Meaning of Enlightenment in Buddhism.

Most people have heard that  the Buddha was enlightened  and the monks sought enlightenment. But what is the meaning of it? In Western culture, in the 18th century, the word "enlightenment" was often associated with knowledge and knowledge. The enlightenment in Buddhism is something else and it is probably one of the most difficult concepts of this religion.

What is enlightenment?

Enlightenment is a perfect intellectual or intellectual state , combined with boundless love. Knowledge in this case does not simply mean the accumulation of vast empirical data or the ability to describe the phenomenal world to the smallest detail and accuracy.

Enlightenment is an understanding of both the relative modes of existence (the way things appear to us) and the final mode of existence (the true nature of similar appearances). This includes our mind as well as the outside world. Enlightenment is the antidote to ignorance and suffering.

Due to ignorance, we often think of a distorted perspective of reality that makes us think that what we see is permanent and sustainable, or our "self" is a real entity. and autonomous. This leads us to mistakes that delight or prevent us from pursuing long-term happiness.

Ignorance also makes us try to build our own happiness on the suffering of others.

We are drawn to something satisfying the " me " and against what can harm it. Therefore, little by little, we create a mental hallucination that lasts and causes our inner peace to be ruined.

Enlightenment in Buddhism is the ultimate antidote to suffering . In this sense, it seems that knowing the diameter of the sun or the distance between it and the earth can be very interesting, but it can not teach us how to be a better person.

A man asked  the Buddha  some questions about the universe. In response, he picked up a few leaves and said, "Are there too many leaves in my hand, or in the forest?" "Of course, there are more leaves in the forest," answered the man. The Buddha continued, "Yes, but the leaves in my hand represent knowledge leading to the cessation of suffering."

In this way, the Buddha shows that some questions are unnecessary. The world has innumerable fields of study, much like the leaves of the forest. But if what we want more than anything else is enlightenment, it is better to focus solely on that goal, and to gather knowledge that is directly related to their task. ta

In India,  the enlightened ones are called Dwijas , meaning to be born twice. Once, you were born in the womb and it happens naturally. When born, you bring innocence and happiness to the world. A child is innocent and happy. However, in the short term they will be taken away. Children today are tense from 5 to 6 years old because their innocence is ruined depending on the amount of influence people around them cause.

Now, if you want to be born again, you have to die. But this does not mean physical death but spirituality. If you die your way, destroy everything that you call "myself", then you will be born again. This type of rebirth happens not naturally but through your consciousness.

Again you become happy and innocent, but full of awareness. Now, this joy and happiness can not be taken away. So, what you call "enlightenment" means a conscious self-destruction.

Strawberries still taste the strawberry and the harsh words are still harsh, but now we know how everything relates to everything else, and even the hardest things are lit. bright from within with a clear, true light.

However, most people do not think of enlightenment. They just try to live a little better, they want to live more effectively in the short-lived peace and happiness.

Often, if we are not happy with what we are looking for in life, we will never seek anything higher.

If you talk about enlightenment for a homeless person, they will say, "Thank you, but I need a loaf of bread!"

"It is a mystery to those who have no experience of enlightenment, enlightenment is wonderful, but if they achieve that, it is nothing, but it is not nothing, you Do you understand? For a mother with three children, having a baby is not something special, but it could be something. You can say "buddhahood", "awake" or "enlightened." You can call with many names, but for the person who has it, it is nothing, and it is something. "

Some people say that  enlightened beings have extraordinary ability , even supernatural powers to see things. However, these skills are not evidence of enlightenment, nor is it necessary for it. Here too, we are warned not to pursue mental skills that risk confusing fingers to the moon as the moon.

What is the state of enlightenment?

This is a great question and the Buddha explained the state of enlightenment as follows: "Where there is no satisfaction or dissatisfaction, there is neutrality and clear awareness, that is pure nature. purity of mind. The enlightened ones are called  Arahants .

So where are the Arhats when they die?

This is a very difficult question, but the Buddha made it simple in this way. "When we lit the candle, the light went out. Where do you think the light will go? "All the good or bad karma will no longer exist, no longer the result of karma. No more happiness or sadness, no more joy or disappointment, no satisfaction or dissatisfaction!

How to enlighten?

We have talked a lot about what enlightenment is, but how do we become an "enlightened person"? The main goal of  practicing meditation  (part of the  Noble Eightfold Path ) is enlightenment.

One can seek enlightenment by practicing meditation, but how should we practice to achieve enlightenment? True enlightenment can not be achieved easily. We must develop deep moments and understanding every day. The small moments of enlightenment accumulate over time, until they reach their apex in an excellent light of enlightenment.

In Theravada Buddhism

In  Theravada Buddhism , bodhi (Bodhi) means " awakening ", and it is also often translated as " enlightenment ."

Bodhi is related to the completion of Wisdom-Ignorance into the  Four Noble Truths , leading to the cessation of suffering. He has perfected insight, ignores all afflictions and is freed from the cycle of reincarnation known as an Arhat. When they are alive, they enter into a conditioned  nirvana  , and upon death, they fully integrate into nirvana and escape from the  cycle of rebirth .

In the Atthinukhopariyaayo Sutta of the  Pali  Tipitaka (Tipitaka - Samyutta Nikaya 35152), the Buddha said:

"Then monks, this is the standard by which a monk outside the faith, in addition to persuasion, in addition to the inclination, in addition to reasonable speculation, in addition to the interest in the view and theory, there Confirmation of Enlightenment Achievement: The holy life has been fulfilled, what needs to be done has been fulfilled, no longer lives in this world. "

In Mahayana Buddhism

In  Mahayana Buddhism , enlightenment related to intellectual perfection, or  intellectual Bat Nha  for  Emptiness  (sunyata ) . This is the teaching about the empty nature of all phenomena.

Why is it important? Most of us are aware of things that are independent and eternal. But this view is just a projection. Instead, the phenomenal world is an ever-changing link of causes and conditions (see also  Dependent Origination ). Everything is empty of nature, not real or not. The full realization of the sun will dissolve the affirmations of clinging that cause our suffering.

Mahayana Buddhism teaches that in our very being we are perfect and enlightened. However, we do not understand us this way. Instead, we are fascinated by the delusions of normal appearances and concepts that find ourselves bound, imperfect, and incomplete.

Before enlightenment, we see the world through a dreamy vision, unable to understand what the true nature of existence is. Like innate blindness imagine the world through the remaining senses. After enlightenment, we see the true nature of the world as the blind man now has eyes.

In the Mahayana tradition, the ideal practice is the  Bodhisattva , the enlightened one is still in the phenomenal world to guide  all sentient beings to enlightenment . The ideal of the Bodhisattva is altruism, which reflects the fact that none of us is independent and autonomous, everything is interrelated.

In Vajrayana Buddhism

As a branch of Mahayana Buddhism, the tantric schools of  Vajrayana Buddhism  say that enlightenment can come at the same time in a changing phase. This is linked to belief in the passions and obstacles of life, rather than the obstacle to overcome, which can be the fuel for transforming normal consciousness into enlightened mind that can occur in one compartment. carved, or at least in a lifetime.

The key to this practice is the belief in the   inherent Buddha-nature , enlightenment is innate within us and we simply have to recognize it. However, the belief in the possibility of achieving enlightenment is not immediately the same as  the Satori phenomenon . For Vajrayana practitioners, enlightenment is not a glimpse of the door. Enlightenment is a permanent state, Enlightenment and Buddha Nature.

When attaining enlightenment, the Buddha said:

Great! All beings have the wisdom and virtue of the Tathāgata, but they do not realize that they are clinging to insecure thoughts and attachments.

"Tathāgata" in Sanskrit means the Tathāgata or the Buddhas. Therefore, it is essential that everyone has "Buddha-nature", which can attain enlightenment and end suffering.

Buddha nature is a central part of the practice of Buddhism in some Tibetan schools. In Mahayana Buddhism, the Buddha Nature is the inherent nature of all sentient beings. Because all beings are Buddhas, the task is not to attain enlightenment but to realize it.

Conclude

It is said that  trying to explain enlightenment is in vain , and I agree with that. Obviously I am not an enlightened person, my purpose is to synthesize different perspectives on this topic to clarify and understand some concepts for Buddhists like you and me.

Enlightenment must go through direct experience and not be something ordinary people can speculate about it. Those who casually mimic the words and actions of the enlightened ones without doing work to achieve enlightenment invite the mockery of those who truly know it.

I do not know what will happen when the enlightened ones leave the world. I do not know whether they have escaped from existence or existed in a certain state. Because, the Buddha does not give us a clear answer.

It may be that the Mahayana sutras have proposed the Bodhisattva concept of delaying nirvana for the benefit of living beings or the realms of the Buddhas in order to solve this problem. Bodhisattvas are great enlightened beings, but because of their great compassion, they sacrifice themselves for liberation and work to free others.END=NAM MO SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=THICH CHAN TANH.THE MIND OF ENLIGHTENMENT.VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=GOLDEN LOTUS MONASTERY=AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.19/2/2018.