That makes sense to me...as far as turning the experience into a philosophy that results in "repression,perversion and/or other life abnegating practices."
In my previous belief system which was Bible based, we referred to those who are 'telios' being fully mature spiritually. We were the initiated...the enlightened (but not necessarily the same enlightenment as what others in Far East philosophies refer to). But, what I discovered in becoming teleioo is what I term 'soul murder' or 'soul suicide.' I know longer knew me and ended up a shell of a person. I hope to never go back to that state. (Not saying that is what the Biblical word refers to, but rather it was distorted.) Something I had typed (and then deleted) in my previous comment was, "It simply is." "It" referring to enlightenment..or whatever one wants to call it. Kind of like breath...it is. Or life. Or even death. It is. ************** --- In [email protected], Ravi Chivukula wrote: > > This is well and good Carol. However most in spirituality make the end - such > as detachment, freedom as a way of living, as philosophy resulting in > repression, perversion and/or other life abnegating practices. Hence the > fascination for Gandhi, Teresa, Dalai Lama, Ammachi - these pseudo spiritual > life abnegating, poverty worshiping icons, messiahs. So this is something to > be remembered - that detachment, freedom, humility are the end product and > cannot be wrapped into a belief system or a style of living. > > > On Jan 27, 2013, at 2:44 PM, "Carol" wrote: > > > 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. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
