Why Enlightenment is Overrated (and what to aim for instead)

[@George-Thompson]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I appreciated it! I know that there are lots of different ways to understand Enlightenment. In this video I follow Goenka's understanding (which is different to my own and many of you). A quote from Goenka: "wisdom purifies the mind; wisdom leads to nibbāna, liberation from all impurities, full enlightenment." I personally prefer Thich Nhat Hanh's understanding: "Enlightenment is when a wave realises it is water" - that feeling of connection, of unity. Rather than "liberation from all impurities"

[@richardn.bailey9258]

Just watched a video by Rupert Spira about enlightenment in which essentially he says the same as Thich Nhat Hanh, that is, enlightment is the awareness of your true nature. Understanding it intelectually is the easy part, feeling it is another matter. By the way, I enjoy your videos very much and share many of your daoist views. Been practicing qi gong and Tai Chi for many years. Balance, and harmony that comes with it, are essential. Wishing you the best. .

[@pablorivera376]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWPcep56i9hjmaM

[@neliaggoncalves]

Osho shared with us that anything that we do can be meditative if we are fully present in what we are doing. Clean the house can be a meditation, running, swimming, etc doesn't matter what we do, just be present

[@George-Thompson]

Yes I like it!

[@medounelo4417]

Those moments should actually help you with meditation even more than when sitting in one place… (or maybe it depends on people) me… I find it hard to stay in the present moment when “not doing anything” I’m either in the future or in the past. But when I’m doing simple things like that it’s like my candle to focus on. I have a strong ability to lock in the moment and just eat it like ice cream… I can’t describe it any other way… just feels good…

[@larsstougaard7097]

Sitting in peace in nature being in the present moment is all I need 🙏 😌 ✨️

[@willieluncheonette5843]

His words are golden.

[@hansburch3700]

Es ist unwichtig und sonst eine Irrlehre.

[@mdubb4855]

You've matured a lot and become a powerful speaker in just a few years. Keep up the good work.

[@freelancebythebay]

Ditto! 🌞

[@ErraticFaith]

Just a pity that he has the understanding of a 3 year old Chinese when it comes to Buddhism and Enlightenment. My colleagues in Tibet, would be horrified by this take on the belief.

[@tsaiflol]

Hi George, I really appreciate you sharing wisdom in such an accessible way! I really connect to the resistance you seem to feel at the striving for "enlightenment" in the form "perfection", liberation from all impurities, because this seems to be a very unhealthy and unkind (towards ourselves) way to navigate life. I really agree with you that imperfections and oscillations are to be accepted as they are part of life and of being human. Yet I think it is just as much part of being human to strive towards Unity with the Dao, God, Brahman, Nothingness or whatever one might wish to call it. In this sense, I think we need both the wisdom and the strategies that you share that help us to navigate life in its imperfection, but I still think this is only the case until we manage to reach this final goal of Unity, in which any separateness, any sense of duality and self is erased into the Nothingness. So, in a sense, there are two parts to this: the Path and the Goal. While those two are not really separate as the Path leads to the Goal, and, inevitably, everything you do on that Path, whether you realize it or not, whether you believe in the Goal or not, is bringing you close to the Goal, what you seem to propose is that the Path IS the Goal, that navigating through the constant oscillations in the Path is all there is, while I believe that ultimately, there is another Reality where all oscillations have ceased, and I believe that is the true Goal. So, yes, we need to know how to handle and love and show compassion towards all forms of oscillations while we are still on the Path and this video is really helpful for this part, but I think we should not forget that there is an ultimate Goal beyond the Path. I am really curious to read what you think about this - you share Thich Nhat Hanh's understanding of Enlightenment in the comments which I totally agree with, but maybe we understand it differently, because to me it means a cessation of oscillations and a completely still Unity with the All, whereas the way I understood your video is that you disagree that a cessation of the oscillations is in any way worth pursuing. Thank you for stimulating my heart and mind this morning to delve deeper into both yours and mine understanding of Enlightenment and thank you for the wisdom you share on your channel that has been immensely helpful on my journey, I am excited for your answer! Warmly, Valentin

[@SirBoden]

Enlightenment does not bring relief from suffering it brings understanding and contentment. To see life as it really is connected separated only by time. when you see this you love everything every animal every tree every plant every person All are a tiny part of the whole Look at what you are made of At the cellular level We are made of billions of living things All working together to keep life going Extrapolate this out as we are only a tiny part of life Much love everyone

[@JT-jy2sy]

You hit the nail on the head. Enlightenment = no suffering is a simplified explanation. An enlightened person sees things as it is and none judge mental. Even the Buddha could not escape sickness and death. His body suffered like you and I but how he saw it and reacted to it defined him an enlightened being.

[@jallen911]

I think a big part of the problem people have with “enlightenment” lies in the fact there’s a lot of misunderstanding about what enlightenment/awakening actually means. Enlightenment is actually very simple. It only appears to be so hard because we “think” it’s something we can only “attain” through practicing as if it’s something to be achieved, when in reality it is just awakening to our true nature. It’s the awareness of our true self, absent of thought and ideas, which can only ever be found in the present moment.

[@lifebydesign9435]

Yep

[@the11382]

Fundamentally, enlightenment still means "chop wood and carry water". I realized enlightenment wasn't going to solve the problems I was facing.

[@SDOslo]

I'm loving this subtly sassy, independent-thinking take. Keep up the fabulous work George ❤

[@George-Thompson]

😆💆🙏

[@MarkMosher]

I agree completely. More like this George. Out of all your videos, this one really resonated the most with me and helped guide me to think more about Harmony vs simply purssing enlightenment. Thanks for that!

[@s10m0t10n]

At my time of life (late 60s), I doubt that enlightenment will come within my grasp, but Tai Chi has given me so much joy. I practice (almost) every day and use it as a kind of moving meditation, in addition to taking some time to sit quietly and just 'be'. All I really strive for is to be a better version of myself. Thank you for your videos, George.

[@hansburch3700]

Ich bin 69 Jahre alt, kein Grund auf Erleuchtung zu verzichten, es ist nur Selbst-Wesens-Schau, sein Wesen gut zu verstehen. Andere Wesen kann man gut erkennen, sein eigenes nie, das macht es etwas schwierig. Von da an weiter zu gehen, wird allerdings langwierig und herausfordernd, mehr als irgend ein Mensch sich je zugetraut hätte. Du musst Dich von unzähligen Fehlern befreien, aber einen anderen Weg gibt es nicht.

[@s10m0t10n]

@@hansburch3700 Danke für Ihre Antwort. Ich werde nicht aufgeben zu versuchen, ein besserer Mensch zu werden, obwohl es an anderen liegt, zu bestimmen, ob ich irgendwelche Fortschritte mache.

[@hansburch3700]

@@s10m0t10n Du musst kein besserer Mensch werden, sondern Dich nur von Fremden aufgezwungenen Irrtümern befreien, das kann sehr tief gehen, aber auch sehr spannend sein.

[@Billyclar]

Just like to express how grateful I am for your videos, I'm now in year 13 studying philosophy at A level and will be going on to study philosophy at uni next year! It's thanks to you that I'm so interested in and able to understand Philosophy, thank you!!!

[@George-Thompson]

Hi Billy! Awesome to hear that. Having that curiosity is going to serve you for a lifetime. Go you!

[@weonlyhavenow]

Thank you for this. I have been listening to a lot of different opinions on enlightenment and the one thing that I question is the idea that enjoying this life in the body we are in at this time or the desire to enjoy life is something to give up. That we have to seek and attain enlightenment. Life is such a gift, Nature is such a gift. Being able to enjoy being alive in this moment is such a gift. Why spend our lives seeking a joy and enlightenment that is right here and available to us right now.

[@arlenhanson6262]

George, this is so spot on! What even is "enlightenment" anyway? Some amorphous inexplicable "perfection" of being? As my New Jersey friends say, "fuggetaboutit!". Any so called "enlightenment" that isn't grounded in the day to day reality of the right here and the right now.... There's a Zen saying: "Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water." As far as I am concerned, the only true "enlightenment" is us learning to increasingly be present with all stuff happening, all phenomena being known. And having a "beginner's mind" to keep starting over when we drift away from presence. "Chop wood and carry water.". Repeat for life. I will leave you with this quote from Leonard Cohen: "Forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."

[@etherealwave991]

Enlightenment just means to know the truth or to be aware. Being in darkness is being in ignorance. Meditation has no direct tie to enlightenment I think. Also enlightenment doesn't mean that you don't show or have emotions, it just means that you will have a proper emotional response to each scenerio.

[@LuisGutierrez-qs9rs]

"Through cultivating stillness we are able to know and appreciate who we are. It is very important to know that the human body is an absolutely necessary component in cultivating stillness and living virtuously, so be accepting of who and where you are in your life. Be accepting of the fact that you are human with a human body" - From "The Master Within", Daoist Master Wu Dang Chen

[@colinhollis1770]

Hi , I work with people who have addiction, depression and anxiety. We start by examining their historic trauma and I do a 15to20 minute body scan meditation with them, at the end they have my understanding of enlightenment when they become aware that they have the power within to change. The expression on their faces is says it all, a picture of peace and hope.

[@JM-et9kp]

Hi George, I’ve been following your content for some time. Really enjoy your videos. Hope you are well and in good health. It’s good to see that you are contemplating a lot about the path of meditation but it’s clear you have a lot misunderstandings about what enlightenment is and what it isn’t. It’s not super difficult to realise enlightenment, if you have a mind then you can transform it into the enlightened mind. Monk or not. The enlightened mind is a mind free or misinterpretations about experience. These misinterpretations create the experience of dukkha which is better translated as dis-ease instead of suffering. When the misinterpretations are seen through, the dis-ease evaporates from the mind. This is enlightenment. It is not a goal or an achievement but a removal of false perceptions. A realisation of what is actually happening not what you think is happening. You do not transcend being human, this is a misinterpretation. It’s about realising your true nature and then knowing that you are simultaneously a human and the transcendent principle, call it whatever you want i.e. the Tao, Buddha Nature, Allah, infinite consciousness. It’s a real shame if these beliefs become solidified in your mind because they will stand as a barrier to you making progress and you are very capable of realising enlightenment for yourself. There are not many who have a deep ingrained interest in meditation and the nature of life like yourself and so all you need is a push in the right direction. For a lot of advanced meditators, these vipassana retreats are not really advised. They are harmful and detrimental to progress and the health of the practitioners unless they have done hours and hours of intense meditation already. Enlightenment does not need retreats to occur. It can happen with a practice of 1 hour a day so long as you know what you’re doing. I’m not sure if you read all your comments or if you will read this one. I would be more than happy to jump on a video call and explain this in more detail if you wanted. You can reach me on instagram -@jenjikhalil Be well

[@hernanwesley]

Hi George ! I took a permaculture design course, with Geoff Lawton , a man whose teachings felt often enlighting. One thing i remember he said was that Nature isn’t perfect . It is a sum of imperfections that work together. So we can work with this imperfections in many interesting ways, with errors and observation, on ˋ`the edge of chaos´´. Your videos are cool man ! Have a nice one !

[@declanhughes9896]

I really appreciate this video! I’m always a little wary of any spiritual or philosophical school that implies that renunciation is the only path to contentment. I’m reminded of a quotes from the Tom Robbins novel Jitterbug Perfume, in which two of the main characters meet in a Buddhist monastery some 1,000+ years ago and debate religion: “If desire causes suffering, it may be because we do not desire wisely, or that we are inexpert at obtaining what we desire. Instead of hiding our heads in a prayer cloth and building walls against temptation, why not get better at fulfilling desire? Salvation is for the feeble, that's what I think. I don't want salvation, I want life, all of life, the miserable as well as the superb. If the gods would tax ecstasy, the I shall pay; however, I shall protest their taxes at each opportunity, and if Woden or Shiva or Buddha or that Christian fellow -- What's his name? -- cannot respect that, then I'll accept their wrath. At least I will have tasted the banquet that they have spread before me on this rich, round planet, rather than recoiling from it like a toothless bunny. I cannot believe that the most delicious things were placed here merely to test us, to tempt us, to make it the more difficult for us to capture the grand prize. To fashion of life such a petty game is unworthy of both men and gods.” Later in the novel, through his characters, Robbins reassesses that sentiment: “The word desire suggests that there is something we do not have. If we have everything already, then there can be no desire, for there is nothing left to want. I think that what the Buddha may have been trying to tell us is that we have it all, each of us, all the time; therefore, desire is simply unnecessary.” Personally, I oscillate between these perspectives. I think wanting something we don’t have is, as you say, a part of being human. And I’m not interested in rejecting my humanity, only learning to be fully human in a healthy way. Anyway sorry for the length of this comment and thanks for all your videos!

[@rperrin_2845]

That sounds like a great book. I'll have to get it.

[@charliemack4220]

What a lovely, thoughtful and unique take on what it means to experience being human. Thank you George.

[@troyteague9514]

Perhaps the most insightful thing I’ve ever heard from you. No insult. Just this was great. Profound! You are s as cool guy George!

[@jovisoundjourney1879]

The goal of climbing and reaching the top of a mountain is what is making us start the Journey, which it's what matters. Sometimes you will make it, sometimes it gets too hard, may be the elements will reject you. Enlightment, is indeed, highly unlikely to reach. But gives healthy purpose and drive, as long as you don't let it comand your live. Thanks George again for such an inspiring video. Was nice meeting you at Love Jam. Sending big love.

[@stefanionescuambrosie6814]

I recommend the incredible writer and thinker James Hillman, who was also opposed to our obsession with transcendence. He was really big on the human imagination in his work, especially the icky parts of our psyche. Reading him makes me glad (or even giddy) to be experiencing the full spectrum of the human experience.

[@brucefree8]

Hi George, good to see you contemplating about central concepts such as "enlightenment". It could even be said that it has been the central concept in both East and West for many centuries now. You make very good points about loosing touch with the body, the frictions and troubles of life and the imperfections - those could all be said to be "yin" in nature - when pursuing the "yang", the light of enlightenment. But the quest for enlightenment is not limited to that sphere of spirituality you are looking at. Western history is driven by the idea that with the birth of rationalism and modern science, starting in the 17th century, there was literally the beginning of the "Enlightenment period": no more surrendering to religious, superstitious and improvable powers. In short: a deemed victory over all that is perceived as "darkness". The problem with this conviction can be understood very well from the Yin Yang philosophy of harmony. If we read it in Jungian terms, which underpins this philosophy, we observe that all those things which are regarded as "useless, dangerous, stupid, backward, crazy, ..." become repressed. This happens because of rigidity, which can only occur when people are convinced they have it all figured out and can spell it out in black and white (i.e. words). The first mistake they make is of projection: they project their own darkness in things around them. They become the black sheep and ironically, objective or fair judgement is lost which is dangerous. Secondly, Jung and others have researched what happens in case of such systematic projections which lead to systematic repression: what is repressed becomes corrupt. Because it is suffocated, its behaviour changes. Although Yin can be suppressed, it cannot be eliminated, therefore, it comes back within Yang (the dot) in a most vicious way. But it won't be identified as such even as it will provoke corrupt behaviour that clearly goes against all "enlightenment" principles. Instead, this darkness will be labeled as the New Light: the New Age, the New Times, ... everything New ... and thus "better, higher, more evolved, ...". It is this foolish race towards self-destruction that can only take place when the two supreme powers, Yin and Yang, are not respected and cultivated into a true balance. In case of the West, science which sought to establish all knowledge based on rational thinking and experiments, ended up to become a power hungry worldwide network of institutions that has swirled out of control and is unable to admit its own hypocrisy as it colonises the whole world with its new dogmas. Universities are being run as businesses, and professors are managers that need to bring in the big capital. They are looked upon with awe from the public who have no inkling of what amount of corruption is happening in these institutions which have only one feedback system: from themselves. And on their road to further so-called Enlightenment, refining the Light ever more sacrifices must be made of course. The aim is too high and sacred to trip over a few details and minor inconsistencies. Isn't it interesting to see that the so-called enlightenment in the West has brought about a very similar problem as many enlightenment traditions from the East, namely: repression of the body. Yes, the impure body, the burden, which must be disciplined from a young age to be able to sit still for hours and hours. I think the parallel with sitting meditation traditions is clear. So yes, we need to seek that balance and cultivate it within ourselves, but there we also encounter the collective influences of our culture and these too we need to bring into consciousness in order to become aware of their existence and liberate the trapped energies so they may regain their natural function. In their corrupted forms, Yin and Yang are destructive each in their own way. These are the authentic forms of meditation which taoists pursued in the past and they created helpful recourses, such as Qi Gong or the Yi Jing, so we may walk again the path of Nature which contains both the dark and the light, earth and heaven. Thank you for your video!

[@ssctken]

You made an excellent point that life needs balance. To me, isolating and meditating for 10 hours a day makes one so heavenly they are of no earthly value.

[@wasabiginger6993]

🙃 I could not have said it better George! In 1982 at 32 I began my own seeking and in the end have come to the same conclusion. And when I saw late 90’s “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” … that was very eye opening … as the main deeply devoted character was extremely resistant to what his soul came to experience embodied … was not enlightement but to love the female main character … and not until he was dying did he finally consciously realize that he missed his soul path. So these days I just work at attempting to stay in alignment with my soul’s desires … rather than my ego, personality or small mind’s thoughts/desires … hoping to integrate the personality with my soul best I can. And know that it’s the best I can do this time around … and that it is more significant than my mind thinks it is 🤣

[@david-jr5fn]

I like the idea of achieving the childlike state, open, nonjudgmental, excited, full of wonder, living in the moment, curious, adventurous, content with small things. We all had that but we lost parts of it along the way, regaining that is a great goal

[@George-Thompson]

I'm glad you like the idea too! This is something I work towards everyday 🫶

[@ishanchugh4583]

I love your work, i am also studying taoism, tao te ching, stories of zuongzu , . One of my source to get taoist wisdom is your videos as well, lots of love to you man . ❤️

[@1519Cortes]

I like being emotionally attached to things I see in everyday life, I like seeing clouds beautiful or ugly, storm scary or beautiful. I keep reading about Buddhism too, but as for now, I wouldn't want to see the world without those feelings attached to meanings. Hmm, I must learn more both about Buddhism and Tao. Thanks for the videos

[@hansburch3700]

Erleuchtung bedeutet mehr Gefühle und Bedeutungen zu haben, in Wahrheit alle davon. Alles andere ist eine Irrlehre.

[@bbutterfly36]

Very interesting points! I feel that the collective is redifining the meanig of enlightenment. Excited to see as that evolves.

[@George-Thompson]

Yes! Thank you!

[@fernandoborcsik7671]

Hey, George! First of all, I love your content, have been watching here and there for some time now, and thanks to you I found a Wudang Martial Arts Training Center here in Brazil, where I live! I started training there and happened to become a 17th wudang generation disciple, not only learning a lot about my body and mind but also about daoism and its philosophy. Thank you for sharing and inspiring! Anyways, what I want to say is completely different: I'm very curious about your take on psychedelics. I don't know if you've ever experienced with some, but I highly recommend, it alings amazingly with what you said in this video. Like everything in live, if you've never taken, I'd recommend to study, get informed, search for orientation and experience. I've experienced both ayahuasca and pcilocybe cubensis (magic mushroom), and for me, with the appropriate dosages, they've offered me the most enlightening, amazing, complete and loving experiences and helped a lot to become my own master in live, teaching me to be loving and understanding but never forgetting to respect and love myself in the process. Accepting human condition, and being amazed and grateful even with the suffering that comes with daily life. Fortunately, both are somewhat legally accessible here in Brazil, I don't know about other countries, but there is a strong cientific movement in allowing research worldwide, since there are some very convincing scientific evidence that they can help a lot in depression, ocd and other disorders... Anyways, cheers!!

[@gen-xhippie4899]

I appreciate this video. I was raised with Buddhist and Taoist ideals from my parents and I fully agree with your thinking. Buddhist teachings are just one aspect of life. There is more to experience than just find "enlightenment".

[@karinclaeys9688]

Hello you seeker! Thanks for searching this great inside! It’s the best I’ve been hearing on KZbin since very long time, and I listen a lot to all kind of spiritual leaders. Your wisdom is a mix of your own thinking with influence and listening. The 10 days of vipassana… it can bring a lot of good! I did the same;)

[@wasabiginger6993]

PS … really enjoying your vides and hearing what you are learning and how you are learning it as a young person (I am a boomer) … this video reminded me a 10 day Vapassana retreat I did late 90’s in very secluded Mexican small bay. The facilitaor had been in Bhutan for over 5 years … who had long wonderful story .. anyways he recognized that we of the west needed a modified Vapassana retreat that looked like the following … Half of the day in the mornings we could talk and the other half being afternoons & evening no talking. However, in the mornings we had to be very mindful of what we were saying. And he offered a Dharma talk with a mediation in the evenings. What was really most wonderful was his sense of humor about it all … I will never forget! Thinking back to the first spiritual book I read in my early 30’s, Richard Bach’s “Illusions … The Reluctant Messiah” … really said it all so simply.

[@roloduarte3100]

Wow! I've been thinking about the exact same points you mention; it is no coincidence I found this video. Keep up the good work, I love your channel.

[@the_dancerjen1773]

I adore your energy. I'm so grateful to have stumbled upon your channel.

[@candidagomes2774]

I like very much your vídeo!! I like to see you camping in the country... so good, the connection with Nature and find the inlightment!! 🙏🌅🌅 Congratulations!!🙏🎉 Best wishes!! 🙏🌅☘️

[@anionictrash4414]

Great message George! Looks lovely where you are. And I like your sweater, too.

[@krischnaherrera8030]

This video spoke to me in many different ways. Thank you! It's beautiful seeing parts of your journey and growth. Much love.

[@jiggersotoole7823]

Treading lightly on the earth is the way to navigate this life. Just being alive is a miracle. Be in Harmony with nature as best we can. Compassion for all living things. And definitely nothing from so called factory farms. That's why we have lentils.

[@kludgybrains3459]

I appreciate this video. I too try to meditate my way out of what my emotions are telling me. I shouldn't marginalize them nor get lost in them.

[@anattasunnata3498]

Hi, George! I wanted to share some views I have on this topic: 1) I think it is a mistake to try to evaluate a theoretical framework (in this case, the theory of 'enlightenment' in the Early Buddhist teachings) without understanding the theoretical bases (concepts and relations between them) and worldviews (especially, the metaphysical, psychological and axiological assumptions) internal to the theoretical framework. One of the early buddhist assumptions (as I understand it) is this: emotional suffering is not an intrinsic part of the human experience, but rather the consequence of an innate (but not unstoppable) condition: ignorance about the nature of suffering, the nature of the self and the nature and consequences of desires related to self-views and sense objects. 2) The word 'enlightenment' is, in my view, an empty (or floating) signifier nowadays, because it can mean almost anything to people coming from different backgrounds. That's why is I think it is useless and counterproductive to not detect the background of the users of the word, and to not put aside (temporarily) your own assumptions, because, otherwise, you would not understand the usage of the word by it's user and you could come to think that the idea behind the word is nonsensical or undesirable. 3) Daoist views on human nature, the goal of spiritual practices, and on what is possible and desirable for humans to achive seem to have considerable differences in relation to buddhist views (and, specifically, theravadin and Early Buddhist views, which is, as far as I know, Goenka's background). 4) Followers and students of the Theravada schools and of Early Buddhist teachings and texts have different views on Goenka, and he does not seem to represent what other buddhist believe and understand about the teachings of the Buddha on meditation methods, the nature of the mind, etc. So, be careful of not taking Goenka's views (and of his followers) as absolutely representative of the "buddhist" views on such matters. Considering the points above exposed, I think it is a mistake to just evaluate 'enlightenment' as overrated, mainly because there are prior things to clarify and to state before doing that evaluation with all the relevent information considered. Of course buddhist enlightenment seems overrated and, even, impossible and undesirable, because "it is part of the human nature to be sad" every once in a while. But, you should consider that the Buddha seem to think that suffering is a part of human experience only as long as the conditions which give it rise persist in the mind, and that such conditions can be uprooted by following the path recommended by him: the Eightfold Path. Thanks for the video and for your time. Kind regards!

[@larsstougaard7097]

Good input for this topic ✨️

[@JaysonT1]

Wow, now I have a headache.

[@user-oz8oh1bn9b]

Great video! You also seem to be more at ease than in video’s from longer ago, I do not know what it is that you are doing, but it is working haha

[@meditationwithjake]

Goenka promotes the middle path, I’m so happy you took a step along Vipassana route, time to book onto a service 10 days? I really think you will see a different side to Vipassana. Love and gratitude to you. 😊

[@iridescentisaac3698]

I noticed you were doing a part of Ba Duan Jin around 7:00. Do you have a full video of the set that you can release? I'd love to see your take on it.

[@Tomas33392]

I am glad that the Vipassana retreat was good for you George, though having been studying Buddhism for 10 years, I can tell you the organization itself is a bit sketchy. But regardless, I feel like Taoism tends to present a more balanced view of spirituality, incorporating both practices for the mind and the body. Keep at it and follow your gut :)

[@George-Thompson]

thanks Tomas, well said!

[@sterlingpaul3004]

Someone mentioned to me recently that enlightenment is just lightening up. I like that explanation.

[@George-Thompson]

nice i like that!

[@Benevitism]

Excellent video, I think you’re touching on something very important about the peaks and valleys that make life interesting, rather than aiming to create an empty plateau.

[@IntegralEarthling]

Spot on, Brother! Finding the Middle way, no falling into the Trap of Ignorance, even by the Dhamma/Vipassana "system of belief". I did 4 & served 1 Vipassana Courses. For now not going anymore because they have fallen into the Trap of thinking that not eating meat does not contribute to your "Sila", while eating Bread is OK, (although so many creatures died during the culture of grains for it. Anyways just one part of it. Would you be interested in having a recorded video call with me that we then could upload as a podcast? Lovely to see your journey unfolding more & more. Much Love Brother! Karsten

[@sylvanstrength7520]

What I deeply appreciate about Chan/Zen Buddhism is the concept that we all have Buddha nature and are enlightened by our very nature. Even when the sky is cloudy, the sky is still there. Even when the storms rage, the sky is still there. It is in our practice that we embody the Buddha’s teachings and we *do* enlightenment. The gateless gate.

[@enzolima8137]

Your content is a breath of fresh air! Thank you, George!

[@katherinebates13]

At last. I feel someone has been realistic about this issue . We can ( and do ) let years slip by trying to attain this ' perfect ' state of enlightenment whilst living in this world with all the demands placed upon us by others , society and indeed ourselves . We are spiritual.beings in a human body .All aspects of that need to be honoured and nurtured. I haven't got years to live in isolation chasing a dream of enlightenment, Thank-you George for this illumination.

[@barbaratubiolo9404]

Thank you this helped me be a lot less confused ☮️

[@bridgetnielsen7379]

This is a good reminder. To embrace the wholeness of our humanity and the importance of grounding. It’s easy to get swept away with the yearning for spiritual growth. Seeking spiritual growth and enlightenment can become another vehicle for self criticism. At least for myself I know this is true. Lately I’ve been simply trying to reduce my self judgment. Your video reminded me of these words. “When we start to meditate or to work with any kind of spiritual discipline, we often think that somehow we’re going to improve, which is a subtle aggression against who we really are…. Meditation practice isn’t about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It’s about befriending who we are already.” -Pema Chodron, Comfortable with Uncertainty All this is what you’re saying with the uncut wood. At least thats how I’ve taken your words. Thank you for this touching video. Also you’re in such a beautiful setting. Where is this?

[@RetroGamingWorld]

Very inspiring journey George Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your experiences !

[@kantnklaar]

"There are only two mistakes one can make to the path of enlightenment; not starting, and not going all the way" - Buddha I really recommend watching Mark Passio's seminar on Natural Law, which addresses knowledge on real enlightenment and how to progress towards it, with spirituality being one of the main topics. It's a life changing seminar worth the time investment. Nothing new (under the sun), most of it you already feel it but it is just aggregated and presented in such a holistic way that it puts all the pieces together. Love

[@vanessasml8688]

Thanks for presenting this view, so often unexplored...my feeling is if we were only meant to transcend then why did we incarnate. My past aims of enlightenment took me away from being present...paradoxically enough. My other belief is awakening has a fair amount to do with grace and surrender and no amount of willing can make it happen, another paradox.

[@hansburch3700]

Erleuchtung ist leicht zu erreichen, wenn Du an Dein eigenes Wesen glaubst, es ist leider nicht zu beweisen, aber es ist trotzdem das Wichtigste. Tu es einfach und entdecke, was es alles treiben kann.

[@meditationwithjake]

You are my inspiration to keep making videos, so thank you thank you thank you!

[@kevinmauleoutdoors6247]

Anyone who can remain calm and on point whilst dealing with Westcoast midges has reached a level of enlightenment few of us realise is even possible! I'm currently enjoying your "Live the Dao" course, let me know next time you're up North.

[@Durzo1259]

While Buddhism has great explanations of human psychology and how to alleviate suffering, the whole end-goal, enlightenment, seems so pointlessly nihilistic: to end the tragedy of existence. The point is to not only to end suffering now, but end the cycle of rebirth to escape suffering. The whole philosophy orbits around "existence is nothing but misery and suffering and we'd be better off if none of us existed." Suffering is the mechanism to avoid dangers to our continued existence. Figuring out how to overcome it is the human race's means of developing beyond our primitive state, which takes thousands of years, but we've made incredible strides. I've suffered a fair deal more than most people with life-long disability, pain, poverty, isolation etc. but now after all these years of struggling to figure it out, I'm slowly but surely defeating my disability and getting closer to a real life. Things are getting better because I've worked over a long period to solve the problem of my suffering, and now I'm achieving it. Just as humanity has been doing over the millennia. As far as I'm concerned, suffering is the driving force of human evolution.

[@McLKeith]

Dogen Zenji said practice and enlightenment are one. So just sitting in meditation is enlightenment. Framing enlightenment in this way shows our practice as a process, not an ultimate means to and end that reaches fruition in the future. Maseo Abe explains this amazingly well. So meditate and practice Tai Chi, but don't look for a future result. Then one will be in the present moment which is also enlightenment.

[@TheDivaliciousThing]

Hi George, you might like the teachings of Tenzin Palmo, she always says that you practice in every days life. It is okay to go to retreat to practice in silence and intensfy,but the to come back, because you have a position in society greetings

[@Beeney]

Amazing George and absolutely spot on. I admire your wisdom at such a young age. ❤

[@StalloneNaggiah-rf2xl]

Wow . Really enjoyed this video. Answered a few questions for me . Thank you

[@George-Thompson]

I’m so glad you found it valuable, Stallone 🙏

[@ankur-chauhan]

Thanks for sharing your views. Lot of things common with what you said and some of Osho teachings. Btw, which place is this ? It’s beautiful. I was peaceful just by looking at your surroundings 😊

[@ziziroberts8041]

Listening to this video is a meditation. Namaste. 🙏🏾

[@wendymelvins2459]

Brilliant video! Amen!

[@jamesabbott1551]

We're ALL already enlightened, but we must REALISE our enlightenment

[@mariepaulehasselbach9481]

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful spirit. As comment to the issue, I think it peculiar that we get born for our souls to learn and grow this lifetime and then spend so much effort/time to get away from it all. The most beautiful colors of the sky show when there are clouds, as Deng Ming Dao also mentioned. I prefer to live it all as it is "dished" out to me and do my best to learn and evolve to my highest possible level. Maybe I will find en-light-enment, maybe I won't, or maybe it will be a fleeting experience. I -like you- like Thich Nath Han's understanding. Let us be who and how we are, and cherish that., for creator does not fail in his/her creations. That includes our yin and yang sides; and may be we grow in the wisdom to remain in the center of the eternal rotations like in the quiet center of the Hurricane. And.. for I love to laugh..I have never met a dog that wanted the coat of a Zebra, or an elephant that had a problem with too big a nose and then got terribly depressed:)

[@melissaqualls5774]

Enjoyed this video! I agree with you on this topic 👏

[@Oomzilla]

Embracing life and not avoiding it. Yes dude, I like the cut of you jib!

[@dannymeske3821]

Enlightenment is knowing where you are in relation to all that is!

[@jampuppy]

Another awesome bit of content! Thanks, George!

[@TheInnerCastle]

Thanks brother, great video 🙏💗

[@Rezilium]

A very powerful video. Thankyou 🙏🏾

[@lowpolar]

awesome insight and vision

[@George-Thompson]

Thank you for the kind words 🙏

[@JohnLeeST]

For lack of a better word, “Awakening” would be more accurate when describing “Nibbana”. It is a state of realisation, and the path to it is more than just meditation. However the method towards the training differs between teachers. We have to find what works for ourselves in order to realise the nature of all things… the Awakening. May you be well and happy 🙏

[@40JoCharles]

Great video Sir 🥰🙏🏼☯️

[@davidberger875]

I think of enlightenment as seeing through illusion. We are so easily filled by ideas and concepts (the number one culprit being "me, the separate self"). In Zen we use the term "satori" which is like a sudden awakening or enlightenment. I think of it as a passing state, rather than a permanent one. We fall back into the world of Maya, the struggle and the suffering, because we are beings of flesh and desire and physical needs. It may sound daring, but I'd suggest that conceptualizing enlightenment as a "goal" that one must follow a "path" to is itself a trap of illusion. It is not a thing to attain, but an existential state to experience. All of our paths are unique and beautiful. In the Diamond Sutra it is said "when all beings are enlightened, no beings will be enlightened".

[@Phoenixrebirth85]

I agree with a lot of your points, we are here as human beings to live an embodied experience. Becoming a monk was necessary back in the days to properly experience a spiritual life; it is not the case anymore. So why not be fully human? That said, I feel like the concept of enlightenment and freedom from suffering is often misunderstood. Enlightenment simply is a switch of perspective, from identification to the illusion of the person we think we are, to the understanding, the absolute felt sense, that we are actually the undelying consciousness. Not the experiencer either, because there really is no such thing. It's weird really. At this point, life just flows through you, and your experience is utterly free from resistance. It's not that there is no pain, sorrow or anger anymore... You just see these things, and the joys, for what they are : ultimately neutral phenomena. Quite a freeing and joyful state.

[@owl6218]

Alan Watts speaks about his. I am not able to find that clip again. He talks about zen monks, spending a lot of time alone in the forest, realize that we are never really alone, we are always surrounded by the world, and interlinked. He talks about how ants, and all kinds small critters come out, climb over the monks and bring their concerns to them. Alan Watts puts it very evocatively - the world is always with us. Enlightenment may take us to the hub of the wheel of samsara, where the speed slows down, but sooner or later we are going to slip and start whirling round again. he says the best thing is to go round without resisting, knowing the game for what it is- and that in itself will bring to back to the hub of the wheel -enlightenment, in short. I would love to know the name of the lecture where he talks about this. to me, it was the best

[@thelouisjohnson]

I don’t think that pain and suffering are transcended or removed in any way. To me it seems like a redefining of the context in which those emotions appear. We aren’t beings aware of things arising, we are the process of that arising itself. Emotions are all valid as they simply occur. We find ourselves as beings who are evolved and in this situation of ‘human’. Yet those emotions aren’t part of us, they in a sense are us - they are part of the process of us. The enlightenment thing has always felt to me a bit like people all playing different games. We act and live as beings in the world as we find it (the third person), yet our experience of the world (the first person) is a wholly different. Maybe the forever illusory concept of enlightenment is just a third person concept/definition for a ultimately first person experience. That is to say, to be enlightened is to realise you never needed to be enlightened in the first place. Because it never existed outside of you to begin with. Who knows! Just some thoughts

[@heavenhell5909]

Hi George ... I too am a martial artist of some kind ..... but old habits do die hard....

[@dovos8572]

the true "enlightenment" comes when you believe in what you are doing and the choices you make. not just saying "i want to do this or that" but believing in it to the point where the action of doing it doesn't need a justification or defense to why you do it. the realisation that you actually only have a mental blockage because you don't believe in doing the things you want to do is the thing you want to do. and to make sure. i don't mean "believe" in the sense of "a god will help you doing it" or believe in something overwordly to reach your goals. believe into yourself and your actions and choices. don't do it blindly and don't fixate on the "formulation and goal" of your choice. but believe in the choice itself and that you can choose doing something else at any time if you choose to do so.

[@SpodyOdy]

Great as usual 👍

[@owl6218]

listen to Alan Watts.He speaks about it at length. He says the teacher sets the goal of enlightenment for the students knowing fully well it is not attainable. By getting frustrated by a lot of contradictory demans the student eventually lets go of all goals, and that is the liberation

[@alexandramcleod2079]

Lived in Japan, India and Tibet for years and have participated in many Vipassana retreats. It’s in carved wood to hear Goeka -ji referred to without his ‘respectful’ suffix. 😅😊😂

[@nicolasjouan452]

Thank you for the video George. On top of your newsletter do you intend to release more podcasts on The Way of Nature like you did at the beginning of the year? I found them very interesting.

[@Hazel_Kave]

bro bro bro... i ain't watched the vid but i see the title... and i've seen your vids few years back... your a legend 1 love... but i just wanna say to escape this cycle of birth and death is of the utmost importance.... the world has not got long for itself... the scriptures all point towards ascending this physical realm through leaving our vessel and entering higher realms... i know you know there are higher and lower dimensions... heaven and hell.... this world is gonna be like nazi germany in a few years.... we really don't wanna reincarnate here... and if we do... we need to make this world a better place so that we can find joy in returning to it.... but i'll be real with you.... i don't wanna come back to this place.... the real world is when you die... the astral world... sleep is the cousin of death... the supersensible world.... the 7 heavens... the throne of God... big love bruvva... i'll watch the vid now lol

[@billylyons7212]

I've used integrity discernment application patience moderation detachment and relaxation for years seeking enlightenment. I've had many many spiritual insights. But enlightenment doesn't make you all knowing it makes it easier to find solutions to problems faster than usual. A lot of us is enlightened we just have not ascended far enough that we don't have human problems.

[@hikarikazuo]

Here are some nuggets that I find really help me wrap my head around some of what you mentioned in this video: from Charlotte Joko Beck’s book Everyday Zen: Love and Work - Enlightenment, or freedom, is not something you achieve. It is the absence of something. All your life you have been going forward after something, pursuing some goal. Enlightenment is dropping all of that. - Someone said to me a few days ago, "you know, you never talk about enlightenment. Could you say something about it?" The problem with talking about enlightenment is that our talk tends to create a picture of what it is - yet enlightenment is not a picture, but the shattering of all our pictures. - An enlightenment experience-suddenly seeing reality just as it is-just means that for a moment one’s personal considerations about life are gone. And for a second, one sees the universal. The problem with most enlightenment experiences is that people hold on to them, treasure them, and then they become a hindrance. The point isn’t the experience-it’s going on with our life. And any value that experience has is within ourselves; we don’t need to worry about it. - Zen is a lifelong study. Our whole life becomes practice, twenty-four hours a day. - There is no authority outside of my experience. There is only one teacher--life itself. Life happens to be both a severe and endlessly kind teacher. And of course, each one of us is a manifestation of life; we couldn’t be anything else. - We must give up this idea in our heads that somehow, if we could only figure it out, there’s some way to have this perfect life that is just right for us. Life is the way it is. Only when we begin to give up those maneuvers does life begin to be more satisfactory…To talk about this is really easy. But to do it is horrendously difficult. I don’t know anyone who can do it all of the time. - There is no end to the opening up that is possible for a human being. Always, we return to seeing that we are the limitless, boundless ground of the universe. Our job for the entirety of our life is to open up into that immensity and to express it. Having more and more contact with this reality always brings compassion for others and changes our daily life. from Osho’s book Tao: The Pathless Path - Life cannot be put into a theory. It is so vast, it is so infinite. - The daoist message is very simple--be the way. Daoist masters don’t talk about the goal at all, they don’t talk about god, moksha, nirvana, salvation, or enlightenment. To be on the way is to be at the goal because the goal is all over the way, not at the very end of the way. - The way has no map, the way is not charted, the way is not such that you can follow somebody and find it. The way is not like a super-highway; the way is more like a bird flying in the sky - it leaves no marks behind. The bird has flown but no marks are left; nobody can follow. So the way is a pathless path. It is a path, but it is a pathless path. It is not ready-made, available; you cannot just decide to walk on it, you will have to find it. And you will have to find it in your own way; nobody else′s way is going to function. Buddha has walked, Lao Tzu has walked, Jesus has walked, but those ways are not going to help you because you are not Jesus, and you are not Lao Tzu, and you are not Lieh Tzu. You are you, a unique individual. Only by walking, only by living your life, will you find the way. This is something of great value. - You can be a daoist if you simply live your life authentically, spontaneously, if you have the courage to go into the unknown on your own, not leaning on anybody, simply going into the dark night not knowing whether you will arrive anywhere or if you will be lost. - But if you are burdened with man-made conceptions, you trust man-made systems--you cling to accumulated knowledge, scripture, tradition--then you are living a false, pseudo life. You are making impotent, empty gestures. Any outer discipline kills your sensitivity, your fineness, your receptivity. Your life has not the intensity, the passion that arises only when you move on your own, alone, into the vastness of existence. - Dao respects freedom, not conformity. Dao has no tradition. Dao reveals that to impose a discipline on ourselves, to force an order on our lives, is a surface-level pretension. The disorder remains deep in the very core of our being. Any sense of order or cohesion has to arise naturally out of our awareness. - Be total in all your acts. And if you are total, you have to be aware. Being total means no other thinking. If you are eating, you are simply eating. Everything becomes meditation. Small things are transformed, they become luminous acts. - You are a process. You are going. You are a journey. You are a pilgrimage. You are ongoing, you are going-beyond. Also, Jay Shetty’s youtube interview of Kunal Nayyar (yes, the actor from the Big Bang Theory tv show)!

[@misterhill5598]

One of Buddhism core teaching is "everything in moderation", the middle way. From my perspective, mediation is a general concept of getting "in the Grove" where we do things instinctively without actively using the brain, we become one with the world around us. Those who have experienced it will recall the sense of time disappeared. If you agree with this definution of meditation, then there is a whole range of meditation choices. Easiest way to meditate would be to sit still and feel oneself blend into the space around us, becoming one with the universe. Some people would find sitting still cannot help them get "in the Grove", "in the zone" kind of feeling. So they do physical things instead. Or immerse oneself in sound. Etc.

[@otinokyad]

Thank you, as always, George, for an informative and provocative video. One simple question, not entirely rhetorical: How might your perspective and commentary differ if you posited enlightenment as a transient *experience* rather than an ongoing *condition* or *state* ? (To other commenters: my apologies if you raised this distinction explicitly and I missed it in my quick scan of the sidebar comments.) Many Zen koans point precisely to this experiential aspect, which is often accompanied by a sense of surprise. My multi-decade path in Taoism/Zen “culminated” at a retreat a few years ago in an experience that I can only describe with the phrase “vast surprise” (gratefully borrowed from Isaac Asimov’s ‘Foundation Trilogy’). I would never self-describe as “enlightened,” but I have “experienced” it. And the sense of it has remained with me ever since as a backdrop to everything else in iife.

[@harrynevard4016]

Beautiful video brother. Thank you for sharing. Could I please ask you for the location of this video? I’d like to visit

[@George-Thompson]

Loch Etive in Scotland!

[@williamlovett619]

So, the consciousness that is looking out through the eyes, listening through the ears and so forth, is transpersonal. Unconditioned consciousness. The "Enlightened State". It's here already. Turning awareness towards awareness. The consciousness, that we "Are" is becoming aware of "itself". Simple.

[@paulbarenz9791]

Attaining enlightenment is not about embarking on some inconceivably long journey to become a resplendent godlike Buddha; it is about accomplishing a transformation in the depths of one’s being. In other words, it is not a matter of practicing in order to scale the highest summit of enlightenment at some point in the distant future. Rather, it is a constant, moment-to-moment, inner struggle between the opposing courses of revealing our innate Buddha nature or allowing ourselves to be ruled by our fundamental negativity and delusion. This unceasing effort to polish our lives is the heart and essence of Nichiren Buddhist practice.

[@sandraseeper]

Life is paradox in itself, therefore, adopting any part of self development comes with energies of its own. As a seeker, I trust instinct, surrender perception and written knowledge to engage that universal wisdom which brings us to that place of oneness.

[@analegat4908]

I am not sure but isn‘t it about being with yourself no matter what is goin on around you? At last that is why I meditate. It is not because of enlightment. More like being able to stay calm when the overstimulation is coming. And isn‘t enlightment just a very short moment of clarity and kind of absolute or very clear understanding of something? A moment which pops up and than disappears?

[@George-Thompson]

Depends on your interpretataion of the word. There are many different takes on Enlightenment. In this video, I am following Goenka's understanding - to remain equanimous in all circumstances.

[@The_Dutch_Samurai]

We can meditate everywhere as we focus on our breathing.

[@Thomas-zf3cg]

Enlightenment is a vague word that acts as a trick to bind fools into a path of searching outward. Everything we need is within us, also everything we do not need. Separating and understanding ones self is a way to be a genuine being. Only those who acknowledge themselves are truly strong. Accept what you are capable of and forgive for what you are not. Duality, such as yin and yang are also binding words (spells). In our collective shared language we have tricked each other into believing a certain "reality". But what's correct and true are equivocal, what might be my illusion could be another's fantasy. We are all living in our own delusions molded by concepts. You have two choices. One, follow the path of laymen society, find meaning, become what others deem based on these collective thoughts as good, helpful, successful, smart, wise, humble, etc. Two, dig your way out of these concepts, ignore collective thought, ideas of good, helpful, successful, smart, wise, humble etc. Discover yourself as yourself and see the world for what it truly is rather than what its made up to be. See life as it is. Be human as you are. Feel natural as the Dao. BE.

[@George-Thompson]

Well said Thomas, thanks for sharing 🙏

[@94sl]

Where is this filmed?

[@DanielMartinez316]

When it comes to enlightenment the analysis is before and after: how is it life afte enlightenment? I think that in order to become enlighten, there is the need of a lot of process and the journey is interesting.