Enlightenment is a spiritual concept in Buddhism and Hinduism that involves detachment and awareness, freeing oneself from attachment to worldly things. In Buddhism, enlightenment is called nirvana, while in Hinduism it is moksha. Enlightenment is a mystical concept that cannot be achieved through reading, but rather through a unique path of spiritual development. It is distinct from ideas such as salvation and transcendence in Christianity and does not imply the existence of a separate sky.
Spiritual enlightenment is a concept primarily associated with Buddhism and Hinduism. Enlightenment implies complete perfection, which implies such qualities as detachment and awareness. This spiritual belief holds that life is filled with suffering produced by desire and other emotions that bind the soul to worldly things; suffering is the inevitable result of clinging to these necessarily transitory things. A soul thus becomes enlightened when she remains in the world but frees herself from attachment to it. Enlightenment is considered the end of a being’s spiritual journey, both within one lifetime and across many.
In Buddhism, enlightenment is called nirvana. Nirvana is believed to be a state of peace and oneness with the cosmos. Different forms of Buddhism teach different techniques for attaining nirvana. Orthodox Buddhists, for example, try to follow the Buddha’s teachings directly: in particular, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. Others, such as Zen Buddhists, may use challenging mental exercises, such as koans. Most forms of Buddhism also use regular meditation as a central element of the path to spiritual enlightenment.
Hinduism also uses the concept of nirvana, viewing it as a representation of freedom from desire and other worldly passions. Spiritual enlightenment is also part of the conclusion of the Hindu cycle of reincarnation. In this belief, souls enter many different bodies throughout their existence. In each of the lives they lead, they develop spiritually. The ultimate goal of this spiritual development is moksha, a liberation from the worldly suffering system, which includes the idea of spiritual enlightenment.
Enlightenment is generally considered a mystical concept. That is, it holds the promise of a spiritual clarity that lies beyond description in words and attained by action. For example, one cannot enlighten oneself by reading, even though one can recite the words of any essay. Enlightenment is a potentially universal experience, but each being arrives there through a unique path. Teachers can provide guidance and provocation along the way, but they cannot force enlightenment on their pupils; one becomes self-enlightened.
The concept of spiritual enlightenment in Buddhism and Hinduism is related to but distinct from ideas such as salvation and transcendence associated with Christianity. While most versions of Christianity emphasize love for Jesus Christ as a prerequisite for spiritual wholeness, enlightenment usually involves liberation from teachers and doctrine: a famous Zen koan suggests: “If you meet the Buddha on the way , kill him!” Enlightenment also does not imply the existence of a sky distinct from the earth. It places more emphasis on a transformation of the soul’s relationship to the world of objects. The enlightened being continues a bodily existence after gaining awareness of the illusory nature of reality. There is no separate space to which one ascends.
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