The quickest path to enlightenment? Get yourself some credible disciples to tell everyone you're enlightened, and soon enough, you’ll start believing it too. After all, if enough people validate your supposed state of mind, your brain will just play along.
But let’s be real—enlightenment is possible if we define it in ways that strip away metaphysical fantasies. We need to break our addiction to abstract, mystical concepts that don’t actually improve society. Enlightenment shouldn’t be a lofty ideal wrapped in magic tricks or superhuman powers.
Let’s redefine enlightenment as something grounded and practical. To me, enlightenment in action means demonstrating compassion and non-harm. It’s about moving towards a calm, relaxed state of mind—a state where judgment is softened, and kindness flows naturally. It doesn’t mean absorbing every philosophy or suddenly gaining supernatural abilities. You don’t levitate during meditation, and you don’t heal the sick with a touch.
Forms of enlightenment often come with age, experience, the cultivation of character, and a commitment to practicing mental relaxation. Enlightenment is about developing moral judgment and good character, not merging with some abstract, non-dual reality. We’re human, living in physical bodies, bound by the laws of nature. Finding harmony with that reality—rather than fighting it—is a vital part of enlightenment.
What does enlightenment feel like? A steady baseline heart rate, the cessation of obsessive thoughts, presence of mind, knowledge of the true self, feeling the connection between all things and all forces, marvel, joy, healing, gratitude—80% of the ego structures dissolve, leaving you free from addiction and anxiety. It feels like a smile, tears of joy and wonder. Here today, gone tomorrow if it is not carefully nurtured.
The most overlooked aspect of enlightenment is simply being present. For most of my life, I didn’t know what that meant. It was the most elusive state of mind. The real path to enlightenment is focusing on the breath and the present moment. There’s no promise of salvation, no guarantee of survival—just the now, until the next thought distracts us.
Enlightenment is fleeting—it’s a daily, moment-by-moment practice. Ironically, if you do become enlightened, you probably won’t label it or give it any special value. That’s why the disciples do all the boasting—they’re still caught up in the need to define and elevate it.
Finally, if there is a state of consciousness that we can agree is enlightenment, it is not static—meaning we don’t achieve it once and then hold on to it automatically. Like all feelings and states of consciousness, it is subject to change based on causes and their respective effects. A state of tranquility must be maintained in much the same way that it was achieved—by continuing to practice daily.