinion. :innocent:

Wasn't that when the scientific revolution transformed Europe?
If so we are still in the Enlightenment - it keeps our lights on and
keeps disease and hunger at bay. Excellent stuff - let's not knock
it.
 

sealchan

Well-Known Member
Interested in your thoughts on it?

In my opinion. :innocent:

I think I will disagree with the majority...teaching something doesnt mean the ability of the teacher to guarantee success, but if a teacher has lead more people to enlightenment than an average person has who isnt trying then that teacher has some claim to truth.

Aside from group instruction my understanding is that Zen teachers meet individually with their students to provide individualized instruction.
 
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sealchan

Well-Known Member
I'll copy you too, Salix, when I email Audie.
My description will be inadequate, but
perhaps rudimentary enough to help
her understand something of what's
involved.

How does Andrew Newberg establish that someone has had this experience?
 

Fool

ALL in all
Premium Member
Interested in your thoughts on it?

In my opinion. :innocent:


it's a flashpoint within the fuel source.



Matthew 25:1
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

or


Luke 12:49
I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
 
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