This Is My Definition of Enlightenment

[Natasha Tori Maru]

Never fear earnest expression, with all our own personal unique character and flavour

No need for pedantic correctness.

There are no true mistakes.

Especially in writing. There are some rules, sure. But I think we would all prefer the unfiltered words.

[Willy Phallicus]

13 hours ago, Cathy92506 said:

You still fall down—but you don’t get lost

Yep, that's pretty much it.  You still play the game (what choice do you really have) but you're no longer attached. 

Every once in a while you get some "downloads" that remind you of who you truly are and that everything is gonna be okay.  More than okay.

[Cathy92506]

3 hours ago, GodisOne said:

What you're describing is a mental transformation--a change in your relationship to your thoughts. This is all in the world of relativity.

Enlightenment is the dissolution of relativity back into the Absolute. With that, it's revealed that This is just the Absolute appearing as the relative. 

For more, read about/watch radical nonduality (Jim Newman, Kenneth Madden, Alexis Knight, etc..).

Again, I get what you're pointing to. But how would that actually show up in everyday life?

Give me some concrete examples of "before and after." In normal life, like work and relationships.

[Cathy92506]

3 hours ago, Ziran said:

You've mentioned relationships twice.  You're answering your own question.  

After enlightenment, carrying water and chopping wood possesses eternal significance, if not, the enlightened wouldn't choose to do it. 

I see what you’re pointing to.

I’m describing a change in how the mind relates to experience.

When you say that everyday actions have “eternal significance,” I’m not sure what that means in direct experience. Is that something actually felt in the moment, or more a way of describing it afterward?

For example:
Before Enlightenment: "I mow the lawn and build an emotional story around it.
After Enlightenment: "I mow the lawn, those thoughts may still come up, but I’m not identified with them."

How would “eternal significance” show up there—while mowing the lawn?

 

[Cathy92506]

3 hours ago, cistanche_enjoyer said:

Enlightenment = capacity for loving everything infinitely.

You start by loving yourself, then your friends, family, coworkers, enemies, nazis, christians, etc.; when you can fully love everything, that’s enlightenment.

When you say “love everything,” do you mean a feeling, an attitude, or behavior?

I’m trying to understand how that would actually show up moment-to-moment.

[Breakingthewall]

6 hours ago, Cathy92506 said:

So you disagree with the definition I stated in my post?

Not, your definition explains how your identity no longer needs constant maintenance, which is true,

mental activity is no longer oriented towards identity but towards perception and understanding. The difference is total. The anxiety disappears.

6 hours ago, Cathy92506 said:

You know, that sounds poetic, nice and beautiful. But how would that actually show up in everyday life?

For example, at work, in relationships, stress from driving, etc. What's different?

Obviously, driving a car is the same, you press the accelerator and all that 😅. But it completely changes your mental frequency. Your mind doesn't operate in a state of seeking and lack, but rather recognizes itself for what it is, and is everything within itself.

It ceases to be a timeline and becomes a depth. Before, it clung to identity because it was closed, isolated, and that's impossible to bear; something to hold onto is necessary. Once the mind opens, it perceives itself in its true nature. Not as infinite, present, creative, etc. Those are qualities, adjectives, definitions.

But as what it is: the Tao, the Source, that which is nameless because names arise from it. The absolute reality that generates everything. The unfathomable that it is. The total being that it is because it has no bottom or edges, and in being, it is everything. Sat Chit Ananda, the prodigal son, was traveling in a shitty, arid, dead, hostile desert for so long, and finally he is back home, where life and death are indistinguishable. 

Edited 2 hours ago by Breakingthewall

[Cathy92506]

33 minutes ago, Breakingthewall said:

Not, your definition explains how your identity no longer needs constant maintenance, which is true,

mental activity is no longer oriented towards identity but towards perception and understanding. The difference is total. The anxiety disappears.

Obviously, driving a car is the same, you press the accelerator and all that 😅. But it completely changes your mental frequency. Your mind doesn't operate in a state of seeking and lack, but rather recognizes itself for what it is, and is everything within itself.

It ceases to be a timeline and becomes a depth. Before, it clung to identity because it was closed, isolated, and that's impossible to bear; something to hold onto is necessary. Once the mind opens, it perceives itself in its true nature. Not as infinite, present, creative, etc. Those are qualities, adjectives, definitions.

But as what it is: the Tao, the Source, that which is nameless because names arise from it. The absolute reality that generates everything. The unfathomable that it is. The total being that it is because it has no bottom or edges, and in being, it is everything. Sat Chit Ananda, the prodigal son, was traveling in a shitty, arid, dead, hostile desert for so long, and finally he is back home, where life and death are indistinguishable. 

I think the part about the mind no longer being oriented around identity makes sense to me because that would naturally reduce anxiety.

When you describe it as a change in “mental frequency” or “depth,” I’m still trying to understand what that feels like in a simple situation.

For example, if you're driving and someone cuts you off, if you're no longer identified with your thoughts, there might still be a burst of anger, but you don’t build a story around it.

What would a change in “mental frequency” look like in that same moment?

[cistanche_enjoyer]

4 hours ago, Cathy92506 said:

When you say “love everything,” do you mean a feeling, an attitude, or behavior?

It’s hard to explain Love or put it into words. Try to remember the last time you were in love: you didn’t have to explain it, you just KNEW!

Now imagine expanding that to infinity, and you may get a glimpse  

[Consilience]

21 hours ago, Cathy92506 said:

Before enlightenment: chop wood, carry water.
After enlightenment: chop wood, carry water.

What changes is your relationship to your thoughts and emotions.
They still arise, but you’re no longer automatically identified with them. You’re not building an identity or a story around every feeling.

There’s a natural sense of presence—of being here—without needing to control the mind.

You’re still human. You still fall down—but you don’t get lost in it the same way, and you get back up.

Life stays ordinary.
The circumstances don’t transform.
The shift is internal — in how you relate to the voice in your head.
***
PLEASE CRITICIZE, ADD, DELETE, OR WHATEVER.

What changes is the spontaneous self-recognition of the nature of reality/mind/awareness/consciousness/God

Which then: 
"changes is your relationship to your thoughts and emotions"
"still arise, but you’re no longer automatically identified with them. You’re not building an identity or a story around every feeling."
"

There’s a natural sense of presence—of being here—without needing to control the mind.

You’re still human. You still fall down—but you don’t get lost in it the same way, and you get back up.

Life stays ordinary.
The circumstances don’t transform.
The shift is internal — in how you relate to the voice in your head."

Basically everything you mentioned is true, but without the actual "aha" moment of recognizing what's absolutely true, all of what you said can be achieved with metacognition from normal meditation. 

I'd recommend checking out Peter Ralston's definition of enlightenment. 

[moonawakening444]

8 hours ago, cistanche_enjoyer said:

Enlightenment = capacity for loving everything infinitely.

You start by loving yourself, then your friends, family, coworkers, enemies, nazis, christians, etc.; when you can fully love everything, that’s enlightenment.

🤌🙏