Siro Samadhi:
This isn't a claim to an attainment, but I figure this board would suit the question best. There are without a doubt many differing views around the world, from tradition to tradition, on what Enlightenment is. I could list a hundred right now off the top of my head. For example, a pattern I have noticed in many of the different meditation traditions is that what one tradition calls enlightenment, is merely considered an attainment that is gained on the way to enlightenment in another tradition. Such as some traditions seeing someone with powers as enlightened, but other traditions seeing powers as merely gained on the way to enlightenment, and enlightenment being something totally immaterial and undefinable on its own.
I personally have an open mind about what enlightenment is. I could not definitely say for sure, and even if I reached a point that some traditions might call enlightenment, I would still be hesitant to call myself enlightened. These are just labels. Labels do not change the reality of the content.
So what do you think? What is your opinion on enlightenment? If you had to describe it in as many, or as little words as possible?
Enlightenment is the shifting of consciousness from the gross perspective of individualism to the accurate perspective of unanimity.
Enlightenment is the death of the 6 senses and the birth of the spirit, the unified fundamental nature of the manifest and the unmanifest.
Enlightenment is clarity of awareness such as a cloudless sky.
Enlightenment is the end of service to self and the beginning of service to others.
If Creation symbolizes the harmonic half of the coin and Destruction symbolizes the disharmonic half of the coin, Enlightenment would symbolize the coin itself.
Enlightenment is knowing you are just a wave riding above and below the waters, appearing as a separate cause but knowing that separation is only in appearance.
Enlightenment is knowing the beginning and therefore knowing the ending.
Enlightenment is the manifestation of God remembering Itself.