Letting Go Of Enlightenment

Like all things, the more you study and practice the better results you will get. In the initial stages the more complex and deeper teachings are best avoided, after all if you were beginning Karate you wouldn't want to be full contact sparring with a black belt on your first lesson would you? The effects of getting ahead of yourself can be detrimental and lead to confusion and frustration. If you want to start learning about Buddhism then try to be humble and start at the beginning with the eight fold path and the four noble truths. Simply apply these ethics to your life and meditated on them, you will soon start to see the benefits. Try meditating alone or with a group and don't push yourself too hard or expect too much, it can be very challenging at first. You just need to practice quietening the mind at first, that is all.

 

Buddha taught that each of us is responsible for our own salvation and should make the effort ourselves to attain it. The Buddha positively encouraged the questioning of his teachings. A kind of try before you buy scheme. Adopt and practice the teachings that resonate and work for you and discard the ones that don't.

All too often people talk about reaching nirvana and spiritual enlightenment. The danger here is that it gives  us the idea that these things are only attainable to a chosen few, and its almost not worth the bother. That is not true. The greatest benefits can result from the smallest things.

Harmony and Balance in Simplicity

Every human on the planet is capable of reaching an enlightened state or at least achieving greater happiness and well-being. Enlightened could simply mean carrying less baggage.

If when we commence our spiritual journey our hearts and minds are set on the ultimate goal of enlightenment, then I'm afraid it can only lead to over expectation and disappointment early on and discourage the continuation of any practice. Letting go of that desire is the general advice given by all great teachers. After all who can really define enlightenment? It is often said that only those who don't know talk about it, and those who know are silent. 
The Buddha wasn't asking us to search for enlightenment at all costs but merely to develop the awareness of ourselves and nurture loving compassion.   

The smallest things like getting into the moment and feeling the temperature of the water when you are washing up can bring you into a more awakened and present state of mind. Within these simple moments lay the truth of life; as it is.