What is enlightenment?

We seek answers to life and meaning for our existence. We go toward the light.

You are well on your way to enlightenment when you become aware of your thoughts as things. When you can stand back mentally and see what you are saying and seeing in your mind.

When you become aware that you are in control of those thoughts and that they are not just reactions to what happens to you, then you are fully in the light.

You choose how you react, even if you seem to make automatic response, at some time in your experience you decided to make this the one and only response to similar events. And, now that little program runs automatically and you have repressed the choices you made.

You choose the thoughts in your mind. It is your mind after all. You alone are responsible for what goes on in your mind, what your attitude is, what your mood is, how you perceive the world, what you expect the world to be.

And, once you realize that the only time that you can be real is in the now, now is the only time, you are fully enlightened.

This idea is simple, though simple doesn't mean easy. You will need to be forever vigilant to recognize when your thoughts are negative or unproductive to your well being.

The past is just history. Every time you review your past memories you rewrite something to them. They change over time. And, besides, your memories are just your interpretation of events you lived through.  Others may actually remember them differently.

If you anticipate the future, all you are doing is projecting your past experience forward. You can not experience the future now. It can only happen by living the next moment and the next.

What you keep telling yourself about the world, and about your self as a being, changes what you think and do. Your choice of words makes a difference in what you think and do.

Stop and think for a moment about how you behave in relation to friends or family, how you react to events around you. Describe those behaviours to yourself. Do you simply react to whatever happens, or do you calmly think of the changes of responses that you could make?

Do you fit everything into neat little categories? Is everything slotted into good or bad?

Who has convinced you that one thing is good, while another is bad? That one person is good and the other is bad?

In our need to understand we often create explanations for events just to satisfy that need.  In a sense it gives us control over the world around us.

As human beings we all make assumptions and judgements. Are we simply confirming our beliefs or do we carefully examine the accuracy of our conclusions?  Do our beliefs reinforce negative attitudes or positive ones?

Enlightenment means we are aware that our beliefs are subjective. What I choose to believe and how I talk to myself about those beliefs will affect how I continue to choose my thoughts and make conclusions about the world around me.

Enlightenment is a spiritual experience. For myself, I accept that I can not understand the mystery that we call God. No human mind can, though I can hope to someday.

God, as we call the Mystery, is not only within us, but we in God.

I am a spiritual being discovering humanity, not a human being seeking spirituality.

I accept that I cannot make the world over to suit my beliefs. I cannot change the world to meet my expectations. The world behaves in a manner that is not within my control.

I am grateful for this moment, for this life I live and experience and the Being that I am.

I forgive all who have caused me any discomfort.

I forgive myself for interpreting others actions as being a discomfort to me.

I forgive myself for any discomfort I may have caused others.  I forgive myself for any interpretation that may have caused my own problems.

I forgive myself for having limiting thoughts about my abilities.  I alone am responsible for my choices and interpretations of others words and behaviours.

I strive every day to witness to my own thoughts, to make myself aware of my minds ability to create causes out of unrelated effects and events. The explanations I give myself for others behaviour are not necessary. They live their own mind view and I live mine.

I do not keep the past alive! I take the lessons learned, I find the joy in happy moments. I appreciate the past I have lived to get me to this moment. I avoid ruminating over my limiting thoughts about the past events.

A person can only push your buttons if you accept your explanation for an event. Your response will make all the difference. If you were to crack a joke instead of reacting angrily, you would soon be in control of every situation.

Listen to the voice in your mind. Watch those words and images that the voice creates. You are the Being in the corner observing those thoughts.

You are not those words and images. You are the Being in control of your mind.

By focusing on your immediate environment, the people around you and Nature as you walk and live through it, you will reduce the control the baggage and clutter of your mind.

Now is the only time.