Awakening vs Elightenment

[prometheus]

What is to you the difference between awakening and enlightenment?

[Cebren Girinis]

"a·wak·en·ing - (n.) a recognition, realization, or coming into awareness of something"
"en·light·en·ment - (n)the state of being enlightened"
"enlightened - adj 1: highly educated; having extensive information or understanding; "an enlightened public"; "knowing instructors"; "a knowledgeable critic"; "a knowledgeable audience" [syn: knowing, knowledgeable, learned, lettered, well-educated, well-read]

2: having knowledge and spiritual insight; [ant: unenlightened]

3: freed from illusion [syn: disillusioned]

4: having or based on relevant experience; "an educated guess"; "an enlightened electorate" [syn: educated] n : people who have been introduced to the mysteries of some field or activity; "it is very familiar to the initiate" [syn: initiate] [ant: uninitiate]"

Therefore, awakening is only the beginning, where one begins the journey and comes to several more "enlightened" ideas about themselves.

Enlightenment is something that happens both concurrently and processing with and from awakening.
Therefore, realizing that you are an indigo can be considered an awakening, while what you learn about being an indigo, your mission, and how to fulfill it is considered enlightenment.

To me, we go through many types of awakening and enlightenment, as there are many parts of ourself hidden from our own awareness.

~Cebren

**Quotes from Dictionary.com

[prometheus]

To me, we go through many types of awakening and enlightenment, as there are many parts of ourself hidden from our own awareness.

Thank you for your reply.

I'm speaking of the Buddha state. The Great Enlightenment. I'll post my answer later on.

[Cebren Girinis]

Ahh. Well then that changes everything. I look forward to hearing it.

[Electra]

Thank you for your reply.

I'm speaking of the Buddha state. The Great Enlightenment. I'll post my answer later on.

This is a very good website on enlightenment in the Zen tradition that I have used frequently over the years. It has been good to refer to at times of question or for clarification on a certain experience:

http://wanderling.tripod.com/40test01.html

[Korutransitions]

I like to think I awakened to re-member I had been enlightened.

[prometheus]

Awakening.
By Mark Stearn.

Casting off my cloak of sleep
I will dream no longer,
For the sun inside me
Filters through my tired eyes.

The fire inside me consumes us all
The Light within remakes all anew…

I will dream no longer
And know that we are the beginning
As we are the end…

Dreaming no more,
For I know
I am more
Than I have ever dared to dream.

A time for growth
A time for beginnings
Casting off sorrows
And embracing the new morning.

It has been forever written by us
That our hearts would find the truth
That speaks stronger than this world
Could ever dare to try and hide.

I will dream no more,
The dawn has arrived…

[prometheus]

What is Enlightenment?

Enlightenment is not linguistic.
It is not taught by altering conceptual beliefs.
It is not perceiving the physical world differently.
It is a core transformation.
Where identification ceases.
The persona you had is revealed as an accessory.
You may keep it or trade it in.
Some of it remains.

After Enlightenment the body remains.
The physical world full of pain, suffering and people still exists.

Those people are not enlightened.
Are not yet awake.

Awakening is simply becoming aware of something.
It is not freedom.
Unless it is discovering the illusory self.
Freedom from that is Enlightenment.
Enlightenment is the most important awakening.
It reveals that you are not a physical human being.
But the physical world is real.
As is your physical body.
Which is on loan.
For awhile.

Discovering the illusion of the persona
Is a nightmare
Without the resting in bliss
Of that which is beyond
The persona

There are safe and unsafe ways
To discover that which is
All realisations have a trickle down effect

Are your lower parts
Ready for that which your higher parts
Might impart?
Most people live active lives of denial

The basic truth is obvious
because it is experientially apparent
as well as philosophically

Philosophy without experience
Can drive you mad
It reveals an oasis
But surely you know that it is a mirage
In the desert of your mind

All levels speak of that
which is beyond
But only when speaking stops

However that is not the end
Because the body remains
Complex mechanism that it is
A multi-faceted layered energy exchange

The body exists in a world of things
And relationships

Till his dying day the Buddha
Still taught
To awaken and enlighten
Because the world is not that perfect

Enlightenment is not the end
But the start

[Optimystic]

http://www.gnostic.org/amma_j/initia...itiation1.html

[Jocelyn]

I like to think I awakened to re-member I had been enlightened.

I like that too!

[Everything is ok]

I liked that explanation very much Prometheus.

Since my experience I love Buddhism, Taoism, and Sufism.

I think awakening is when we start to realize that something isn't right and has many stages until we become enlightened.

Enlightenment, I think, has many stages also. The first being realizing the self, I think the Hindu term is Atman (maybe in Buddhism also). I would say enlightenment is self realization. When the real self is present the inner conflict is subsided. With that conflict finally over we can begin the path to full realization since the self is known and no longer confused.

So exciting.

[Everything is ok]

What is Enlightenment?

Enlightenment is not linguistic.
It is not taught by altering conceptual beliefs.
It is not perceiving the physical world differently.
It is a core transformation.
Where identification ceases.
The persona you had is revealed as an accessory.
You may keep it or trade it in.
Some of it remains.

After Enlightenment the body remains.
The physical world full of pain, suffering and people still exists.

Those people are not enlightened.
Are not yet awake.

Awakening is simply becoming aware of something.
It is not freedom.
Unless it is discovering the illusory self.
Freedom from that is Enlightenment.
Enlightenment is the most important awakening.
It reveals that you are not a physical human being.
But the physical world is real.
As is your physical body.
Which is on loan.
For awhile.

Discovering the illusion of the persona
Is a nightmare
Without the resting in bliss
Of that which is beyond
The persona

There are safe and unsafe ways
To discover that which is
All realisations have a trickle down effect

Are your lower parts
Ready for that which your higher parts
Might impart?
Most people live active lives of denial

The basic truth is obvious
because it is experientially apparent
as well as philosophically

Philosophy without experience
Can drive you mad
It reveals an oasis
But surely you know that it is a mirage
In the desert of your mind

All levels speak of that
which is beyond
But only when speaking stops

However that is not the end
Because the body remains
Complex mechanism that it is
A multi-faceted layered energy exchange

The body exists in a world of things
And relationships

Till his dying day the Buddha
Still taught
To awaken and enlighten
Because the world is not that perfect

Enlightenment is not the end
But the start

Wonderful.

[Harkear]

awakening implies the use of the mind. it implies the movement of consious awareness from one arena of perception to another, likely a larger, greater.

enlightment does not. this implies a total change of being, at every level. its funda-mental.

we all know the meaning of the word 'mental', i found it interesting to find that 'fund' comes from the latin word 'fundus' meaning bottom or source.

so maybe if awakening is a change in the mind, enlightenment is a change of the soul.

[sshenry]

Finding Prometheus's posts are always a pleasure

[Agent of the Revolution]

Enlightenment is the realisation which brings about the end of suffering.

Awakening is the process of realisation of spiritual truth which leads you to know who you are, and who you are not, which culminates in a that realisation and end of suffering.

[Indigo Dog]

Awakening was the moment I recognized god in myself.
Enlightenment was the moment I recognized god in you.

[Naterade]

...

[MiamiSound]

Birth Vs Progression

[h0bby1]

i awoke when i opened my eyes and was enlighted when i closed them back to see beyond

[Satisfiction]

Awakening was the moment I recognized god in myself.
Enlightenment was the moment I recognized god in you.

Nice!