Lesson #1
1. Does the story of Siddhartha Guatama, particularly in the years before he became the Buddha, ring true? Is it legend or hearsay? Does it matter?
The story of Siddhartha Guatama maybe true however it does not matter. The legend shows how a young man searching for more. With his mind of curiosity and a knowing that there is more to explore. The legend shows that a prince who has all the prized material possessions know he was missing something. The courage to step away from the material wealth and comfort that it provides daily in search for what is missing. As the prince steps out of his comfort zone to explore he finds difference and suffering by many.
The legend symbolizes the life we may live today. It shows the distractions we have during our life that may take us away from enlightenment. For some we may know that there is more to life however do not have the teachings, confidence to pursue and then left with the emptiness. On a personal note this legend inspires me to explore a better way of living.
2. What does enlightenment mean to you?
Enlightenment is one of those concepts that is so nebulous that it is challenging to define. The definition of enlightenment from the dictionary is a state of giving intellect or spiritual knowledge. It is a condition that revelation brings to the believer who have striven for its attainment having a pure intellect and sense of knowing.
What enlightenment means to me is a state that we can flow through. It is not a state that stays with us. It is a fleeting moment that changes you in the most profound way. It is like a switch that shines just for the moment to add more light on life, the outcome may be a new way we view our life and world.
Then enlightenment is to be responsible for creating what you want in your life. The limitations that we feel to attaining our enlightenment are from our own thinking. We are self-imposed by our belief system that may limit us to the life we want to live. To attain enlightenment is to realise that we create our own limitations in our mind and accept that we are not perfect. It is through enlightenment that we can accept where we are, knowing that we have created this for some reason and through exploration of the limitation that has been placed by us. If we push against the life created and resist we will be more trapped by it and experience it even more of it in our life. All too often we perpetuate our pain, keep it alive by replaying our hurts over and over again in our mind. Magnifying our injustices in the process. We repeat our painful memories with the unconscious wish perhaps that somehow it will change the situation - but it never does.
Unhappiness comes to each of us because we think ourselves at the centre of the world. Unhappiness is feeling trapped in our own skin and trapped in our own brain. The Dalai Lama speaks that it is important of accepting suffering as a natural fact of human existence. What type of future will come about to a large extent, lies within our own hands in the present. Our life will be determined by the kind of initiatives that we take now. Enlightenment is to see what is, love and embrace it, and work through it.
3. Do you believe that enlightenment is possible? Is there more than one way to be enlightened? If so, what?
I believe enlightenment is a thinking of a higher type of concentration and knowing. The mind can be conditioned and trained to attain this state with clear intentionality. It is a training to cultivate happiness and a genuine inner transformation by deliberately selecting and focusing on positive mental states and challenging negative mental states. The ultimate objective is for one to know life, understand this world and to see through its limitations with greatest of acceptance. Enlightenment requires a tremendous capacity to knowing without attachment to the goal. It is also requires a tremendous dedication to dedicate ourselves without ego to this highest state. It requires a correct type of perception, deepest acceptance and philosophy to attain this highest state. It is a journey.
Rosie Davoli
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