Enlightenment Is Not What We Think It Is

Conceptualising about enlightenment is the ultimate fool’s errand. Enlightenment is what remains in the absence of concepts. Any model prescribing that something be added to one’s being in order for enlightenment to come about is erroneous: the path is a subtractive process.

[Photo by Manas Manikoth on Unsplash]

Transcript

Enlightenment is not what we think it is.

In fact,

Nothing is what we think it is.

Thoughts are precisely that—thoughts.

Ram Dass said that the problem with thinking is that we're always one thought away from reality.

We always think about something.

This is why it's best to simply rest and allow things to be as they are.

We're so busy trying to know,

And yet all knowing that occurs in the realm of thought is contrived.

It's made up,

Imagined.

Real knowledge,

Knowing things as they are,

Is enjoyed by resting naturally,

Without seeking or describing anything.

Conceptualising about enlightenment is the ultimate fool's errand.

Enlightenment is what remains in the absence of concepts.

Any model that prescribes that something be added to one's being in order for enlightenment to come about is erroneous.

The path is a subtractive process.

We let go of attachments,

We let go of aversions,

We let go of ideas,

Until there's nothing left but this.

The historical Buddha did not call himself Buddha.

He called himself Tathagata,

Meaning,

One who is thus,

Or one who is just this.

And the truth is,

We're all,

Always,

Just this.

How could it be otherwise?

We might think it otherwise,

But that's just thinking.

Training in realising one's true nature is only training in recognising what is already so.

May we all recognise what is already so.

Reviews

Thank you 😊

Thank you, very enlightening 😉🥰
Namaste 🙏

Really clear and simple. Thank you 😊

So simple and yet so hard. Thank you

Thank You .That was very helpful and necessary for me to hear

🙏

Just this. No words. No need to know. That’s a relief!

🙏🏾 you.

Bows

Interesting