Do not doubt it!

This is likely to be a bit controversial. And admittedly a year or so ago I would have not bought in to this at all. So if you think I am off my meds I assure you that I was never on any. Skepticisms is not always a bad thing. But I think it can be over done. Lately I tend to think that the balance has been shifting toward skepticism. Which, I even encourage it to a large degree, go ahead be skeptical, that’s ok. But when something is repeated too much it has a danger of becoming belief based on dogma and not real experience.

There are a few Buddhist teachers denying The Big “E”, or enlightenment. I am going to tell you that this is something I can no longer get behind. What makes this even more difficult for me to express it that I want to tell you in my own words, not relying on old dead guys like I so often do.

I am also tempted to attack the beliefs of others. Or to at least use some example of something familiar, but that is not really a nice thing to do either and in realizing this I can stop.

Here is the *real deal* You are enlightened! You are also very special. You may also be quite deluded. But you were not that way originally. Originally you are enlightened. You just picked up a whole bunch of delusion along your way to where you are now. Now, here is something else to chew on. So is everyone else! Like a snowflake your enlightenment is different than mine, like snow it is all pretty much the same too.

Unfortunately ,most folks can not really handle the “idea” of enlightenment, They think it is some great mystical thing, or something they are not worthy of. This is all because of conditioning. As a result of conditioning people enter in to a state of denial. Why? Because most people do not want to be responsible for their own suffering! That is right. You are responsible. You are responsible for your own happiness too. The really sad part of this is that we really knew all of this all along. We just love to be addicted to that state of denial. It is easier to say, “It is not” than to try and prove “It is!”

What is enlightenment? Oh help me wictionary please! :

enlightenment (uncountable)
1. An act of enlightening, or the state of being enlightened or instructed.
2. A concept in religious mysticism, philosophy and psychology related to achieving clarity of perception, reason and knowledge.

OK, well that is not much help is it? Definitely not a concept! I am talking about something real.. Clarity of perception, reason and knowledge? Sounds pretty, and I think it is fairly close. But not always true. I take particular issue with the knowledge part. I think folks have a tendency to believe that means all knowing or some garbage, even though the man himself indicated otherwise.

So the definition is shady at best, where is the proof? I guess it is in the pudding. Actually, I can not prove any of this. If you can, please enlighten me!

Dose that make this a belief?
Sure! But it is also not one to fight over or squabble about. Not everyone is going to see the same thing the same way.

Dose this make you infallible?
Nope, sorry save that one for the cult of idealism.

Dose it change who you are?
Maybe, gradually, as you let go of your addictions and take responsibility for your actions and your reactions.

Dose this make you an authority figure?
Nope, the only authority anyone ever has is that which you give to them (I think someone else said that once but I guess that is one of my core principals.)

Dose this mean you don’t have to practice anymore?
Nope! Practice and experience is continuous.

Do you need some validation?
Nope, why would you?

What should you do now that you know you are enlightened?
Heck, you’re the enlightened one; go figure it out for yourself. My advice: There is this thing called intuition that you should probably practice developing for a while, that should tell you what to do.


These are just words that reflect how I feel right now.
I hope you have found my thought doodles entertaining or otherwise useful.
May you be well and happy!
Jordan