Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Enlightenment

Here are two quotations on the subject that I think are truly worthy of time and reflection:

Enlightenment is the "quiet acceptance of what is". I believe the truly enlightened beings are those who refuse to allow themselves to be distressed over things that simply are the way they are.

-- Wayne Dyer

Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment.

-- Lao Tzu

Both are dificult: accepting what is and knowing oneself. Let us, then, normalize the perception that we're in for a long journey - and ought to be!
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6 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:55 PM

    I'm not convinced it is possible to be NOT distressed over "things being the way they are".I find this to be impossible at the current level of my own evolution.

    annie c

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  2. Ellie Finlay1:04 PM

    Yes, I get it, Annie. That's why we're taught that it takes "many lifetimes" to become enlightened.

    Here's what I think: Most of us have the inner strength and skill to choose not to be distressed by at least a FEW of the things that we have habitually allowed to distress us - almost as a default position. If we only let go that just that small amount of distress we will be happier and suffer much less. And that will move us farther along the road toward enlightenment as I see it.

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  3. Anonymous5:45 PM

    For me, most of the time is not what is (outside or inside) that creates distress. Instead, it is my mind latching on to something real or imagined. This helps me realize that it is not the nature of things that is causing distress, but the fickle nature of my mind.

    Sometimes it seems that my mind is running a constant script, either imagining the future and reacting to it now or re-imagining the past and analyzing it. I have been able to get to the point where I can actively observe this process. Now, if only I could let the "observer" run the show.

    Don't know if this makes sense.

    - Learning to See.

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  4. Anonymous10:41 AM

    Dear Ellie and "learning to see"...
    thanks for your comments. I am really enjoying this blog and the interaction it invites.

    annie c

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  5. TomV5:07 PM

    "Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment."

    I feel presumptuous disagreeing with the old man, but when you get to the bottom of things (not that I've done that), what's the difference?

    BTW, why does the captcha alternative verification use a wheelchair as an icon? ISTM it should be a white cane or some such.

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  6. Ellie Finlay7:04 PM

    I've wondered that myself, Tom. I have no clue.

    And I agree, Learning to See. The mind can be very fickle.

    ReplyDelete

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