Spiritual Enlightenment - Articles, videos, interviews, experiences and much more.
A wisdom archive for Spiritual Enlightenment with articles, interviews and personal experiences of enlightenment. Spiritual Enlightenment and Spiritual Awakening is the primary goal of almost all spiritual practices, traditions and religions and for any spiritual seeker. There are many names for this awakened state of Consciousness depending on what culture and tradition we belong to.
"A human being is a part of a whole, called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest... a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."
Hi friend! The Global Oneness Community, the place for information and sharing about Oneness is not really launched yet (you will see there is still some clean up to do) ...but it is now open for a sneak-peek! And if you wish - please register and become one of the very first members to do so! Jonas
Forum Home,
Articles,
Photo Gallery,
Videos,
Link Gallery,
Daily Horoscopes,
Sitemap ...and much more!
ARTICLES RELATED TO Enlightenment - Spiritual Enlightenment
Buddhist teachers to be relied upon after Shakyamuni Buddha's death. They are explained in the Nirvana and other sutras, which classify them into four ranks according to their level of understanding.
The first rank refers to the voice-hearers who have yet to attain any of the four stages of Hinayana enlightenment.
The second rank refers to those who have attained the first stage, that of the stream-winner (Skt srota-apanna ), or one who has entered the metaphorical river leading to nirvana; and to those the second stage, that of the once-returner (sakridagamin), or one who must undergo only one more rebirth in the human world before entering nirvana.
The third rank refers to those who have attained the third stage, that of non-returner (anagamin), or one who will never be reborn in this world.
The fourth rank refers to those who have eliminated the illusions of thought and desire and attained the fourth and highest stage, that of arhat.
T'ien-t'ai (538-597) and Chang-an (561-632) correlated the four ranks to the fifty-two stages of bodhisattva practice in The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra and The Annotations on the Nirvana Sutra, respectively.
From this viewpoint,
persons of the first rank correspond to those who have not yet attained the first stage of security.
Persons of the second rank correspond to those in the ten stages of security.
Persons of the third rank correspond to those in the ten stages of practice and the ten stages of devotion.
Persons of the fourth rank correspond to those in the ten stages of development and the stage of near-perfect enlightenment, in which one has almost reached the enlightenment of the Buddha.
Though the four ranks represent the four levels of understanding, "the four ranks of sages" is also a general term for reliable Buddhist teachers, irrespective of how they fit into the above classification. If they are bodhisattvas, they are also referred to as the four ranks of bodhisattvas.
(See
also: Four ranks of sages ,
Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)
In the series, Evolving Towards Enlightenment I-V, Carl Johan Calleman explains the links between the Mayan Calendar Enlightenment and the significance of the year 2012.
Cosmic Consciousness was coined by the Canadian psychologist Richard M. Bucke, in his book “Cosmic Consciousness” 1902. He describes Cosmic Consciousness as a transpersonal mode of consciousness, an awareness of the universal mind and one's unity with it. Cosmic Consciousness prime characteristic is an awareness of the life and order in the universe.
An individual who at attains the state of Cosmic Consciousness is often described as 'Enlightened' and such a person is also said to have a sense of immortality, not of attaining it but of already having it. Burke saw this state of consciousness as the next stage in human evolution, very much as spiritualists have always seen it.
In the series, Evolving Towards Enlightenment I-V, Carl Johan Calleman explains the links between the Mayan Calendar Enlightenment and the significance of the year 2012.
According to Hinduism, liberation does not mean dying and going to
heaven. Heavenly life is as desirable or undesirable as earthly life because in
the ultimate sense, heavenly life is also limited and transient, thought
compared to earthly life it may be longer and more intense. True liberation
means liberation of the individual soul from the cycle of births and deaths,
from the sense of duality and separation, and union with Brahman, the Supreme
Soul.
Mitchell Rabin is a therapist, Energy-Balancing practitioner and stress management consultant in NYC. He teaches, writes and is now completing his second book. Since 1993, he is hosting and producing a cable TV show called A Better World in the US. In this article, Mitchell share his personal enlightening experience of a meeting with Kalki in India.
Kiara Windrider just visited the spiritual reteat where the Oneness Festival campus is located in the Golden City area and give a first hand experience from what goes on there.
In the series, Evolving Towards Enlightenment I-V, Carl Johan Calleman explains the links between the Mayan Calendar Enlightenment and the significance of the year 2012.
Twenty-five years ago, in the light of a full moon, I sat facing the lying Buddha in Polonnaruwa in central Sri Lanka. It was Buddha Purnima . I noticed the Buddha’s smile as he lay dying, and the concern on his disciple, Ananda’s face, standing before him.
Buddha’s last words were: “Be lamps unto yourselves”. As he left us, the Sakyamuni did not ask us to pray to him or believe in him as a messiah. Unfortunately, over time, his life and teachings have become encrusted in layers of religiosity.
(See also: Buddhism , God and Religion,
Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind
and Soul)
Krishnaraj Dasaji will introduce you to some of the basic principles of Samskara Shuddi and also share some of his personal experiences from his spiritual path
The Oneness Festival and The World University of Consciousness is arranged as a joint venture between a team of people in the west, with the headquarters in Sweden, and the Golden Age Foundation in India.
The Golden Age Foundation is a non-profit spiritual Institution. The Institution is born in India and is well known as Kalki Dharma.
The mission of The Golden Age Foundation is to bring humanity into a golden era. The work is to bring about a fundamental change in the nature of each and every one of us where our consciousness undergoes a transformation.
The state of awakening that a Buddha has attained. The ultimate goal of Buddhist practice and the highest of the Ten Worlds. The word enlightenment is often used synonymously with Buddhahood. Buddhahood is regarded as a state of perfect freedom, in which one is awakened to the eternal and ultimate truth that is the reality of all things. This supreme state of life is characterized by boundless wisdom and infinite compassion. The Lotus Sutra reveals that Buddhahood is a potential in the lives of all beings.
See: attainment of Buddhahood
(See
also: Buddhahood ,
Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)
Also, fundamental ignorance or primal ignorance. The most deeply rooted illusion inherent in life, said to give rise to all other illusions. Darkness in this sense means inability to see or recognize the truth, particularly, the true nature of one's life.
The term fundamental darkness is contrasted with the fundamental nature of enlightenment, which is the Buddha nature inherent in life.
According to the Shrimala Sutra, fundamental darkness is the most difficult illusion to surmount and can be eradicated only by the wisdom of the Buddha. T'ien-t'ai (538-597) interprets darkness as illusion that prevents one from realizing the truth of the Middle Way, and divides such illusion into forty-two types, the last of which is fundamental darkness. This illusion is only extirpated when one attains the stage of perfect enlightenment, the last of the fifty-two stages of bodhisattva practice.
Nichiren (1222-1282) interprets fundamental darkness as ignorance of the ultimate Law, or ignorance of the fact that one's life is essentially a manifestation of that Law, which he identifies as Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. In The Treatment of Illness, Nichiren states: "The heart of the Lotus school is the doctrine of three thousand realms in a single moment of life, which reveals that both good and evil are inherent even in those at the highest stage of perfect enlightenment.
The fundamental nature of enlightenment manifests itself as Brahma and Shakra, whereas the fundamental darkness manifests itself as the devil king of the sixth heaven". Nichiren thus regards fundamental darkness as latent even in the enlightened life of the Buddha, and the devil king of the sixth heaven as a manifestation or personification of life's fundamental darkness. The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings reads, "Belief is a sharp sword that cuts off fundamental darkness or ignorance."
(See
also: Fundamental darkness ,
Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)
Buddha Day: The
Significance of Vesak - Buddha Day
The significance of Vesak lies
with the Buddha and his universal peace message to mankind.
As we recall the Buddha and his
Enlightenment, we are immediately reminded of the unique and most profound
knowledge and insight which arose in him on the night of his Enlightenment.
This coincided with three important events which took place, corresponding to
the three watches or periods of the night.
One who has attained the state of enlightenment and who has the capacity to awaken the dormant spiritual energy of a disciple and guide him or her to the state of the Truth.
This FAQ gives an overview of those kundalini yoga practices
which require conscious effort. Part I of III.
In Part III: 1) But even if kundalini is dangerous, isn't it
a faster way to enlighenment?, 2) What are the origins of kundalini yoga?, 3)
What is the classical literature of kundalini yoga?, 4) What is the precise
role of the guru in kundalini yoga?, 5) Can't I learn it through books?, 6)
Where can I gain instruction on kundalini yoga?, 7) Where can I learn more?
This article explore The connection between the Mayan calendar and humanity’s path towards Enlightenment as described by Kalki and others as a process of awakening taking place right now.
Religion is not meant to create conflict and division, but to promote dialogue and harmony. Buddha Purnima is an appropriate occasion to dwell a little on the Buddhist philosophy I follow, of Nichiren Daishonin, called the Soka Gakkai, which literally means "Value Creating Society".
Daisaku Ikeda, president of Soka Gakkai International, says: "The people and the society of our age might be compared to a ship in the middle of the ocean which has lost its compass. Without an accurate guide to lead them, they sail aimlessly along towards the future''.
(See also: Buddha Purnima , Indian Festivals,
Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and
Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)
Kiara Windrider, author of a Doorway to Eternity and contributor to many exiting articles at our website, visits Europe June/July 2004.
He is available to do other events in Germany, Holland, or Sweden while he is in the area. Please contact him directly if you like to arrange for a workshop or course. Kiara Windrider: kiara@eternaldoorway.com
Take the chance to meet a great spiritual teacher.
Please see his schedule below.
What is the difference between Science and Spirituality?
Kalki, or Sri Kalki Bhagavan, the founder of Golden Age Foundation, is considered to be the Kalki Avatar capable of bringing enlightenment and to introduce the Golden Age. Here he is commenting on the Difference between Science and Spirituality.
