Enlightenment: the word beckons and beguiles us, enchants and mystifies us. Elusive, always just out of reach, it is the shining diamond, the ultimate goal of all spiritual seeking, and practices. It is also a problem that keeps the seeker from deeper spiritual growth.
We seek Enlightenment, while forgetting -- or simply being unaware -- that Enlightenment is an ongoing process. The very fact of our physical existence engages us in the daily, moment by moment process of Enlightenment. When we have our eyes forever-focused on that distant, shimmering moment in which we shall achieve, receive or attain Enlightenment, it is not understood that the Journey itself, IS the Enlightenment we so diligently -- and sometimes, desperately -- seek. In our intense focus on what --may be--, we lose sight of --what is--, and find ourselves forever reaching for some dreamy, mysterious, spiritual future, instead of the creative Now.
If the Journey wasn't important, we wouldn't be doing it. We create, and are in control of, our own Enlightenment. We are Souls: conscious, creative, vibrant energy; beings who are unlimited by the concepts of time and space. There is never a minute of our lives in which we are not Spiritual Beings. This is our natural state of being. However, the greater part of what we are learning as Spiritual Beings, is to function as Physical Beings in a physical world. We are here, in this physical awareness, to learn Physicality.
This physical world, overflowing with what we perceive as good and bad, right and wrong, positive and negative, is the Master Teacher we have appointed. Our Intent, upon entering the physical, is to pursue an Interest, or Interests. What do we want to learn, and through the learning, understand? Our actions follow our Intent, by creating situations, which provide us with opportunities to experience the chosen Interest. The chosen Interest can range from: abject homelessness to extreme wealth; complete paralysis to Olympic runner; mass murderer to venerated saint. We follow our Interest, doing everything involved with it, while continuously observing the results of our actions, and non-actions. Our basic tools of learning are physical sensation, and Emotion.
Consider doubt: a negative, or dark, emotion. A bad thing? Possibly, but what does it create? What does it do for you? How does it teach you? Can doubt cause you to think, and question? Would you consider this a good or bad result from experiencing doubt? How about neither, and both? Or . . . what if you were to look upon the experience of doubt, as simply a tool of learning, a moment of Enlightenment?
Consider now, happiness: a positive, or light, emotion. A good thing? Perhaps, but what does it create? What does it do for you? How does it teach you? Can it cause you to become absent- minded? Is it good or bad, neither and both, a simple tool, or just maybe . . . another grand moment of Enlightenment? Look in a mirror, and observe the eyes looking back at you. What do you see in those eyes; pain, joy, fear, tranquility? Ask your Self, "What emotions am I experiencing, and what am I learning through them? Why am I experiencing these particular emotions, and how can I use them?" Pay attention. Listen to you. Become a conscious observer of your Self.
Assume, for a moment, that you are in the middle of an angry conflict with your best friend. At the height of the conflict . . . stop. Take a deep breath, and mentally step outside the situation. Observe the circumstances carefully, and ask your Self these questions: What is conflict? What does it create? Which emotions are involved? Can you consciously, and deliberately change any of these emotions? What changes would occur in this situation, if you suddenly gave a deep belly laugh? What is the opposing reality of the one you are in conflict with? Is there something to be learned from their point of view, from understanding their reality? Can the conflict be resolved? Do you want to resolve it, or are you enjoying the conflict (we do, at times, enjoy the drama of our conflicts)? What is conflict? Which explains it better, the dictionary, or experience?
Enlightenment, is described in the dictionary as: 'attaining a final blessed state marked by the absence of desire or suffering'. Nothing teaches nothing. Where can a better teacher of compassion be found, than through personal suffering? What can better inspire a musical masterpiece, than desire? When we can willingly experience emotion, and then, stand back from the emotion we are experiencing; recognizing, accepting, understanding, and loving it for the great teacher it is, we begin to experience deeper spiritual growth. This moment, like the millions of other moments of your existence, is one of Enlightenment. What will you choose to do with it?
Enlightenment is the Journey, and the Journey is Now.