I used to think that enlightenment meant being like Buddha, sitting under a tree with no earthly possessions and nothing but pure thoughts and a radiant glowing aura surrounding me. I wasn’t sure how I would get there, but that didn’t stop me from believing that I could achieve it. 😎
I was sure that if I did achieve enlightenment, I would no longer have anxiety, no longer experience what I considered to be negative emotions, jealousy, anger, frustration and sadness. It seemed like the most amazing place to get to. But the question was “how?”
How does one achieve enlightenment of this very physical, 3-dimensional and emotion-filled earth? Is it even possible?
It is something that I have given a lot of thought to recently.
As part of my training as a yoga-teacher, I learned the history of yoga which included a definition of enlightenment that resonated with me. Enlightenment is an awakening; a state of liberation, understanding and acceptance without judgement or labeling.
In Buddhism, the word was translated in the West from the word “bodhi,” which means “awakening.” Buddha sat under the bodhi tree where he achieved his awakening.
As part of my yogi studies, I learned about Patanjali, who is believed to be the author of the Yoga Sutras (a sacred Sanskrit text) used for the development of yoga. Patanjali references the term, “Samadhi,” which in Sanskrit (an ancient language from India), refers to a bliss state, a state where we are at one with all that is. We let go of our ego, our desires, judgements, and our past experiences so that we can sit with the acceptance and knowledge of all that is.
We all experience samadhi, we just might not know it. Samadhi occurs in the pause between breaths, in the moments we stare in awe at a beautiful sunrise or when we pause to listen to the sound of the rain. These are all moments of samadhi. Fleeting moments of bliss with the acceptance of all.
I personally LOVE these moments! I often wish they could last forever. But, they are temporary and fleeting and can be easily missed as we move on to the next thought or action.
However, I have noticed that once we become aware of our experiences of samadhi, they awaken a part of us that may have been dormant. The wondering, remembering and knowing that there is so much more than our day-to-day existence. It reminds us of the divine light in and around us. We begin to look for more experiences like this, so that we can reconnect with all that is and the peace and tranquility that comes with those moments.
And let’s be honest…who doesn’t want to be in a state of bliss?
So, what does this have to do with enlightenment?
In essence, samadhi is a step towards enlightenment. It is a way to draw us closer to our divine state of being. The part of us, some may call our soul. The light filled essence that fills our body. In the closeness and connectedness we experience with ourselves, we in turn move closer to enlightenment.
So, if enlightenment seems unattainable or like a giant leap from where you are now. Pause….and just acknowledge that if it could be attained in one giant step, we would all be enlightened by now. But enlightenment requires growth, evolution, introspection, releasing, acceptance, compassion, and self-love. It is a journey. Not an action or bucket list item to be checked off.
Consider your fleeting moments of bliss…of samadhi, as one of the many steps you can take on your journey to enlightenment.
I encourage you to take joy in the small moments that take your breath away. The first taste of your coffee or tea in the morning. The feeling of the cold wind as it touches your face when you first leave the house. The sound of a bird chirping outside.
I wish you peace and light.
