Awakening or Enlightenment: The Journey or the Destination?

Is spiritual enlightenment a destination to be reached, or is it a lifelong journey? This question has long divided spiritual thinkers and those seeking a deeper understanding of their existence. While some view enlightenment as a goal to be achieved by mastering certain spiritual practices, others see it as an ongoing personal journey of self-discovery.

Engaging in Spiritual Practices

To achieve spiritual enlightenment, individuals may engage various practices. These include purifying the mind, letting go of material attachments, transcending the ego, embracing the fear of the unknown, and having patience with a gradual process rather than expecting immediate results. These practices often lead to a profound sense of peace, joy, selflessness, oneness, and unity with the universe.

Advaita Nonduality

According to Advaita (nonduality) philosophy, spiritual enlightenment is not about reaching a new state or transcending the self. Instead, it is about recognizing one's true nature. Advaita teaches that each person is fundamentally pure awareness and that a true journey is about realizing this awareness right here and now.

Recognizing the Pure Being

Advaita claims that there is only one ultimate reality: pure awareness, which is eternal, timeless, and infinite. This pure awareness has many names, including pure consciousness, atman, brahman, sat-chit-ananda, god, true self, and pure peace. It does not have any form, beginning, or dimension, and it does not act or desire. It is self-luminous and recognizes itself by being itself.

The world appears to emerge from this pure awareness and is known by it. However, the mind, influenced by past conditioning, may not recognize its true nature and may believe it is a separate, finite entity. This belief can lead to feelings of lack, incompleteness, and discontent. To overcome this, the mind must undergo a process of inquiry, contemplation, and intuitive exploration of its own nature.

Principles for Spiritual Practice

Systematically inquire into the true source or nature of the mind by studying spiritual teachings on pure awareness. Regularly contemplate these teachings to gain a deep and clear understanding of the true nature of the mind. Practice shifting attention away from transient thoughts and experiences and explore the nature of this non-objectifiable source of awareness.

As apparent ignorance diminishes, one can recognize their true nature without a sense of doership. This recognition is not about achieving a new state or experiencing a grand revelation. Rather, it is about self-recognition: recognizing oneself by being oneself.

Conclusion

The recognition of one's true nature is a direct, non-objective experience. It cannot be quantified or studied objectively because there is no subject-object duality involved. This recognition is not a journey to a new place but a return to one's inherent peace and fulfillment.