The goal of yoga is “self-realization”. The state of consciousness of a self-realized person is referred to as “enlightened”. The normal meaning of enlightenment is having a “full comprehension of the situation”. It refers to having “seen the light” and understand what was formerly hidden and confusing. In Yogic terms enlightenment refers to an egoless state of consciousness. In such a state confusion and ignorance is dispelled.
There are millions who practice various forms of yoga. But the number of people who attain enlightenment is relatively small. Why is it so? Why is enlightenment difficult?
One reason is that the ideas associated with Enlightenment are not easy to grasp. This is because we are accustomed to live through our ego. All our striving and our thinking happen from within the ego. How then can we act so as to diminish our ego itself? It is like cutting the branch one is sitting on.
Imagine that there is a fire in a building and you are trapped on the third floor. Your only escape is to hang from the third floor balcony and jump into the balcony on the second floor. Though the gap between the two is not much you are scared to do this. This is because to jump to the second floor you have to let go of the third floor. There is a period of time when “you are neither here nor there”. How can you let go of your grip on the third floor railing without the assured feeling of landing safely on the second floor? But here is the dilemma: you cannot land on the second floor till you let go of the third floor.
One of the reason why enlightenment is difficult for many is that we are not willing to let go. The sage Ramana Maharshi taught that to attain self-realization we have to remind ourselves “we are not the body”. Once we are convinced that our true identity resides not with the mind-body but the soul then we should find it easier to let it go. A disciple once asked Ramana Maharshi: “Why can’t I always remember that I am not the body?” The sage smiled and replied, “Because you haven’t had enough of it!”
So here is a simple truth: Enlightenment is difficult only because we are not willing to let go of the way we currently express consciousness. Yet to those who have attained enlightenment, it is the most natural way of being. Some enlightened beings express genuine wonder why would anybody choose to live any other way.
For those who do not know how to ride the bike, it seems like the most difficult thing to do. How can one maintain balance on two wheels? Isn’t it impossible to attain balance and at the same time navigate the bike? But once you “get it” there is nothing difficult about riding a bike. But there is no way to describe how to do it except to tell the novice to just get on the bike and pedal away.
There may be various techniques to teach someone how to ride a bike: some may want to start with training wheels and others may want to start on a low bike. But whatever technique you use, in the end you have to go out and do it. There is no point to jump from technique to technique. Whatever technique you use just stick with it.
Learning to get to the enlightened state is something similar. There may be various techniques to get there. But in the end you have to stop reading about different techniques and comparing them. Instead you should just select one and run with it. And at some point you will come to a place where you will have to make the leap. Will you hesitate and turn back or take the jump?
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Credits:This has been written by Raj Shah and edited by Ketna Shah.