--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Patrick Gillam" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- jim_flanegin wrote: > > > > enlightenment does not adhere > > to ANY tradition. It is what it is. Period. > > I've been given to understand that enlightenment > changes quite a bit from one spiritual tradition to > another. I'm told, for instance, that Buddhists > disagree with Hindus on key points, and when > their adherents attain end states they call awakening > or enlightenment, the attainees describe their > experiences differently from one another but > consistent with their traditions. > > Native Americans have no such states in their > traditions, suggesting enlightenment is not > something that all traditions recognize. > > View determines fruit, as Vaj quoted a master > as saying. Or as Dana Sawyer says, precept > determines percept. > > I'm not sure if I'm disagreeeing with you here, Jim. > I don't know enough about either side of the discussion. > I'm simply expressing some cognitive dissonance with > the statement that enlightenment does not adhere to > any tradition. > Uh-oh, I see another Paradox! Just ample warning for those that wish to read no further...
Spiritual traditions are all useful, and thank God there are a lot of them, to serve us all in such diversity. What I meant by my remark was that once enlightenment is reached, the spiritual tradition we have followed loses its uniqueness, and in some ways much of its value; an enlightened Buddhist shares the same view as an enlightened Hindu or Sufi or whatever. Infinity is Infinity is Infinity. The language may be different, but the true value of such labels are for the unenlightened to differentiate a personal set of actions that they are most comfortable with, to speed them on their way. Oddly enough, once enlightenment blossoms, all of the ways of all of the spiritual traditions become accessible, so that we gain a much stronger intuitive appreciation of all of the traditions, and can enjoy them as we wish. Before enlightenment, with the attention primarily on the individual self, seeking enlightenment is much more a linear activity, moving from here to there. After enlightenment, with the attention non- localized as a natural state, answers are found everywhere; anywhere the attention is placed really, therefore rendering the strictures and structure of traditions not very important. So, before enlightenment, a definite path is critical in my opinion for speediest achievement. Afterwards, as in every other area of life, there is greater freedom. Thanks! ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Need Help? Get Help! Tools and Strategies for Healthy Drug-Free Living</a>. http://us.click.yahoo.com/wI.OUB/dbOLAA/d1hLAA/0NYolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
