Is it possible to become Enlightened?
441116
Yes, ask lot's of questions, don't be fobbed of with rubbish answers and make sure you can test the answers for accuracy.  Enlightenment is finding the truth... we can't do that by blindly accepting what other people tell us or by following old clapped out melodramatic religions.
325760
I come from a Christian family and grew up in that environment. I explored all areas of religions and spirituality having an open mind. I was not looking to pick a religion or anything. I just have always enjoying learning different perspectives of God, love and wisdom from all of these teachings.\n\nI learnt that Hinduism has a very specific path towards Self-Realization that Christianity did not have. The mantras are very powerful, and I've seen greater positive effects it has on my life. Along with meditation which teaches me how to quiet my mind, so I can listen within and hear God. I just liked the fact that Hinduism recognizes that we have God within and that many Indian sages help guide people finding that source within and re-awaken. Why do you think so many enlightened people are borne of India. I do not find Christian preachers enlightened enough nor close enough to God to be a source of guidiance.\n\nI do believe in the teachings of Jesus. I consider them to be valid. I just don't care for anything else in the Bible to be relevant to my path. Christianity does not give me what I specifically need that Hinduism gives me which is how do I get closer to my Self-Realization.
567772
Certainly. Would be a total waste not to use all the possibilities. How much of the dimensions you see is I guess dependent on your awareness level, which in time probably increases. Now this goes into spiritualism, which is mainly speculation, but I think after you die, if you have gathered enough experience, you raise in awareness level, and the next time you are born in a body, it will be one, that is capable of "seeing" more dimensions.
1009208
If the ego (fear based 'self') can be transcended by one (micro), then it can, and I believe Will, be transcended by all (macro). I think those who develop beyond the ego into the higher levels of human functioning (agapic reasoning) have no doubts about an enlightened society. Egos can't relate to the concept of a world without egos. It seems far fetched, but then so did going to the moon a hundred years ago. :-)
735527
I was in ther prescence of a person whom I suspect to have been very close to enlightenment.  She always was kind and wise.  She did not criticise others and seemed to be deeply genuinely happy.  Life did not seem to have the ability to shake her at all.  She was like a rock...others came to her for guidance or help or sometimes just to be in her prescence.\n\nShe probably didn't even have the word enlightenement in her vocabulary, she definitely would not claim to have been.\n\nShe just...was =)
675511
What is Buddhism really all about?\nSimply speaking, this is to avoid harming others and to help them as much as possible. Another way of expressing this is, Abandon negative action; create perfect virtue; subdue your own mind. This is the teaching of the Buddha. By abandoning negative actions (killing, etc.) and destructive motivations (anger, attachment, close-mindedness, etc.), we stop harming ourselves and others. By creating perfect virtue, we develop beneficial attitudes, like impartial love and compassion, and do actions motivated by these thoughts. By subduing our mind, we cut away all false projections, thus making ourselves calm and peaceful by understanding reality.\n\nThe essence of Buddha’s teachings is also contained in the three principles of the path: definite emergence, the dedicated heart and wisdom realizing emptiness. Initially, we seek definitely to emerge from the confusion of our problems and their causes. Then, we see that other people also have problems, and with love and compassion, we dedicate our heart to becoming a Buddha so that we are capable of helping others extensively. In order to do this, we develop the wisdom understanding the real nature of ourselves and other phenomena.\n\nbrief overview:\nhttp://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/pathmaps.htm\n\nbecome enlightened:\nthe Buddhist teaching is one of being enlightened  now rather than doing anything to become enlightened. The idea that you must do something to become enlightened can only come from wrong understanding. Then enlightenment is merely another condition dependent upon something else - so it is not really enlightenment. It is only a perception of enlightenment. However, I am not talking about any kind of perception but about being alert to the way things are. The present moment is what we can actually observe: we can’t observe tomorrow yet, and we can only remember yesterday. But Buddhist practice is very immediate to the here and now, looking at the way things are.\n\nNow how do we do that? Well, first we have to look at our doubts and fears - because we get so attached to our views and opinions that these take us into doubt about what we are doing. Someone might develop a false confidence believing that they are enlightened. But believing that you are enlightened or believing that you are not enlightened are both delusions. What I am pointing to is being enlightened rather than believing in it. And for this, we need to be open to the way things are.\n\nWe start with the way things are as they happen to be right now - such as the breathing of our bodies. What has that to do with Truth, with enlightenment? Does watching my breath mean that I am enlightened? But the more you try to think about it and figure out what it is, the more uncertain and insecure you’ll feel. All we can do in this conventional form is to let go of delusion. That is the practice of the Four Noble Truths and the development of the Eightfold Path.
924278
it is not enlightenment
394064
Yes, absolutely. Take some college courses, educate yourself, or just keep stimulating your brain on a daily basis.
1153403
yes , there is , read from the BIBLE, or the Q'RAN or the teachings of BUDDA.. they will all guide you to a happier way.\n wherther you believe in GOD or not the teachings in those books are "the rules of living" and are as valid as the laws of physics..... i know there are doubters,,,, but they are wrong....
473949
I believe that our earthly lives are likened to school for the soul. We are here to learn and elevate the growth of our spirit. Depending on the lesson/s needing to be learned, we experience various trials and tribulations. When things seem to be going wrong or unfairly ask yourself, what can I learn from this? or what I can I teach someone from this? It is when your spirit has learned, that the negative will fall away, of course being replaced by something else. In a woven web we are are here to both teach and learn. Some souls have more difficult lessons to learn than others, but if you look around, nearly everyone has an adversity in their lives. It could be financial, health related, or deal with the emotional or mental aspects, or even physical disability, etc. The first 25 years of my life were hellish, it was when I began to see the lessons and stop feeling sorry for myself that things began to change. I took an inward journey and discovered spirituality can lead me to a better place, where I once viewed things with a negative mind I now see with positive energy. It makes all the difference. Look at your life, go over every aspect of it, and seriously think about what you could or have learned from it. Allow knowledge to enter in, consider yourself a student and a teacher at the same time. I can not say to you that things will improve because I do not know what path your soul treads in order to learn but I can say to you if you manifest your thoughts esoterically (inner, spiritually), instead of mundane (outward, worldly things), you will percieve the same conflicts in a different way. There is a purpose for your being here, discover it, once you do you should feel better even while you may struggle. Good luck, life was not intended to be easy, but you can avoid the pitfalls if you strengthen your spirit. Sending you bright blessings!
912990
Whatever crosses you bear are Karmic lessons you are  working on and thus learning from. If you do so willingly with a loving, heart with patience, and tolerance, without prejudice or preference, without animosity, hate, or greed then you will succeed and your karmic debt per situation will be nil and void. What you are trying to master is to not create karma, which can only be done by learning what not to think or do and doing that. 'tis complex to be sure. My favorite book explains it better, "Thinking and Destiny," by Harold W. Percival. I wonder if you're a master already and are but testing us neophytes?
835545
We struggle as conscious beings to grow and learn and become enlightened. We study to grow closer to truth and lucidity.  To succumb to weakness, whether in our studies or in any other aspect of our lives, is to fall back into the darkness of savagery. Each generation has a responsibility to further the collective awareness and conscience of all mankind.
105973
By being still (internally) and allowing "what is"\n\nReading "The Power of Now" may help you understand consciousness.\n\nGood luck.
12603
Please visit http://www.sahajayoga.org and you can get your self realization without going to any Guru.We become our own masters.\nYOU CAN BE YOUR OWN GURU.\nAny worthwhile view of the Divine realizes that God resides within each of us. He is there to be awakened as we become a part of the Greater Self.\n\nIt's free.\nYou can even get your self realization online or going to nearest meeting place.http://www.sahajayoga.org/worldwidecontacts/default.asp
1111732
You will always come back until you go around the Maya( Illusion) for this is the ultimate challenge...Enlightenment is da way to go otherwise you will always come back until you become a self-realized being(Master). Bonne chance mon ami
420635
If you are interested in true self-realization and honest transformation I would suggest that you study the works of Paramahansa Yogananda. Yogananda was a Hindu sage that died in the 1950s after having taught extensively in the U.S. for decades. He taught metaphysics, and universal spiritual principles based on the teachings of Hinduism and also based on the teachings of Jesus. His books are written in an easy to understand language, you don't need a grand background in either metaphysics or theology to understand what he says. He was very down to earth, practical, and also right on the money. You can find info about him, his teachings, and the organization he founded (and it is still going strong) at the following URL. ~ Peace & Blessings ~
143053
Progress anywhere depends on the overall degree of enlightenment, including spiritual enlightenment.  Also on the educational system or the lack thereof.  How fulsome it is....continuing education too.  Libraries, teachers, the respect for learning.\n\nYou can think about this yourself.  Too many details offend people and make enemies.  Never disparage, just show a little of the better way when you can, shining the light a bit higher than where they are.\n\nBlinding light does not work and may even get you killed.\n\nSmaller nations have less resources for everything.  Military dictatorships were very stunting.  They are making some progress, especially Chile.