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"Enlightenment" - what it is

I have searched for it but have not found it. What is the thread title?

I would just like to point out that I am not doubting anyone's experiences and beliefs regarding this issue. Deborah once posted of her experience being at the centre where she could focus on her different incarnations that seemed to be happening simultaneously. Perhaps the reason it is so hard for me to comprehend this concept is that I have never experienced this myself. My background is of a different nature, but in mine a spirit is viewed as an individual and undividable unit, and reincarnation necessarily having a certain degree of linearity of "time"... ;)
 
Hi Veronika,

Indeed I had not seen that reply of yours, and am sorry I didn't for it was an excellent one...

Hmmmm, yes, there are indeed far too many mysteries that are way beyond our grasp and comprehension.

Each Orisha, however, has its own personality and characteristics. I don't think it is we or our consciousness that creates them, though I believe the opposite may very well be true. According to Candomblé, Olorun (God) delegated to Oshala (his first son) the gift to create us humans (also from clay, I might add). In the concept of Candomblé, we all have an Orisha who "reigns" over us, and from whom we inherit certain characteristics pertaining to the character and personality of the reigning Orisha.

I have to admit that the complexity of so many different concepts just gets way beyond me... I have witnessed the events I describe. I know of the reality of the Orishas and spiritual entities because I personally have so many times felt and witnessed the reality of their presence, so I cannot disregard this just as you and Deborah cannot disregard your own experiences... But from there to reach conclusions and explanations is a tremendously difficult task. :rolleyes: :(
 
manifestation of the world

Deborah,
Further to your post above. The way I see it: The one Self is Mind in balance, “perfect being”. The personal mind requires a “ground” and this ground is physical existence formulated by the first thought as self identity, “I” in immediate association with the extension of the thought as “I am the body”. This generates both the ego (reflected consciousness in matter) and matter itself (the world and all its beings).

Thus the combined thought-form flows immediately from the One Self by way of the ego. In this way, upon awakening, we create the world but it is “unreal”, an hypothetical construct contained within the One Real Unchanging Self.

The personal self is therefore a train of thought encompassing all incarnations plus associated worlds, impressions and other beings.

This is All expressed by the One Self, in the manner of a dream maintained by the ego – the false thought. The thought is called false because it is both subject to change and is actually incompatible with Pure Changeless Being. Enlightenment occurs when the personal self sees its way back to the One Self and realizes its identity therewith.:) IMHO
Regards
 
A few thoughts

HI Charles, Veronika and Robin,

I am sorry to have been absent so much -just very busy at the present moment. I think everyone expressed very well their perspective here regarding enlightenment.

My experience has shown me that everything is happening in the NOW -only my consciousness is in this present reality -this "me." I was surprised you remembered Charles. That doesn't mean I fully comprehend it, however, I seem to intuitively understand.

The only thing I can add here - is Robin you said
Enlightenment occurs when the personal self sees its way back to the One Self and realizes its identity therewith.
Click to expand...

This sounds as if there is an end to the means...as if Enlightenment - once achieved is a "done deal." Perhaps that is not your intention, *S*S*S so I just want to add that I see 'enlightenment' more as a process - I truly believe -in this physical state -we cannot grasp the whole of the possibilities. Which IMO are endless.

Veronika, to answer your question - 'yes' I have had similar experiences regarding auras and spirals. Fascinating really. To me, this is another one of our senses, a sensability which enables the perception and possibly a recognition of the essence, vibration, energy of life.
 
Hi Deborah,

Although you specifically asked for references to light as it applies to enlightenment, I wanted to offer the following story. It is a dream that I had about four years ago and while there was no light associated with the dream, enlightenment was the subject.

I had died. Other people who had passed on met with me and told me that I was to be 'one of The Friends'. I asked what the difference between Friends and the others was and was shown that We are a little warmer than the rest - and I said, "So that's it? We're just a little warmer than the others?"

"Yes," I was assured. "Try it".

So in my new, unseen form, I went to a playground where a boy was about to throw a rock at a little girl. I gently held his arm back so that he would not throw the rock, and when he put it down, I went to the little girl and, still unseen, helped her play on the monkey bars, holding her up so that she would not fall.

Then I was in a large group of people finding endless small deeds to do. I can't remember all the things I did, but I do remember that I tumbled along with the crowd, entertaining my new Friends and making them laugh.

But the actual dream is not the profound part that I felt was so enlightening. The part that was so enlightening was the way I felt when I awoke. I knew I would give anything - or give up anything - to feel that way again! And I knew that I will feel that way when I pass on. I had been shown, in a very profound way, what awaits me.

This was my nightmare's antithesis. And not unlike the feeling of dread and forboding that linger after a nighmare, ths dream had a lingering feeling of wonderment and promise and knowlege. I have never had a dream before or since like it, and it was because of this dream that I began to study reincarnation.

Al:)
 
Fantastic!

HI Al,

That was a wonderful dream to share in this thread. Thank you for sharing it! Your expression of feelings speak volumes to me -and I am sure they do to others too.
 
I have a question. Few days ago, I tried in meditation to 'see' the light. What happened was, that I got in that state just before sleep, and suddenly I could see the inner light. But it was almost like with an OBE, the moment I realised it, I couldn't focus on it anymore, and it was gone. First it was like I could see it from the corner of my eye. I tried again, and this time I could focus on it a little longer when I saw it, and I could localise it from coming somewhere between my eyes. But then it was gone again.
Any thoughts on what this experience was? Is this really how you can see the inner light? If I could focus on it longer, would I be able to 'go into the Light'? I felt very much attracted to that light, it was bright and still soft.


Eevee
 
A thought.......

HI Eevee,

It sounds like your trying to "see" the light with your vision {eyes} - and when that happened - it went away. Next time try seeing with your heart. I know - sounds funny -but the heart seems to be the "enabling" factor -at least for me. Bring the two together - ;)

Yes - inner light can be entered into I see it as a doorway -*S*S*S*S not literally a doorway -but an entrance into endless possibilities.
 
Deborah,


I will try to explain a bit more. Recently something bad happened in my life. Allthough I don't blame the persons who are involved, because I know it was just a combination of circumstances, I still feel cheated. This feeling is 'darkening' my life, and I want to let it go but I can't. That is why I was searching for the light, I wanted to see it, and bring it to my heart, so to say. But are you telling me now that the light has to be in my heart before I can see it? Just the oppositive of what I was trying to achieve? I wanted to bring the two together - heart and light - because I hoped that would make me feel better.


Eevee
 
no end in sight

Dear deborah,
re your post of 5-10-03 I think the word enlightenment just means that the person concerned is "on the chart" with no end in sight. The difference between consciousness: "I think therefore I am" and Enlightenment is however, light-years in duration even if finite.
Regards
 
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