What does the word enlightenment mean to you?

Question

There seems to be so many different interpretations of what enlightenment is so I was curious to see what others thought it might mean.

Have you or anyone you've known claimed enlightenment?

Answer 1

I think I know "enlightened" people, which means to me are on the right path.

Answer 2

Heightened awareness beyond the average person.

Answer 3

I'm a free thinker leaning towards buddhism so, enlightenment only has been attained after diminishing all attachments and bad desires. Having a pure mind and total understanding. I think it's complicated. And my knowledge is very limited. The Buddha is an enlightened one. :D

Answer 4

lots of people claim it. few own it. to me, enlightenment is the state of being that occurs when your particular energy vibration moves from the lower frequencies of dense physical relationships, in which being, awareness and consciousness are severely limited and myopic, to the higher frequency vibrations associated with an expanding and embracing being, awareness and consciousness. to me, it's the difference between a rock lying lodged in the ground and the sky.

Answer 5

Being right, despite the beliefs of those around you, is enlightenment.

Answer 6

I have known people who claimed enlightenment, but I think it is a rather silly claim.  If your intentions are good and sincere, that is the best you can do.  If you have more than that, it is only by grace.

Answer 7

I have known people who seemed to be much more aware (or whatever you want to call it) than most of the rest of us.  These people seemed to be able to know things that the rest of us didn't, and they also usually approached life's problems from a different point of view.  I've also had some limited experiences with so-called altered states of awareness through using mind-altering substances, meditation, etc.  These experiences and the people I've known have at least given me the reality that higher states of consciousness do exist, and, at the very minimum, it's possible to visit them, or, in the case of the Buddha, to maybe live in them all the time.