Are You Enlightened?


“Have you ever heard about enlightenment?” he asked while running his fingers through his long beard.

“I am already enlightened” I replied with serious face, hiding my laugh.

“What?” his shock was evident from his croaked voice. So far he had an artificial softness and slowness in voice. That act of being calm disappeared from his face. The real he was visible.

“I said I am enlightened” I repeated.

He gave me a blank stare. Then, touched the turban that he uses to cover his bald head. And nodded his head as if I am totally gone nuts.

“Do you have any problems with that?” I asked.

“No…No…But, you see…” again, the artificial tone came back to his voice: “Enlightenment is a very serious, big, deep thing…you don’t understand…”

“Oh…come on…It is the simplest thing under the sun. You don’t understand” I replied.

He nodded himself in disagreement. Only a close watch would make out the anger that splashed in his eyes. “See brother, you don’t look like an enlightened person.”

“Really? …then, please tell to me, how an enlightened person should look like?”

“Hmm…Your dress…”

“Oh…Is there a dress code for an enlighten person? Is it casual, party wear or formal?”

“Are you serious or pulling my leg?” his eyes were narrowed while asking this question.

“I am very serious Sir. I am an enlightened person, you know. But I didn’t know that there was a dress code or uniform for enlightened people.”

He didn’t answer for a while. Sometime back, when I started talking to him during a trip to Bangalore in the train, he introduced himself as a high-grade assistant to a famous spiritual guru. He is among the privileged second-man-in-command. In due course, based upon his seniority and performance, he can even be a guru, he said. We both were sharing same coupe. There were no other passengers in the coupe that had four berths.

“It’s not like that, you won’t understand…”

“You are a Guru-in-waiting. So could you please explain to me, so that I will learn?” I asked.

“You should dress like a detached person…”he said.

“What do you mean by detached?”

“Aha…You don’t even know about detachment…And talking big-big things about enlightenment….” he laughed loudly as if he won an argument. Abruptly, he stopped his laugh and put on a serious face.

“Sir, what is detachment? And what is dress code for enlightenment?” I asked again.

“Detaching from the worldly pleasure…detaching from the family bondage…the freedom comes from detachment…happiness comes from detachment….then we will lead to enlightenment…you still have family and want to enjoy worldly pleasures, right?”

“Of course, yes…worldly pleasures are important for me, but without exploiting others…Now you said, detachment means freedom from bondage, right?”

“Yes”

“This means, your concept of freedom is limited to detachment. Your concept of happiness is limited to detachment…” I said. “But as far as I am concerned, freedom and happiness have no fixed borderline…I am happy when I am attached. I am happy when I am detached too. Similarly I am free in detachment and free in attachment too…”

“That’s kutharka…” he said. (Kutharka = malicious reasoning on the part of those who do not understand the real significance of the scriptural texts which are substantiated by logical reasoning)

“No Sir, it is vitharka…” (Vitharka = has a meaning close to argumentative mood with reasoning, understanding but clarifying too) I said: “I have an open mind towards happiness and freedom. You have a conditioned mind, and you propagate that concept, I am not…now, please tell me about the dress code…”

(Excerpt from my book “MIND YOUR MIND: Turn Frustration into Fascination”
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092ZQ5QJ6 )

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16 Responses

  1. vidushi says:

    This article has helped me take only the first step that is being aware. You have laid so much stress on “deconditioning”. How does one do that? Because of our conditioning which is so deep routed we might not even know what deconditioning mean. Please help me understand this.

  2. Samyuktha KS says:

    Greatest myth busted and truth simplified! Thanks a million, Sir!

  3. What this gentleman said that enlightened people are detached is completely true but detachment can be best understood in this simple way:

    Detachment is when you decide to wake up instead of sleeping an extra hour to exercise your duty, detachment is when you show assertiveness not because you hold an authority but because it is needed.
    Detachment is when you don’t do things for your family because you love, them but because that’s ought to be done and it’s your dharma,
    Detachment is when you earn “Artha” meaning for your life not for your pride or recognition but because you are here to play your role optimally
    Detachment is when you indulge in Kama not for any materialistic gain but spiritual happiness.
    And finally Detachment is when you have a smile on your face when you about to die because all this while, you have performed all your duties successfully in this journey and the joourney is about to end for a new beginning. When you family members know why your death is more of a time to celebrate your next journey rather than mourn over the loss because you have taught detachment to as many people as you could before you left.

  4. Well explained. 🙂

  5. Parthasarathy says:

    Human consciousness creates two set of tools being the mind and the intellect. Generally mind tends to what it like todo and the intellect tell to what the human is ought to do. If a person feels that there is a gap, he is a person who has started his journey of meditation. Best part is the perpetual awareness of the movement of the human consciousness in the waking stage through the mind and intellect.

    Larger population would go the way of the mind without the application of mind.

  6. hastimalbarola says:

    nice article

  7. Girish Baliga says:

    Subtle and thought provoking. 🙂

  8. E. A. Mukunda Pai says:

    While going throgh the articles Paimam I felt that I am also in your cabin watching your discussion, and I am also Enlightened.

    I know one great social selfless leader has written about his younger days. Was a poor man’s son left the village to a city in search of a job and food. Due to frustration and sorrow he decided to end his life.
    He happened to read a book by Swami Vevekananda which changed his mindset and became a top leader later.
    This change of mindset is Enlightenment. and the Book is his Guru, in turn Swami Vivekananda is his guru.

    Guru and God is not physical but it is principle. Anything which gives knowledge and change the mindset, may be book, article, lecture,discourse, discussion is enlightenment and which made the mindset change is Guru.

    We know Ananda shayanam,(God is laying) Ananda means endless. Endless is not physical. Whole galaxy ia endless and it is anandashayanam. So whatever we see is anandashayanam and absolute truth. Every creature is and anything is part of God.

    Regarding spirituality business is super. It is the trend of the time. Business is demand and supply. majority of people accepting it. In a group of say 20 fools one intelligent person is there actually he himself is fool and not the rest 19

    For the last around 35 years after my college days I have not written 2 paragraphs, I used to read and discuss only. Now I wonder at least I have commented 3 to 4 of your posts,and came to know little that I can write something. Hence I am enlightened. And your Post made me to understand that is my Guru in turn can consider u as Guru.

  9. Sethulakshmi says:

    Respected sir,
    I do not totally agree with your article. Many things in this universe is unknown to us. Enlightenment is also something which a common man cannot understand. It is above our 5 senses. We try to manipulate and think using intellect. Spirituality is beyond 5 senses and intellect. I do agree people now use spirituality as a business. All of them are not. Ego, attachment and desire should be controlled for living a balanced life. God is only true friend who is with us forever, everything else will leave us one day or other. Love family, friends, relation, money, work as divine. Selfless love can only lead us towards enlightenment. Attachment, desire, and ego lead us to selfish love. If we can see divinity in everything and love it we will be truly enlightened. Chanting of god’s name and remembering his divine presence everywhere can only lead to enlightenment. This is the spiritual practice recommended in kaliyuga. If you agree please visit http://www.spiritualityresearchfoundation.org.

    • dear Sethulakshmi,

      With all respects to your opinion, what you said is indeed correct Enlightenment is much above our 5 senses because it’s a peace within which cannot be explained. IT’s the tolerance which cannot be easily shattered, it’s the penance which is reflected through wisdom. Who said one cannot be selfless while living with family, a mother is the best example of selflessness, that’s why a female is considered as complete when she becomes a mother. Attachment, desire, ego is something we chose to have in our relationship because we feel this is how love is expressed in a relationship but that isn’t true. The truest form of love is selflessness and person who can give and receive selfless love to each and everything in this universe while remaining unbiased and impartial, for whom the three, the crow, his pet dog, his servant, his only child are one and the same and he/she loves all of them with the same selflessness is enlightened. What you said is correct chanting his name and remembering his divine presence can lead to enlightenment, but the important thing to remember is it can lead to enlightenment and is not enlightenment in itself. I’ll explain this with an example: if I consider the name of Goddess Saraswati, which actually means somebody who possesses water,if I chant her name with full devotion, it will at some point of time surely lead me to think for it’s meaning, then understand it’s greatness, it’s selflessness when water losses it’s identity quenches our thirst, and becomes blood, sweat and urine but to appreciate this processes and respect Goddess Saraswati in this direction or as Vidya devi, the education, which is also inherently selfless is like making simple things complicated. That’s the reason most of us limit ourselves to imagine Goddess Saraswati as a mere goddess and we never understand her role in nature, or her selflessness. We never understand why Hinduism is the only religion on this God’s beautiful earth who treats every single thing as God or something related to god as in his vahana (vehicle. We keep our understanding very superficial throughout the life, but as per this Karma theory, gradually your good karmas start paying you. There comes a time where your curiosity is aroused to know, think and understand more and more to break open the shackles of conditioning imposed upon you by Karmakand and Bhakti marg. I don’t say they are not important they certainly are but not for those who have risen to this level for them it’s like a Ph.D student trying to make sense out 11th or 12th standard book. That’s why they begin to say they are not necessary.I would both differ and not differ from what Mr. Pai has said here in this regard as I mentioned above, Bhakti Marg, Gyana marga, Karma kand are important, just like it is important for us pass our X & XII before doing our graduation or post-graduation, but once you have reached post-graduation, you only go back to these mantras, karma kand, gyana marga and smile with the same contention a graduate student has on seeing his her school or college books who have helped them reach where they are today. I hope you will now appreciate why Mr. Pai has said mantras are not important.

  10. hmm a very enlightining post !!! but where is the switch !!!

  11. RAGHUVEERA SHENOY K says:

    INHERENT SPIRITUALITY AT BIRTH ,A STUDY OF PROCESSES OF SCIENCE, PERHAPS BY EDUCATION , CONTINUOUS STUDY OF BHAGAWADGITA , AND A GREAT GROOMING BY A GREAT MOTHER WITH THE SUPPORT OF ” ? ” FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE FORMATIVE DAYS SEEMS TO HAVE ENLIGHTENED YOUR PATH IN SEEKING LIGHT AND ANSWERS TO MANY SUCH ” ? ” S IN THIS JOURNEY OF LIFE .SERVE THE PURPOSE , CARRY ON ………

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  15. TOP 30 COMMENTS FROM SPEAKINGTREE

    Chaitanya Varma
    Aug 13, 2012 at 09:32 pm
    Your article has compelled me to rethink about enlightenment ! So far my concept centered around a person who is lit up with the light that is needed to live life fully and without the hassles of wondering whys and hows of instances happening in every body’s life ! A person who is oblivious to the purpose of his life and what it offers , but very much awakened to the purpose of his own actions ! A thoughtful person with the heart of a child !……………and the list went on and on ! But somehow I feel that enlightened is that person who is like the source of illumination without wondering where the light is spreading ! He is not Buddha , he is not Mahavir , he is not anyone but someone and everyone going with the flow of life with full zest but without any intents ! Understandably a child confirms to this as he/she is without any conditioning of mind and as we grow we continue to depart from this quality substantially ! So the fact remains that I was enlightened but I am not with lots of conditioning happened to me ! God made me enlightened and look what I made myself – a pseudo enlightened at best ! Thanks Dr Pai for giving me lots of amusement about myself ! Regards !

    Swati Arora
    Aug 19, 2012 at 08:59 pm
    Superb Blog.-:)))
    Generally when I see such a lengthy blogs I tend to avoid reading it because most of the times it is just useless stuff…..but your blogs despite being lengthy they are worth reading.
    You are right that we people have conditioned ourselves.Whatever we have been told till date by our parents,school,society etc….we have conditioned our mind on that basis.And whenever something is there we automatically forms an image about that and if that image so not match with the image in our mind we get irritated.
    From your blogs I can say –
    1.De condition your mind.
    2.Observe your thoughts.
    3.Be aware of your thoughts.
    4.Don’t judge or chase your thoughts.
    5.Don’t even believe in your thoughts.
    Sir, Keep writing and please share it with all seekers.-:)

    Rameshwari Thakur
    Aug 21, 2012 at 12:02 pm
    I really feel enlightened after going through your blog. Uday… whether true or pseudo….doesn’t matter. What a wonderful blog….and many thanks for sharing!!

    Vishnu Prasad
    Jul 20, 2012 at 09:36 am
    Sir, I am really amused to see such a wonderful blog. When I completed the reading I instantly felt “AT PEACE”. And extremely happy.
    ALL NEW FRESH SET OF IDEAS. Really stunning.
    You have clearly said anybody can be happy, come what may. You won’t believe if I say how much did your articles on GOD and SIN affected me. All your articles are transforming readers to a happy being!!! Thanks a lot.
    I know there are hundreds of spiritual gurus in Bangalore. You may have met assistant of one of them. Initially I thought why didn’t you give his name out. Are you becoming soft, I thought. But then I understood that you don’t want to blame anybody.
    Keep up the good work Sir. I have re-posted your link. If somebody miss this blog, I would say they are not blessed enough.
    Everyone should read this article. This is an instant transformation. You won’t know how much it inspires innocent people who fall prey to such “Spiritual Gurus” What you do is great PUNYA sir. May god bless you….Thanks again for sharing and caring.

    Ashish Arora
    Jul 20, 2012 at 08:55 am
    I share with you the feeling of nausea that comes over in dealing with the indoctrinated disciples of various spiritual organizations that collect money in the name of spirituality.
    Your description of enlightenment is pleasing. I wouldn’t call it enlightenment. I’d call it being at peace with my own existence and the existece of others.
    I have also often discussed with friends and written at places that meditation begins when consciousness (of mind, one can say) begins the journey within. Consciousness is restless to find refuge in someone or something, when we find it, it is like Gollum finding his precious ‘One Ring’, and then the consciousness moves within. This is the reason behind all my interactions. This is how love makes us meditative.
    Overall, a very nice blog weaving in lot many truths. Thanks for sharing.

    Sekhar Ray
    Jul 20, 2012 at 01:32 pm
    Your each and every blog proves your writing skill…..it appears you are really enlightened.

    Tincy Mathew
    Jul 20, 2012 at 07:23 am
    Excellent ! Superb !! Unique and novel ideas. It’s like “read and get enlightened”. This article is a MUST read for all Seekers’ and Master’s too. Totally different perspective and it will make any reader extremely happy about life…………….When I finished reading, I felt so happy and fell in love with my life………………………………………. ……Thank you so much Sir. No words to write further. You really have the divine grace.

    Sunita Gupta
    Jul 20, 2012 at 02:00 pm
    Good piece with refreshment. moral of the story is that –be your own guru and seek your truth. that is the best way to enlightenment..and have the courage to live with that .
    many people may not agree because that does not fall in their doctrine and to some extents erodes the authority too but then what i have stated is truth and self realized truth.
    yes if you can find some guidance then ok otherwise also you can manage.

    Tony Joseph
    Jul 20, 2012 at 02:19 pm
    TOTALLY ENLIGHTENING EXPERIENCE: Sir, As I told you earlier, I came and joined speakingtree as one of my collegues wanted me to give you a fitting reply on your post Why am I NOT a SINNER? (http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs /seekers/self-improvement/why-am-i-not-a-sinner) But I ended-up liking your presentation and style of writing. Though have different perception on Original Sin, I have respected your views and ideas.
    This is not on religion. This article is on humanity. Simply put “It is wonderful”…I have seen lot of articles on enlightenment. But nobody can reach your standard. The way you make the reader read hard-core subjects in a simple, down-to-earth manner is superb. Please continue writing – I am waiting for your newer experiences. Since you have lot of experience and don’t mind sharing it to public, please write.
    However, it is sad that majority of seekers in the site are going after sub-standard stuff and missing opportunity to read good stuff like this. If an article comes in “most commented”, “most read” and “most liked” – I avoid it. Just going through some I understood how such trash came to top.
    Your blogs are the best in the SpeakingTree. Those who read all your blogs won’t have a second opinion to admit this. Thank you for sharing and caring Sir. God bless you.

    Sathya Lakshman
    Jul 20, 2012 at 05:03 pm
    A candid post. I have been wondering about this enlightenment business too. I do not know whether it means someone who is in a permanant state of knowing and ahem…knowing what? That is the biggest riddle! Even if he is privy to some insights or telepathy or whatever, does that mean that he is now having sopme invisible light on his head to lead the way for others supposedly stumbling in darkness? Nah….as of now, this word does not hold much meaning for me.In the meanwhile, I agree with you that we can live the way we do, naturally without feeling guilty, without condemning ourselves which is how our growth happens on its own and not by planting artificial seeds in the form of words and methods which are mumbo jumbo for us.

    Seema Deshpande
    Jul 20, 2012 at 10:00 pm
    Very well explained the concept of enlightenment. You can remain like other people being enlightened. Enlightenment has got some misconceptions. Sometimes people without knowing unnecessarily think that it is very difficult task. Actual it is getting along with the Supreme. For which we are searching for. Why people are so doubtful i don’t understand. Once you start enjoying your connection with God, u feel like anything. No outer happiness is required. You feel so contended.
    thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts.

    Deepaks Shukla
    Jul 20, 2012 at 10:05 pm
    Madhoor ! Let me enjoy the light which has been shown to me very completely till I may go to stupor again as I enjoy both my awake period and my sleep. Thanks for such a nice sharing , completely amazing !

    Rajeshwari Sopan
    Jul 20, 2012 at 10:47 pm
    Wonderful post…..I do not really understand what is enlightenment…….But ur post has definitely lightened my mind…….I feel leading a normal life, loving & helping one & all ,is ,in all ways ,a fulfilling & satisfying life.

    Erdman West
    Jul 21, 2012 at 07:46 am
    Consider this: If all things are manifestations or forms of God then the problem is solved. God is the infinite essence of which infinite things are flowing forms [this of course includes me and you]. This is so simple and obvious that it is hard to understand because God is infinite. No matter how far we go and how much we learn there is always more therefore we cannot understand that which cannot understood.
    Be at Peace
    For it is done
    All was
    All is
    All will be
    For it is done
    Be at peace

    Gauri Kashelikar
    Jul 21, 2012 at 12:31 pm
    Enlightenment explained in simple words….. 🙂
    Sir….I would request you to pass this blog to as many as you can! Today’s world hardly gives us time to think….When Great things are explained in simpler words like this more and more people can be happy!!!! This blog acts like a medicine dose !!!! Keep writing sir…thank you for sharing!!!

    Xyzbrahphool Anita
    Jul 21, 2012 at 12:38 pm
    You are very true uday lal pai and you have put the position of a realized one in very simple way . if you live with your family ,cook food ,go to party ,flow with emotions ..people don’t believe you are enlighten . they don’t believe enlightenment,can be so simple .Once the house is lighted and every things becomes very clear , then we really understand or live simplicity .

    Sahana Madhyastha
    Jul 21, 2012 at 02:36 pm
    Uday, your post is no wonder an eye opener about the conditioned ideologies of enlightenment. But I am afraid whether these words of yours can be misinterpreted and yet times taken as a solace for being complacent with the current situation one finds in.

    Mann Belani
    Jul 21, 2012 at 03:32 pm
    Its a nice bolg, giving a series of ques to Enlightenment”
    I would like to add that we need Grace Raining on us, to even come close to “Enlightenment” Sa-chit-Ananda!! I would like to add:- instead of thinking of detachment, pushing on awereness lets shift our thought process to giving unconditional love to Shree Krishna:- If we can tie him in our love! Life’s Done! Hari Om!

    Namita Sunder
    Jul 21, 2012 at 07:06 pm
    Fabulous!Truly enjoyed going through the article.Long back I read a novel ‘Chitralekha’ by renowned Hindi author Bhagawati Charan Verma and the thought ,the concept never left me.It’s a novel of 1930 or some where near that time .A story of two friends of same gurukul ,after completing studies one became sadhu and other one belonged to royal family ,hence became king.They met later in life and the conditions that followed established similar ideas.
    Anything which we try to force upon us ,how can it bring liberation…..
    The narration style ….it made the reading a great pleasure.I felt happy really happy to go through the article.

    Seema Saxena
    Jul 21, 2012 at 07:42 pm
    “Nothing, but observing yourself. Observing thoughts – without judging or analyzing it – will lead you to awareness. As you observe you will know that you are not thoughts. Thoughts come, thoughts go, but you remain. As we observe, we would become aware of our thoughts, emotions and actions…You will stop trusting your thoughts which are product of your conditioning…You will become just a witness of your thoughts and you won’t chase thoughts.
    with time everyone i REPEAT EVERYONE becomes aware.. and gets enlightened…: ) ..
    by the time we r dead… most of the conditioning is gone…
    perceptions prejudice and bias lost…
    Only if we can reduce time span of getting enlightened….
    those who can are called genius….
    thanks for sharing

    Nirmal Mozumdar
    Jul 22, 2012 at 03:25 pm
    Superb….Even I think that I am Enlightened…Though neither I have achieved any thing nor am a successful or famous in any field..I am also not all happy about my life, nor I am utterly disappointed with it…I am at peace with myself …Love and Light to all..

    Jyoti Sondhi
    Jul 23, 2012 at 05:17 pm
    Well said! For any of us, when we have let go of all limitations and released all baggage at the mental, emotional levels, we clear our path to connect to the Divine within! Truth attracts people who are ready and a Seeker might always remain a Seeker till his heart is open and it is radiating love and light from within. Peace!

    Nita Agarwal
    Jul 27, 2012 at 03:17 pm
    Very nice article Udaiji,”I still have lot of conditioning. I have not come out of all concepts…As I said, I am just a normal human being and want to remain like that…I don’t want to be enlightened. My enlightenment is being with my loved ones. Let me live the life that comes to me.”…….I believe in it too.

    Simrat Kaur
    Jul 28, 2012 at 04:43 pm
    A very nice blog with seasoning of reasoning and faith.Indeed you are a good story writer and a lot of deconditioning is bound to take place in whosoever reads this blog.I however do not agree with ….limitation of all techniques, methods or guidelines….part. let’s not generalise and agree upon to each his own !

    Sanghamitra Sau Sengupta
    Jul 29, 2012 at 06:33 pm
    Nice communication.After reading the blog,I felt that subject of communication is leading to clearing up some common mental conflicts about various topics of mind and beyond which varies from person to person but some perception like awareness and… are beautifully depicted…..thanks for the blog.

    Adarsh Nair
    Jul 30, 2012 at 07:28 pm
    Sir,just tell me where in this holy site were you hiding all this while!Though i agree “..Those who are destined to share with me, will come to me..”..:)..thank you so much!

    Anshul Bisht
    Aug 01, 2012 at 05:05 pm
    Excellent!!!!!!It’s just amazing how beautifully enlightenment has been described…..felt wonderful after reading it cleared a lot of things in my mind….thanks a lot for sharing

    Lata Jagdeesh
    Aug 04, 2012 at 05:17 pm
    The sentence “And that’s the real happiness of life…knowing that life is all about struggles and sufferings, is really enlightening…” is very true. Sir ur post had an enlightening effect!
    The entire conversation is full of light humour and wisdom. Your take on meditation and enlightenment is a very easy to follow technique. Moreover as u say each one has to tread that path alone and it is an individual experience where no other can do it for u.Thks for sharing.

    Deepak Bellur
    Aug 05, 2012 at 10:11 am
    I thoroughly enjoyed the insights, but as a joke, if you don’t watch out, you too will be flying in planes in the near future (judging by the accolades you’ve been getting 🙂 )

    Ramesh Shenoy
    Aug 06, 2012 at 01:23 pm
    An enlightening experience!!!
    You won’t know how did the EGO disappear
    A process of awareness
    You are a true teacher Sir
    Pranam

    Navin Sindhwani
    Aug 23, 2012 at 02:40 pm
    You are a blessed & enlightened person with excellent ability to express yourself…..which is very rare.

    Mahavir Nautiyal
    Aug 24, 2012 at 02:42 pm
    Dear Dr Uday,
    This is , perhaps, one of the best blogs I have read ( after the blogs of Om Swamiji ). In the course of your dialogue, you have scattered many pearls of wisdom, some of which i have gathered, as under, to treasure in memory ( while taking liberty of making some side observations -within brackets-just to complement your views ) :
    1.Freedom and happiness have no fixed borderlines ( drawing lines amounts to curtailing them, though one should know oneself where to draw the line )
    2. I am happy when i am attached. I am happy when I am detached too( implying that I am not conditioned and my happiness is not dependent on external factors ).
    3.When i face miseries, I think of Lord Rama and Jesus Christ ( implying that my suffering is almost like a pin prick in comparison to their suffering-voluntarily undertaken by them ).
    4.Every body has to find his or her answer because the problem created is unique problem for you ( implying that no one can understand me better than myself ).
    5. Every incident of my life and every body i meet on the road is my guru ( implying that we can learn from everyone if we are receptive and aware..Life itself is a great teacher and one need not seek any other guru as no guru can tell me what is relevant for my spiritual growth. All gurus want their disciples to follow their path. All disciples/ followers become a pale imitation of the original ).
    6.Even so called higher spiritual people have deep conditioned, closed mind filled with concepts and perceptions ( love of ideas garnered from books and adulation from followers turn the higher spiritual people into stagnant ponds as they cease to flow with the river of life.They cease to look beyond themselves due to inflated ego ).
    7. Knowledge at information level won’t transform me, and intellectual or logical understanding won’t liberate me . ( There is too much emphasis on information content in our educational system. Western system of education in the study of science and other disciplines only teaches how certain things happen but not why they happen. It does not know that there are faculties beyond mind and there is a vast , invisible world within and beyond, which need to be tapped to make a person understand and value life in all its dimensions of body, mind and spirit).
    8.Awakening is not an effort. It is just waking up . Being aware is the only way to make meditation happen. Enlightenment is not a goal of meditation. Just be aware ( The moment we see and hear and REALIZE, we are enlightened. Gautam Buddha became enlightened the moment he stepped out of his palace on the road and witnessed and REALIZED old age, sickness, death and suffering. He unnecessarily tortured himself in the forest except to learn the importance of following the ‘ middle path ‘. We all see an apple falling from the tree but it was Newton who saw and REALIZED the significance of it. Similarly we see all around us the play of nature, flowers, trees growing up from a tiny seed, cycle of birth, growth and death, predictable motion of celestial bodies, but never REALIZE the Invisible Power. We become enlightened the moment we REALIZE the deeper meaning. Enlightenment comes from reading and understanding the book of life. Scriptures and gurus only help in giving ability to read. Understanding is ours ).

    Courtesy: http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/meditation/are-you-enlightened
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