For the Enlightened: A Question

[Surya]

Another question for the enlightened: how do you know you are enlightened?

[stirling]

Hope you don't mind - I split this question from the thread you posted in. There is a lot of dark, angry baggage there that would probably detract from your question.  _/\_

[Apech]

1 hour ago, Surya said:

Another question for the enlightened: how do you know you are enlightened?

I’m half way there by knowing I’m not enlightened.

[Surya]

16 minutes ago, Apech said:

I’m half way there by knowing I’m not enlightened.

... I seem, then, in just this little thing to be wiser than this man at any rate, that what I do not know I do not think I know either. [Henry Cary literal translation of 1897]

Edit: forgot to add what text the above is a translation of aha, it is from Platos "apology," qouting Socrates

Edited July 9 by Surya

[BigSkyDiamond]

my rule of thumb is that if someone claims to be enlightened, then they are not

 

Edited July 9 by BigSkyDiamond

[BigSkyDiamond]

a related question, for anyone:

how do you discern if someone is enlightened

 

Edited July 9 by BigSkyDiamond

[Cobie]

 

1 hour ago, Surya said:

…  how do you know you are enlightened?

I ‘inner knowing’ know it

 

8 minutes ago, BigSkyDiamond said:

… how do you discern if someone is enlightened

we ‘know’ and smile at each other

 

 

Edited July 9 by Cobie

[Surya]

15 minutes ago, BigSkyDiamond said:

a related question, for anyone:

how do you discern if someone is enlightened

 

Amount of likes on daobums, naturally.

 

But on the real, vibes, basically. At times i meet people who clearly function at a much higher level on conciousness than I. What traits do they tend to have... presence, kindness, humility, a tremendious ability to know what to say and what not to say. A spark in the eye. Also, I get a strong sense that they are able to read my mind... They never judge. Seem to have strong life force/vitality. Yeah, something along these lines, I think. So Cobies response is quite good, I think: they "smile". Are gentle and kind. What more can you ask for, really.

 

Would anyone like to attempt to define the term?

Edited July 9 by Surya

[stirling]

Quote

There are, strictly speaking, no enlightened people, there is only enlightened activity - Shuryu Suzuki

 

Enlightened activity gnows itself. 

 

Quote

There is just a mysterious tacit understanding and no more. - Huang Po

 

That "tacit understanding" belongs to no-one.

[Lairg]

3 hours ago, BigSkyDiamond said:

a related question, for anyone:

how do you discern if someone is enlightened

 

 

Push their light body up through the mental subplanes.  If it slides through the top of the mental plane without feeling any resistance, the person has met the most obvious requirement for first stage enlightenment.

 

There are other requirements too, but those generally are less difficult to achieve

 

 

[Nungali]

5 hours ago, Surya said:

Another question for the enlightened: how do you know you are enlightened?

 

By fulfilling your own definition of what you think it is . 

 

Or maybe you have adopted a specific definition ?  

[old3bob]

 

it helps to know that the you, you thought you were is not really or fully you, for there is no box big enough or strong enough to hold back Eureka!,  Om Tat Sat or whatever term one relates to...and with you as a visitor that one day becomes a full time resident, so to speak.  I'd say the picture below alludes to this process:

 

[Surya]

@old3bob

Edited July 10 by Surya

[Surya]

14 hours ago, Nungali said:

 

By fulfilling your own definition of what you think it is . 

 

Or maybe you have adopted a specific definition ?  

No I don’t have one really. My gut tells me «highest realization possible». I have had moment of insights of course, but it is very clear they have not been of the highest kind. Nor permanent. 
 

There is also this concept of the spirit/magical realm vs. the material, do you have anything to say on that?

 

And what do you think enlightenment is?

[liminal_luke]

At least on this forum, the enlightened tend to have names that suggest purity.  Also, a tendency to forego capitalization.  See: stirling, spotless.

[Surya]

1 minute ago, liminal_luke said:

At least on this forum, the enlightened tend to have names that suggest purity.  Also, a tendency to forego capitalization.  See: stirling, spotless. 

You forgot liminal_luke

[liminal_luke]

Just now, Surya said:

You forgot liminal_luke

 

Ya think?  It´s true that I don´t capitalize my name but no, I´m not an enlightened Bum.  Just an everyday bum Bum.

[Surya]

1 minute ago, liminal_luke said:

 

Ya think?  It´s true that I don´t capitalize my name but no, I´m not an enlightened Bum.  Just an everyday bum Bum.

Don’t worry, he is far to humble and enlightened to be offended by you failing to mention Him regardless.

[Surya]

Flowers never pick themself, Luke. I declare you enlightened.

 

Edited July 10 by Surya

[Lairg]

Many  years ago I visited a retired military guy in Edinburg who had a PhD in something.

 

At some stage in the rather direct esoteric conversation I must have put my foot in it, because he said:  Don't you think that I am enlightened?

 

To which I replied:  We have been speaking for a couple of hours and you have shown no mental reaction - so you might be enlightened.

 

He was satisfied with my answer

 

Once a human controls its thoughts it is able to respond mentally rather than react.  Control of thoughts is a precondition for first stage enlightenment

 

Edited July 10 by Lairg

[Nungali]

17 hours ago, Surya said:

No I don’t have one really. My gut tells me «highest realization possible». I have had moment of insights of course, but it is very clear they have not been of the highest kind. Nor permanent. 
 

There is also this concept of the spirit/magical realm vs. the material, do you have anything to say on that?

 

The first thing I would say is get rid of the 'vs' part  . 

 

 

 

17 hours ago, Surya said:

 

And what do you think enlightenment is?

 

Something a bit different for each tradition . Its best to use their terms and their definition . Enlightenment is an English word that means different things in different traditions and in English different things regarding context .

 

Of course, all sorts of people will insist to you that their definition is what it 'is' . 

 

In the western tradition there is 'illumination'  ,  for example . 

[thursday]

.

Edited July 12 by thursday

[Cobie]

 

11 hours ago, Nungali said:

…Enlightenment … In the western tradition there is 'illumination'  … 

 

ok. 

 

On 10/07/2025 at 4:17 PM, liminal_luke said:

… I´m not an enlightened Bum.  

 

you are “illumination”-luke. 

 

 

[Giles]

On 09/07/2025 at 6:48 PM, Surya said:

Another question for the enlightened: how do you know you are enlightened?

 

It's pretty obvious. 😍 

 

In any case, everyone is enlightened because atman and Brahman are one and the same.

 

[Surya]

On 11.7.2025 at 9:33 AM, Nungali said:

The first thing I would say is get rid of the 'vs' part  . 

Do I understand you correctly in that you are saying that the physical and mental is one and the same?