Thanks for the responses. In reading them one word comes to mind...freedom.
And then I think...Freedom from attachment. But, then I think, of emotions and the feelings of attachment. Attachment isn't a bad thing; it just depends on the timing and the type of attachment. Such as children. I love my children and will always feel attached with them. But, as they have grown into adults, I've had to let go of parts of that attachment. Hmm....there is a new freedom in letting go of that attachment with my children. It is a different kind of attachment now because they don't need me like they did when they were infants and youngsters. In the past years I thought of 'enlightenment' kind of like someone being on an ego trip. But, I never really asked about it or read up on it. Apparently, I was assuming and/or reading into the term from my own past experiences. >From reading the responses here, the responses don't come across as ego trips. > ********* --- In [email protected], Ravi Chivukula wrote: > > On Sun, Jan 27, 2013 at 12:09 PM, Carol wrote: > > > ** > > > > > > I find your response interesting. Ravi, I started another thread regarding > > enlightenment here: > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/message/333764 > > > > Would you mind commenting on that thread? (Just to keep the comments > > together. Hope that is an okay request here on FFL.) > > > > In your words, what is "enlightenment?" > > > > Thank you Carol. Here's what I came up for your question. > > Enlightenment creates a state of consciousness, a context of self-freedom > in which one is not constrained by anything outside of oneself even as one > performs normal actions and goes through normal moods as everyone else. An > unperturbed inner state of mind untouched, untainted, unconditioned by > anything. > > > > Thank you! > > ************* > > > > > > --- In [email protected], "Ravi Chivukula" wrote: > > > > > > "Meditation gets you there faster, no?" > > > No this is a wrong notion that I see being perpetuated by everyone I > > > hear. Meditation lets you purify your body, mind and senses so the > > > transition is smoother, easier when the mystical energy descends. When > > > this happens and if it indeed happens is a big question mark and has no > > > relation to a regular meditation practice such as in my case. Two years > > > down the line I seem to agree with Vaj that TM is an unhealthy > > > meditation technique that can cause abnormal states of mind - better to > > > stick with hatha yoga, pranaayama etc. So enlightenment is not an > > > achievement. This is the problem I had with most on Batgap - what most > > > are describing there are some altered states of consciousness created by > > > their meditation techniques. > > > > > >
