WIDE AWAKE

DISTINCTION#7

ENLIGHTENMENT

VERSUS

AWAKENED

“The real meaning of enlightenment is to gaze with undimmed eyes on all darkness.” ~ Nikos Kazantzakis

Am I enlightened? Have I experienced a shift? A click? Has my knowledge and practice endowed me with the title of enlightened? Not for a second and for what purpose? To call myself a teacher? A leader? To say that I have made it? To where exactly? There are many systems, gurus and methods that claim to offer enlightenment; this elusive state where finally, it all clicks and you are free from the mediocrity and stresses of the human condition, a place where you can be above the physical trappings and struggles of the world; in a bubble, floating in the spirit of knowing and ahhh, peace.

EITHER/OR?

Say the word, enlightenment, and it conjures up images of Birkenstocks, Buddhist Monks, hours of meditation, yoga positions designed for a gymnast, Yoda, (of course!) and the denial of all fun things. Enlightenment, as it is often described in spiritual, self-help, personal development and religious circles, presupposes a path, a way or a method, a destination and ultimately -completion. It often implies: no more pain, no more suffering, no more confusion. It also presupposes a separation from the old you, to the new you and those who are and those who are not. Enlightenment has an elusive quality; like searching for a unicorn or a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, with only a few dedicated and disciplined souls ever attaining it. It is the endless pursuit of a state of joy and bliss and as often taught, comes as the reward for refuting the human experience and thus the mental noise and ego. It is believed to be the ideal state and the ultimate job of being here, in this experience. And my friends, it seems damn hard to obtain and maintain. It creates an impossible paradigm of either/or: Either I am seeking or I am ignorant? Either I am spiritually realized or I am not? Either I am awakened or I am asleep? Either I am peaceful or I am stressed? Either I am enlightened or I am HUMAN?!

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

Without seeking, there is nothing missing, without trying to, there is simply being and without fixing, there is accepting. This is the distinction between enlightenment and awakened. Awakened is not about attainment or continual self-improvement. It is about the awareness of what it is; it is being present to your presence. Being present means to put your attention on the moment; you in the moment. It is a light-hearted, yet bold awareness of life; your thoughts, emotions, habits and experiences; being neither condemned by, nor ignoring; simply aware. It is about exploration, not in an endless attempt to improve, but to know more fully. No longer armed with tools, methodology, expert advice and sure-fire systems, the “work” of today is about allowing the energy and flow of life to move through and around you. Learning from and growing because of experiences, not disconnecting and disowning any part or aspect. Awakening to the thoughts, emotions and actions that keep you feeling separate from yourself and others. The goal of enlightenment is to rise above the human experience. The goal of awakening is to express your very soul within it. Enlightenment when defined as, the illumination of your true self, is simply awakening to what already is.

 “...the past gives you an identity and the future holds the promise of salvation, of fulfillment in whatever form. Both are illusions.”

~ Eckhart Tolle

I SEE YOU…

As a life coach I will offer tools and encouragement to help you improve your life, but I believe my ultimate role is to remind you of who you already are; your wisdom and your best answers. I want you to drop the continual search and practice of self-development, improvement and fixing. I want you to stop seeking and looking and striving.  I see you and I want to honor your strengths, your needs, your values and live in the present. It is an unveiling and a clearing of the fog, so you can be revealed. In the awakened, aware and exploring sate, you do not lose the mental chatter, but rather, you become curious about it. You do not magically “lose your mind” but rather alter your relationship to it. No one tool, guru, life coach or anything else for that matter, will make you feel what you could chose to feel right now, self-love. You do not need to give up, renounce, practice or do anything for that. So, there is nothing to wait for. Life is already complete, as it is and everything is already included. Do you see? You can awaken right now to your life and the beauty of your presence.

Enlightenment: A place, seeking, rejecting human condition, either/or, not good enough, limitations, future state, The end.

Awakened: Here and now, being, embracing human experience, it is, enough is good, illuminations, present state, The beginning...