now some people see enlightenment for sages and mystics, that it brings a person further away from reality and that enlightened people are above everyone, which is a completely false perception. enlightened people are just like everyone else. however, this article states that “Part of the problem is Enlightenment can mean many things. Bringing light to dark places, bringing clarity, and perceiving the truth are a few different interpretations. But ultimately, Enlightenment is understanding your true nature. It’s the realization that you are not a separate ego, you are the eternal, unbounded energy of the universe.” The same article explains that enlightenment helps you realize:

* Death and birth are an illusion.
* Life is a dream with the brain awake.
* Beliefs are subjective. Something is only true if you believe it is.
* Life is essentially one, everything is consciousness.
* You are eternal and there is no reason to fear death, or anything for that matter. Essentially, if you are experiencing fear, there’s a bug in your consciousness.
* What you do to others, you are really doing to yourself.
* You know yourself through the difference of others, you perceive in others the reflection of yourself. i.e. if you think everyone else is an asshole, it just might be you.
* Because we are all one, compassion and love become the highest principles.

so in reality it means “living life more fully, passionately and fearlessly.” these are all characteristics which i have begun to see in my own life over the past year or two as my own personal growth evolves. in addition to those points above, there are also a series of agreements i have made with myself to recover my personal freedom again: using the power of my word to go with myself rather than against it; never taking anything anyone does or says personally; no longer make assumptions as it only creates a lot of unnecessary drama in the end (don’t assume others know what i’m thinking or how i feel), don’t believe myself and my inner voice of knowledge when that voice is used against me; and, listen to what other people have to say, but don’t believe what they tell me unless i feel they are speaking from their integrity.

i wouldn’t say i am totally enlightened, but definitely feel that with these ideas in mind that it is the direction i am heading towards in order to bring about a greater feeling of inner peace.