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What dos it mean when we say to be awakened

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  • 03-03-2006 5:27am
    #1
    Asiaprod
    Registered Users Posts: 6,737 ✭✭✭


    Time for an interesting weekend post.
    I thought I would delve into a thought provoking post on the Buddha`s explanation of what awakening (enlightenment) is.
    He was very clear about what constituted this awakening -
    or rather what it was he was awakened to. It was to the
    impermanence, suffering, and selflessness of all phenomena. He
    spoke of this in terms of the conditioned or contingent nature of
    all things, and the unconditioned state that is realized when
    one no longer has clinging or aversion to conditioned states.
    In terms of how this plays out subjectively for us
    and in interpersonal relationships the Buddha also spoke of ten
    hindrances that we are liberated from:

    1. Belief in a substantial self
    2. Belief in that rites or rituals can themselves liberate us
    3. Doubt that leads to lack of confidence and vacillation
    4. Greed (or attachment)
    5. Anger or Aversion
    6. Clinging to existence in the form realm (a rarified state of
    consciousness or becoming that temporarily transcends the grosser
    passions).
    7. Clinging to existence in the formless state (an even more
    rarified state)
    8. Restlessness
    9. Pride
    10. Ignorance (in this case ignorance of the no-self nature of all
    things and the unconditioned that is Unborn and Deathless).

    Breaking through these hindrances constitutes the enlightenment
    of the arhats or of pratyekabuddhas (the worlds of Learning and
    Realization). But it is presumed that bodhisattvas have also freed
    themselves of these hindrances. In fact, the Buddha asserted that as
    far as awakening itself goes - there is no difference between the
    awakening of the arhats and the Buddha's. The difference is that the
    Buddha's have become consummate teachers of the Dharma as a result
    of fulfilling bodhisattva vows and the perfection of:

    1. Generosity
    2. Self-discipline (mainly non-harming and maintaining mindfulness)
    3. Patience
    4. Endeavor
    5. Meditation
    6. Wisdom
    7. Skillful Means
    8. Vows
    9. Power
    10 Knowledge (in the sense of Spiritual Discernment)


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    #2
    coffee_cake
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Politics Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 81,310 CMod ✭✭✭✭coffee_cake


    A good post, asia.
    The conditioning bit is interesting, and to wonder at it when we pull it away.


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    #3
    joseph dawton
    Registered Users Posts: 195 ✭✭joseph dawton


    Some-one who is awakened realises why they are here and what their purpose is. It does not necessarily mean you are a perfect person although an awakened person will strive to be as godlike as they possibly can. All that Bluewolf said is true, but those things do not come like clicking your fingers - it's really about ganining true perception of ourselves, our place in the world or universe and from that everything else starts to fall into place.

    http://www.electricpublications.com


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    #4
    god's toy
    Registered Users Posts: 4,241 ✭✭✭god's toy


    You give us lots to think about in this thread, all of you. Thanks

    Much we learn in the short time we have.


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