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Enlightenment, I don't get it
- Thread starter janesix
- Start date
Secret Chief
nirvana is samsara
In what sense?
janesix
Active Member
I don't understand what you are asking. I think I was pretty clear on what I said.
Secret Chief
nirvana is samsara
What have you read?
Spirit of Light
Be who ever you want
What is "lost" is the notion of I or self.
One become just a part of existance. Human life is not the true existance of our being.
PureX
Veteran Member
Your ego is not 'who you are', it's the mechanism in your mind that protects who you think you are. Which in many instances can be very inaccurate, and even harmful. Especially in the ways our ego will defend these delusions even in the face of obvious evidence to the contrary.
janesix
Active Member
Oh Gosh. A lot of things. Teresa of avila has some good books. St. John of the cross. The Bible. Some of the Vedas (but probably not nearly enough)Plato. Many more, but that's just off the top of my head.
janesix
Active Member
How is that desirable? Sounds creepy to me.
janesix
Active Member
So they say. I think I am fine being me.
Spirit of Light
Be who ever you want
Freedom from all attachments. Benefit on the inward journey
Secret Chief
nirvana is samsara
Ah thanks.
The idea is that all is One/God/Brahman. We are temporarily under the illusion of separateness trying to find Oneness. The ego is something we cling to for many many lifetimes until we wise up to the game.
The universe is a play/drama where God/Brahman separates itself from itself in Act I and returns itself to itself in Act II. Finite limited ego existence is not our true nature and will pale on us for an infinity.
PureX
Veteran Member
And you quite probably are. But no one is perfect. And our egos will seek to deny our flaws and protect the idea that we're better that we really are. Keeping us from being able to see ourselves honestly, and improve.
Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
I think it's more your ego is hiding your true self rather than defining yourself. Do you know "who" you are or do you know "what" you are?
For example, who a christian is, is a child of god. What a christian is, is a human being.
Who you are may be defined by your creativity. What you are may be defined by your title (i.e. artist).
Ego, as in what most people think is more so thinking of ourselves-our pride and so forth-is our true identity. Once you disattach yourself from "what" you think you are, your true self shows.
Nothing wrong with ego. As long as it's healthy and you still know who you are in despite what society says you are, I think you're good to go. Discernment and finding balance rather than extraction and division.
It's desirable to those attracted to it and not otherwise. I don't think there's any way to explain it to someone who finds it creepy that will make real sense.
Audie
Veteran Member
Looks like the only existence, and you wanna throw it away.
My main objection to enlightenment is that it looks to me like it takes a lot of effort, but I see value in it.
janesix
Active Member
How do you know that?
Heyo
Veteran Member
"Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed nonage. Nonage is the inability to use one's own understanding without another's guidance. This nonage is self-imposed if its cause lies not in lack of understanding but in indecision and lack of courage to use one's own mind without another's guidance. Dare to know! (Sapere aude.) "Have the courage to use your own understanding," is therefore the motto of the enlightenment."
Isn't that in contradiction with your notion of "losing your ego"?
Wait, wrong enlightenment. Religion reverses everything. Never mind.