6 Steps to Attain Enlightenment

What is enlightenment?

This is a question that has been mulled over for centuries, and one that has a thousand differing answers. Looking to the dictionary, we define “enlightenment” as being freed from ignorance or misinformation, and having a full comprehension of reality. At its core, though, this question really asks, “What is the best way to live?”

Western views of enlightenment usually involve an understanding of the sciences, of the verifiable facts of the world as discovered through empirical research. Specifically, the word refers to a stage of cultural growth experienced in the 18th century, in which an intellectual movement focused on reason as a primary source of authenticity swept through Europe.

The Buddhist view of enlightenment is different, and much harder to define, as it is not something easily understood before attaining it. It is, in short, an awakening to our fundamental nature—seeing ourselves and our surroundings as they truly are, without the lens of our preconceived notions. It is a letting go of the “self”.

It is important to give due attention to both brands of enlightenment—the Buddhist flavor is one that is often overlooked in our busy, practical, and “I” centered culture. Let’s take a look at 6 steps you can take to help you begin your journey toward Buddhist enlightenment.

Realize What Enlightenment is Not

Buddhist enlightenment is not “a preexistent human ideal that is fixed and unchanging for all human beings in all times,” as Dale S. Wright writes in his book, “What is Buddhist Enlightenment?”.

Buddhism was founded on the idea that all things are impermanent, and that all things are interdependent. Here, it is the impermanence that must be emphasized.

Human nature changes. As culture, interests, and needs change, so will the idea of what is admirable, of what is good in life. Enlightenment is not fixed. What was enlightenment a thousand years ago, is not the enlightenment of today.

Enlightenment is also not supernatural, and the way toward it will not grant omniscience or even a perspective that is wholly separate from the finite self. An “otherworldly image of excellence,” as Wright puts it, sets the idea of enlightenment upon an unreachable pedestal, and will discourage you from the path.

Realize that enlightenment is attainable, and that the way toward it is personal.

Right Understanding

Why do we suffer? Is it because of our environment? The people around us?

Not entirely.

It is our response to that which surrounds us that often defines the degree of our suffering. We become attached to certain ideas—things like our love of youth, material possessions, power, and fame. We base our self-worth on pre-built cultural systems which tell us how we should look, how strong we should be, and what we should own.

One of the benefits of striving for enlightenment is that these things are revealed for what they are—artificial constructs that have no inherent meaning. When we understand the truth about the nature of suffering through a correct understanding of reality, we’re able to create the conditions and mindset to transcend suffering as much as humanly possible.

Why allow your desires to cause you undue suffering? The distance between what we have and what we want is often the source of our unhappiness and stress. Our achievement-oriented culture would tell us differently, that we can only achieve true happiness by sacrificing everything to the altar of success.

But that’s not true. Freedom from craving, delusion, and hatred is where true peace lies, and that is the goal of enlightenment.

Right Mindfulness

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One of the first steps toward enlightenment is to become aware of your thoughts, words, and actions. Mindfulness is an intentional awareness of what we are thinking and doing in the present moment, without passing judgment on these thoughts and actions. In Buddhism, this is a prerequisite for the development of wisdom, and can take the form of meditation.

With right mindfulness, we are able to become aware of our true nature, and we become able to deal with our thoughts and movements from a place of detached peace and understanding, apart from our preconceived notions and judgments.

Practicing mindfulness isn’t limited to common meditative postures—you can do it anywhere. Simply focus on the moment, and observe your mind’s inner monologue. Focus on the sensation of your feet upon the ground, of the air against your face.

Practice this, and you’ll take your first step along the path to enlightenment.

Right Speech

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The path to enlightenment is paved not only with self-awareness, but with self-control.

Abstaining from lying, abusive speech, meaningless chatter, and divisive words make up the concept of right speech. Lying, especially, is destructive, as it goes against one of the core principles of enlightenment—to see the world as it truly is.

Make every effort to do no harm to yourself, or to others, in your speech. Be polite, and allow your words to be soothing, to bridges rather than walls. Let your words be connected with the goal of enlightenment.

That which we communicate, and how we communicate it, reveals what is in our hearts, and negativity reveals a heart still torn by hatred and cravings—both of which are fueled by those presuppositions we should be attempting to shed.

Thanks to social media, it is easier than ever to spread suffering through our speech to a large number of people. Do your best to refrain from this. Remember the goal—the alleviation of suffering. Do not inflict upon others that which you wish to avoid, yourself.

Right Effort

Right effort is as simple and as difficult as actively developing wholesome qualities within yourself while releasing unwholesome ones.

Being self-aware through mindfulness allows us to examine our thought processes from a distance, a technique we can use to pick out negative qualities that do us, and others, harm—greed, anger, ignorance, and other similar attributes.

Mindfulness also allows us to cultivate good qualities that are conducive to peace and happiness, such as generosity, kindness, and wisdom.

You can do this by simply recognizing your negative mental habits and redirecting them before they exhibit themselves as actions. Do you become angry when you’re stuck in traffic? Redirect your thoughts to how thankful you are for a longer period of contemplation and peace in your vehicle. There’s nothing you can do to go any faster. Release your need to move through traffic, and embrace the happiness that comes with that release.

Practice this, and you’ll soon find that you’re changing as a person for the better.

Right Action

Ultimately, your right effort will lead to right action.

Just as right speech means doing no harm through communication, right action entails ethical conduct. In this context, “right” does not mean a rigid set of rules in which one thing is correct and another is not. To act “rightly” means to act without selfish attachment to our own agenda. It means not causing discord and suffering. “Right” actions come from a place of compassion, from a sense of “we” rather than “they”.

Not only wanting to free others from suffering, but actively pursuing this end is the mark of someone who is on the path to enlightenment. When we understand our true nature—that we are all one, all interconnected—we understand that the suffering of one is the suffering of all. Ask not for whom the bell of death and suffering tolls, as John Donne said, because, indeed, it tolls for thee.