WHAT IS NOT ENLIGHTENMENT?

I am passing through this URL and the text below, as it is so well written and us brothers and sisters will appreciate the honesty of Michael Brown's writing. Please refer to the link to the referenced web site below.

WHAT IS NOT ENLIGHTENMENT?


By Michael Brown

ALL SEEKING TO EVOLVE INTO THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE CONCEPT OF "ENLIGHTENMENT". YET, FOR MOST THIS MYSTICAL STATE OF FULLY AWAKENED CONSCIOUSNESS REMAINS AN INTELLECTUAL CONCEPT; A STATE OF BEING AS UNATTAINABLE AS WINNING A NATIONAL LOTTERY. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT OUR CONCEPT OF ENLIGHTENMENT IS MISGUIDED? BECAUSE IF THIS IS SO, WE MAY BE STRIVING TO ACCOMPLISH A STATE OF BEING THAT MAY NOT EVEN EXIST.


I used to think enlightenment was a singular experience in which there would be an internal cosmic firework display, followed by astounding revelations of biblical proportions, ending in the complete adjustment of my perceptual relationship with everything in this world. I approached and eagerly searched for this experience as a definite point of arrival in which I would finally understand everything, and simultaneously feel deliriously wonderful forever and ever, Amen! Was I so wrong! I am still open to such an inner experience, but as I continue my journey along the corridors of this life I am discovering that "enlightenment is definitely not what I thought it was". Thank God for that!

First of all, just being aware there is a state of being called "enlightenment" is in itself an experience of enlightenment. Many humans are so bound by their past, by the consequences of their thoughts, words, and deeds, that all their energy is invested into survival. They do not even look up and ask, "Why is the sky blue?" They are just grateful that it is not raining on them that particular day. For such an individual to awaken to the idea that there is more to a life experience than endless sorrow, toil, and hardship, is enlightenment.

Once I was able to let go of the misconception that enlightenment was a singular, explosive experience, and that it was actually something more realistic than an internal fireworks display followed by delirious grinning 24 hours a day, I became vulnerable to a completely different perspective; that enlightenment is ongoing, and will hopefully continue to be so eternally.

Funnily enough, the experience that shook me out of my illusions about enlightenment occurred through an intimate relationship. When I was about 38 I was attracted to, and became intimately involved with a wonderful woman who was much younger than I. My mind told me this was not beneficial. Fortunately, my heart overrode my conservatism. It was during this relationship that I discovered the meaning of intimacy. I now love the word "intimacy"; for me its authentic meaning is revealed within the phonetics of the word: into-me-and-see. During that intimate encounter I realized that it was not enlightenment I was looking for at all; it was intimacy.

I was desperately seeking intimacy with myself, with God, with nature, with my family, with all humans I encountered, with my cats, with my writing, with plants, with the falling rain, with my pain, with my dreams and visions, and with all the minute aspects of this experience we call "living our life", like washing dishes and doing laundry.

Of course, intimacy, to be authentic, demands we consciously show up and be "present" with all our experiences. Realizing this, to me, was an enlightening moment. And, I only came to this realization by entering an experience my mind totally resisted. I then also realized that up until that moment I had been using my mind as the primary tool with which to seek enlightenment; I thought I could achieve it through thinking, understanding, and analysis. Again, I was mistaken.

Today I am glad I am not enlightened, as in having arrived at a cosmic destination and receiving a "Degree in Enlightenment" from the multiverse establishing me as having accomplished "the ultimate spiritual task". Today I perceive enlightenment on many levels, and one of these is the acceptance that everyday is saturated with enlightening experiences, if I just let them in. Now my life is littered with ongoing potential points for enlightenment:

Realizing I am responsible for my own experiences is enlightening.



Realizing my Inner Presence is a shared experience is enlightening.



Being grateful to God, whatever God may be for me, for every experience that comes my way, is enlightening.

Knowing that my hardships are always a disguised blessing of potential growth and wisdom is enlightening.



Knowing that nothing in my life happens by accident is enlightening.



Being able to enjoy simple moments, like taking a walk and appreciating the scenery, is enlightening.



Being willing to take small steps each day to nurture, heal, teach, and guide myself, is enlightening.



Knowing the difference between reacting and responding is enlightening.

Being able to extract the Dharma from my drama is enlightening.



Being able to forgive myself, and therefore others, is enlightening.

Being able to sit with another as they go through hardship, without feeling compelled to fiddle with their experience, is enlightening.



Laughing at my own seriousness, or silliness, until my gut aches and tears stream from my eyes is definitely massively enlightening.



Trusting that what ever God is, is intimately aware of me, and so I can never really be alone, is enlightening.

Now, throughout my experience, as I move from unconsciousness into added awareness, there are unlimited points for enlightenment. I also like to feel that because God is an unlimited experience, the journey into God-realization is an unlimited one. Just considering this and all the infinite possibilities it invites is enlightening.

When we discover that enlightenment is not what we thought it was, then we enter a point of authentic enlightenment that opens a doorway to endless points of enlightenment.

Discovering that enlightenment is "not what we thought it was" is cause for celebration! From this moment doorways within our minds and hearts open and the light of authenticity spills through the widening cracks of our dissolving misconceptions.

To remain in this state of wonder requires keeping an open mind. Whenever we make our mind up about something, we simultaneously close a door to continued growth. Knowing that we make such errors along the way is enlightening. Knowing that there is always more to discover is enlightening. By approaching enlightenment in this way, as an endless journey of ongoing "Aha's!" we allow our life experiences to be an endless story that God is telling us so that we may discover and rediscover our unlimited, endless, eternal, and mysterious self.

I am also open to being totally wrong about all of this. If I discover I am, this too will be enlightening.



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