Enlightenment is defined as “complete understanding of a situation.” The phrase is most usually used to refer to the Age of Enlightenment, although it is also employed in a religious sense in Western cultures. It covers a variety of Buddhist words and concepts, including bodhi, kensho, and satori. In Hinduism, kaivalya and moksha (freedom), Kevala Jnana in Jainism, and ushta in Zoroastrianism are related words.
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The term “enlightenment” is rarely used in Christianity, except to refer to the Age of Enlightenment and its impact on Christianity. In Christianity, concepts like enlightenment, kenosis, metanoia, revelation, redemption, theosis, and conversion are roughly identical.
Enlightenment and mysticism are used interchangeably by perennialists and universalists to describe religious or spiritual knowledge.
What does spiritual enlightenment feel like?
Spiritual enlightenment, also known as self-realization, frees you from the hedonic treadmill. Because you finally find the completion or ultimate fulfillment you've been looking for. Suddenly, psychological time comes to a halt. You're no longer looking forward to the future. As a result, neither worldly fulfillment nor enlightenment are your goals. Because every search is looking for something that will happen in the future. The past and future collide in the present as a result of self-realization. You don't even feel as if you've traveled all the way back in time to get there. You have the impression that you have always been there. Do you believe you can imagine yourself in this situation? You can't do it!
You also remove the psychological barriers that separate you from existence. You can usually tell the difference between being alone and being in a room with someone else. Your consciousness is stuck inside an idea of being a person or an entity that is unique from the ‘others,' and you can feel it in your bones. After self-realization, however, you no longer perceive the ‘other' in this manner! The psychological barrier that separates you from the other crumbles and dissolves, immersing you in a sea of oneness. This is referred to as God's oneness.
It's as if the world and your life are a movie, and you're just playing your part without even realizing it (as a person or an entity). In reality, rather than being an experiential identifier of your body and mind, the word “I” has become a point of reference. You no longer feel like a character in a life story who is personally experiencing it.
When you haven't discovered it yet, it may appear to be tedious, but it is actually incredibly satisfying, similar to how you feel at the finish of a movie. You don't lament the end of a movie; similarly, enlightenment isn't something that will appear out of nowhere in your life. It happens as a natural reaction to the end of the game or the end of the drama.
How do you feel now that you've taken off a tight shoe that's been hurting your toes for the previous three hours while you've been walking? The notion of a distinct self is like a tight shoe that puts a lot of strain on you. You aren't aware of it because it has been your way of life since the beginning. But it's only when the pressure is gone that you realize how much stress, strain, and weight you were under. You now have the feeling of being a free bird.
When someone who is free tries to express it, however, words can undoubtedly betray the true meaning intended. This is incredible!
You have a light inside of you. Simply follow it, walk where it leads, and one day you will discover the source of the light.
Seven-fold logic, also known as saptangivada, is a particular type of logic that is used when discussing such delicate issues. You may find out more about it here: An Overview of Anekantavada, Saptabhangivada (Seven Valued Logic), and Syadvada of Jainism's Logic and Spiritual Enlightenment
If you're looking for information, I've put together a guide with a series of articles: A Spiritual Enlightenment Handbook
What is an enlightened soul?
A person is said to attain this moment of “waking” in life when they have a new feeling of being in this world, which is sometimes referred to as bliss, nirvana, or simply enlightenment.
Shannon Kaiser, a spiritual author, explains what it means to be “spiritually awakened.” She declares:
“Spiritual awakenings can happen on their own, but most are brought on by major life changes or traumas like life-threatening illnesses, car accidents, divorces, war, pandemics, quarter-life or midlife crises, mental health crises like clinical depression or anxiety, or even a near-death experience.”
If you've ever experienced a life-changing incident that helped you grow into the best version of yourself, you're probably an enlightened soul.
How do you recognize a spiritual person?
The first evidence of a spiritual person is their lack of fear. When you have a fear or a chronic worry, that fear takes over your life and you are unable to be in the present moment. Fear of public speaking, fear of heights, and fear of bugs are the three most common fears among Americans. Many people, however, are terrified of death, rejection, loneliness, failure, illness, or making poor judgments. Spiritual people understand how to yield to forces beyond their control. In this way, they are similar to children in that they know how to ignore their minds and live fearlessly.