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Define Enlightenment

Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 10:52 pm
by Sammytwp
It's the end all be all, the goal if you will, although if you think about it in that way you can't reach it, (how's that for some karma) but just how does one define enlightenment? I've read Mr' Snyder's book and he addresses this somewhat, I'd like to know everyone's own definition?


Thank you in advance for your replies.

Re: Define Enlightenment

Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 12:20 am
by Wayfarer
The word that was originally translated as 'enlightenment' in the Buddhist context was Bodhi. This translation was made by T W Rhys-Davids, founder of the Pali text society; and one of the reasons he used the term 'enlightenment' was due to its resonances with 'the European enlightenment', as he was of the view that the original form of Buddhism was a 'religion of reason'.

The Wikipedia definition of 'bodhi' is as follows:
Bodhi (Sanskrit: बोधि; and Pali) in Buddhism is the understanding possessed by a Buddha regarding the nature of things. It is traditionally translated into English with the word 'enlightenment' and literally means awakened. Bodhi is knowledge of the causal mechanism by which beings incarnate into material form and experience suffering.
That is probably as near as you will get to a definition, as definitions are very difficult when it comes to such seminal ideas.

Re: Define Enlightenment

Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 1:17 am
by Kaccāni
It makes you "lighter" ;-)

Re: Define Enlightenment

Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 1:20 am
by steveb1
Loss of ego defined as "the anxious, grasping self" - ?

Loss of "the defilements" - ?

Entry into "the deathless state" - ?

Re: Define Enlightenment

Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 1:26 am
by Sammytwp
Wayfarer wrote:
That is probably as near as you will get to a definition, as definitions are very difficult when it comes to such seminal ideas.
Yea, I almost said personal definitions in my post because it does seem to be a fluid concept. This is why I'm interested in everyone's opinion.

Re: Define Enlightenment

Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 11:31 am
by Osho
Here- Now

:smile:

Re: Define Enlightenment

Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 1:01 pm
by Arjan Dirkse
Smarten up? Get real? Clear your head?

Re: Define Enlightenment

Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 9:26 pm
by Challenge23
It is a very good question.

And, unfortunately, it is one where, to be honest, Buddhism is a religion and not a philosophy.

There isn't really a speicfic definition of Enlightenment that everyone agrees on. The only thing that everyone seems to be able to agree on is that

A. Enlightenment exists
B. It can be attained
C. It is a really, really good thing.

Each of these things pretty much have to be taken on faith(especially the third point). It really, really sucks but there it is.

Re: Define Enlightenment

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 6:29 am
by LastLegend
If I were enlightened, I would be able to tell you.

Re: Define Enlightenment

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 10:17 am
by lobster
LastLegend wrote:If I were enlightened, I would be able to tell you.
Perhaps. Perhaps not.

:oops:

I would define it in terms of experience over conjecture.

:popcorn:

Re: Define Enlightenment

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 11:11 am
by oushi

Re: Define Enlightenment

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 12:12 pm
by KonchokZoepa
enlightenment is just a word.

There are many stages or spiritual development.