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."
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ARTICLES RELATED TO Enlightenment - Spiritual Enlightenment
Spiritual Psychology is based on an understanding of humans being multi-layered entities with a mind, body and Soul. How do we awaken the Soul Aspect of our being and how come we could meditate on a mountaintop for eons without significantly touching our underlying emotional traumas? Likewise, how come we could do psychoanalyze ourselves for a lifetime without moving a step closer to enlightenment. How do we reconcile this uneasy alliance between our emotional and spiritual selves?
Buddhism Holydays: Holy days and Festivals in Buddhism
Festivals play a big part in
the lives of many Buddhists. Most Buddhists, with the exception of the
Japanese, use the Lunar calendar. The dates of Buddhist festivals and the way
they are celebrated vary from country to country, and between Buddhist
traditions. The most important holy days are: Wesak, Dharma Day, Sangha
Day, Parinirvana Day and Losar
This FAQ gives a background on the phenomenon of kundalini. Part
I of III.
In Part I: 1) What is kundalini?, 2) What is the
difference between prana and kundalini?, 3) What is the difference between qi
(or chi) and kundalini?, 4) If kundalini is universal why do some kundalini
yogins seem to have more kundalini-energy than others?, 5) What does kundalini
have to do with spiritual enlightenment?, 6) What is the goal of kundalini
yoga?, 7) Does everyone agree that kundalini awakening is necessary for
enlightenment?
Seven practices conducive to enlightenment. They are memory, discrimination, exertion, joy, lightness and ease, meditation, and impartiality (also referred to as indifference).
Memory here means to recollect one's own past deeds and states, and keep them in mind. Discrimination means to discern the true from the false. Exertion means to be ever diligent in the practice of true teachings, and joy to delight in the practice of true teachings.
Lightness and ease means that one's body and mind are at peace and free from burden. Meditation means to keep the mind concentrated and unperturbed, and impartiality to abandon feelings of attachment and keep the mind detached and calm.
The "seven aids to enlightenment" constitutes the sixth of the seven categories within the thirty-seven aids to the way, or the thirty-seven practices leading to enlightenment. The Sanskrit for "aid to enlightenment" is bodhyanga.
(See
also: Seven aids to enlightenment ,
Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)
Samskara Shuddhi is the Art of cleansing past impressions. experiences or relationships. The following article is a summary of the speach about Samskara Shuddhi that was delievered by RadhaKrishna Dasaji of the Golden Age Foundation at the Oneness Festival, 16-22 of February 2004.
A clear distinction should be made between awakening to the Way (Great Awakening) and attaining the Way (attaining Enlightenment). (Note: There are many degrees of Awakening and Enlightenment. Attaining the Enlightenment of the Arhats, PratyekaBuddhas, Bodhisattvas, etc. is different from attaining Supreme Enlightenment, i.e., Buddhahood.)
To experience a Great Awakening is to achieve (through Zen meditation, Buddha Recitation, etc.) a complete and deep realization of what it means to be a Buddha and how to reach Buddhahood.
It is to see one's Nature, comprehend the True Nature of things, the Truth. However, only after becoming a Buddha can one be said to have truly attained Supreme Enlightenment (attained the Way).
A metaphor appearing in the sutras is that of a glass of water containing sediments. As long as the glass is undisturbed, the sediments remain at the bottom and the water is clear. However, as soon as the glass is shaken, the water becomes turbid. Likewise, when a practitioner experiences a Great Awakening (awakens to the Way), his afflictions (greed, anger and delusion) are temporarily suppressed but not yet eliminated.
To achieve Supreme Enlightenment (i.e., to be rid of all afflictions, to discard all sediments) is the ultimate goal. Only then can he completely trust his mind and actions. Before then, he should adhere to the precepts, keep a close watch on his mind and thoughts, like a cat stalking a mouse, ready to pounce on evil thoughts as soon as they arise.
To do otherwise is to court certain failure, as stories upon stories of errant monks, roshis and gurus demonstrate.
(See also: Awakening vs. Enlightenment , Buddhism, Body Mind and
Soul)
Whether you are dreaming or awake, light is a very positive symbol. It represents enlightenment, lifting of shadow, the acquisition of understanding and knowledge, and a positive force. Depending on the details of the dream, you may give the light spiritual or physical meaning. For some, the light may represent a higher force or power, God's presence, or rays of His love and peace. Others may find this dream reassuring as it may represent a well-lit journey through life, or simply a solution to a current problem. Light always refers to consciousness.
(See also: Dream
Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Light , Meaning of Dreams about Light ,
Dream Interpretation Light )
Treatise on the Mind Aspiring for Enlightenment, The
(Jpn.: Bodai-shin-ron; Chin.: P'u-t'i-hsin-lun)
A work attributed to Nagarjuna (c. 150-250) and translated into Chinese in the eighth century by Pu-k'ung (Skt Amoghavajra). Another account attributes the work itself to Pu-k'ung. No Sanskrit version is extant. The Treatise on the Mind Aspiring for Enlightenment teaches the important Buddhist concept of aspiration for enlightenment and encourages the development of a mind that seeks Buddhahood. It defines three aspects of a mind that aspires for enlightenment, from the standpoint of Esoteric Buddhism: (1) great compassion to save all living beings, (2) great wisdom to know what sutra is supreme, and (3) meditation. The work also explains various kinds of contemplation put forth in Esoteric Buddhism. Kobo, the founder of the Japanese True Word (Shingon) school, valued this work, and it was widely studied in his school.
(See
also: Treatise on the Mind Aspiring for Enlightenment ,
Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)
According to Kalki Bhagavan, teachings and sadhanas (spiritual practices) has never brought anyone to liberation or enlightenment, at the most they will create a transformation. Kalkis advice is to be fully aware of who we are, to confront ourselves and to fully experience the pain inside of us. This will lead to joy and be the best preparation for enlightenment.
(Jpn.: anokutara-sammyaku-sambodai or mujo-shoto-shogaku)
Supreme perfect enlightenment, the unsurpassed enlightenment of a Buddha. Anuttara means supreme, highest, incomparable, unsurpassed, or peerless. Samyak means right, correct, true, accurate, complete, or perfect, and sambodhi means enlightenment. The expression samyak-sam-bodhi by itself is also used to mean perfect enlightenment. Bodhi and sambodhi also mean wisdom or perfect wisdom. In this sense, anuttara-samyak-sambodhi means supreme perfect wisdom.
(See
also: Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi ,
Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)
This is the foreword by José Argüelles to Carl Johan Calleman's latest book: Enlightenment: The Mayan Calendar as Our Guide to the Future
“…This also makes Dr. Carl J. Calleman's new book, Enlightenment, the Mayan Calendar as Our Guide to the Future, a land mark piece of literature. Besides presenting scientific evidence of a "Divine Plan" and factually establishing where we are in that plan, this book creates the unification of 100's of thousands of Mayan calendar students and practioners all over the world. “
The dream consciousness is superior to the waking consciousness in many respects. Many puzzles of life are solved through hints from dreams. All dreams, according to Adler, are anticipatory in character. They show which way the spiritual life of a man is flowing. To know the actual flow is necessary to correct possible errors. Dreams help us to discover the lifeline of the individual and help us to give him proper advice for self-correction.
A spiritual view on dreams and the meaning of dreams by Sri Swami Sivananda, an authority in the vedic sciences and traditions.
A Mahayana principle based on the view that earthly desires cannot exist independently on their own; therefore one can attain enlightenment without eliminating earthly desires. This contrasts with the Hinayana view that extinguishing earthly desires is a prerequisite for enlightenment.
According to the Hinayana teachings, earthly desires and enlightenment are two independent and opposing factors, and the two cannot coexist; while the Mahayana teachings reveal that earthly desires are one with and inseparable from enlightenment. This is because all things, even earthly desires and enlightenment, are manifestations of the unchanging reality or truth-and thus are non-dual at their source.
The Universal Worthy Sutra, an epilogue to the Lotus Sutra, states, "Without either cutting off earthly desires or separating themselves from the five desires, they can purify all their senses and wipe away all their offenses."
T'ien-t'ai (538-597) says in Great Concentration and Insight, "The ignorance and dust of desires are enlightenment, and the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana."
In The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Nichiren (1222-1282) states: "The idea of gradually overcoming delusions is not the ultimate meaning of the 'Life Span' chapter of the Lotus Sutra. You should understand that the ultimate meaning of this chapter is that ordinary mortals, just as they are in their original state of being, are Buddhas," and, "Today, when Nichiren and his followers recite the words Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, they are burning the firewood of earthly desires, summoning up the wisdom-fire of enlightenment."
(See
also: Earthly desires are enlightenment ,
Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)
In Hinduism and Buddhism the chakras are symbolised as flowers. In our human undeveloped state the chakras are like flower buds waiting to be opened. This article by Essential Oil-expert Carol Anne Asher explain the anatomy of the chakras and how essential oils may cleanse and raise the vibration of the chakras.
A Chinese translation by Dharmagupta (d. 619), a monk from southern India, of a treatise consisting of original verses attributed to Nagarjuna (c. 150-250) and a prose commentary added later. It sets forth the six paramitas and other practices for bodhisattvas that are conducive to enlightenment.
(See
also: Treatise on the Discipline for Attaining Enlightenment ,
Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)
The Oneness Celebration during the Venus Transit of June 6-8 this year takes place at an amazing gathering of energies in the Mayan calendar. In the age old Tzolkin calendar the venus transit has been celebrated without interruption by the Mayan people for some 2500 years. The Oneness Celebration is a gathering celebrating the Venus Transit of June 2004 and a Meditation to focus on the Enlightenment of Humanity by the Year 2012.
A dictionary Of Commonly Used Sanskrit
terms. From A to Crore.
Please note that all words in grey,
like "yoga", "enlightenment" or "kundalini" are
hyperlinked to archives further explaining the term. At the corresponding
archive you will also find articles related to the term.
