What Enlightenment Is

It is much easier to describe what enlightenment is than what it is not. Also, since every being experiences it slightly differently this helps too.

So, the best way I can describe the enlightenment process might be a little like learning to play the piano or learning to drive a car or learning to ride a bicycle or fly a plane or learning to surf.   First one has to realize exactly (or sort of) what it is they want to learn. And at the same time to be aware of what their potential abilities tend to be.

For example, if you are just going to spend your life forcing yourself to do something you have no aptitude for then I'm not sure what you will accomplish. However, if it is just stupid people who have not idea what you are capable of telling you can't do something then you might need to see what you can do on your own. But at some point idealism must meet realism before you are 25 or 30 years of age in order to be successful in this.

Also, understanding what enlightenment is for someone else is different than discovering what it will be for you. But, you can make a template of a successfully enlightened person's life and begin becoming like them and then on the way become your own perfect enlightened person and become very pleased with yourself for getting there. However, enlightenment really never ends. Whatever form your personal enlightenment takes you can always learn new things and get better. Just like if you are a carpenter, a lawyer, a priest, a minister, an electrician or plumber or stone mason or business owner or investor or whatever, you could always learn more and be a better whatever. Likewise, you can always become more enlightened and really enjoy doing it. So be sure to have fun becoming enlightened. Because in the end if your life isn't fun and doesn't make you happy, how can you say you're enlightened? That is not to say it is possible for any human being to be happy all the time. However, it is possible to be completely realistic and to have peace in one's heart at the same time.

I have heard enlightenment described as experiencing all the good and bad happening on earth at once and feeling like all beings are your children and so you want to help them in their lives throughout the universe. If the whole universe is your family, take care of them. I think this is enlightenment.