What is Spiritual Enlightenment?

A definition that is as nebulous as the word itself. Enlightenment, to be enlightened, to have a deeper meaning. Spiritual enlightenment, the ability to come to an inner peace a knowledge of a higher power, that is encountered through introspection, meditation, prayer, or a revelation. In psychology this is frequently looked upon as an Aha! experience. Peace and Healing speaks of “truth” and finding truth. It is impossible to come up with truth on spiritual enlightenment if we define truth as something that is researched, measured and quantified. We know that two apples plus two apples equals four apples, and that water can be a liquid, a solid and a gas. When we talk about the sky being blue that is more of a vague truth, is it not? It appears blue, but can be grey, whitish, and have different hues depending on the atmosphere, clouds, etc. If I say my experience of inner peace, and a reckoning of my past pain after experiencing numerous sweat ceremonies was truth, I would be correct that it was a true experience for me. I cannot extrapolate it is a “way of truth” for others. All of us see the world a little differently, we see an ocean differently than the next and all those sights have different meaning depending on our past. One may see it as a calming experience, another, it may induce a real fear from a past drowning experience, another may find joy and anticipation of a tan, and yet another may find it enjoyable only if they are active playing some sport while they are on the beach. All true feelings for each but all different. Hence, there is not “ONE” truth for a person’s view or perception of an ocean and a beach. All of us view the world differently with many experiences, and all our past experiences play into our conclusion of how we draw perceptions and what is true for us. What is true for us is not necessarily true for all. You may feel that last sentence is a clear, obvious statement, however this flies directly in the face of religions explaining that there is only “ONE” way, the right way, to eternal peace. Spiritual enlightenment is not something you go out and purchase, and you do not get it from going to one sweat lodge ceremony by a charlatan, or collecting crystals burning sage, and sitting in a lotus position, while chimes dance in the wind. For this author and my long, long plight in searching for spiritual awareness and/or enlightenment it took years, it took an understanding that it would take years, a lifetime in fact, the journey itself is the process. Most importantly I needed to be open to the process and believe it could exist. I had to leave the medical model, the scientific method that we embrace so dearly because it is safe, and it makes good sense. I needed to learn there was and is something more, and that thousands and thousands of monks, ninjas, elders of all cultures, Zen masters, and Eastern philosophers knew something. Something indeed existed, something as real as two apples plus two apples equals four apples.

There was too much written, too much unexplained, and too much sense from tapping into an inner power. This inner power can be explained by tapping into the grossly large unused portion of our brain, a higher sense of self but we still have trouble measuring it. Many feel it is not real, not viable unless it can be proven, measured, and be founded. For years we knew fish did not feel pain, their brains where too primordial, we now know for fact, this is not true. Interestingly, tribes have told this to us for years. Change and knowledge is inevitable, it will continue to change, and there will always be advances, as well as there will always be doubt. What is true ? Nothing is true when it comes to measuring spiritual enlightenment. If one wants something bad enough one will see what they  want, find what they want and there will always be a charlatan on every corner to take advantage of a troubled mind, a seeker of knowledge. The right teacher is out there, and I am a firm believer that spiritual enlightenment exists. How did Thoreau write Walden? How did the words come to many a song writer? Do we measure love? We feel love as we feel this non-measurable enlightenment. Read any of the Tao, the foundational principles of Tai Chi, Thoreau, Native American Spirituality or any foundational principles of Buddhism.

There is a path we walk called life, there is much that will always be undetermined. The mystery of life, the quest for truth, and the quest for spiritual enlightenment. As so many have discussed over and over again, it is the journey, the long and winding road of life that is the learning experience. It is all out there, at our finger tips, if we want it, and have the desire to explore and seek it out. This is not about a religion, this is not about a “secret” of life, or a key to inner peace, it is about being aware that the ability to enlighten ourselves, and learn another way, a peaceful way exists. It takes a trusting attitude, a belief in the process, and then walk the walk. Look for may resources with the knowledge there are bad teachers and good teachers and then the right teacher. How do you know when you find the one, trust me, you “will” know, that is the process. I did, it took many, many failures and I fond the one. The “one,” was not just one individual and all the bad teachers, well….I learned from them also.

For those who sought this article out, I wish you peace, and enjoy your path and your want to seek knowledge. Enjoy the journey, remember the journey is not a one hundred yard dash but a lifetime marathon. The finish line is death…or is it?