Enlightenment Does it matter?

Now and then one hears or reads declarations or observations from our fellow journeyers, seekers or otherwise, regarding the ‘wisdom’ of those who have apparently seen the ‘Light,’ as opposed to those poor less developed souls who are seemingly still deluded and in the dark. One imagines some such lament as: “If only they knew what I know; if they would just see it my way, they also could see the light.” Sometimes, one even starts a practice, or a spiritual teaching, so that others can join in and learn to see the light and speak the truth. Then sometimes they become missionaries, or crusaders, and all hell breaks loose. And that’s all fine; they all have their place and role to play -- albeit the success rate is not always encouraging, and the drop-out rate is often tellingly high.

But one senses that such distinctions as: true-self vs. illusory-self, enlightened-self vs. unenlightened-self, etc, are all just the same old dualistic trap of ‘self vs. not-self,’ or ‘us vs. them.’ Are they not just more discriminatory relativistic labels, categories and beliefs? It seems that as soon as there is a sole identification or attachment with one or the other, once again, that vexing, exclusive, dualistic state of rejection, judgment, distrust and fear, which one has spiritually endeavored to leave behind, suddenly reappears. But alas, it would be hypocritical judge the judges in the dualistic state. Same damn trap!

Yet one also senses that at the instant when any so-called ‘truly’ enlightened identity, as well as any so-called ‘illusory’ un-enlightened identity are accepted as one and the same equal expression and experience of Divine grace, at that point, all such limiting, divisive discrimination such as ‘real’ and ‘illusory’ becomes redundant, irrelevant and meaningless. Instead, with a worldview of empathy, wonderment, acceptance and unconditional love, there is no longer any need to see an imperfect self in need of, or seeking some special state, or knowledge, or practice, or teacher to fix a perceived ‘problem.’ Rather, one simply sees a natural state of being, whatever its unique or non-conforming expression or experience, that is always perfectly being itself, doing what it needs to do, and sensing, in its heart of hearts, a way to live freely, effortlessly, gracefully, fearlessly (enlightened or not) as the ineffable Source of its being.

And so, living as an embodiment of that divine state of being, all identities are of equal value, all have a valid reason to be, thus all of its expressions and experiences must be allowed to be, because in the timelessness of the Tao -- to quote an old rock band, and an ancient King -- ”To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” And no discrimination or segregation or limitation need be imposed or desired. Our dualistic conceptual prisons can then disappear. Whether they were real or illusory in the first place matters not -- we are free of them at last. But even as some ‘prisons’ and ‘prisoners’ still remain, they must be accepted. All realities must be allowed to be, for however long they need to be, to serve their own innate, unique purpose. Nothing is ‘wrong’ with them. When the time is ripe for them, they too will be set free.

Oh, and by the way, suffering is also allowed. Indeed, it seems to be a very powerful, and often a necessary motivator that challenges us to escape from those imaginary conceptual prisons, which, for whatever reason, we apparently need to construct.

Disclaimer: this is not a teaching, a practice, or even necessarily true, except insofar as you believe or imagine it to be. No seekers were harmed in the making of this ad. :]]