Most people have heard that the Buddha was enlightened, and that Buddhists seek enlightenment. But what does that mean, exactly? What is enlightenment, and how do you know when you've "got" it?

To begin, it's important to understand that "enlightenment" is an English word that can mean several things. For example, in the West, the Age of Enlightenment was a philosophical movement of the 17th and 18th centuries that promoted science and reason over myth and superstition.

In western culture, then, the word "enlightenment" is often associated with intellect and knowledge. But Buddhist enlightenment is something else.

To add to the confusion, the word "enlightenment" has been used to translate several Asian words that don't mean precisely the same thing. For example, several decades ago English speakers were introduced to Buddhism through the writing of D.T. Suzuki (1870-1966), a Japanese scholar who had lived for a time as a Rinzai Zen monk. Suzuki used "enlightenment" to translate the Japanese word satori, derived from the verb satoru, "to know." This translation was not without justification.

But in usage, satori usually refers to an experience of insight into the true nature of reality. It has been compared to the experience of opening a door, but to open a door is still a separation from what's inside the door. Partly through Suzuki's influence, the idea of spiritual enlightenment as a sudden, blissful, transformative experience became embedded in western culture.

However,that's a misleading idea.

Bodhi is a Sanskrit and Pali word that means "awakening," and it also is often translated as "enlightenment."

In Theravada Buddhism, bodhi is associated with the perfection of insight into the Four Noble Truths, which brings about the cessation of dukkha (suffering; stress; dissatisfaction). The person who has perfected this insight and abandoned all defilements is an arhat, one who is liberated from the cycle of samsara. While alive he enters a sort of conditional nirvana, and at death he enjoys the peace of complete nirvana.

In the Atthinukhopariyaayo Sutta of the Pali Tipitika (Samyutta Nikaya 35.152), the Buddha said,

"Then, monks, this is the criterion whereby a monk, apart from faith, apart from persuasion, apart from inclination, apart from rational speculation, apart from delight in views and theories, could affirm the attainment of enlightenment: 'Birth is destroyed, the holy life has been accomplished, what was to be done is done, there is no further living in this world.'"

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What Is Enlightenment in Buddhism

(1) The Divine Languages (The Enlightenment) Contained herein are easily recognizable English language messages from otherworldly beings found woven into such historical milestones of rock 'n' roll history as Jethro Tull's "Thick as a Brick" and Jimi Hendrix's "Axis: Bold As Love". It provides proof of the spirit world that can be demonstrated to anyone around the world through the Internet today. It announces a Living God by name and title, and delivers a specific message concerning the coming new age of life and reality. The Divine Languages

(2) American Star of Bethlehem There is no sanction of astrology in the Christian religion, and they don't pay attention to signs; however, astrologers, in the form of the Magi, were used to herald Christ's birth. They were alerted to this event by more than just the Star of Bethlehem. There were convergences in the heavens, signs in the sky, and otherworldly messengers. American Star of Bethlehem

(3) There Were Signs In The Sky Impossible coincidences and signs that speak to us through our reality; doing more than just pointing the way to the Living God, they give us the divine opportunity for change. Pay close attention to signs; do not allow them to pass you by, for the opportunity of divine change comes all to seldom. Signs in The Sky

(4) Jethro Tull's "Thick as a Brick" Divinely inspired works are handed to the authors, piece by piece, along with a personal understanding of what it means to them. This can be similar to or completely different from the higher meaning intended by the one who inspired it. What the inspired artist thinks about their work depends on what they can understand and what they would believe. Jethro Tull's - Thick as a Brick

(5) American Living God (The Power of Creation)There are over three hundred ascending stages of belief through proof involved in the forty-days/temptation-test. It is administered by a Godlike being of incredible power, intelligence, and a sense of humor. American Living God

(6) In The Beginning There Was Superman (A War In The Heavens) I called upon the souls of Heaven and Hell; and, the "Normal Universe," to join me in a war against a mad God over the abomination of Hell. It was a stirring and inspirational speech, given as the Lathe of Heaven. I got an immediate response from the Living Goddess, and all of Heaven joined in. Twenty minutes later, I got a response from Hell. Someone with a high pitched cartoon character voice called back and said, "We talked it over. We're all with you!" And Superman Was God

(7) The Fledgling (The Real Story) I have revealed the future as it stands now. I have made you your own judges, and your own saviors, and I have given you a way out through change. You are making the choices right now that will determine the outcome of your souls. Choose well how you devote yourselves in each lifetime. Choose well the stories of your lives. The Fledgling's Story

(8) Elvis Presley Lives I can give you the who, what, where, and why of it all, but you will still have to face the music; one way or the other. You will still have to deal with your problems, in this life, the afterlife, or in the next life. Learning to cope is part of the process of becoming real people. The following presents an important and critical junction in your existence and poses the ever present universal question: "What are you going to do?" Elvis Presley Lives

(9) A Santa This Way Cometh (First The Good Goes) One day, I opened the Christian Bible and read just this: "First the good goes, then the world blows up, and 'then' the Savior comes flying through the clouds." I also got a cartoonish vision of a big billowy cloud, rushing through the sky with a puffy cloud face, blowing hot air through pursed lips. Original Santa Claus

(10) The Highest Probability (It's The Impossible That's True) What is real to us, could be described as a well maintained illusion to a 'being' of infinite intelligence; who maintains reality from moment to moment. In the quantum structured universe, such things as mater, space-time and gravity just could not have naturally precipitated so conveniently from a singularity. The odds of all this happening are about one chance in infinity. The Highest Probability

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Enlightenment : The Power of Creation

Personal development includes activities that improve awareness and identity, develop talents and potential, build human capital and facilitate employability, enhance quality of life and contribute to the realization of dreams and aspirations. The concept is not limited to self-help but includes formal and informal activities for developing others in roles such as teacher, guide, counselor, manager, life coach or mentor. When personal development takes place in the context of institutions, it refers to the methods, programs, tools, techniques, and assessment systems that support human development at the individual level in organizations.[1]

Personal development includes the following activities:

Personal development can also include developing other people. This may take place through roles such as those of a teacher or mentor, either through a personal competency (such as the skill of certain managers in developing the potential of employees) or a professional service (such as providing training, assessment or coaching).

Beyond improving oneself and developing others, personal development is a field of practice and research. As a field of practice it includes personal development methods, learning programs, assessment systems, tools and techniques. As a field of research, personal development topics increasingly appear in scientific journals, higher education reviews, management journals and business books.

Any sort of developmentwhether economic, political, biological, organizational or personalrequires a framework if one wishes to know whether change has actually occurred. In the case of personal development, an individual often functions as the primary judge of improvement, but validation of objective improvement requires assessment using standard criteria. Personal development frameworks may include goals or benchmarks that define the end-points, strategies or plans for reaching goals, measurement and assessment of progress, levels or stages that define milestones along a development path, and a feedback system to provide information on changes.

Personal development as an industry[3] has several business relationship formats of operating. The main ways are business-to-consumer and business-to-business. However, there are two newer ways increasing in prevalence: consumer-to-business and consumer-to-consumer.

The business-to-consumer market involves selling books, courses and techniques to individuals, such as:

Some programs are delivered online and many include tools sold with a program, such as motivational books for self-help, recipes for weight-loss or technical manuals for yoga and martial-arts programs.

A partial list of personal development offerings on the business-to-individual market might include:

The business-to-business market also involves programs in this case ones sold to companies and to governments to assess potential, to improve effectiveness, to manage work-life balance or to prepare some entity for a new role in an organization. The goals of these programs are defined[by whom?] with the institution or by the institution and the results are assessed.[by whom?][citation needed] With the acceptance of personal development as a legitimate field in higher education,[citation needed] universities and business schools also contract programs to external specialist firms or to individuals.[citation needed]

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Personal development - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Come explore what happens when classical spirituality meets modern science. Open your eyes and heart to a spirituality unfolding upward toward Christ growing in awareness of a self-reflective universe where humans, co-creating with God, unite to move the universe to a higher level. Celebrate cosmic history as sacred revelation and explore appreciative ways of thinking about the past, enlightened ways of being in the present, and empowering ways of imagining the future. We will reflect and consider Teilhard de Chardins evolution of consciousness and Christogenesis, as well as insights from Ilia Delio, Judy Cannato, Brian Swimme, Mary Evelyn Tucker, Carter Phipps, and Andrew Cohen. They will deepen your spirituality, give you a stronger sense of your connectedness with nature, and stretch your mind and heart.

This program is offered September 24, 2014. It begins at 10:00 AM and ends at 3:00 PM. The cost is $35 and this includes lunch. There is a $10 non-refundable deposit. Your registration is not confirmed until your deposit is received.

SCROLL TO THE VERY BOTTOM OF THISEVENT TO REGISTER ONLINE: (If you need some extra supportiveinformation for registering online, click HERE

(If you pay the deposit online via PayPal there is no option for coming back to pay the remaining amount online. The remaining amount must be paid by a check (mail in or pay on your arrival) or by cash when you arrive for the program. There is no way of processing a credit card at the center. If you really want to pay everything by credit card then pay in full at the time of online registration. If the program is canceled you will receive the full payment back via PayPal. If you are unable to attend the program, the remainder after the deposit will be paid back via PayPal.)

Julie Keegan, OSF, a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia, is an associate staff member at the Franciscan Spiritual Center. Her ministry includes authoring the Centers Blog, overseeing the website and other electronic social networks, giving retreats, doing spiritual direction and offering workshops on gratitude, Franciscan theology, and evolutionary spirituality. She has extensive professional experience in health care, nursing education, ethics, development, and has been involved in offering programs at parishes and health care institutions.

39.8772105 -75.43881929999998

Online registration has closed for this event but you can call 610-558-6152 to see if there are available spaces or to place yourself on a waiting list.

Or Download a PDF Reservation Form to send via mail.

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Evolutionary Spirituality | Franciscan Spiritual Center

The evolution of the species is observable. This really we cant deny. However, I am not a Darwinist and I dont subscribe to the notion that the survival of the fittest can explain the entire evolutionary process. The impulse of evolution is spiritual.

This is actually a knowledge I gained many year ago in flash of epiphany. I was taking shower when in just a few seconds perceived some information that answered all my questions, even the ones I had not posed. It was not like learning new things but rather remembering. I stood there, saying, Yes, yes, of course. It was as if I knew all that and had forgotten it. Everything was coming back to me in a flash.

Although the experience was overwhelming and I thought about it for some time, eventually I ignored it. Now that I am reading about the NDE of others, I see many of them describe the same thing.

The process of evolution is correct, as Darwin explained it. However, there is a spiritual force behind it that Henry Bergson coined as elan vital or the vital force. This elan vital is immaterial. It appears in organic matter. As the organization of matter becomes more complex the size and the faculties of the elan vital increase.

What Bergson called elan vital is what our ancestors called soul. Volvox is an organism, or is it? You can break the unity of volvox and its components can live independent from each other. By coming together they can work in conjunction as if there is a mind controlling the entire group. The organism suddenly acquires a super-mind that is responsible for the behavior of their collectivity. You can observe the same phenomenon in a school of fish, a skein of geese, a host of sparrows, a flock of sheep, a swarm of bees, etc. Who controls these animals in group? How a murmuration of starlings know when to turn right or left simultaneously without an apparent leader? Watching hundreds of thousands of starlings move synchronically without bumping to each other, forming amazing shapes in sky is fascinating. How can they do that?

A Murmuration of Starlings or a Dance of God?

There seems to be that by coming together these animals become recipient of their super mind. This super mind is of spiritual nature. Whenever organisms of the same species come together and work jointly in harmony they become the seat of their super consciousness that takes control of them and moves them as if they were a single organism.

The entire evolution is based on this principle. Atoms are formed when particles join together. Particles are alive. But when they are organized as atom, they become the seat of a new spirit: the spirit of atom. Atoms are alive, even though their life is so primitive that we dont consider them living. The process continues. Atoms form molecules, molecules form mega molecules, mega molecules form proteins, proteins form cells and cells form big organisms like humans. In each stage of the evolution matter becomes the seat of a bigger spirit and more lively. The cells composing your body are individually alive, but there is no comparison between your life and theirs.

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The Evolution of Mankind and the Dawn of a Spiritual ...

What is it about 'those' people that seems to always attract a crowd while people often walk right by (or away) from everyone else.They seem to hold some form of magical 'personal power' that automatically draws others toward them.

Have you been in situations where you have wanted to attract more attention engage in deep, meaningful conversations with those around you but for some reason they just seem to walk away or almost are afraid to talk with you?

Sometimes it can seem like you are invisible that you have no ability to get noticed and the harder you try, the worse it seems to get. You just don't seem to have the personal power to attract desirable people toward you.

Here are 5 ways to magically attract people to you, no matter how much of an outcast you feel like today:

1. Be comfortable with yourself. It sounds kind of odd to think that we are often not comfortable with ourselves doesn't it? But it's true especially in social situations. You can improve your comfort level and work on being more confident overall by using techniques like yoga and meditation. Just 20-minutes of mediation each day can have a dramatic impact on your self-confidence over time resulting in more attractiveness on the outside. You can learn the basics of yoga and meditation from a local class in your area, books or online at yoga and meditation resources such asthis one.

2. Learn to listen and ask questions. People like to talk about themselves, so a great way to break the ice and create interest in yourself is to begin by putting others in a comfortable place of answering questions about themselves.

3. Pay attention to your own health and personal development. When someone appears confident and successful, they draw people toward them. If you look defeated, withdrawn and have not taken care of yourself then that shows to those around you and they will avoid you. Exercise regularly, eat healthy, take care of yourself and others will be drawn to you.

4. Learn to tell stories. Have you ever noticed that some of the most popular people are those that tell great stories. It's not that the story itself needs to be great, it's just that it needs to be told in a passionate and confident way. Make sure you observe what is going on around you, stay abrest of current events and learn to tell stories.

5. Take the positive spinPeople want to be around other positive people not complainers or those who always take the negative spin. If you can see the positive in situations even better take action towards making things more positive then you will be seen as someone of high social importance becoming much more attractive to those around you.

You may think thatpersonal power is a result ofchemistry or social skill that you cannot learn and so you are destined to always be someone who does not attract attention but you can change all of that by following some simple steps to improve your self-confidence, improve your image and learn how to engage others more easily.

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5 Ways To Attract People To You - Personal Development

The English term enlightenment is the western translation of the term bodhi, "awakening", which has entered the Western world via the 19th century translations of Max Mller. It has the western connotation of a sudden insight into a transcendental truth.

The term is also being used to translate several other Buddhist terms and concepts used to denote insight (prajna, kensho and satori);[dead link] knowledge (vidhya); the "blowing out" (Nirvana) of disturbing emotions and desires and the subsequent freedom or release (vimutti); and the attainment of Buddhahood, as exemplified by Gautama Buddha.

What exactly constituted the Buddha's awakening is unknown. It may probably have involved the knowledge that liberation was attained by the combination of mindfulness and dhyna, applied to the understanding of the arising and ceasing of craving. The relation between dhyana and insight is a core problem in the study of Buddhism, and is one of the fundamentals of Buddhist practice.

In the western world the concept of (spiritual) enlightenment has taken on a romantic meaning. It has become synonymous with self-realization and the true self, being regarded as a substantial essence being covered over by social conditioning.

Robert S. Cohen notes that the majority of English books on Buddhism use the term "enlightenment" to translate the term bodhi. The root budh, from which both bodhi and Buddha are derived, means "to wake up" or "to recover consciousness". Cohen notes that bodhi is not the result of an illumination, but of a path of realization, or coming to understanding. The term "enlightenment" is event-oriented, whereas the term "awakening" is process-oriented. The western use of the term "enlighten" has Christian roots, as in Calvin's "It is God alone who enlightens our minds to perceive his truths".

Early 19th century bodhi was translated as "intelligence". The term "enlighten" was first being used in 1835, in an English translation of a French article. In 1857 The Times used the term "the Enlightened" for the Buddha in a short article, which was reprinted the following year by Max Mller. Thereafter, the use of the term subsided, but reappeared with the publication of Max Mller's Chips from a german Workshop, which included a reprint from the Times-article. The book was translated 1969 into German, using the term "der Erleuchtete". Max Mller was an essentialist, who believed in a natural religion, and saw religion as an inherent capacity of human beings. "Enlightenment" was a means to capture natural religious truths, as distinguished from mere mythology.[note 1]

By the mid-1870s it had become commonplace to call the Buddha "enlightened", and by the end of the 1880s the terms "enlightened" and "enlightenment" dominated the English literature.

Bodhi (Sanskrit, Pli), from the verbal root budd, "to awaken", "to understand", means literally "to have woken up and understood". According to Johannes Bronkhorst, Tillman Vetter, and K.R. Norman,bodhi was at first not specified. K.R. Norman:

It is not at all clear what gaining bodhi means. We are accustomed to the translation "enlightenment" for bodhi, but this is misleading [...] It is not clear what the buddha was awakened to, or at what particular point the awakening came.

According to Norman, bodhi may basically have meant the knowledge that nibbana was attained, due to the practice of dhyana. Originally only "prajna" may have been mentioned, and Tillman Vetter even concludes that originally dhyana itself was deemed liberating, with the stilling of pleasure of pain in the fourth jhana. Gombrich also argues that the emphasis on insight is a later development.

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Enlightenment in Buddhism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Human Rights in Tibet before 1959 Robert Barnett examines claims by China such as: 1) before 1959, all except 5 percent of the Tibetan population were slaves or serfs in a feudal system in which they were regarded as saleable private property, had no land or freedom, and were subject to punishment by mutilation or amputation; 2) serfs were liable to be tortured or killed; and 3) economy and culture were stagnant for centuries, life expectancy was 35.5 years, illiteracy was over 90 percent, 12 percent of Lhasas population were beggars, and the Dalai Lama was responsible for all of this

Tibet as Hell on Earth Elliot Sperling puts Chinas Serfs Emancipation Day and their strong ambition to dominate the Tibetan historical view into perspective. Theres no doubt that Tibets traditional society was hierarchical and backwards, replete with aristocratic estates and a bound peasantry. And theres no doubt that Tibetans, whether in exile or in Tibet voice no desire to restore such a society. Many Tibetans will readily admit that the social structure was highly inegalitarian. But it was hardly the cartoonish, cruel Hell-on-Earth that Chinese propaganda has portrayed it to be.

The Myth of Shangri-la Tsering Shakya wonders and investigates why the public support of the Tibetan cause has not materialised into political action. Why is it that no major political party has dared to pass a single resolution on Tibet? Shakya shows that the causes for this lack of political action are not only issues ofrealpolitik, but also how the West perceives Tibet and interprets the Tibetan political struggle. Western perceptions of Tibet and the images they have produced about Tibet have hampered the Tibetan political cause. The constant mythologisation of Tibet has obscured and confused the real nature of the Tibetan political struggle.

Shangri-la in Exile: Representations of Tibetan Identity and Transnational Culture In this paper Toni Huber is primarily concerned with the representational style and agenda of a new type of Tibetan exile self-image. He outlines the social and historical context of their appearance and he considers the manner of their deployment by the exile community. He discusses four main points, 1) the reinvention of a kind of modern, liberal Shangri-la image of Tibet; 2) how new identity images are largely the creation of a political and intellectual elite in exile; 3) that it is the experience of the diaspora that provides the initial stimulus for a modern Tibetan identity production; and 4) though the myth of Tibet was historically a Western enterprise, new Tibetan exile identity claims represent, at least in part, an appropriation of the Western discourse about Tibet

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Tibetan Buddhism in the West | Problems of Adoption ...

Two portraits of Italian violinist Paganini, top by Delacroix, bottom by Ingres

Those following after the (mostly French) Continental schools of Enlightenment, by contrast, tended towards A World Half Full and Rousseau Was Right that is, mankind is a blank slate which is mostly influenced by its environment, and thus not inherently "selfish" or "selfless" inasmuch as simply interested in self-preservation and seeking comfort. They believe that we don't need destroying humanity and recreating it anew, because our selfish genes can be harnessed for the Greater Good if they can be used as rewards for productive behaviourthis is why they advocate utilitarianism, democracynoteIndividuals ambitious for political power must serve the people and compete with other similarly-ambitious people while the people know of their misdeeds, thus keeping them relatively honest and to a lesser extent the incentives provided by industrial capitalism.noteIndividuals ambitious for wealth must manufacture something that society values in order to deserve it, and the competition forces them to continue producing better inventions, possibly forever, as long as everyone is honest. Unfortunately Social Darwinism takes the "competition drives innovation" part to the genocidal extreme. Romanticists generally agree with the "bastardy animals" idea, but they tend to accept it and not the "utilitarianism converts bastardy animalness into prosperity" solution.

For an example of how this works, consider the important proto-postmodern text Dialectic of Enlightenment, which critiqued modernism and Enlightenment as being nothing other than an extended, totalitarian form of the same (Romantic) primitive world-mythology that grips all people - "[M]yth is already enlightenment; and enlightenment reverts to mythology."

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It goes much deeper than that. Madoka transforms from a girl who hates herself toa happy girl who essentially kills herself and disembodies her spirit in order to create a new system where all magical girls are saved while the Energy system is not compromised. Madoka let the Kyubey exist to prevent Entropy and give humanity civilization, only that the worst and unnecessary waste products of the Puella Magi system (witches) are gone. Given that she simultaneously assists Kyubey in his goal of preventing the heat-death of the universe, and that she gives up her self to help fix the world, it seems like a rather Enlightened work to me. If Madoka straight-up wished that Kyubey didn't exist and accepted her life as "naked and living in caves" while the universe dies from entropy, it would be Romanticist.

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Romanticism Versus Enlightenment - TV Tropes

Ive made my living running this blog for the past five years. I owe a lot to this blog. Its enabled me to travel, take on interesting side projects, communicate with thousands of people and live well.

Given my positive experience, youd think Id encourage other people to do the same. Except when my friend asked for advice about starting something similar, I told him not to do it.

It wasnt because I was afraid of competition. My friend was planning to start up a business which wouldnt compete with mine. Even if it did, thats rarely a problem. I spend more time collaborating with people who write about similar topics than competing with them.

It also wasnt because his idea was bad. In fact, it was actually pretty good. Which is saying a lot because literally 95% of business ideas people share are terrible. (Interesting side note: whenever someone makes me promise not to steal their idea before they tell me about it, I know its going to be terrible. Real entrepreneurs arent worried about people stealing their ideas.)

No, the reason I told my friend not to go into business was quite different. The reason is not actually about business at all, but something general enough that it can apply to many, many life decisions without you realizing it. Let me explain

Success isnt the same in all fields. Some areas show relatively rapid initial gains, followed by increasingly difficult long-term gains. Some areas show relatively slow initial gains, but those improvements accelerate so that improving them becomes easier and easier.

I wrote an entire article outlining the difference between these two types of growth here.

Blogging is a clear example of exponential growth. The more effort you put in, the higher the return on investment. When I started this blog, my hourly rate of income was zeroputting in a lot of effort for literally zero pay. Then I remember my first month I made any money at all, which calculated as an hourly rate would probably be only a few cents per hour.

For me, the time from zero income to earning enough to surpass the poverty threshold was about five years. The time to go from that to comfortably earning six figures was only three. Thats the power of exponential growth.

But that growth also means that if youre not going to be in the game long-term, it doesnt make sense to get started. I knew when I started my blog that I wanted to go full-time with an online business. I wasnt clear exactly how I would do it, but I knew that my goal wasnt to make a little extra side income, but to do it full time.

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Scott H Young Blog