The Final Stages of Enlightenment
05/26/07
Like me, if you are looking for
enlightenment—most of you will have missed the boat—it sailed a very long time
ago.
I retired early in my life—almost seven years ago. Like many I spent much
of my life working and raising a family or two. I reached a point at about 50
years old when I decided I had enough. Actually I decided that long before I
retired. I knew there had to be something more than what I was doing. Certainly
I didn’t let any moss grow under my feet. I owned several businesses and worked
for a few. My vocations were highly varied, ranging from electronics, to fur
trapping, to writing and more.
I have several children and have had many lovers and relationships. My
life has always been built around people and yet I am very reclusive and absent
from friendship circles and social interaction. People who know me don’t
understand that, thinking just the opposite—when it’s business—I’m right in
there. Most of this reclusive ness is self imposed. I have a really poor memory
when it comes to names. I won’t remember you name ten seconds after you tell me.
So, because I have forgotten your name, I will try to avoid you if I see you. I
am not sure if I am reclusive because of this or I am forgetful because I want
to be reclusive.
This alienation from people has helped me in the last seven years to give
much attention to my reading and writing. I am still working part time as a
sales person, so I am in contact with people 4 hours a day. I have rationalized
my introverted life even further by acknowledging I don’t like soap operas,
drama, and gossip. I find conversations with others filled with much of this
stuff. I do not want to always be serious either—I think we all take ourselves
too seriously. But conversations don’t have to be judgmental, disempowering, or
about personalities.
I have devoted the last sever years to finding enlightenment. It’s what I
have written about in the hundreds of articles I have on the internet and in my
published books. My searching ended some time ago when I realized I was chasing
my tail, yet I continue to write and I have another book coming out this year
(hopefully). I have moved away past my next book already, and have just
completed proofing it; I have considered not publishing it because of this. I
also reminded myself, although the book is about my journey, others will benefit
from it as they have the first one.
Every one of my articles or books represents another step along my path
to enlightenment, and yet all those steps keep bringing me back to where I
started and where I am now. I have not really traveled anywhere.
Enlightenment is the process, the path—we are all enlightened creatures.
Enlightenment is not a place or the end of the trip. It is not possible to find
it because it does not exist. Enlightenment comes to those who know they are
already enlightened. It is the present moment of which you are aware of that is
real. You do not live in the past, nor can you live in the future—there is only
now--enlightenment is only now.
The universe is constantly moving and so does enlightenment. It is as
though chasing your shadow—every time you move, so does your shadow.
One can only spend their time looking for enlightenment and it is
something we do, because we can—it is a vocation with no diploma or degree. You
will not find the gold at the end of the enlightened rainbow. It is no different
than spending a life-time driving a cab, healing people, or building
skyscrapers—it’s just a job.
Trying to figure out who we are brings opportunities for exploration and
exploitation—denying the obvious keeps us looking. All kinds of institutions and
beliefs revolve around the misplaced conception that we are not really who we
are. Many people will take advantage of this belief and make money off your
ignorance. Life is all there is—it is this moment and your circumstances—this is
enlightenment.
Every question I have asked, always leads to another question, and
another, and the answer always leads back to me. The mystery of life is created
by you—therefore the answers to the mystery you have created always lie with
you. You are creating the questions and the answers.
It is your nature to create, and then ask yourself why you did it. The
answer always leads back to the question—we do it because we can. As in the
innocence of a small child, the answer is simple—I did it because! At that point
we want to know what “because” is, and we make the whole thing too complicated.
It is not easy, and for most impossible to accept the obvious—you are
already enlightened!
Roy is a resident of British Columbia, Canada. An international published author, a student of NLP, spiritual philosopher, New Age Light Worker, Teacher and Phenomenologist. Roy's books and articles are thought provoking, and designed to empower your imagination.
Review Roy's new book at: http://www.yourlifewasnevermeanttobeastruggle.com
