Self-realization

 

 

Self-realization is a concept that has become widely popular in the Western world and that has great influence from some Eastern religions. For instance, for the Hindu or Bharat religion, self-realization refers to a profound spiritual awakening where there is an awakening from an illusory self identify image (Ego), to the true, divine, perfect condition that the individual is. The branch of Advaita Vedanta is the one that has especially developed this concept.[1]

Furthermore, the method of meditation Sahaja Yoga, created in 1970 by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, defines self realization as a connection with your self or the first encounter with reality.[2]

One of the definitions in the Western can be found in Merriam Webster's dictionary. It defines self-realization as “fulfillment by oneself of the possibilities of one's character or personality”.[3]

Also, Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, American psychologists, developed the concept of self-actualization in Humanistic Psychology. Maslow defined then self-realization as “the impulse to convert oneself into what one is capable of being.” [4]

Based on Maslow, the most common meaning given to self-realization is that of psychological growth and maturation. It represents the awakening and manifestation of latent potentialities of the human being -for example, ethical, esthetic, and religious experiences and activities.[5]

Aajit K. Das, in the International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, compared and contrasted Maslow and Rogers' concept of self actualization with the concept of self-realization in Vedandic Hinduism and the two major schools of Buddhism: Theravada and Mahayana. The author concluded in this paper that the two concepts complement each other.[6]

Contents

Qualities of self-realized people

According to Maslow, self realized people share the following qualities:

 

Happiness and self-realization

The concept of self-realization states that it is the ultimate goal of a human being to attain permanent happiness and complete independence and freedom from all worldly bondage, and that true happiness is then the result of self-realization.

The concept defines true happiness as the manifested Self. It only seems like a result because it is not felt or known permanently before the ego is removed. As explained by Ramana Maharshi,"Happiness is inherent in man and is not due to external causes. One must realize himself in order to experience his unalloyed happiness. All spiritual scriptures are meant to make man retrace his steps to his original source." [8]

Awareness in self-realization

As taught by Ramana Maharshi, awareness plays a key role in achieving self realization; with awareness, self-realization should be extremely easy to achieve. [9]

See also

 

 

Enlightenment (spiritual)

Enlightened Buddha

Enlightenment in a secular context often means the "full comprehension of a situation",[1]but in spiritual terms the word alludes to a spiritual revelation or deep insight into the meaning and purpose of all things, communication with or understanding of the mind of God, profound spiritual understanding or a fundamentally changed consciousness whereby everything is perceived as a unity.

Some scientists believe that during meditative states leading up to the subjective experience of enlightenment there are actual physical changes in the brain.[2]

Contents

1 Buddhism

2 In other traditions

3 Methodology

Buddhism

Main article: Enlightenment in Buddhism

Enlightenment is used to translate the Pāli and Sanskrit word bodhi, which means a state of freedom from suffering, desire and ignorance known as saṃsāra.[1] Bodhi is also translated as "awakening" or "understanding". Nirvana and Bodhi are nearly synonymous, and in experience may be the same. Tathagata and Buddha-nature are further related terms in Buddhism.

In Theravada Buddhism enlightenment indicates a unique experience which wholly transforms the enlightened individual from their previous condition in samsara.[3] The Buddha is said to have achieved enlightenment, which may also be termed "Buddhahood" (the term being related to bodhi).

In the Zen Buddhist tradition anyone is capable of achieving enlightenment.[4] In Japanese kensho is the name for an enlightenment in which one realizes the non-duality of the observer and the observed, while satori is a flash of sudden understanding or awareness. These are experiences along the path to full enlightenment.[5]

Mahayana Buddhists equate enlightenment with discovery of one's Buddha nature, a state of complete emptiness, a passage beyond the material world into a thought-transcending realm of non-duality and unconditionedness. It is a state where the ego and self have been transcended.[6]

The Heart Sutra says that in truth there is no suffering and no enlightenment[7] and this is also seen in the Diamond Sutra: paradoxically this truth is itself part of the enlightenment experience.

The real truth of enlightenment is that it cannot be described in language, expression or communication of any form.[10]

In other traditions

Hinduism also uses similar ideas, moksha being a representation of freedom from desire and other worldly passions. For Hindus as for Buddhists and Jains, enlightenment ends the cycle of reincarnation. Souls are held to enter many different bodies through the course of their existence. In each of the lives they lead, they develop spiritually. The ultimate goal of this spiritual development is the liberation from the system of earthly suffering. The concept of spiritual enlightenment in Buddhism and Hinduism is related to but distinct from ideas such as salvation and transcendence associated with Christianity.

According to Chafer, a systematic thelogian, Christians who have experienced enlightenment are of two groups: those who have experienced true illuminism (biblical) and those who experienced false illuminism (not from the Holy Spirit).[8] One who through direct communication with God received a mystical understanding of God, is considered to have been enlighted. Judaism and Islam have sects that focus on the attainment of enlightenment: Kabbalah and Sufism, respectively. In the Fourth Way teaching, enlightenment is the highest state of Man (humanity).[9]

In New Age Christianity, enlightenment is obtained by direct infusion from the Sacred Rays. The Sacred Rays are continuous streams of energy, consciousness, love and data from the Godhead that are color coded into 12 different frequencies. This energy is above gamma rays and not observable by current science. Nevertheless, these Rays can supposedly be caught by the higher self's five different chakras, and then absorbed into the meditator's more physical bodies, and retained within the 7 lower chakras, or the seven churches of John's Revelation. There are 12 human chakras in this system, total.

There are also 12 petals on the heart chakra in this system. Specifically, these 12 petals are also designed to catch and hold the 12 sacred energies of enlightenment. The theory goes that as the energy from the 12 Sacred Rays accumulates in the chakras and petals, the higher-self will eventually become activated.

This, in turn, allows the enlightened individual to displace and transcend the selfish ego and quickly develop supernatural abilities, including the fruits and the gifts of the Spirit, perfect peace, the realization of the unity of all things, raise kundalini, and develop the siddhas of Hinduism.

Enlightenment is not accomplished by intellectual insight, dogmatic beliefs, or physical works in this method. It is more a product of dedicated meditation, surrender to Spirit and absorption of God's grace, as contained in the Sacred Rays. This long process ultimately transforms "the old man" into "the new man". It is also considered to be the "New Birth" by New Age Christians.

Methodology

Numerous methods to achieve enlightenment are: Meditation, Yoga, Contemplative Prayer, Martial Arts Kata, Fasting, Exhaustion, Sweat lodges, Psychedelic drugs, Despair, and Near Death Experiences.

See also