How to Become Enlightened

There is no conceivable barrier to prevent any individual entity from expanding into enlightenment. If we really want to go, nothing can stop us. To become enlightened, know that there are no special virtues to acquire. Simply remain conscious. The practice of prolonging our conscious state may not give us the power to control the material world. It will, however, give us the power to be absolutely free from the material world. Being enlightened is not a special state of mind; it is the mind's and heart's freedom from all clinging which gives rise to an awareness of all human experience without a notion of identity separate from the world around us. Though this may seem difficult, it is possible through practice and training of the mind. Let go and let it happen. Just as worldly achievements are difficult, but possible, enlightenment too, may seem difficult in the light of reason, but possible. Our human intelligence is of little use to us when we simply become cosmic consciousness. This happens little by little and there are as many ways to gauge your progress as there are entities on that path.

If you can't find enlightenment where you are right now, where do you expect to wander in search of it?

Many people feel that they must suffer in order to gain liberation. This doesn't have to be the case. We all belong in the universe, the universe doesn't care if we suffer or not. We are our own key to absolute freedom. And there are as many paths to perfect enlightenment as there are beings in the universe. When we become conscious we expand, when we turn away from being conscious we contract. Beyond this, reality will always prove to us that we cannot move against its own self governing laws. All of us are free to choose the kind of "Reality" we wish to know, none of us can break the rules. Every entity in creation has the same freedom of choice.

There are some of us who have preached the dogmatic certainty of one particular path. But in the end enlightenment is there and how you achieve it isn't as important as getting there.

Obviously there's no step-by-step "How to" that points to the correct path for everyone, all of the time. External events aren't as important as how you react to them.

The more you fear, the more there will be to fear especially fear of fear or pain. Originally fear is an appropriate warning of possible harm. It is only necessary to notice the problem to be solved and drop the fear. This is one fundamental mode of "Expansion" and "Contraction"; as you explore your life, you will find many others. To find enlightenment we need only accept the daily rhythms of expansion and contraction. Each of us has complete freedom to choose, you already know this.

Consciousness is real, as real as we are. Whatever we've done in retracting from Cosmic consciousness, (the One source of All that Is, or whatever words you wish to use,) we are doing now. We all come from the same place, we are all going back to the same place.

What I hope you'll find here are some simple attitudes that will assist you on your way.

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We have all made mistakes. That seems to be how we learn.' Repeating the same mistakes over and over is what is injurious to our own purpose. However we are free to do that as well. What we should ask ourselves is : "What is the cause of pain and suffering and how can we uproot it at a deep level?" Some say that it is only through excess, that one can know what is enough. Being Here-Nowis thought by many to be the first step towards Liberation.

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   Seek the company of arahats, wise people, and good dharma books.
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   Create time in your life to be conscious. Too often, we get so tense or stressed with our responsibilities that we forget to take pleasure in the moment.
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   Sit quietly and let your thoughts and judgments arise and dissipate by themselves. Remain in the here and now. Become calm and clear.
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   Make special note of the various odors you smell, the noises you hear, and objects you see. Approach other everyday situations in the same way. Doing this often brings you closer to pure consciousness.
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   Practice meditation, which you can do anywhere, at any time by simply steadying the mind on an object of concentration in the present moment.
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   Read what others have written about enlightenment and spirituality in general. Many of the great philosophers such as Gautama, Jesus, Lao Tzu,Shunryu Suzuki, Mohammed, Dante, Francis Bacon, William Blake and others. The Doors of Perception has much to say about this subject, both directly and indirectly.
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   Learn about the Noble eight fold path and understand the 4 Noble Truths
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   Always be mindful of the moment and take pleasure in all activities that you do during the day (eating, sleeping, even using the bathroom).
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   The steps listed here are basic possible helpful practices. A real "step" towards enlightenment would be to make something that is now an unconscious part of you conscious. i.e. "integration". Practical steps toward integration can be found in the related how to wikis.
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    The way to enlightenment as described by Shakyamuni / Gautama Buddha Himself is through developing virtue, concentration, and wisdom.
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    Enlightenment is not a state of mind that you can force yourself into. We live by the eternal law of cause and effect, which is, if you do something bad you will get a bad result, if you do something good you will get a good result. What matters is the consciousness you experience regardless of what takes place.
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    When approached with intent, sparking higher consciousness is natural.Walking can spark higher consciousness. Use walking meditation. Just like aspirants learn to count their cycle of breath to consume normal and allow higher consciousness to come forth. The cycles or steps in walking can serve this same purpose. This same thing happens in music with the rhythm, that is, normal consciousness is consumed, allowing higher to consciousness come flooding in for the musician, bringing forth the higher consciousness. Don Juan put the flooding of images into walking for Carlos Castaneda. Carlos hiked with Don Juan while having his eyes crossed in order to flood the vision and insure the total consumption of normal consciousness. This awareness of higher consciousness while walking will motivate more walking/meditation and ability to walk/meditate more and more.