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 Jordan Black
Registered: 05/09/11
Posts: 59
Last seen: 12 years, 10 months
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 The path to enlightenment 
#14425295 - 05/09/11 03:55 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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Hello Friends.
My goal in life is to attain that state of being which has been variously called enlightenment, transcendence, ascension or awakening.
My guess is that at least some of you on this forum share that goal.
The most important question, then, becomes how that state can best be achieved.
After many years of reading, experimentation and seeking, I have settled on a strategy of sorts, a practical approach to the goal.
I am interested in your feedback on whether this approach is adequate or whether something is missing from it.
Essentially, this is my strategy.
First, I go to bed very early at night, so that I can wake up very early.
As soon as I wake up (at say 6 am or earlier) I right down all that I can remember of my dreams, in order to strengthen my dream recall and improve my ability to have and remember lucid dreams.
Next, I do a complete hatha yoga practice, which takes about an hour or an hour and a half. This is to improve my strength, flexibility and balance, as well as to relax and energize me. Most importantly, this prepares me for sitting meditation.
After my yoga practice I practice buddhist meditation for one hour. This involves sitting in lotus position, eyes closed, saying a few prayers and reciting the precepts of buddhism, and then breathing in and out with my full attention focused on the inhalation and exhalation of breath, in the "Annapanasati" tradition advocated and practiced by the Buddha himself.
In addition to these core practices, I adhere to a vegetarian/vegan diet based on emphasizing organic super foods such as spinach, broccoli, raw garlic, raw cacao, green and red tea, hemp hearts etc.
Furthermore, I abstain from alcohol, cigarettes, pornography, refined sugars and sweets and chemical drugs such as cocaine. Currently I am also abstaining from marijuana and all other drugs.
In addition, I make a study of sacred scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads and the Vedas.
I also ritually chant the sacred Syllable OM during the day, especially while showering, and I pray each day.
Later in the day, I do a full work out, alternating going for a run or hitting the gym.
On weekends I attend a Buddhist "dharma center" for group meditation and teaching, or else I go to the cabin to commune with nature by hiking, canoeing and star gazing.
I also keep a special journal to record my spiritual strivings and experiences.
So my question is this. Based on your own experience of spirituality and your own knowledge, do you believe that if someone followed the path I have just outlined with discipline and steadfastness, they would eventually attain true enlightenment?
Or is there something missing from this approach, or some other flaw?
I am interested in your insights.
Thank you very much
Edited by Jordan Black (05/10/11 11:40 AM)
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 Crasher
αἱρετίζω
Registered: 03/13/01
Posts: 6,220
Loc: Tardy to the Party
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in the end, aren't you the only one who can say with any certainty whether or not this lifestyle will give you enlightenment?
When you're on the right Path, do you need to ask for directions?
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Give me silence, water, hope;
Give me struggle, iron, volcanoes...
Edited by Crasher (05/09/11 04:01 PM)
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OneU
Registered: 03/19/11
Posts: 763
Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
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 Re: The path to enlightenment [Re: Crasher]
#14425326 - 05/09/11 04:03 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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Have you forgotten you are already enlightened?
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Greenvalley
PRS
Registered: 06/16/10
Posts: 2,033
Loc: Why not?
Last seen: 3 years, 5 months
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Re: The path to enlightenment [Re: OneU]
#14425386 - 05/09/11 04:13 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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I too share this goal. To pursue enlightenment is to already be destined for enlightenment. The answers are already there, written by those who have walked the path, their books and teachings are roadmarkers that point in a direction or give advice, but nomatter what you will walk the path on your own and in your own way.
Good luck brother
Gloria in excelsis DEO
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g00ru
lit pants tit licker
Registered: 08/09/07
Posts: 21,088
Loc: georgia, us
Last seen: 5 years, 4 months
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That's a beautiful sadhana you've developed. I think its always worth reminding yourself that the truth of our own being is always here and now, in the form of "i am." The practice is very good for many reasons, but ultimately it's only pointing towards a truth that is already here.
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check out my music!
drowse in prison and your waking will be but loss
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Saidin
Sun Dragon
Registered: 12/02/08
Posts: 360
Loc: In between my thoughts
Last seen: 7 years, 2 months
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Re: The path to enlightenment [Re: g00ru]
#14425843 - 05/09/11 05:41 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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Seems like a good practice. But remember, enlightenment is not something that can be found. No amount of ritual will help you find something you've had all along.
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What, you ask, was the beginning of it all? And it is this...
Existence that multiplied itself
For sheer delight of being
And plunged into numberless trillions of forms
So that it might
Find
Itself
Innumerably.
-Sri Aubobindo
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Satyapriya
Registered: 01/18/10
Posts: 1,147
Loc: Earth
Last seen: 9 years, 5 months
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Re: The path to enlightenment [Re: Saidin]
#14427130 - 05/09/11 09:45 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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Well first of all, why do you want to be enlightened? There are 3 paths or mindsets along the path I have read, the small scope, the medium scope, and the great scope.
1. The Small Scope: Walk the path and align yourself with the Dharma so that you can attain a higher rebirth in your next life, but do not attain enlightenment.
2. The Medium Scope: Walk the path and strive for the ultimate goal of enlightenment for the sole purpose of personal salvation.
3. The Great Scope: Walk the path and strive for enlightenment, not for yourself, but for others, for the good of all sentient beings.
I have also read that "if you do not desire enlightenment as a drowning man desires air, you're not going to get it." So keep that in mind as you evaluate your motivation.
IMO enlightenment is our true nature, a stable connection to the clear light of creation within us all, at the deepest level of the mind. The way I see it, walking the path is a means to purify the mind and ego so that it can become transparent, to let the light of the soul shine through.
There is also the question of, what do you do once you have attained enlightenment, what next? For that I would recommend the book "After the Ecstacy, the Laundry" by Jack Kornfield.
I hope this helps some.
Edited by Satyapriya (05/09/11 09:50 PM)
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p4kSouL
Animals Are Cool
Registered: 01/13/05
Posts: 3,666
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Re: The path to enlightenment [Re: Satyapriya]
#14427526 - 05/09/11 11:12 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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This is what i am starting to think enlightenment is and how to do it.
Humans have internal organs. Those internal organs have Chi or life force. The internal organ's Chi is being eatin by Etheric Parisites. Enlightenment is killing those parasites by any means necessary. Once the parasites are dead then you can truely feel your true life force the life force you had when you came out of your moms vagina.
I have found:
Orgone
Hulda clark zapper
Chi Kung
Yoga
Prayer
Meditaiton
All kills parasite consciousness.
Being vegetarian or vegan does help the acid in the body but does not necessarily kill the parasites feeding on the life force. Thats why you can have a vegan be completely dogmatic, but still claim to have some sort of connection to mystical experiences.
To people that say your already enlightened, well that is true kinda but that would be very hard for someone to believe when lets say their kidney energy is being made a meal.
Study chinies medicine and you will know what the negative effects of the persons personality is when that particular organ is imbalanced.
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OneU
Registered: 03/19/11
Posts: 763
Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
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Re: The path to enlightenment [Re: p4kSouL]
#14428846 - 05/10/11 08:50 AM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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I agree that we harbor parasites and 'hitchhikers' without knowing through unhealthy actions and habits but it's such a simple choice to become aware of the eternal now or continue to confuse yourself, pretending this is someone else typing and you are hearing it for the first time. Thinking aloud to yourself pondering the so called mysteries of life you got bored with and decided to play dumb.
It's so simple, yet every single one of us as a collective consciousness don't do it. It's not easy; in fact, it's been the greatest challenge in life but the rewards are not material and the sensations are not physical. Which leaves one to one real choice, "can you handle the complete detachment of this physical plane in order to come into awareness of your true potential that has always been fulfilled?". This will, at first, bring false illusion of misery to those who look out and see the egomaniacs and the unconscious ones walk the deathly walk and how they are empty shells. With time comes progress but there is no single path to this word.
Your schedule is beautiful and humble. It is going to benefit you in many ways in my opinion. A routine is what prevents this parasites as some call to buildup because it is in the lazy hours that they quickly attempt to penetrate. They open doors within for entities to channel through but we can quickly get rid of those if we choose to.
I wish you a truly auspicious journey in this sacred dance of life.
Do not forget who you have always been.
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p4kSouL
Animals Are Cool
Registered: 01/13/05
Posts: 3,666
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Re: The path to enlightenment [Re: OneU]
#14429214 - 05/10/11 10:45 AM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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I do reccomend everyone get a Zapper. It ionizes the whole body and kills all the Acid & parisitic organsims, and the diseased organs can heal themselves. Orgone takes care of the certain "Etheric Parasites" and disables HAARP technology. Both will make meditation a lot easier.
This is the best zapper to get:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Z4eX-EXTREME-3-Frequency-Hulda-Clark-Zapper-/160522575857?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item255fe41ff1
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deCypher
Registered: 02/10/08
Posts: 56,232
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Re: The path to enlightenment [Re: p4kSouL]
#14429309 - 05/10/11 11:10 AM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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OP, you sound like you live a very fulfilling, healthy lifestyle. But I am curious as to one thing, however... how are you defining enlightenment? What exactly is it that you seek?
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We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
  
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Chronic7
Registered: 05/08/04
Posts: 13,679
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All of those things can help you but can never give it to you, just like nobody & no thing in the world can give you yourself, as you are already yourself
Correct understanding is all that's really necessary to attain that state of being, deeply understanding that there is nothing you have to do to fully be what you already are universally
The mind feeds on the feeling of doing things to get other things, so when the mind wants to see the truth it starts doing things to get to the truth, but if the mind investigates its own nature it is seen that the truth was always existent as yourself, before the mind dreamt up a path. Even when you attain enlightenment you will know you have never been or done or attained anything. You simply are
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Jordan Black
Registered: 05/09/11
Posts: 59
Last seen: 12 years, 10 months
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Thank you all very much for you thoughtful and kind responses. I would like to reply in turn to some of your comments.
deCypher- "how are you defining enlightenment? What exactly is it that you seek?"
This is a good question. I am not sure I can entirely answer it. If anyone has any thoughts on what enlightenment really is, I would love to hear them. For myself, I think enlightenment will be a feeling of deep inner peace, a profound sense of understanding of myself and reality, and a sense that I have finally risen above negative habits, thoughts and feelings in a permanent way. It will be a lasting bliss and sense of fulfillment. Does this match up with how you all understand enlightenment?
The Chronic- "Correct understanding is all that's really necessary to attain that state of being, deeply understanding that there is nothing you have to do to fully be what you already are universally"
This sounds wise and correct to me. However, I also know from personal experience that when I fail to do certain things, such as meditate, exercise and eat impeccably, I quickly begin to feel quite lousy and descend in to a state of suffering that seems far from what I seek. So in a way the idea that there is nothing I have to do is hard for me to understand... If I don't "do" the work of yoga and meditation, I feel as though I am wasting my life and will not attain my goal... is this a mistake?
p4kSouL "I do recommend everyone get a Zapper"
I took a look at the link you posted. Do you use one of these? how do they work, and have you noticed benefits?
Shrooomtastic "Well first of all, why do you want to be enlightened?"
I want to be enlightened first of all because I feel that it is the highest aim of human life. I have just always had that strong feeling. Although I enjoy other aspects of life, such as friends and pleasure and career and school, I still feel that the quest for awakening is the central goal. When I grow old, and my death is near, I want to have attained a peace that can sustain me as all of the things I am attached to in life fade away, and I can't see anything other than enlightenment that could offer that kind of peace.
You mentioned "The Great Scope: Walk the path and strive for enlightenment, not for yourself, but for others, for the good of all sentient beings.". This is the path my buddhist lineage teaches. When we meditate, we begin by saying "may we awaken quickly for the benefit of all beings". And when we stop meditating, we say "I share the merit aquired through this practice with all beings". It is a way to remind ourselves that we are working for the good of all.
Saidin "enlightenment is not something that can be found. No amount of ritual will help you find something you've had all along. "
Again, this sounds wise and correct. At the same time, though, I think of the life story of the Buddha. His story is very clear... as a young prince he was not enlightened. It was only when he sat down under the Bodhi tree and made a sustained effort that he achieved that state. So I can only imagine that if he had not done that work, he would never have become the Buddha at all, and similarly enlightenment is not something I have always had, but something I truly must attain through disciplined spiritual work.
guruu "think its always worth reminding yourself that the truth of our own being is always here and now, in the form of "i am."
Again, I agree. But is this sense of "I am" truly all enlightenment is? Or is enlightenment something profoundly more?
Greenvalley "To pursue enlightenment is to already be destined for enlightenment."
I hope you are correct. I would not like to think that I could fail to achieve my goal. But when I consider that I could stop meditating and for example, develop a heroin addiction, I have to think that it IS possible to fall of the path, perhaps permanently, and so I must be careful.
OneU
"Have you forgotten you are already enlightened? "
Again, this sounds wise, but I cannot believe there is not something far greater than what I am already... do we really think that everyone is automatically or already enlightened? If so, why would practices such as meditation and yoga ever have been developed at all?
Crasher "aren't you the only one who can say with any certainty whether or not this lifestyle will give you enlightenment?"
I don't know... I would not say I have any "certainty" per se, but I am following the path of teachers and sacred writings that I respect, and I have noticed many benefits already, such as feelings of peace in meditation and good health from yoga, so I can only imagine that I am headed in the right direction.
Thank you all again for your insights, and I would love to hear more of your thoughts, about what enlightenment is, whether we are already enlightened or need to attain it, or anything else.
Respect.
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Poptart
Registered: 11/05/08
Posts: 1,821
Last seen: 6 years, 11 months
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Re: The path to enlightenment [Re: Jordan Black] 2
#14431398 - 05/10/11 07:13 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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Enlightenment is a fucking myth and you'll probably end up depressed and lonely in the pursuit of it.
Just enjoy life while it lasts.
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g00ru
lit pants tit licker
Registered: 08/09/07
Posts: 21,088
Loc: georgia, us
Last seen: 5 years, 4 months
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Quote:
Jordan Black said:
Thank you all very much for you thoughtful and kind responses. I would like to reply in turn to some of your comments.
guruu "think its always worth reminding yourself that the truth of our own being is always here and now, in the form of "i am."
Again, I agree. But is this sense of "I am" truly all enlightenment is? Or is enlightenment something profoundly more?
Profoundly more? no. The greatest truth there is is just the simple reality of being, of awareness. That's the path right there, back to the source. However, your human expression might have its own story of enlightenment that is involved with the world of form. I would say, conclusive knowledge and understanding of the self is really the beginning of true spiritual pursuit. It frees something up...idk what, i suppose your soul but your mind just as much...and you are free to go in any direction your heart pleases. Spiritual enlightenment can take as many forms as there are people on the planet. but Imo it all comes down to self knowledge.
I also believe there's a state of true illumination/transfiguration that would be somewhere along the lines of a christ/buddha state. But the route to that surely must be through "i am," in the heart.
--------------------
check out my music!
drowse in prison and your waking will be but loss
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p4kSouL
Animals Are Cool
Registered: 01/13/05
Posts: 3,666
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Quote:
The Chronic said:
All of those things can help you but can never give it to you, just like nobody & no thing in the world can give you yourself, as you are already yourself
are
If your refferening the the list of spiritual practices i have posted yes those things help. But people think enlightenment is different, and my understanding. Enlightenment is (commonly descrbied as Kundalnii), which is UNDERSTANDING yourself to a higher degree. Now it doesnt have to be a Serphant or any of that but that seems to be the common "embedded movie" in our DNA when we start reaching those higher realities. Though things that block our higher potential are parts of our consciousness that exist in Astral levels, and is being fed off by Parasitic Entities possibly. Now Im not saying this is concrete truth, yet this is what i have found out through by having a adventuring personality, and experimenting with different methods. Also Im not trying to bash you or anything I commend you for your spiritual efforts, but Chi Kung and all those things I listed are Technoligies for reaching Enlightenment, which is again just understanding your personalliti to a bigger degree. "ALl those things" which you say in your quotes text ARE PART OF YOU, so dont be afraid about them they are just pieces of your puzzle. They Help and they work to kill the damn parasites and purge the ego. I could flip everything you said around and say yes EVERYTHING in the world can give you enlightenment.
Quote:
Jordan Black said:
p4kSouL "I do recommend everyone get a Zapper"
I took a look at the link you posted. Do you use one of these? how do they work, and have you noticed benefits?
Yes Ive been zapping for a 4 months now it gets better every month. It really works, people that say its scam are too much of a block head to even try it themselves because if they Zapped they would notice the positive health effects it creates.
Follow this how too:
You dont need to use paper towels.
If you get the Zapper make sure you zap your thirdeye. And zap different Chakras locations as well.
Heres another video to understand how it works better:
Edited by p4kSouL (05/11/11 12:20 AM)
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Chronic7
Registered: 05/08/04
Posts: 13,679
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Quote:
Jordan Black said:
The Chronic- "Correct understanding is all that's really necessary to attain that state of being, deeply understanding that there is nothing you have to do to fully be what you already are universally"
This sounds wise and correct to me. However, I also know from personal experience that when I fail to do certain things, such as meditate, exercise and eat impeccably, I quickly begin to feel quite lousy and descend in to a state of suffering that seems far from what I seek. So in a way the idea that there is nothing I have to do is hard for me to understand... If I don't "do" the work of yoga and meditation, I feel as though I am wasting my life and will not attain my goal... is this a mistake?
Your doing good, just relax & it'll come 
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OneU
Registered: 03/19/11
Posts: 763
Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
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Re: The path to enlightenment [Re: Chronic7]
#14441053 - 05/12/11 05:05 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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This is kind of cool but ignore the typos:
Didn't want to make a thread for it :-)
oh wow it comes out huge
Edited by OneU (05/12/11 05:05 PM)
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zZZz
jesus
Registered: 12/28/07
Posts: 33,479
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Someday you'll laugh at all the effort you made to get to where you already are. I think it is good that you are purifying your mind and heart I'd say your definitely on the right track. Don't stress yourself too much and keep at it with steady determination. I don't know much about this enlightenment but I believe I know what it takes to get to where you want to be. It takes detachment from everything including your own self. Many freed souls say the same thing, to stop looking and striving for anything. It's like being dead but alive or not being there but here, I feel it's very difficult to put in words. I was reading something about such a topic earlier today It was something about self realization and that to gain it you must do it not for yourself but for the whole of humanity, or something like that. I hope I make sense because I'm such a bad writer. Anyway sounds like you are doing very well I hope you get to where you want to be. I hope we all get there, here, wutever. Don't give up, pray for it if you have to.
Peace
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Luman
Inverting the Pleroma
Registered: 02/03/09
Posts: 400
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Re: The path to enlightenment [Re: zZZz]
#14449095 - 05/14/11 01:04 AM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
zZZz said: It's like being dead but alive or not being there but here
Sounds like my life. I've found it detestable.
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"The soul? Here we have no use for such frivolities."
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