How to Deal with Enlightened Beings
I don’t know anyone personally who claims to be enlightened, but I’ve certainly come across plenty of written accounts of people who say they are awake to the ultimate truth. My reaction to such claims is always one of skepticism. I won’t just dismiss what they have to say outright, but it puts my bullshit radar on high alert.
I believe that there is ultimate truth out there, but I’m not convinced that any human has ever experienced this truth– I’m not even sure if it is possible for a human to experience it directly. I can never be sure, but my gut reaction is that people who claim to be enlightened are either deluded or lying.
The Problem with Enlightenment
I can’t understand how anyone who can claim to be 100% certain about anything, but this is what enlightened people are claiming. They believe that they have seen the truth and that anything other than this is a lie. By this admission, the person is saying that they were once deluded but now they are free of delusion. What I don’t get is why these people never seem to consider the possibility that they have left one delusion only to enter a more convincing delusion. If the universe has fooled these people once, why can’t the universe fool them again? I suppose the fact that these guys are so utterly convinced may mean that they have seen the truth, or it could mean that they are more trapped in delusion than they ever were. How can the rest of us tell which of these scenarios is the right one?
It could be that enlightenment is a clever trap. The person who has achieved this state may have spent years working towards it. They have then taking the huge step of proclaiming to the world that they see the truth that nobody else around them can see. If the person later begins to question this realisation, how likely are they to publicly admit that they were wrong? How likely are they to tell their students that it has been a case of the blind leading the blind? My guess is that the majority of them would never admit to such doubts, even to themselves, and this is why enlightenment could be a clever trap. Admitting that you have awakened to the delusion of reality means you are a spiritual warrior, but to admit that you have awoken to the delusion of your enlightenment is a bit embarrassing – not even worth considering.
The thing is that it is way too easy for people to claim enlightenment – especially for the non-duality crowd. All you have to do is learn a few buzz words, and speak in very vague terms about what you have experienced – the vaguer the better it seems. If anyone questions your enlightenment, there is no need to provide any proof because there is no proof. We don’t have a quality control watchdog for enlightened beings. Again, I’m not saying that these people are all frauds, but there is no way for me to tell if they are or not.
How to Deal with Enlightened Beings
In a recent post I discussed my enjoyment of the books of Jed McKenna. He does claim to be enlightened, but I don’t take this claim too seriously. There is just no way for me to tell, but I’d be surprised if it turns out that he is enlightened. I see Jed as a type of spiritual entertainer (I believe Alan Watts invented this term to describe himself), and so I take everything he says with a pinch of salt. One of the most powerful lesson he provides is that we need to keep pushing further – for me this means an endless battle against my beliefs – I fear that by claiming enlightenment, Jed has ignored his own advice, but who knows. I like his books but not because I believe he is enlightened.
It could well be that I’m the idiot for not throwing myself at the feet of the local enlightened guru. That is just not the path that I choose to follow. I’m convinced that all the answers I need will find there way to me – and these answers are as likley to come from the local som tam seller, as they are from a spiritual master. I’m interested in what the enlightened people have to say, but I no longer approach these people looking for answers or in the hope that they can fix me. The best they have to offer me is their words, but if words were all that were needed, we’d all live a perfect life already.
An excellent post Paul. I’ve never met anyone who has claimed they’re enlightened, (delusional, yes) but would like to 😉
Hi Snap, during my nursing training, I did a 3 month placement on a locked mental health ward in London. I remember there was this one guy who felt convinced that he could move the sun by his thoughts – luckily he wasn’t looking for followers because I was quite impressionable in those days 🙂
Hi Paul,
I don’t believe there’s such a thing as an ultimate truth.
A temporary local truth can exist, but is something merely based on perception at that time in that place.
Sorry for mixing in science, but quantum mechanics supports the idea that various states of the same fundamental particle can coexist simultaneously and even in different places. This is not just a theory without practical use, but has turned in the last decade into applied science.
I am a supporter of the idea that our universe has an infinite number of dimensions, therefor I don’t think that it’s very likely our limited brain will ever be able to fully grasp a full awareness of all.
To return down on earth and back to your thoughts; I believe that people can reach a higher state of conciousness after gaining certain insight.
When compared to the average mind, one could say that this is a state of enlightment. Like you I’m very sceptical about people who claim they have reached full enlightment regardless this is in a spiritual way or by having a theory of all without leaving room for improvement.
I agree with much of what you say I-nomad. I prefer to think that there is an ultimate truth, but that we may be incapable of understanding it. I guess you know my views on scientific claims 🙂
Apart from Jed McKenna I don’t know of anyone who claims to be enlightened. Who is it that you have read who claims it?
Hi Bill, I’ve read stuff from lots of people who claim to be enlightened – off the top of my head, Luang Por Teean, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Adyashanti, Eckhart Tolle, and many of the non-duality teachers.
Thanks for the list.
Of these I only know Eckhart Tolle a bit – I focus my studies (perhaps too much); I’m not eclectic – another discussion. I have not read his stuff since he got Oprahed, maybe fame enlightened him? Part of his story resonated with me. When he was younger he was mega-depressed, and then came out the other side. I don’t remember his calling that enlightenment however. But I don’t know – do help if you can tell me where please. I got the feeling that he described it as a form of waking up. When I hit bottom with the booze and came out the other side I woke up and started on my Path. This was definitely not enlightenment. I like to think I’m still on my Path but still definitely not enlightenment.
I believe there is a need for this awakening but I don’t think they talk of this awakening and enlightenment as the same thing.
I read Dharma Dan for a while. He claimed he was an arahant. Is this not some form of awakening that is partial enlightenment or is it the whole way? I got the feeling that he was trying to get at the notion that there are partial stages, and that we can all access them in part. As a teaching point this is worthwhile as we can all recognise partial success and not get depressed. I see the experiences we all get as some form of reward for being on the way.
Well, let’s see, Tolle’s book is called “The Power of Now – A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment”.
Good point. This next is going to sound like I’m nit-picking, but does the title actually say that he is enlightened? Or is it just a guide? There is a section in Jed’s book where he rambles on about “where are the enlightened as a consequence of the different teachings?” No successes, method wrong, end of story, was his approach. But if the various teachings have helped people live better – without “enlightenment”, isn’t that worthwhile? Maybe Eckhart Tolle does claim he is enlightened – and I have it wrong, but I believe what he discusses in The Power of Now and The New Earth is useful stuff.
Hi Bill, are you suggesting that he has written a guide to something he has no experience of? 🙂
Sure, I think even the teachings of people who may be deluded about enlightenment can contain plenty of useful stuff. As I said in the post though, even the local som tam seller can say something at the right time, and it could have a life changing impact on me. Maybe it is just me, but I don’t learn much from spiritual teachings – I’m much better at learning through experiencing life with the occasional kick in the gonads from the universe.
I am suggesting that as with many teachers of the absolute he is teaching from partial experience. I recently talk of anatta – non-self. I am able to see that understanding more about anatta is beneficial. I am not anatta, but would be quite happy to say that anatta would contribute to spiritual enlightenment – without knowing what spiritual enlightenent is. Don’t we all have glimpses however? Whilst I would never use the terminology, in such matters as this a guide could be written without having experienced; I don’t know if that is what Eckhart Tolle himself sees.
I don’t know about yourself but I find a dual process happens. At the moment I am chewing Ajaan Buddhadasa even with all his Pali, at other times I study nothing just meditate. It depends. Different strokes.
For me, non-self is just a belief – it might well be ultimately true, but I’ve no way of knowing. For much of my adult life I accepted the idea of non-self as a fact, but I now see that it is just another belief. I’ve had plenty of interesting experiences in meditation, but the most profound experience occurred when I wasn’t doing any type of spiritual work – at a time in my life when I considered myself to be an atheist.
I think we can all find an accommodation with the universe that works for us – that’s what I’ve done – I don’t need you to be wrong in other for me to be right and vice versa. If the day comes when this approach stops working for me, I’ll find a new approach.
I think we have moved on from enlightenment and reached an impasse. Our accommodations are personal, always I look to my own to see if I can do better.
I don’t believe non-self is a belief :), I try not to accept it on faith. It can only be known through experience, “I” does not have any way of knowing.
I think the Buddha may have said it best – “be a lamp unto yourself, be a refuge to yourself- take yourself to no external refuge”
Is that a counter to non-self?
No Bill, I’m referring to this comment, “Our accommodations are personal, always I look to my own to see if I can do better.” We all have our own way of looking at things, and I don’t see a problem with that.
That’s email for you, easy to misunderstand. Good chat this morning.
Thanks Bill – I do appreciate your comments.
Life makes Paths complex and very different, that is no problem. Trying to understand what they are is difficult because of language. I totally agree with you about belief systems – I use the word dogma, but what is dogma for others is the Original Path of the writer.
Good lord, for want of a better expression 😉 I never thought your post would attract so much discussion. I’d NEVER attempt to debate this subject on an academic level, however, the definition of enlightenment: “The action of enlightening or the state of being enlightened.
OR The attainment of spiritual knowledge or insight, esp. (in Buddhism) that which frees a person from the cycle of rebirth.” Raises different questions for me. Why, on a non Buddhist level, are people trying to reach enlightenment? Are they so unhappy in their lives that they need to? It reminds me of a friend that used to cling to the hope that chrystals would solve her life’s worries. I’m not saying one shouldn’t strive to be a better person, far from it.
Who decides if one has reached enlightenment? Me, you, an offical body? That was a serious question!
As Paul mentioned, his time spent working in a mental health ward would certainly shed various lights on the subject. I’ve had friends over the years that have spoken to God and several disciples, become Alexander the Great, eaten grasshoppers…were they enlightened as they purported? Did I miss my opportunity to follow in their foot steps? Or, did I do the right thing and just nod acceptingly?
Such a huge, interesting and controversial subject…just had to add another 2 bobs worth.
PS. I’ve never read one book on enlightenment…or self help, for that matter.
Hi Paul, you don’t need to deal with enlightened being, because there is no being to deal with.
Fortunately, I met 3 such “beings”, anonymous zen master, Maa Sarveswari and Dharma Mitra. Each one of those beings had ability to alter my presence. I met them and I continued my own path. There is truth to be found.
Thanks Zee, it sounds like you are on an interesting path. I’m not sure what it would take for another person to convince me that they are enlightened but altering my presence might be a start. I’d have to experience it to believe it, but I’m not even sure that I’d want to experience the thing they are describing. I’m happy to enjoy the show that is life.
Zee, why does that make them enlightened?
Hi billzant, in their presence I did not have any thought. It was complete thought-free state, I was just awareness.
I think, that is enlightment all about (thought-free state), to be what we really are… awareness, the presence, without overlay of beliefs, hopes, expectations in one word – imagination.
Paul, I have finished the spiritual search just like you. No more books, teachers, teachings etc… I do my zazen and yoga practice in the morning and that’s it… I even stopped writing my blog.
Thanks Zee, I doubt that I’ll ever become spiritual enough that I’ll want to stop blogging about myself 🙂
Zee, congrats on your experience, I hope it was enjoyable (if that word is appropriate). It sound a wonderful moment, but does a moment make enlightenment whether for you or the “beings” there?
There is a truth within you and when you experience this you will know….everything changes..