I had wanted to share a short story from a book a recently read called the peaceful warrior, he had quoted an Indian folktale and it was about "Enlightenment" which I thought captured the idea in a great way.

"Milarepa had searched everywhere for enlightenment, but could find no answer - untill one day, he saw an old man walking slowly down a mountain path, carrying a heavy sack. Immediatly, Milarepa sensed that this old man knew the secret he had been desperately seeking for many years.
"'Old man, please tell me what you know. What is enlighenment?'
"The old man smiled at him for a moment, and swung the heavy burden off his shoulders, and stood straight.
"'Yes, I see! cried Milarepa. 'My everlasting gratitude. But please one question more. What is after enlightment?'
"Smiling again, the old man picked up the sack once again, slung it over his shoulders, steadied his buden, and continued on his way."

So if anybody else has some short storys or anything of the sort about enlightment and what not post them here and lets get a discussion going on :ph43r:

Seeker,

This is a great idea. First things first. Enlightenment means many things to many people. What does Enlightenment mean to you?

Nisargadatta would have said; Enlightenment is not something that may happen to you sometime in the future. You are enlightened now, but just don't know it. You do not know who you truly are. Find out who you are, and discover Enlightenment.

In Theosophical terms, it is about discovering the higher self, and aligning the will of the lower with that of the higher.

Enlightenment to me would be basically, Knowledge.
The knowledge that you are so much more than what you now think you are.
The realization that we are God-like, we have the ability to evolve if you would into a being that is in tune with himself, nature and the universe. Knowing that the only seperation is in our mind. We ARE "gods" right now we have not unlocked our true potential because of our mind. It is such a powerfull thing our mind, we have been conditioned to believe that "god" in un-attainable and that we should be his servants and on the basis of good behaviour we MIGHT be welcomed in his kingdom. We have powers for lack of a better word right now. Im sure you have all heard of the miracle people who beat cancer or a serious injury because they "just believed" that they would get better, we have the power the heal ourselves if we just belived without a shred of doubt that we can.

Enlightenment therefore, is one step okay well maybe a few steps more than that
wholeheartedly believing scatch that KNOWING that we have limitless potential the only barrier's are the ones we put up with our mind.

Seeker,

It is fun to look at all the different ideas of what Enlightenment really is. Zen Buddhists think Enlightenment is merely a frame of mind. Anyone can do it, if they just get themselves into the right frame of mind. (I disagree with such an idea.)

Theosophy teaches us that there are different Planes of Existence, which can also be thought of as levels of consciousness. For example, Theosophy says there is an Astral Plane, and we can be conscious on the Astral Plane (and not be conscious on the Physical Plane) while we are asleep (and astrally traveling while we are asleep). We see the Astral Plane as a higher level of consiousness (or level of existence) than the Physical Plane.

Theosophy teaches that there is a higher plane called the Nirvanic Plane of consciousness, which is higher than both the Astral and Mental Planes. (The Nirvana Plane is also called the Atma Plane of Existence.) I think that achieving Enlightenment would mean becoming able to be conscious on the Nirvanic Plane.

It is also fascinating to consider the idea that Enlightenment and Nirvana are different. (Most people see them as the same, I think.) It is a key Theosophical concept that people could achieve Enligtenment, yet refuse to enter Nirvana at that time, and stay on Earth.