sparaig: > one of my favorite quotes from MMY: > > Spiritual and Material Values > > "Every experience has its level of physiology, and > so unbounded awareness has its own level of physiology > which can be measured. Every aspect of life is integrated > and connected with every other phase. When we talk of > scientific measurements, it does not take away from the > spiritual experience. We are not responsible for those > times when spiritual experience was thought of as > metaphysical. Everything is physical. Consciousness is > the product of the functioning of the brain. Talking of > scientific measurements is no damage to that wholeness > of life which is present everywhere and which begins to > be lived when the physiology is taking on a particular > form. This is our understanding about spirituality: it > is not on the level of faith --it is on the level of > blood and bone and flesh and activity. It is measurable." > > -Maharishi Mahesh Yogi > There is an element of faith in accepting the premise that there is such a spiritual state - enlightenment. The enlightenment tradition in India was founded by Shakya the Muni, the first historical yogin (circa 563 BCE).
But, I'm not convinced that enlightenment has a set of physical corollaries that manifests itself in the body - an enlightened person might have the same physical attributes as an un-enlightened person. Enlightenment is a psycological experience - an awareness of being aware - it's just a mental outlook. "Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water." - Hsin Hsin Ming > > > It is a conditioning of the nervous system. > > > > > Enlightenment doesn't have anything to do with the > > human nervous system. If it did, we could see it > > and measure it and replicate it. > > > > The enlightened state is a state of mind; a state > > where we percieve reality as it really is. > > > > Enlightenment is a mental state - there is no > > change in the physical body. Enlightenment is a > > metaphysical state. > > > > The historical buddha is said to have attained > > enlightenment, but he had a bad back until the day > > he passed away. > > > > Enlightenment "...is the state of residing in such > > great understanding and depth, that no matter what > > life throws your way, you are at peace with it, you > > are able to say, That's OK, no problem." > > - Zen Buddhist Master Charlotte Joko Beck > > >
