buddhism

Awakening Vs. Enlightenment: What’s The Difference?

If you’re a spiritual seeker you’ve probably heard the terms “awakening” and “enlightenment” before. When I first started my spiritual journey I wondered what the difference was between these 2 terms and they often confused me. Are awakening and enlightenment interchangeable words? Are they different spiritual processes? What is the difference between “awakening” and “enlightenment”? Awakening refers to the process of attaining higher consciousness and greater insight, whereas enlightenment can be thought of as a spectrum of how conscious and aware of universal truth you are. Enlightenment is the scale that you gauge your consciousness from. Are you fully enlightened? Partially enlightened? Awakening is more like a verb however. It’s the process of “waking up” to divine truth. The historical context of awakening and enlightenment The English word enlightenment comes from the word Bodhi in Buddhism which means “the knowledge or wisdom of a Buddha”. However, where things get interesting is that Buddhism also has another separate word for awakening. The word they use is Budh which is a verb and means “awakening” or “to awaken”. So Buddhism has 2 separate words that are equivalent to the English version of awakening and enlightenment. Buddhist word: English translation: Part of speech: Bodhi Enlightenment; the knowledge of a Buddha noun Budh Awakening; to awaken verb The Buddhists knew the difference between these two terms and their significance. What is awakening? The term awakening originates from the image of waking up in the morning. We awaken from a dream into what we know to be a truer reality. In spiritual awakening we once again awaken to an even greater reality than we thought we were in. Notice how awakening is used like a verb here. Spiritual awakening is the process of realizing greater spiritual truth and insight. Those individual moments of spiritual breakthrough are what we would call a spiritual awakening. > see my article “What Is A Spiritual Awakening?” Awakening is a moment and a process of insight and greater clarity. What is enlightenment? Enlightenment on the other hand is more about our greater continual state of consciousness. If enlightenment is the scale on which we measure our level consciousness, awakenings are the things that can move us up into greater enlightenment. Awakenings will lead to greater enlightenment. Buddha for example can be known as a fully enlightened individual, meaning he topped out his awareness and understanding of the universe. He awakened fully. Whereas if you had your first awakening yesterday, you may have woken up so to speak but you are by no means fully enlightened. This also means that we are able to have multiple spiritual awakenings on our path towards greater enlightenment. > see my article “Can You Have Multiple Spiritual Awakenings?” You see, enlightenment is the spectrum of how awake we are. How other spiritual seekers define them At the end of the day, these words mean different things to different people. Because of this subjectivity involved I asked a community of spiritual seekers what they thought about the differences between awakening and enlightenment. Anonymous reddit user spirit_is_fire said: Whereas this seeker seemed to say that it doesn’t really matter and that there isn’t much of a difference: I think this spiritual seeker said it the best: These words are subjective and will mean different things to different people. Whatever definitions you find most helpful for “awakening” and “enlightenment” is fine as long as it makes sense to you and your journey. I hope my take on the difference between enlightenment and awakening can give you some clarity on the topic, especially since there appears to be many different ways of interpreting them. Conclusion Though there may be subjective differences when it comes to the words “awakening” and “enlightenment” I have found in my personal experience and in Buddhist literature that they have distinctly different meanings. Awakening tends to point to the process of raising your consciousness and is defined by moments of spiritual insight. Whereas enlightenment is the spectrum on which we measure how much we’ve woken up. In my personal opinion, awakening is how we become more enlightened. Discover what stage of your spiritual awakening journey you’re in. Take the free quiz here.

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Is Meditation Pointless?

The Buddhists have a famous saying, “Zazen is good for nothing” – Kodo Sawaki Roshi Zazen is the Buddhist tradition’s form of meditation. If meditation is good for nothing why do Buddhists meditate all the time? Well, that’s the joke in a sense. When you hear that saying the first time you’ll think meditation is pointless. But the more you meditate the more you’ll see what they truly were saying. Meditation is good for nothing. Perhaps by the end of this article, you’ll understand the true meaning of that. Meditation is not pointless. Though the practice can seem monotonous, boring, and pointless there are actually dozens of proven benefits. Meditation can help you make great strides in many areas of your life from developing spiritually to improving your sense of wellbeing. > see my article, “How to Transform Your Life With Meditation” Why meditation Can Seem pointless Meditation can at times seem pointless, purposeless, and boring. You may be thinking “should I be wasting 10 minutes everyday doing essentially nothing?” Despite the many benefits, meditation in the beginning can feel a bit pointless. It feels like you’re wasting your time When you sit down to meditate you’re actively doing nothing. You’re intentionally doing absolutely nothing for 10-20 minutes or more. This can really seem like a waste of time. Remember the Buddhist saying! “meditation is good for nothing”. Why should you waste your time on doing absolutely nothing? ‘Nothing’ is actually incredibly beneficial. In meditation you’re fostering that nothingness. It’s in the practice of doing nothing that the benefits arise. Though it may feel like a waste of time, sitting down to meditate is fostering slow growing benefits that accumulate with practice. You’re not seeing any benefits yet If you’re in the beginning of building your meditation habit you may feel like meditation is pointless simply because you haven’t tasted the sweet benefits that meditation has to offer. Like all good things, this will take time too. Though there are some immediate benefits to meditation, a lot of the truly life changing benefits come weeks, months, and years into a meditation practice. This doesn’t mean that meditation is pointless though. Even if you only want short term benefits, meditation can still help you. But the super profound mental shifts you might have been promised will take time. Meditation can be hard and frankly boring Establishing a meditation practice is hard. Getting yourself to sit for 10 or more minutes a day for meditation truly isn’t an easy thing. Especially at the beginning. Meditation is hard because it’s boring. We as human beings like to be doing things, building, and learning. Meditation seems like the complete opposite of an enjoyable task. You may have other more pressing things in your life that would be far more interesting to attend to. To get past this meditation struggle you need to shift your perspective. View meditation as a building, doing, and learning activity. Although yes, you are slowing down and doing nothing, you are actively slowing down and doing nothing. It’s important to see that you’re meditating for the purpose of building a better mind, learning more about yourself, and nurturing your spirit. > see my article “Struggling to Meditate? 7 Common Issues And Their Solutions” The benefits of meditation The truth is that meditation truly isn’t pointless. There are so many benefits for your mind, body, and spirit that come alongside a meditation practice. Here are some of the benefits you could see if you stick with your meditation practice. Benefits for the mind Benefits for the body Benefits for the spirit Meditation is good for nothing… So yes, meditation is good for nothing… well actively doing nothing. And doing nothing (meditating) has so many benefits for your life in the short term and long term. Yes, meditation may seem pointless at the beginning. Especially when building the habit of meditation can be boring and difficult. But you’ll find out for yourself if you keep at it for just 10 minutes a day. You’ll come to find the meditation is NOT pointless.

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The Mystical Traditions of Every Major World Religion

Religion is a complex topic that has been studied and debated for centuries and one aspect of religion that has often piqued people’s interest is the mystical traditions associated with those various belief systems. Every major religion has its own unique approach to exploring mysticism. Today, we’ll take a closer look at the mystical traditions of some of these major world religions and explore the common themes that unite them. The world religions we’ll look at today include: What Is Mysticism? Mysticism refers to the experience of a direct, personal connection with the divine or the transcendent that cannot be accessed through the intellect. Mystical experiences are often described as ineffable, meaning that they are difficult to describe or put into words. Despite this, many people seek out mystical experiences as a way of deepening their spiritual connection and understanding of the world. While there is no single mystical tradition that is shared by all religions, there are some common threads that run through many of them. Because the mystics focus on direct experience of the divine, spiritual and religious beliefs take a back seat. It is the experience of the absolute that matters to the mystics. The Mystical Traditions of World Religions Christian Mystical Traditions In Christianity, the mystical tradition is known as Christian mysticism… yep pretty straight forward with this one. This tradition emphasizes the importance of prayer and contemplation to experience a direct connection with God. Before the Christian’s called it mysticism, it was called Theoria, which means to consider, speculate, or look at. The mystical roots of Christianity encourage observation of the self and of reality as a spectator. We can simply experience God just by becoming a mindful spectator in this world according to the Christian mystics. Christian mysticism emphasizes the importance of the mystical experience of God, which can take many forms, including visions, dreams, and revelations. These experiences are often seen as a gift from God. > see my article “Spiritual Awakening As A Christian? Yes, It’s Possible” Christian monasticism As Christian monastic life took hold later in it’s tradition, so too did mysticism. Monastic life meant more silence, stillness, and time to contemplate God. These are the perfect conditions to experience the absolute and many Christian monks later identified as mystics. An important aspect of monastic Christian mysticism is the use of spiritual disciplines and ascetic practices to cultivate spiritual purity and detachment from worldly distractions. This can include fasting, celibacy, and other forms of self-denial to help connect with God. Some of the most famous Christian mystics include St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, and Meister Eckhart. Islamic Mystical Traditions Islam has a rich history of mysticism. The mystical tradition in Islam is referred to as Sufism. Mysticism is mostly practiced in the Sunni sect of Islam, however can also be found in the Shia tradition. Sufism is based on the teachings of the Quran and the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad, but it also draws on the spiritual and mystical traditions of pre-Islamic Arabia and other cultures in the region. see my article “Spiritual Awakening as a Muslim? Yes, It’s Possible” One of the central practices of Sufism is dhikr, or remembrance of God, which involves the repetition of sacred phrases or names of God in a state of heightened awareness and concentration. This practice is often accompanied by music, dance, and other forms of ecstatic expression. Sufism also emphasizes the importance of a spiritual guide or teacher, known as a sheikh or murshid, who can help the seeker navigate the spiritual path and attain higher levels of consciousness. Sufism seeks to create a personal and direct connection between the believer and the divine. In order to directly connect with the divine Sufi Muslims may dance, chant, and sing. You may be familiar with the whirling dervishes and their distinctive spinning dance. Hindu Mystical Traditions Hinduism is one of the oldest and most complex religions in the world, with a long and rich history of mystical practices. One of the most well-known mystical practices in Hinduism is yoga, which involves physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation techniques designed to help the practitioner achieve a state of spiritual awareness and connection with the divine. The ultimate goal of yoga is to achieve union with the divine, often referred to as samadhi. Another key practice in Hindu mysticism is meditation. Hindu meditation involves focusing the mind on a single point or object to achieve a state of deep concentration and inner peace. This can be done through a variety of techniques, including breath control, visualization, and mantras. In addition to meditation and yoga, Hindu mysticism includes a rich tradition of devotional practices, such as bhakti yoga, which involves cultivating a deep and loving relationship with a particular deity or aspect of the divine. Hinduism is arguably the oldest and most influential mystical tradition of all the major world religions dating back more than 4,000 years according to some accounts. Buddhist Mystical Traditions Buddhism is another ancient religion that has a rich history of mystical practices. One of the key concepts in Buddhist mysticism is mindfulness, which involves being fully present and aware in the moment. This practice is designed to help practitioners achieve a state of inner peace and clarity. Both Zen Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism have mystical traditions that involve the exploration of the nature of reality beyond intellectual understanding. However, there are some differences in their approaches to this mystical experience. Zen Buddhism In Zen Buddhism, the emphasis is on the direct experience of enlightenment, or satori, through meditation and other practices. The goal is to achieve a state of emptiness or non-duality, where the self and the world are seen as one. Zen also emphasizes the importance of the teacher-student relationship in transmitting the teachings and practices. Tibetan Buddhism On the other hand, Tibetan Buddhism has a rich tradition of deity yoga, where practitioners visualize and identify themselves with various deities as a

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Spiritual Awakening: What Stage Are You In? (Quiz)

Take the free spiritual journey quiz below to find out what stage you’re at. Spiritual awakening is a highly individualized and subjective process. There is no perfect model or method for awakening and most people don’t know where they are or where they could be in their spiritual development. However, there are several distinct stages that most seekers must go through in their spiritual journey. Here are the 6 stages of spiritual awakening: These stages are modeled after the 10 ox herding pictures of Zen Buddhism that represent the stages of awakening. Although everyone’s spiritual journey is different, there is a generally well-documented path toward awakening and enlightenment. The 6 Stages of Awakening Stage 1 – Asleep At this stage you are completely asleep and not even aware that something greater may possibly exist. You’re just living your life as most people do. Those in stage 1 may associate spirituality with religion and dismiss the possibility of divinity outside of a religious ideology. There is nothing inherently wrong with being in this stage, and many people who stay in stage 1 are able to live happy and purposeful lives. This is where everyone begins their journey, unaware of the profound and infinite rewards of the path toward awakening. Stage 2 – Spiritually Curious In stage 2 spiritual curiosity begins. You begin hearing about spiritual awakening and may feel like something is “off” about reality. This leads to greater openness to the possibility of something greater and increased inquisitiveness toward spirituality. People in stage 2 are often intrigued by general philosophy, eastern spiritual teachings, and the nature of reality. You see the possibility of something greater in this stage but are unable to actually know it for certain. People in stage 2 lack the first awakening experience necessary to fuel their desire to go “all in” on the spiritual path. Later in stage 2 you may become very intrigued with the idea of “waking up” and pursue spiritual philosophy more intensely. potential trouble spots Stage 3 – The First Awakening > see also “What Is A Spiritual Awakening” In this stage, you experience awakening for the very first time, although it may only be for a few minutes or even just a couple of seconds. After your first experience with awakening, an internal fire is ignited inside of you. The desire for the spiritual path takes hold as the profound experience of spiritual truth dawns on you for the first time. This stage can come as a great relief for spiritual seekers who have been antsy to see what all the hype was about. After your first glimpse at awakening, you now know that the spiritual path is worth pursuing. This stage begins with an awakening, or profound experience of divine truth, and continues with a deep desire for more spiritual fruits. potential trouble spots Stage 4 – Growth & Plateau Stage 4 is the troubleshooting phase. You may have several sporadic awakenings spread out through this phase, but you don’t entirely know how to access them consistently. This stage is less about a fiery passion that arose in stage 3 and is more about commitment to the spiritual path and steady learning. Many spiritual roadblocks will be encountered and overcome during the growth and plateau phase. Stage 4 is called “Growth & Plateau” because of the series of spiritual plateaus and then growth that accompanies the transcendence of those plateaus. This is one of the longest stages out of the 6. potential trouble spots Stage 5 – Integration As you continue to raise your consciousness you begin to find a deeper sense of sacredness in every aspect of life and reality. As you raise your consciousness higher and experience more spiritual truth, you’ll begin to integrate what you’ve experienced into everyday life. Every moment becomes rich and full of meaning in this stage. This isn’t to say you’ll be free of suffering, but meaning and grace are found even in your suffering and negative experiences. All of your previous awakenings and the spiritual truth you have accumulated in previous stages come together in this stage. This stage is about dissolving the separation between your spiritual self and your regular everyday self. In the integration stage, you begin to live your every day as if it is divine. Spiritual truth permeates your reality and experiences. Throughout this stage there is an ongoing commitment to spiritual growth and self-discovery. potential trouble spots Stage 6 – Transcendence Transcendence is the 6th and final stage of awakening. This stage is about leaving behind the idea of a separate self. In stage 6 you become both simultaneously detached and more deeply connected with the world around you. Stage 6 is a nondual stage, meaning your understanding of reality and of yourself is holistic and complete within the universe. You transcend the identification with a separate human ego and understand directly that you are an inseparable aspect of all that exists. In stage 6 you understand the highest truths of the universe and have direct access to the divinity of the universe. Notable examples of people who were in stage 6 include: Neem Karoli Baba, Ram Dass, Alan Watts, & Eckhart Tolle So What Do I Do next? Congratulations! Now you know what stage of your spiritual journey you’re in. With this knowledge you can see what stage is next for you and what potential trouble spots you may encounter trying to get there. It’s important that you have a baseline for where you’re at and where you’re going. Otherwise, you’re wandering through the spiritual path in the dark. Find a guru If you genuinely want to go all in on this journey towards awakening you may want to find a spiritual mentor. A guru can help guide you on your journey towards awakening. A guru may also be able to expedite or accelerate your spiritual growth, as they’ve done most of the hard work already and can share this with you. > see my

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20 Signs & Symptoms of Spiritual Awakening

Spiritual awakening is a term used to describe a profound shift in consciousness and newly found increase in awareness of your true nature. Spiritual awakenings lead us deeper in connection with the divinity of our universe. An awakening can be an empowering and transformative experience, leading to a greater understanding of life and purpose. But how do you know if you’re getting closer to that sought after divinity? What are the signs of spiritual awakening you should look out for? Today we’re going to explore some of the most common signs of spiritual awakening to help you identify and understand this transformative process. The 2 main types of spiritual awakening There are two schools of thought in the realm of spiritual awakening in eastern traditions. Gradual enlightenment and sudden enlightenment. Awakening can and should be talked about from multiple angles since different religious and cultural traditions define awakening in different ways. In fact, the two schools of thought often go head to head in debate. For that reason we’ll look at both here. Sudden Enlightenment The idea of a sudden enlightenment comes from the Zen tradition in Buddhism. The word used to describe this is Subitism, which means sudden awakening. This is the idea that pops into our mind when we think of awakening. The one moment when the universe blesses us with divine wisdom and we merge with the cosmos and feel oneness with everything! …apparently. This idea of complete enlightenment in one moment is more a fantasy than reality. The truth is that you might have multiple minor awakenings over the course of your spiritual journey. Though they may feel profound at the time, they are most likely temporary. Gradual Awakening Tibetan Buddhism, which is noted as the original Buddhist path, follows the notion of gradual awakening. The original dharmic path involves gradually following a step by step path to gain higher consciousness which could potentially take eons over the course of multiple lifetimes. Gradual enlightenment refers to a process of spiritual growth and awakening that occurs gradually over time through consistent spiritual practice and self-reflection. Both together The reality is that both are true in their own way. Gradual and sudden awakening happen simultaneously. You should commit yourself to a slow growth process in your spiritual journey, reflecting and practicing everyday. However, if you’re serious about the spiritual path you will have moments of sudden awakening. These enlightening moments are profound bursts of insight, awareness, or wisdom. It is not a book knowledge you learn, rather it is a profound experience that appears in your awareness. Although these moments of awakening don’t last forever, they leave you one step closer to the divine. Multiple sudden awakenings are a key part of the gradual path and it’s important to reflect on and integrate awakening experiences into your life after a profound enlightenment. > discover what stage of awakening you’re in with our “Spiritual Awakening Quiz” The signs of spiritual awakening 1. You’ve had an awakening experience before If you’ve had an awakening experience in the past, this is a great sign that you’re beginning to wake up. The truth is that the awakening process includes a cycle between waking up and falling asleep again. Some days you might feel your consciousness expanding and others you feel miserable and cut off from the universe. The good news is, if you’ve ever had an awakening before you’ll likely have another in the future. The path to waking up will include many peaks, valleys, and awakenings along the way. 2. Disconnection from materialistic values and social norms During spiritual awakening, an individual may question their previous beliefs about success, happiness, and material wealth and begin to see these as less important in the larger scheme of things. You may have a growing detachment from the beliefs and values that have been imposed by society and shift towards a more inward and subjective understanding of reality. 3. You have increased intuition As you awaken, you may experience an increased sense of intuition. This can take the form of vivid dreams, inner guidance, or a heightened sense of knowing. This inner guidance comes from a growing connection with your true nature. The closer you get to your divine nature, the more its force will guide you. You begin to trust and follow your gut more, listening to the subtle messages you receive from your mind and body. This intuition can provide us with valuable insights and guidance as we navigate life, helping us to make decisions with added clarity and confidence. 4. You notice your perspective shifting Spiritual awakening often leads to a shift in perspective, causing us to see the world in a different light. This shift can lead to a greater appreciation for life’s simple pleasures, a deeper understanding of our own thoughts and emotions, and a greater sense of gratitude and joy. During the process of waking up, your perspective will change many times. Things you once took for granted become peculiar and things you once found important may seem unimportant to you later in your journey. As your awareness grows you may start to see the bigger picture, fitting observations and ideas into a bigger more divine paradigm like puzzle pieces fit into an infinite puzzle. 5. Dissociation from your body This one may sound strange, but you may start to disassociate from your body as your sense of self grows. As you awaken you may start to realize that reality isn’t quite as it seems. One major awakening you can have during your spiritual journey is that you are not your body. It’s possible to disidentify with your human form and identify with the greater divinity of the universe. As you draw closer to awakening and this mergence with the universe, you may start to feel dissociated from your body. You may also start to feel like you are observing a body or observing this human you call “yourself” or “me”. 6. You feel more at peace

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