When I was 19 years old all I was concerned about was becoming enlightened, getting rid of this evil horrible thing called “ego”, and girls. I was lost though. Now I don’t think total enlightenment is possible for a human.
A poster called Alan watts enlightened the other day. I suppose if anyone was enlightened it would be a guy like Alan watts. But don’t think it’s possible to fully reach it. As Alan watts was far from perfect. I’m not sure. But To me he mastered the art of philosophy and language, much more than he was enlightened.
I don’t even know the definition of enlightenment. Maybe it’s not perfection. So maybe watts did achieve it. Maybe it means some kind of mastery, some light, which he certainly had. You couldn’t beat his arguments. Would an enlightened man die of alcoholism at 57. Not if the definition is to be free from desire, evil and vice im sure.
Here’s a random video if you’ve never heard watts
I’m 30 years old. The youngest age they say you can reach enlightenment is 28. However even if things really went my way and I lived to 100 and got wiser and wiser as the years go on I never would claim enlightenment. Well watts never claimed some type of “wisdom” either. A wise person knows they don’t. Or so they say 
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I believe that Shaolin Munks attain enlightenment. However, they begin practice typically at 6 years old and live it fulltime, completely immersed.
I think it merely means fully conscious and free of the influence of subconscious drives
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I mean, what is “enlightenment” really?
Can enlightenment even be achieved in the modern world?
Is enlightenment a state of mind, or a fleeting moment?
Personally, I feel that the road to enlightenment is booby-trapped with scammers and false prophets.
Perhaps enlightenment happens on an individual level, and is different for everyone.
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There are a lot of those out there, that’s for sure. I think more of the Dalai Lama when I think of enlightenment , not the guru of the day
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To enlighten means to bring light?
I dunno. When I was 19 I became concerned with two very challenging words. Ego and enlightenment. Previously had little idea what they meant much. Threw me off a lot.
I personally don’t resonate with monks being more enlightened than anyone else who masters their principles.
Maybe it’s my biased ego that tells me this. But I think you can be a western person and be as enlightened as a monk who dedicated their life to it. It’s about knowing the full truth by definition . But I don’t think that’s possible. To know the full truth on all matters. There’s always…more things to UNlearn.
There’s a story of a guy who chased enlightenment for years in books built a enlightenment library. But never became enlightened till he burned the ■■■■■■■■■■■■ down to the ground became instantly enlightened.
That relates to what you’re saying I would say
But man I’m
Gonna say this word conflicts.
And meditate all day since 5. Not that there’s wrong with that. But that would imply in my culture it’s harder to reach enlightenment. And maybe it is. But I don’t think that necessarily has to be so … so you see what I’m saying???
Just some thoughts for the appetite
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Yea, the Dalai Lama doesn’t seem like a bad soul to follow.
I think enlightenment is relative to one’s environment.
Like, I wonder what American enlightenment looks like… Maybe forgoing material goods and living off the grid.
It would probably be different than enlightenment in a war-torn country… If that’s even possible to achieve.
I dunno, going off on a tangent here.
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I don’t think it’s about the modern world. Rather that the past is full of myth. My thoughts. I think we’re in agreement
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Enlightenment is easier than breathing.
It’s so easy, too easy that it seems difficult.
I have passed through all samadhis and jhanas
just like a bullet which goes through many layers
or targets.
Enlightenment is to know suchness.
Enlightenment is to be witness not doer,
even if you do or act.
Enlightenment is to go beyond the turiya
to Turyatita.
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Enlightenment is to act just like an ordinary guy,
knowing deep inside that you never act, or move.
Embracing your bliss and pure consciousness.
Having no mind is enlightenment.
Decapitating buddha is enlightenment.
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Alan Watts was a philosophical entertainer.
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It’s all beautiful and all. Your words
It’s sought after, pursued for lifetimes, by people, but it’s that easy?? Explain why please
When I was deeply psychotic, I believed I had reached enlightenment.
Turns out my brain was just fuucked. 
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I’m sad to say I don’t believe in enlightenment.
Mostly because nobody seems able to define it …
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Yes, it’s the easiest thing in the world.
People try to do yogas, many types of yoga.
Yoga means union.
Trying to connect the already connected.
It’s futile.
Know your mind as root of all phenomena.
You are the white screen upon which all movies are played. You are unaffected by the things that happen in the movie.
It’s easy because it needs no effort.
It’s your natural state.
Being spontaneous is to be enlightened
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I was told by a forum on marijuana when I was 19 that getting rid of the ego was the key to enlightenment. Other people said the same thing. I became obsessive. Obviously not enlightened. I like osho literature on ego and enlightenment too.
Although I’ve heard some bad things about him. His teachings were often good philosophy
Enlightenment is, according to some Upanishads, to cry among those who cry, to play among children, to talk seriously among elders, to laugh among those who laugh. Being natural, that’s it.
Enlightenment is not an external target or goal.
Cos that would mean that one couldn’t reach it if it is outside the self.
If it’s inside, it needs no distance to be walked.
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The truth is it’s neither external nor internal.
Neither gradual nor sudden.
It’s a mystery
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Personal goals to lighten the burden of consciousness. It’s the tender growth of light onto the soul, purifying and concentrating.
I believe it happens to everyone to a carried degree.
“ Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability To lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here.”
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The closest word I can think of is fully awakened to your true, full potential as a human being
One of my old Hapkido teachers could rip a Toronto phonebook in half using two fingers on each hand. Yet he was still not enlightened, despite training 10 hours a day in martial arts and meditation.
I think we all have moments of Enlightenment, but they are fleeting. To live in that headspace permanently is quite an achievement
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Yeah this is kinda how I feel. Om is doing a good job of explaining his thoughts on it but there are conflicting things which throw me off too.
Every time I think I solved it. There’s another thought that tells me to think differently
Maybe I think too much.
I don’t think it’s possible to not be yourself. You are you. So you are yourself. In that case everyone is enlightened. Which makes it not seem so difficult
Maybe it’s because the universe is perfect how it is. Even tho there are flaws in humans and human creation. But not everyone understands it this way.
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