> > Just as a question to the folks participating in this > > discussion, do you assume that enlightenment, once > > realized, is permanent? Since I've been away from TM > > and its teachings for 20+ years, I'm trying to find out > > whether we're on the "same page" here. I certainly do > > not assume this, based both on teachings I respect and > > the personal experiences of myself and others (periods > > of enlightenment can just come and go). The teachings > > were Tibetan in origin, and have to do with ways in > > which one can definitely mess up after realization of > > enlightenment and make it "go away." TIA, > > There are several on this list who claim to be permanently > enlightened--perhaps they could answer this question?
That's actually one reason I asked. There are some schools of thought (like TM, when I was around) that suggest that once realized, enlightenment is perma- nent. There are others that believe that it can come and go. I tend to believe the latter, for many reasons. Now, if the latter were true, and one had begun to have enlightenment experiences, had announced them to the world, and then those experiences faded, what does one do? How many would have the strength of character to go back to all those people one had announced one's enlightenment to and say, "Ooops?" In several traditions this situation has come up often enough that they don't recommend talking about one's experiences as permanent until they have been present 24/7 for ten years or so. Unc To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
