Category: Buddhist Path | Recent Meditation Posts
The ultimate goal of Buddhist practice is to become enlightened. We might also refer to enlightenment as an awakening, liberation, freedom, or the experience of true wisdom. In this article we learn what it means to be enlightened and how to begin the path to experience such a sublime state.
Enlightenment In Buddhism
In Buddhism, enlightenment is generally defined as the perfection of wisdom and compassion, a state of being that is characterized by a total freedom from suffering. Enlightenment is the manifestation of the qualities of a Buddha. Those who are enlightened see the unobscured, true nature of reality. They embody infinite compassion toward all suffering beings. They also have the power to apply wisdom and compassion in extraordinary ways for the benefit of others.
The details of enlightenment differ between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. According to the Mahayana view, each of us has the seed of enlightenment within. We may catch glimpses of this supreme well-being and contentment in moments when we lose ourselves in pure love, wonder and awe.
Uncovering The Enlightened Mind
If it’s true that part of us is already enlightened, why can’t we see it all the time? According to the wheel of life in Buddhism, we currently live in a habitual cycle. This cycle, called samsara, prevents us from recognizing our true Buddha nature. Caught up in habitual distraction, we place our energy on the wrong things, failing to recognize the treasure we have inside.
If we were to become mindful of this self-perpetuating cycle of misperception, that clarity alone could set us free from its habitual turning. The Buddha describes his own enlightenment as just that, as an uncovering of the 12 links of dependent origination. By bringing deep awareness to how our own minds work, we free ourselves from the wrath of a seemingly ‘out of control’ mind.
Finding Freedom From Samsara
The habits that keep us trapped in samsara all arise from the three poisons. The Buddha taught that the three poisons – ignorance, craving and aversion – are the root of all suffering. Ignorance in Buddhism is akin to misconception, a misunderstanding of the true nature of reality. This misunderstanding keeps us in a constant state of dissatisfaction, oscillating between craving and aversion.
What we fail to understand, is that our perception of the world around us, our feelings about it and dissatisfaction itself all come from within. As we train the mind in meditation, our limited perception expands. Not only do we see the world differently, but we develop a less reactive relationship to everything we notice. With practice, we experience a state of equanimity that is free from indifference, craving and aversion. That is to say, free from the habitual reactivity that keeps us in a cycle of suffering.
Buddhist Nirvana vs Enlightenment
In the Theravada Buddhist tradition, nirvana is often synonymous with enlightenment. In other schools of Buddhism, particularly the Mahayana, nirvana is a significant step along the way to enlightenment. Nirvana describes a state in which suffering has ceased. It is the result of freeing ourselves of the karmic habits that keep us in samsara. In nirvana, we experience the joy of equanimity from which contentment arises.
For Mahayana Buddhists, the personal liberation experienced in nirvana is important, but not enough. Having experienced true, unconditional happiness, we naturally want to share it with others. Yet we realize that despite being quite happy, we are still far from embodying the boundless wisdom, compassion and power that can truly help all other living beings. To do that, we must reach full Buddhahood. This desire to go beyond nirvana and become enlightened as an infinitely capable helper is called bodhicitta. It motivates us to set out along the bodhisattva path.
How To Attain Enlightenment In Buddhism
We may have begun our Buddhist journey with the motivation to ease our pain or to avoid future pain. As wisdom and compassion expand, however, we start to wonder if we can also help others. The selfless desire to achieve full enlightenment for the benefit of others is considered the supreme motivation. It will take us the furthest, and it will take us there fastest. Armed with this motivation to get enlightened on behalf of all living beings, where do we begin?
The ancient texts tell us to find a reputable Buddhist teacher. A teacher’s role is to guide us along the stages of the path to enlightenment, otherwise known as the five practice paths. The five paths and ten bhumis, or levels, map our journey. They offer us a means of measuring our progress as we move from a state of confusion toward a full awakening of the Buddha nature within.
This article was written by Sara-Mai Conway from mindworks.org
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