Guest guest Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 No doubt those two are very useful to get by in the world. Science was born that way. We can imagine that as soon humans began to think and utter meaningful sounds, they began the task of classifying and defining things. We can see that classifying plants, and animals as edible, and dangerous would help them to survive. It could well be that this activity was what developed language and thinking into the supreme tools they are. But of what use is to classify spiritual concepts? Can we really define enlightenment, and thereby, distinguish it from awakening, or realization, or liberation in any meaningful way, in the same way than we can distinguish tomatoes from potatoes? Can we enumerate a set of definite qualities that one always have, and the other lacks? Can we be sure that Buddha was Awake, but Nisargadatta only enlightened, and not really liberated because he was a smoker to the end, and frequently lost his temper? Are these classifications useful in any way, or are they just religious nonsense like distinguishing angels from archangels? Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 > Can we be sure that Buddha was Awake, but > Nisargadatta only enlightened, and not really > liberated because he was a smoker to the end, > and frequently lost his temper? Jesus lost his temper too, causing all that trouble and mayhem in the money-changers corner. Turning those table upside down and shouting. Imagine if one of us did that today? Went into a bank and started chucking everything around. We'd be locked up that's for sure. And What about those Zen masters, whacking people with bamboo sticks - sometimes killing them? Muhammed went to war, and Krishna encouraged Arjuna to do it too. Frankly, I feel relieved when and enlightened one gets angry. It seems to me that the truly enlightened don't worry about things likethat being vegetarian, or smoking, or whatever. They have no " image " to live up to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 Nisargadatta , " jason_de_donno " <jason.dedonno wrote: > > > Can we be sure that Buddha was Awake, but > > Nisargadatta only enlightened, and not really > > liberated because he was a smoker to the end, > > and frequently lost his temper? > > Jesus lost his temper too, causing all that trouble and mayhem in the > money-changers corner. Turning those table upside down and shouting. > Imagine if one of us did that today? Went into a bank and started > chucking everything around. We'd be locked up that's for sure. And > What about those Zen masters, whacking people with bamboo sticks - > sometimes killing them? > > Muhammed went to war, and Krishna encouraged Arjuna to do it too. > Frankly, I feel relieved when and enlightened one gets angry. It seems > to me that the truly enlightened don't worry about things likethat > being vegetarian, or smoking, or whatever. They have no " image " to > live up to. > Life living itself.......out in the moment. toombaru Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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