Thoughts on Enlightenment

Enlightenment is a constant process. I don't believe that one person just comes to know all one day. Even if that person is the Buddha, with all due respect, of course. One might learn to cope with everything at one quick moment - but it seems unlikely that one can know all. What I mean when I say learn to cope with everything is the knowledge that only the things that you let bother you, bother you. I know it's easier said than done – but with training, it's not impossible.

Before we go back to the "process of enlightenment", let's understand the "learning to cope with everything" bit: Let's take for example a young girl – Jessica – and the case of her toy – Barbie. Barbie was recently lost and Jessica loved her very much and would not be without it at any time. Jessica feels hurt, she cries and she is upset and she wants it back. As an outsider looking in, I can easily tell that if she was not so attached to the Barbie, she would have never felt so hurt and upset. But of course that's not how human beings live, and I don't think there is any point in being detached – love and compassion are great feelings and everyone must experience them.

But in a sudden moment of "Enlightenment", we could understand that it is all going to go away, and we can try to enjoy it while it lasts and when it does go away – just get over it and move on. (Time does an amazing job at that helping us move on). This is the basis of every Buddhist teaching: The non-continuity of everything and I do believe, that with practice, we can learn to love something and teach ourselves to be okay with when it is lost.With the "process", however, I refer to an understanding of the nature of things. With the infinite possibilities of subjects we can learn, and things we can know and ideas we can generate – there is no finite way of understanding it all. But with constant exposure, you come to understanding things better, and that is your enlightenment. You are now enlightened about being enlightened (That might just be the highest form of enlightenment, but I'm not telling).

Jokes apart, that's what has been said to us from time to time. Training makes us perfect, constant exposure makes us confident, better understanding makes us experts.

Enlightenment is certainly not a hoax and it is definitely within all of our reach – and the meditation here – are the subjects we train in.
--Tarun Betala | +91 897 656 1640 | BBPin 251ED1FC