The What-Is-Not

[Patti]

In this case, there is a specific answer I am looking for. If you understand, great. If not, keep trying until you either do understand, or no longer wish to understand.

If enlightenment is anything it's objective. It's hard to argue objective truth's in a post-modern world where the paradigm is to honor an infinite, multitude of beliefs/perceptions/feelings; which to do so you have to take complete objectivity out of every object and replace it with subjective, mind-dependent judgement's of the subject/individual. This is a paradigm I'm sympathetic towards in political and social matters. But like I said, if enlightenment is anything it's objective. It isn't a judgement; it's completely prior to judgement - it's uncolored perception. Perception prior to judgement. We all perceive therefore we are all enlightened; it's just a degree of how aware we are that we're enlightened beings that is the difference:

"The word enlightenment conjures up the idea of some superhuman accomplishment, and the ego likes to keep it that way, but it is simply your natural state of felt oneness with Being."

The reason I quoted the Koan "the finger that points to the moon, is not the moon" was to highlight how dependent judgement's are on linguistics. It seems obvious that the finger isn't the moon; that the word isn't the thing it represent's but it can be a subtle trap that we all fall into. We look at the candle and we project our linguistic judgement of what we think it is onto it. Language could be man's greatest achievement, but it can also get him very lost at times.

1. The world is an illusion
2. Brahman alone is real
3. Brahman is the world

or the trinity:

1. The father
2. The Son
3. The Holy Spirit

in other words:

1. God is the first cause
2. God is his physical creation; pantheism
3. God is consciousness; you and me as conscious beings. (see also the Hindu, atman brahman relationship)

When we look at the flame we are simply looking at a reflection of ourself; ourself that we created.

Wow! I always enjoy reading your post however my head hurts a little from this one, but it's early and I haven't had my coffee yet. lol Quite interesting indeed!