Enlightenment vs. Self-Realization. Totally Different??

[Guest guest]

I *think* what this guy is saying is that becoming " Enlightened " --

that is, aware that you are not your mind or anything else -- is just

the FIRST step, or something, on the path to some other thing: " Self-

Realization " .

 

So what-the-heck is the difference?

 

What is Enlightenment? What is Self-Realization??

 

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This kind of examination is called viveka (discrimination) in

Sanskrit. It is a main component of the traditional method of Jñana

Yoga. If you keep doing it, you will discover that everything you

currently regard as yourself (including your ego and mind) is not

aware. The awareness in you is different from those things.

 

You can take this still further. Here is an interesting fact: No

matter how hard you try, you can't focus your attention on the part of

you that is aware. If you could, it would become something of which

you are aware.

 

Making a strenuous attempt to do this, even though it's impossible, is

a main component of Ramana Maharshi's method of self-inquiry (vicara

in Sanskrit). If you try long enough, eventually you will become

convinced that your ordinary sense of yourself - your ego - is not

really you. In fact, you will realize that it's an illusion. (By the

way, don't make the mistake of thinking that this is all there is to

Ramana's method. Seeing that " you " are an illusion is a wonderful

insight, but it's not self-realization.)

 

http://www.realization.org/page/topics/advaita_vedanta.htm