The goal of the Buddhist path. Can refer to liberation, awakening or the end of suffering but is generally understood as being indescribable to an unenlightened being.
Questions tagged [enlightenment]
224 questions
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votes
8 answers
Do you have to follow a monastic lifestyle to attain enlightenment?
How do the different groups/sects of Buddhism view attaining enlightenment and living a common life? In other words, do they think it is possible to be a common person and achieve enlightenment? Even for someone who has a family, friends and…
eric
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What is it like to experience enlightenment?
What is it like to expereince enlightenment? Does it change a person and if so, how?
JaJa
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10 answers
Is Enlightenment a misleading ideal?
Is Enlightenment a misleading goal? Is it more of a thought-form than just an experience? I am asking because there is a lot of discussion of awakening, enlightenment, satori, differences, levels, etc. and I think that this distracts from the simple…
user2341
7
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2 answers
The Seven Factors of Enlightenment
Are the Seven Factors of Enlightenment understood to happen as specific phases in a linear progression in one's journey or are they understood to happen in a circular manner with ever deepening understanding?
Robin111
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Is it only humans who can understand Buddhism?
If Buddhism is a general theory of understanding the cycle of attachments, is it possible that any other 'wise' enough creature could achieve the same thing?
In the Visuddhimagga English translation, a creature who can understand this theory is…
kalan nawarathne
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Is there anything like "positive suffering" for Buddhists?
In some religions, suffering is seen as a positive thing, some people even see it as a necessary step for growing, however in Buddhism suffering is seen as something that should be avoid or eliminated, we don't invite suffering, we want peace and…
konrad01
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I'm a widow trying to find myself
My best friend, business partner and lover died four years ago, and I’m struggling to find myself again. I’ve tried meditating before, but it doesn’t seem to work at 5 minutes a day. I have lots of time, please help me. Where do I start?
user17509
5
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1 answer
What does enlightenment actually entail in Shugendo?
We already have some questions about enlightenment, but this is going to be a bit more... esoteric. What I would like to know is what enlightenment entails in Shugendo, which is a particularly syncretic variety of Japanese Buddhism.
What with…
senshin
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Who or what decides that someone has enlightened himself?
Who or what decides that someone has enlightened himself?
It's just about an urge to know the point where/how enlightened one's or their followers approve that 'they are enlightened'. What happens immediately after that?
jitin
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Bodhipakkhiya: Panca Indriya versus Panca Bala
In the Bodhipakkhiya (the 37 factors of enlightenment) are mentioned the Panca Indriya and the Panca Bala. Both sets have the same factors: saddha; virya; sati; samadhi and panna. Why are those sets separately mentioned?
Guy Eugène Dubois
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Are arahants infallible?
I've heard it said that Popes are infallible,(whether one believes this or not).
Although the arahant has removed all the defilements, can they still be wrong, make mistakes, or are they all-knowing? I vaguely remember a story of an arahant playing…
MFS
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How to function properly in society after getting enlightenment?
I am near. May be few hours or days. Right now it is getting a little harder to behave properly according to the society. I just don't talk much because I don't have much to say.
I'm not able to engage with people. All I do is keep sitting in…
user13032
3
votes
4 answers
Sudden awaking/realization
I have seen some videos in Youtube (here and here) where it seems that just by standing in front of Papaji, people start laughing without control.
Somehow it is implicitly said that this reaction is related to an awakening/realization experience.
My…
user3275957
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Should we believe we have no enlightenment whatsoever?
Should we believe we have no enlightenment whatsoever?
I mean, acting like you're the Dalai Lama, famous sage or future Buddha may well come off as offensive and stupid. But if we authentically believe we are identical to a Buddha, just somewhat…
user23322
3
votes
8 answers
Does enlightenment in all teachings amount to a progressively deeper realisation that I am already enlightened?
So e.g. kensho is usually thought of as beginning realisation in zazen, and is into our true nature as Buddhas.
Does enlightenment in all teachings amount to a progressively deeper realisation that I am already enlightened, or is that only true in…
user23322