The best way to reach enlightenment?

Ive heard alot of different ways of people claiming to reach enlightenment in different ways.... In your opinoin what is the best way?

Peace.

 

stop trying.

 

Compassion is the only way to enlightenment. Most of us know the right way, the right thing to do, but few of us practice it. A politician may speak well and have lots of knowledge, but does he act according to his words, does he have true wisdom?

Only through practice will you ever attain enlightenment, and absolute compassion is enlightenment. I'm not speaking of conventional compassion for others, but ultimately compassion for yourself. That's the only way to develop compassion for others and stay in touch with yourself and the right way of doing things. Enlightenment is a continuous process, and I'm not fond of the concept of enlightenment. In the end, if you think you are enlightened, you probably aren't, because at that point you will neglect the fact that it is a process, not a goal, and it demands humility even if you feel that you know it all.

 

bluesafire... that is zen at its best~!

 

Patience Patience Patience etc. maybe just maybe you may just wake up one morning or read something and go UH HA and just get it.

 

*nods*

its true

 

Why would I want enlightenment if I can have happiness?

 

Don't ask.

 

living as a human, not matter if your a bum on the street life is enlightenment

 

shrooms

 

You signed off with peace... Compassion is the peace and love of happiness. Compassion means that you are willing to do whatever is necessary for those you love, including yourself. Compassion is defined as the willingness to alleviate distress. It requires determination and firm decision-making. When you commit to your decisions, you become peaceful, trusting yourself, loving yourself and those you are committed to.

Compassion is the antidote to distress and depression, and happiness is just compassion in a fancy suit. You can't have true happiness unless you develop compassion. But you can be enlightened in a sense of knowing what's right to do and still failing to follow through. Then you have knowledge but lack of wisdom.

I know you said this as sort of a joke. I'd like to make a point of it... I read about 1,100 books on evolution, history and neuroscience (and some other fun stuff) to try and ''get it'', and after I gave away all my books and resolved to meditation, I finally ''got it.'' 8 years turned into A Supreme Moment where 3 billion years of evolution became crystal clear.

But ''getting it'' was a completely different thing than ''being it'', and that's why I still say that my knowledge exceeds my wisdom, my genetic selfishness and stressful drives still exceed my loving compassion. This goes for all of us, and it requires continuous effort, patience, sacrifice, a lot of love and understanding, and simply not to 'stop trying,' if you're going to find true happiness and be the happiness/compassion that you have found.

 

You will never reach enlightenment.

Stay mindful.


@Cherea: chasing after happiness breeds sadness.

 

Unless you're an existentialist.

 

IMO, enlightenment isn't something you "reach"....it is something you channel.

 

Existentialist, eh?
I'd say that no matter what ism you follow or ist you are, the river is still going to knock you down if you try to go against it's flow.

 

ha, I was just making a pretty weak philosophy joke.

chasing after happiness breeds sadness you said. (because you can never really reach what you are projecting with your mind to be happiness)
existentialist say they get their happiness from the chase itself, so they don't ever really need to reach the goal.

haha, god I'm so funny, I crack myself up. :biggrin:

and BTW, I AM THE RIVER!!!!

(nice to see you around kamino )

 

Different opinions on meditation. My own view is that Enlightenment can be reached through the Jhanas in meditation.

 

What's enlightment?

 

I agree.

 

I believe the first requirement is to define what you mean by Enlightenment. There are many opinions of what is meant by Enlightenment – probably because there are so few around that will stand up and say I am Enlightened and explain what they mean by it.

If you go to a group and the “guru” says things like you will get there when the time is right or in several lifetimes - go find another group; you wouldn’t buy a car without seeing it


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