| Many people has the notion that enlightenment is one | | | | However such an experience can only be classified as |
| state. Many also believe that when it is attained, a | | | | an awakening to the true self.. which is no-self. This is |
| person is forever in that state. | | | | because, after the meditation, the Presence seems to |
| The following is not a definitive article on this subject. It | | | | have disappeared. One cannot understand and find the |
| is just an expression of my own thoughts. | | | | connection of presence to our everyday life. |
| My opinion is that enlightenment is not just one state | | | | Therefore one will have difficulty re-acquiring the |
| but is a progressive and gradual establishing of states | | | | Presence. And it takes many stages and series of |
| of consciousness. | | | | realisation to understand the relationship of Presence |
| I, myself have not reach the end of the road. But from | | | | to our phenomenal world. It can be said that the |
| years on a spiritual quest, I can safely say that | | | | prolonged sustaining of Presence is dependent on the |
| enlightenment happens in a series or stages of | | | | stages and depth of realisation. |
| self-realisations and self-discoveries. | | | | Also, during the earlier stages we may mistaken |
| Usually there is a difference between an initial | | | | another state to be the pure presence. For example, |
| awakening and a later stabilisation of that stage that | | | | we may mistaken 'I AM' for pure presence. This is |
| happens through practice or experiences. The initial | | | | because the thinking mind has created a reflective |
| awakenings are new discoveries about the dynamics | | | | image of Pure Presence. This reflection of the |
| of consciousness, while the stabilisation is the | | | | absolute is 'I AM'. |
| assimilation of what is being discovered into one's life | | | | Usually, in order to pass through the 'I AM' stage, the |
| experience. Sometimes, a new discovery can | | | | person must move unto even deeper understandings. |
| completely over-rule or modify upon an older one. | | | | These understandings may include realising that one's |
| Almost all stages of enlightenment can be said to be | | | | personality is not the doer of action. This stage may |
| associated with Presence. However, the enlightening | | | | persist for a while before the person realises the |
| Presence comes in various degrees of intensity and | | | | illusion of subject-object division. This stage involves |
| clarity. The degree of intensity is directly dependent on | | | | recognising the hypnotic impression of there being an |
| the level and depth of one's clarity as well as one's | | | | observer and the being observed. Here is where one |
| realisations/discoveries. | | | | begins to see through the illusionary nature of our |
| Also, as one progresses along, the relationship or | | | | phenomenal world. |
| connections of oneself to the universe and existence | | | | I cannot comment on the stages before me as they |
| at large also becomes clearer. | | | | are beyond me. Nevertheless, one can still see from |
| Below very briefly illustrates the progressive and | | | | the above description that enlightenment is not so |
| stage-based nature of enlightenment: | | | | straight-forward after all. |
| When one first begin meditating, one may first | | | | For your necessary discernment. Thank you for |
| experience the all-pervading Presence. This Presence, | | | | reading. |
| is most often experienced when thoughts are | | | | The author runs 2 sites: Dream Datum self growth |
| momentarily suspended. This Presence which exists in | | | | resources and Idea Cosmo. |
| the Eternal Present Moment is our true self. | | | | |