trem: RE: On being enlightened

[Guest guest]

" I Am That " excerpts. Think of it as the Cliff Notes of " I Am That " .

http://www.nonduality.com/asmi8c1.htm

 

-Bill

 

 

trem23 [inmadison]

Monday, October 14, 2002 8:14 AM

Nisargadatta

Re: On " being enlightened "

 

 

I have been surfing this egroup for a week or two - what I see alot

are two things:

1) preponderance of cleverness, that is, tying of words together that

sound impressive but don't add up to anything. This is

because 'enlightenment' is considered by many to be a riddle, paradox

or unnatural state of existence - - it is none of these.

2) making 'enlightenment' a mood or feeling, whether it be a mood of

nonattachment, or some fuzzy come-and-go feeling of nowness or some

other vague nondescript condition.

 

I also see folks such as myself - folks who suspect that there is

more to life, perhaps blissfull, permanent, or whatever.

 

I admit I have not read the book that is the source of this

discussion -- " I AM THAT ... " , however I believe the problem is in

the book. While it is true that there are no obstacles

to 'enlightenment' except those we place before ourselves, Nisargatta

appears to not offer any wisdom to Joe and Mary Sixpack, who

sincerely yearn for 'something', but who don't have a clue of what

to 'do' today.

 

Like the man who wins the lottery and is asked how did he do it.

Well, he replies, I had carrots the morning I bought the ticket. So

now everyone is eating carrots. Eating carrots, cleverness, making a

mood - these are not how one wins the lottery or

achieves 'enlightenment'.

 

You may say " enlightenment is not an achievement " or " one does not

have to do anything to be enlightened " or similiar sentiments - -

Yes, but these sentiments are only true AFTER enlightenment is

achieved. And that is where Nisargatta put the cart before the

horse.

 

Nisargadatta, " Bill Rishel " <plexus@x> wrote:

>

> There is no " one " to be enlightened.

> If " one " is in the Now then " one " does not exist,

> only the Now is. If " one " is not in the Now, then

> there is delusion.

>

> So there is only one Buddha, and that is the Now.

> When any " one " dissolves into the Now that " one "

> dissolves into the single universal buddha-nature.

>

> If one dissolves into Now " enlightenment is " .

> If one precipitates out....

>

> Forget enlightenment as permanent.

> And " who " needs it?

> Now is always knocking.

>

>

> -Bill