While it is true that there are many equally viable routes up the apparent mountain that is Enlightenment (indeed, as many routes as there are sentient beings currently alive – billions upon billions of equally worthy Pathways to Peace), it is just as true that none of those routes are viable in theory alone – that none of them can come into true Being until they are courageously enlivened. With that in mind, the information that follows is offered to help put the theory into practice – to bring the philosophy into bring – to make the Peace of Enlightenment a reality. Of course, as with the effectuation of any concept, we can often better identify what is necessary by first explaining what isn’t. As such, feel free to humbly ponder (& thereafter courageously pro-act) the following …

*Enlightenment does not require subservience to an external authority or a giving in to a “higher power.” While Zone 1 advocates & Zone 2 acolytes both disagree with this notion,¹ Zone 3 adherents are those who have decided to cease searching for God and start acting as bold agents thereof instead.

 

 

*Enlightenment does not require “becoming a good person” (Zone 1) or exuding “personal growth” (Zone 2). Instead, Zone 3 enthusiasts know that every single sentient being is inherently “good enough” – that no improvement or betterment is needed whatsoever for Enlightenment to blossom forth, and that said blossoming occurs fully & instantaneously in every instant one chooses to act accordingly – by choosing to Love anyway (especially when least inclined to do so).

 

 

*Enlightenment does not require one to surround oneself with “good friends” (Zone 1‘s manipulation of circumstance – including manufacturing a “positive environment”) or live with “healthy people” (Zone 2‘s “improvement” of interaction – including learning from “wise teachers”), nor do its members attack those who are “mean” (Zone 1) or establish “healthy boundaries” against those who are aggressive (Zone 2). Instead, champions of the Zone 3 way of living – those who are truly Enlightened – immerse themselves fully & care-fully into whatever their current environment might hold; especially the encounters therein that provide the greatest opportunity to Care, those therein that are discordant or discomforting or frustrating or frightening.

 

 

*Enlightenment does not require that one “deal effectively” with the ego – neither regularly submitting to its whims (Zone 1) nor persistently struggling to diffuse its inclinations (Zone 2). In contrast, all Zone 3 contributors are fully aware that engaging either of the aforementioned is wholly counterproductive – with both actually being choices that strengthen the ego & increase the amount of suffering that stems therefrom. Indeed, Zone 3 patrons are the ones who know that it is impossible to consciously transcend one’s instinctual selfishness without the inadvertent assistance of the ego. It is only when awash in fear or anger that one can offer the most potent Love; it is only when surrounded by the darkness that one can beam a most brilliant light.

 

 

*Enlightenment does not require “getting over” life’s moments of sadness or frustration – neither via soaking in pleasurable experiences (Zone 1 – e.g. physical addictions, fun activities, etc), nor by steeping in soothing practices (Zone 2 – e.g. repentance,² prayer, meditation, visualization, affirmation, etc). No, the enliveners of Zone 3 know quite differently – namely that there is only one tried & tested solution for any instance of anxiety or despair; the solution that has one setting aside all personal hopes & individual desires in favor of boldly reaching out to those in need nearby. In this way pain is neither callously coddled nor counterproductively countered, but rather willfully harnessed instead; used as a potent intensifier of any & all loving choices made concurrently or immediately thereafter.

 

*Enlightenment does not require making “self loving” decisions – neither overtly advancing one’s own benefit (the active selfishness of Zone 1 – “Just DO it” & “Enjoy your life”) nor passively choosing to “find the True Self” (the mental selfishness of Zone 2 – “Just go within” & “BE in the moment”). No, Zone 3 adherents are aware that real Enlightenment creates a sort of “choiceless awareness” – a state of moral comprehension where selfish alternatives are recognized as available and yet only selfless options known to be viable; generating a seemingly spontaneous state of ethical being – one that flagrantly transcends the ego, by actively seeking to further the benefit of the other regardless of previous obligations to others that strive to bind &/or potential consequences to self that seek to dissuade.

 

 

*As a penultimate point of distinction, whereas Zone 1 servants think that “waking up” is inherently illusory (i.e. that they are “only human” and thus that frequent slips into selfish sin are inevitable – making Enlightenment an unattainable end) and Zone 2 accomplices believe that “waking up” is immensely stressful (i.e. that they too are “only human” – that though Enlightenment is possible, it is only possible for the rare few; those who endure a requisitely arduous process – one that requires diligent practice & focused learning over an extended period of time), supporters of the Zone 3 alternative know that Waking UP is an instantaneous event³ that is fully available to all sentient beings in every moment of their lives – if they have both the humility to compassionately See others nearby, and the resolve to boldly act in selfless accordance therewith.

 

 

*In essence then, while Zone 1 satellites think like the powerful think (amazed by the beautiful and terrified by the disquieting) and Zone 2 crusaders think like the “moral” think (thankful for the beautiful and hopeful for the disquieting), Zone 3 participants think like the conscience thinks (inspired to announce & share the beautiful and motivated to love & care for the disquieting) – and exhibit the same accordingly.

 

 

“Insight into the existence of the True Self is purchased only via the price of great suffering; the suffering that is so acute as to wipe out all worldly prejudices and preoccupations of the ego. Indeed, every deep disappointment or profound disillusionment is, in this sense, a stepping stone forward along the Way, to Peace – as long as they are each accepted with insight as the fountains of inspiration they are, and not as wellsprings of resignation or bitterness … In truth, those who are clear about their newfound commitment to unconditional Love become like mountains; remaining ever steady especially when the surrounding weather becomes wild and tempestuous. It is crucial to keep this Truth in mind, and yet far more critical still to keep it alive in times dire or disturbing.” ~ via Marie-Louise von Franz & Pema Chodron

 

 

A simple recipe for Enlightenment:

Awareness of nearby discord/dis-ease
Compassion known for the suffering
Tactile Kindness offered to the same

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Filed under: Enlightening Enlightenment by Scaughdt