You're enlightened – now what? • Hacker News Board

Re: You're enlightened – now what?

#11

Post by Liquix » Fri, Sep 25, 2020, 12:37 PM UTC

Zen saying: "Before enlightenment chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment chop wood, carry water".

Some more from Ram Dass:

“Just because you are seeing divine light, experiencing waves of bliss, or conversing with Gods and Goddesses is no reason to not know your zip code.”

"If you see yourself as God and then you come back from this state and somebody says, "Hey, Sam, empty the garbage!" it catches you back into the model of "I'm Sam who empties the garbage." You can't maintain these new kinds of structures. It takes a while to realize that God can empty garbage."

What I get from it is that if you are considering starting a cult, creating your own government, going to war, or how to integrate your newfound knowledge into the bureaucracy of the world, you're not quite out of the woods yet.

Re: You're enlightened – now what?

#12

Post by OneGuy123 » Fri, Sep 25, 2020, 12:38 PM UTC

People search for enlightenment because they want peace.

No more self-doubt, no more fear etc...

IMO it's the only goal that matters, since humans in one way or another do things to "remove" fear or doubt from their lives.

Re: You're enlightened – now what?

#13

Post by apples_oranges » Fri, Sep 25, 2020, 12:39 PM UTC

I guess after some realisations the instinct is to go out and tell everyone to make them happy. This too shall pass. Also there are so many gurus.. The answers to the questions in this post can be found by observing them.

Re: You're enlightened – now what?

#14

Post by dkersten » Fri, Sep 25, 2020, 12:42 PM UTC

It really depends on the enlightenment, doesn’t it?

Re: You're enlightened – now what?

#15

Post by threatripper » Fri, Sep 25, 2020, 12:42 PM UTC

theon144 wrote: post #5

I honestly don't get the point of the article. Is it supposed to be a jab at the modern mindfulness wave? Or is it actually speaking of "enlightenment" as it's understood in most spiritual practices, in which case none of the questions even make sense?

The article desperately tries to push all the triggers like a nerd on a party who tries to small-talk about science with a beauty queen who already has achieved inner emptiness.

Re: You're enlightened – now what?

#16

Post by _def » Fri, Sep 25, 2020, 12:42 PM UTC

Liquix wrote: post #11

Zen saying: "Before enlightenment chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment chop wood, carry water" . Some more from Ram Dass: “Just because you are seeing divine light, experiencing waves of bliss, or conversing with Gods and Goddesses is no reason to not know your zip code.” "If you see yourself as God and then you come back from this state and somebody says, "Hey, Sam, empty the garbage!" it catches you back int…

Those are very inspiring quotes, thank you.

Re: You're enlightened – now what?

#17

Post by surajx » Fri, Sep 25, 2020, 12:45 PM UTC

"But a question nags at you: why can’t the world already know what you know?"

The state in which such a question arises is contradictory to the state of enlightenment.

Re: You're enlightened – now what?

#18

Post by SamBam » Fri, Sep 25, 2020, 12:45 PM UTC

theon144 wrote: post #5

I honestly don't get the point of the article. Is it supposed to be a jab at the modern mindfulness wave? Or is it actually speaking of "enlightenment" as it's understood in most spiritual practices, in which case none of the questions even make sense?

Seriously. But presumably it's easier to write a snarky article than it is to spend years learning about that enlightenment really means for different traditions.

Re: You're enlightened – now what?

#19

Post by Shaddox » Fri, Sep 25, 2020, 12:45 PM UTC

Interesting point of view since it's so directly in contradiction to mine. I always viewed enlightenment as an unique, untransmissible experience (unique as in it's different for each individual, not that you can only have it once).

I think it's near impossible to be able to convey these as teachings since it's such an intimate experience ultimately modeled by the world around you. Perhaps that's just my definition of enlightenment, an intimate understanding of the internal and external world.

If I am ever to reach this state, I hope it's an inner state of peace and acceptance because my current angst is wearing me down.

Re: You're enlightened – now what?

#20

Post by SubuSS » Fri, Sep 25, 2020, 12:45 PM UTC

threatripper wrote: post #15

theon144 wrote: post #5

I honestly don't get the point of the article. Is it supposed to be a jab at the modern mindfulness wave? Or is it actually speaking of "enlightenment" as it's understood in most spiritual practices, in which case none of the questions even make sense?

The article desperately tries to push all the triggers like a nerd on a party who tries to small-talk about science with a beauty queen who already has achieved inner emptiness.

Sorry am lacking reading comprehension- whose buttons are getting pushed here?

I am a nerd, I do attend parties with all kinds of people - so you have my curiosity:)