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I believe I have reached enlightenment

I believe I have reached enlightenment
Answer
11/11/13 10:25 PM
Hello and thanks for taking a look at my claim. My name is Justin and I am 25 years old. I have lived my whole entire life with a physical deformity that caused my arms to be about an inch and a half shorter than what they are suppose to be. This has caused me tremendous amount of suffering which has lead me to where I am today, enlightened I believe. I started reading into Buddhism and meditating about two years ago. My enlightenment occurred this weekend after having an amazing time at the Renaissance Festival. Throughout my teen years I was quite heavy into psychedelics and would have such a great time on them. I had no worries and was always having fun. As I got older I began to question the fun, and wonder if this was genuinely a gift from our creator or if it was just something that appeared fun, but ultimately causes problems down the road. This led me to have multiple bad experiences while on psychedelics. Well finally, as I learned Buddhism, I decided not to partake in any tripping activities ever again. I was tired of the feeling and didn't want to do anything harmful to my body anymore. I was good up until this past weekend, when I was invited to the Faire with some friends. I took a psychedelic and began to have a bad trip. Worrying, am I a bad person for doing this? Is this killing me? Constantly, I was debating whether or not I should have taken the trip. I looked like a mess to any outside person I'm sure. After about 5 hours of debating with myself if I am doing the right thing, I remember that Buddha said something to the effect of, "He who walks into the woods to meditate, is Buddha." As soon as I remember that, I see a path heading straight into the woods surrounding the Faire campgrounds. I thought to myself after all this mediation could it seriously be this easy? So, instead of debating whether or not I was doing something right or wrong, I decided to just drop it and meditate. I walked deep into the woods, mind you I was still heavily tripping, I sat down, and began to try and concentrate on my breath. It was difficult because my mind kept pulling me to the drug and the thoughts I was having. But after about 10 seconds I finally had a grasp on my in and out breath. Then clarity SWEPT over me, I had a visual thought of a check mark being checked, and visuals of everything I have ever gone through having a purpose and that someone or something has noticed the troubles I have been through and how I have went about solving them and they appreciate me. Someone acknowledged my suffering when I was out there. I immediately began running back to my campsite with a sense of happiness that I can't explain. I couldn't stop from smiling and it felt like I was a kid again running through the woods jumping over broken branches. It was definitely the most intense spiritual experience I have ever had.

RE: I believe I have reached enlightenment
Answer
11/11/13 11:06 PM as a reply to Justin Riley Harris.
Line breaks, my friend - learn to use them and use them well.

RE: I believe I have reached enlightenment
Answer
11/12/13 12:10 AM as a reply to Beoman Claudiu Dragon Emu Fire Golem.
Hehe, my apologies.. I hope the message is still clear. :/

RE: I believe I have reached enlightenment
Answer
11/12/13 12:30 AM as a reply to Justin Riley Harris.
AP or another pseudonym. Can't decide.

Nick

RE: I believe I have reached enlightenment
Answer
11/12/13 12:39 AM as a reply to Nikolai ..
Nikolai .:
AP or another pseudonym. Can't decide.

Nick


Read MCTB in the wiki then come back and say what you can relate to in it.

All I see is a wall of words and a nice experience in the woods. Possibly an A & P glimpse but not mastery, what makes a lot of people think they are 'enlightened' or whatever that means to you. Way more info needed like what your current practice is like, what perception is like etc

Nick

RE: I believe I have reached enlightenment
Answer
11/12/13 10:10 AM as a reply to Justin Riley Harris.
Hello and thanks for taking a look at my claim. My name is Justin and I am 25 years old. I have lived my whole entire life with a physical deformity that caused my arms to be about an inch and a half shorter than what they are suppose to be. This has caused me tremendous amount of suffering which has lead me to where I am today, enlightened I believe. I started reading into Buddhism and meditating about two years ago. My enlightenment occurred this weekend after having an amazing time at the Renaissance Festival. Throughout my teen years I was quite heavy into psychedelics and would have such a great time on them. I had no worries and was always having fun.

As I got older I began to question the fun, and wonder if this was genuinely a gift from our creator or if it was just something that appeared fun, but ultimately causes problems down the road. This led me to have multiple bad experiences while on psychedelics. Well finally, as I learned Buddhism, I decided not to partake in any tripping activities ever again. I was tired of the feeling and didn't want to do anything harmful to my body anymore. I was good up until this past weekend, when I was invited to the Faire with some friends. I took a psychedelic and began to have a bad trip. Worrying, am I a bad person for doing this? Is this killing me?

Constantly, I was debating whether or not I should have taken the trip. I looked like a mess to any outside person I'm sure. After about 5 hours of debating with myself if I am doing the right thing, I remember that Buddha said something to the effect of, "He who walks into the woods to meditate, is Buddha." As soon as I remember that, I see a path heading straight into the woods surrounding the Faire campgrounds. I thought to myself after all this mediation could it seriously be this easy? So, instead of debating whether or not I was doing something right or wrong, I decided to just drop it and meditate. I walked deep into the woods, mind you I was still heavily tripping, I sat down, and began to try and concentrate on my breath. It was difficult because my mind kept pulling me to the drug and the thoughts I was having. But after about 10 seconds I finally had a grasp on my in and out breath.

Then clarity SWEPT over me, I had a visual thought of a check mark being checked, and visuals of everything I have ever gone through having a purpose and that someone or something has noticed the troubles I have been through and how I have went about solving them and they appreciate me. Someone acknowledged my suffering when I was out there. I immediately began running back to my campsite with a sense of happiness that I can't explain. I couldn't stop from smiling and it felt like I was a kid again running through the woods jumping over broken branches. It was definitely the most intense spiritual experience I have ever had.


Hey, wait a few weeks and decide whether what you experienced is worth calling enlightenment.

RE: I believe I have reached enlightenment
Answer
11/13/13 4:13 AM as a reply to Justin Riley Harris.
enlightenment takes a little more work than taking schrooms/LSD/RC in the woods and meditating for 10s. If it was that easy most psychonauts would already be super-enlightened emoticon

has your perception changed in any serious way other than just better or more clear. Do you view world in 'here and now' way where 3 characteristics are most apparent fact about reality? Or at least lower level self-less view where experience itself takes place of self but is still 'folded' and believes in its permanence, possibility to get satisfaction and being self?

"He who walks into the woods to meditate, is Buddha."

you have to already be realized to really get this
do you know which woods Buddha really talks about?

and lastly, because you are familiar with visuals from psychedelics: do you know what those visual consist of and where are they 'displayed'? Can you feel and see it? Can you see process or emergence of visuals, how they fold into being and unfold to non-existence? Can you see folding and unfolding of 'self' when it happen (eg. at will)?

if you do not know what the hell I am talking about here then no, you are not yet enlightened because this is kinda basic enlightenment stuff emoticon