Enlightenment is the emergence of the self

I haven't read a thread like this in a while and from what I can tell many people are craving these kinds of conversations as a diversion from the left right paradigms.

Let's talk about enlightenment. I'll start with a quote.

Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed nonage. Nonage is the inability to use one's own understanding without another's guidance. This nonage is self-imposed if its cause lies not in lack of understanding but in indecision and lack of courage to use one's own mind without another's guidance.

Immanuel Kant

Thinking for yourself. First, this would involve a process of self actualization.

Who/ what am I?

Columbia.edu

This enlightenment requires nothing but freedom--and the most innocent of all that may be called "freedom": freedom to make public use of one's reason in all matters. Now I hear the cry from all sides: "Do not argue!" The officer says: "Do not argue--drill!" The tax collector: "Do not argue--pay!" The pastor: "Do not argue--believe!" Only one ruler in the world says: "Argue as much as you please, but obey!" We find restrictions on freedom everywhere. But which restriction is harmful to enlightenment? Which restriction is innocent, and which advances enlightenment? I reply: the public use of one's reason must be free at all times, and this alone can bring enlightenment to mankind.

How many of you reductionist scientist have applied this mentality to your research?

How many of you read and believe?

This is all easy to say, but how do we get here??

To me we begin with the process of self actualization. I think this requires isolation, time alone and time to think. For I find running long distance to be one of the best methods to isolate and think. Not just think but pay attention and remember what crosses your mind on the journey. Write it down and contemplate the axiom's of your thought process and find their true meaning. Meditation is also a key factor.

Wiki on Age of Enlightenment

René Descartes' rationalist philosophy laid the foundation for enlightenment thinking. His attempt to construct the sciences on a secure metaphysical foundation was not as successful as his method of doubt applied in philosophic areas leading to a dualistic doctrine of mind and matter. His skepticism was refined by John Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690) and David Hume's writings in the 1740s. His dualism was challenged by Spinoza's uncompromising assertion of the unity of matter in his Tractatus (1670) and Ethics (1677).

These laid down two distinct lines of Enlightenment thought: first, the moderate variety, following Descartes, Locke and Christian Wolff, which sought accommodation between reform and the traditional systems of power and faith, and second, the radical enlightenment, inspired by the philosophy of Spinoza, advocating democracy, individual liberty, freedom of expression and eradication of religious authority.[15][16] The moderate variety tended to be deistic, whereas the radical tendency separated the basis of morality entirely from theology. Both lines of thought were eventually opposed by a conservative Counter-Enlightenment, which sought a return to faith.[17] German philosopher Immanuel Kant In the mid-18th century, Paris became the center of an explosion of philosophic and scientific activity challenging traditional doctrines and dogmas.

As you can see the light-bearers influence on the modern world with this kind of thinking. The main point here is the challenging of EVERYTHING. Challenge every thought, every paradigm, believe nothing and relearn EVERYTHING from scratch.

Leave no stone under turned. The earth is round? Prove it. The earth is flat? Prove it.

What is the earth?
What is space?
What is the self?
What is god?
Who am I?

These are the fundamental questions you should leave up to no one but your own reasoning and logic. To me this is a quest, a philosophy of illumination.

Enlightment for some reason people fail to understand it due to religious beliefs. But when the adult mind is in harmony (good) with the persons thoughts (think of doing charity work) enlightment speaks to us, maybe in a way that our Creator speaks to us when we pray for wisdom.

a reply to: musicismagic

I think people do not understand it because they fail to define it. How can your mind be in harmony if it's not actually you? I think it's a path of seeking truth and real freedom.

enlightment speaks to us, maybe in a way that our Creator speaks to us when we pray for wisdom.

Ahhhh, deep thought and descriptive. I know what you mean.

7 "Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will
find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.
8 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks

Mathew 7:7-8

a reply to: toysforadults


Logic test.

Who is bigger? Mr. Bigger, Mrs. Bigger or their baby?

originally posted by: highvein
a reply to: toysforadults


Logic test.

Who is bigger? Mr. Bigger, Mrs. Bigger or their baby?

They all are, obviously.

I definitely do not agree with this. The "self" is an illusion. All that exists is All and God/Godhead.

a reply to: toysforadults

Cool thread. I think about this stuff because I'm alone a lot and it makes life seem less lonely.

I sometimes drive at night, to clear my head, to think things through. We have these stupid roadmice. They are probably normal mice but I call them roadmice.

Stupid things. If they are at the roadside and see headlights approaching, best I can figure is that they get excited by the light, and they run out in the road to be in the glorious light. And then. Squish.

I sometimes think that's what enlightenment really is.

a reply to: IndyFront

Then that is the self.

a reply to: DictionaryOfExcuses

Maybe there is a reason for that?

Imagine if the leaders of the age of enlightenment hadn't had spent time in isolation?

Also. Yes like a deer in the headloghts. Its a sort of blessing and course to carry.

But theres obviously a place for it in the unuverse.

a reply to: IndyFront

Yes but when you play Super Mario, you eat the shrooms, you teleport through complex tube networks, you turn into a flying raccoon, you save the princess. You are Mario.

a reply to: DictionaryOfExcuses

I believe he is refering to the teachinga of Hermes from the Emerald Tablets.

Personally I'm a fan.

originally posted by: IndyFront
I definitely do not agree with this. The "self" is an illusion. All that exists is All and God/Godhead.

And everything interwoven and interconnected to make one thing, which if you get rid of the misconception that there is a "self" will become known to you.

Some call it the Tapestry.

a reply to: toysforadults

Though I'm not familiar with the Emerald Tablets, I didn't intend to come off dismissively toward the other poster.

If all there is is one everliving God, solely by which the self is manifest, it is an unequivocal declaration to me that the illusion is purposeful. Like a lesson. Maybe the ultimate lesson is that the self is an illusion. Sometimes it seems like irony is the language of life.

a reply to: DictionaryOfExcuses

I guess the self can be an illusion but can the illusion also be that there is anything else but self?

Am I the godhead/all? The mind?

Enlightenment is an illusion.
It can be a goal but one never realized.

a reply to: Asktheanimals

You mean man cannot emerge from his own self imposed nonage?

originally posted by: Asktheanimals
Enlightenment is an illusion.
It can be a goal but one never realized.

Enlightenment is only learned when someone tells you about it and then you become a dreamer of the state of enlightenment in your life only when you think about it.
It comes down to a feel good mental awareness of the present state of mind. And it helps if you are smoke pot.

a reply to: musicismagic

It is possible for enlightenment to happen without even having heard of the word 'enlightenment'.

a reply to: toysforadults

the self is the part that is unattached and yet symbiotic with the whole, the veil is in place so that all we experience is effects our emotions as if new and fist experienced evolving feelings as we tumble through existence in a closed loop that only ends when we have maxed out all possibilities of experience
.... Or not. Cause i know nothing.
It's chaos out there.

a reply to: toysforadults

Who is thinking?
Is there really a thinker of thought?
Can you notice that thought simply appears and disappears in the ever present aware space that never comes or goes.