Enlightenment, your favourite descriptions Options

One day it was announced by Master Joshu that the young monk Kyogen had reached an enlightened state. Much impressed by this news, several of his peers went to speak with him.

"We have heard that you are enlightened. Is this true?" his fellow students inquired.

"It is," Kyogen answered.

"Tell us," said a friend, "how do you feel?"

"As miserable as ever," replied the enlightened Kyogen.

Moon reflected on the water

Enlightenment is like the moon reflected on the water. The moon does not get wet, nor is the water broken. Although its light is wide and great, the moon is reflected even in a puddle an inch wide. The whole moon and the entire sky are reflected in dewdrops on the grass, or even in one drop of water.

Enlightenment does not divide you, just as the moon does not break the water. You cannot hinder enlightenment, just as a drop of water does not hinder the moon in the sky. The depth of the drop is the height of the moon. Each reflection, however long or short its duration, manifests the vastness of the dewdrop, and realizes the limitlessness of the moonlight in the sky.

Dogen

Source: http://www.allspirit.co.uk/dogen.html

This post has been edited by Nachash: Aug 27 2005, 02:28 PM

"Enlightenment is like the moon reflected on the water. The moon does not get wet, nor is the water broken. "

What a wonderful post with this lovely analogy.

Enlightenment is a relative term. For example, Buddha & Jesus were unenlightened in matters of mathematics. Happiness also can not be the criterion for enlightenment as a child in possession of sweet will be happy. Thus enlightenment is 100 % relative and dependent on the subjective mental attitude.

Enlightenment is relative as good and evil are relative?

The following excerpt from 'Zen in the Martial Arts' by Joe Hyams puts in to words how my study of Zen has helped me.

"I feel my life calmer, richer, and fuller. I now have more patience, more tolerance of others, and more self-confidence. I have lost much of the edginess and combativeness that arose from my insecurity. Of course, I would still rather not lose a game, a bid for work, or an arguement. But when I do, I can now lose more graciously, accepting defeat as part of the learning process."

I recommend this book to anyone interested in Zen, Martial Arts, or both.

Just found this on the BBC News site...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4222054.stm

Mildred E Bates looks healthy as well, despite a bandaged finger. She sits on a step looking out at the world, her grey dreadlocks pulled back from her smiling, gold-toothed face.

What has she been doing since the storm?

"Enjoying being free."

I salute you Zen master Mildred .
(IMG:http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40772000/jpg/_40772762_mildredebates_203bbc.jpg)

i agree that enlightenment is a relative matter but i think we are speaking here of spiritual enlightenment not mundane issues like mathamatics(although as a carpender i think Jesus had to be intimatly aquainted with math).

Personally i am not seeking to be enlightened. i think to be truely enlightened you have to give up too much of the world. i look at those who have been labled as enlightened and they have very little attachment to this world, their thoughts and souls are focused on the life of the spirit and they tend to move completly out of this world, giving up deep emotions, worldly goods, familly conections, even their own name and identity in this quest. i am not ready for all that, i LIKE this world so i will seek wisdom and balance and leave the quest for enlightenment for others.

Enlightment to me is best described in these beautiful quote from Ralph Lauren... uhm sorry, Ralph Waldo Emerson (IMG:style_emoticons/default/13.gif)

"To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
And endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty,
To find the best in others,
To leave the world a bit better; whether by a healthy child,
A garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To know that one life has breathed easier because you have lived."

To understand the enlightenment of the here and now I should give a mention to Bankei.

The Unborn is not something to be reached for or attained by discipline; it is not a condition of mind or religious ecstacy; it is right where you stand, perfect just as it is. All one need do to realize it is to be oneself, exactly as one is, doing exactly what one is doing, without commentary, self-consciousness, or judgement.

The blissfull serenity of conceptualizing perpetual knowledge spanding the ages and trancending death itself.

For me enlightement is knowing the Truth ....but Nachash put it so beautiful (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif)