Tibetan Lamas in the 1980s told me:

"You are already enlightened. All you have to do is to realize it."

It is like waking up on a stage and the curtains draw back and you realize you are enlightened and that you always were enlightened and that you always will be enlightened. The problem before was that you forgot you were enlightened and so didn't act enlightened before.

When you realize and accept that you are enlightened you are.

You might say to me, "It can't be that simple. But, it is."

Enlightenment is a state of consciousness.

It's sort of like: "Do you believe you can lift your arm or drive that car?" If you believe then maybe you can lift your arm or drive that car.

However, if you have never driven a car before I suggest you get some driving lessons if you want to stay alive and keep the people around you alive too.

Then we come to compassion.

Do you practice idiot compassion that gets you and others harmed or killed?

Or do you practice Right Mindful Compassion that saves lives ongoing for hundreds or thousands of years.

Being enlightened is both a right and a responsibility like being a father or mother or grandfather or grandmother in life.

By God's Grace