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nirmal

Germany
438 Posts

Posted - Nov 05 2009 : 05:15:30 AM

Hi everybody,

Can anyone tell me the difference between self-realation and enlightment?
Are they one and the same, or are there differences?

Thanks,
nirmal

Etherfish

USA
3615 Posts

Posted - Nov 05 2009 : 07:05:55 AM

It's the same. Self realization are words used by followers of Yogananda and others. Enlightenment is a concept used by quite a few other systems. Realizing who you are is a big part of the path of enlightenment. Both concepts are misleading though because they imply that there is a certain final state that completes the transition. Spirituality is a path, not a goal. There ARE transitions that seem at the time to be all you would ever need,
but later you will find something further.

Kirtanman

USA
1651 Posts

Posted - Nov 05 2009 : 10:17:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nirmal

Hi everybody,

Can anyone tell me the difference between self-realation and enlightment?
Are they one and the same, or are there differences?

Thanks,
nirmal

Hi Nirmal,

Yes, I agree with Ether: they're the same.

Some systems use "realization" to mean the first experience, and enlightenment to be the ongoing/permanent condition ... but even then ... they're the same.

I'd go a bit farther, and say that there are a lot of synonyms for the pinnacle condition taught by all wisdom traditions:

Enlightenment, Liberation, Self-Realization, God-Realization, Realization, Pure Bliss Consciousness, Gnosis, Jnana, Christ-Consciousness, God-Consciousness, Buddha Nature, etc. etc. etc.

All these terms indicate knowing ourselves as the limitless awareness we each and all actually are, now.

Wholeheartedly,

Kirtanman