“The Buddha talked about saving all beings from delusion, not converting them to a new religion.” – Buddhism Now
I thought it would be good to clear this up: Religion has nothing to do with enlightenment. Period.
Enlightenment is the realisation that we are already awake and already experiencing Reality.
Throughout history, beings have become enlightened and tried to teach others how to do the same. I suspect many of those others do not understand what is being offered to them and so, years (or generations) later, they write down what everyone can remember of the words of their now dead teacher and turn it into a book.
They remember some of the practices of their leader and they try to follow them, no longer understanding their purpose. Before you know it a new religion has been born, with beliefs and opinions and rules. The new religion will separate itself from the other religions and play the game of "we are right and you are wrong."
The Enlightenment preceded the religion.
In later years some adherents of the new religion will attain enlightenment and will express their new view of Reality to other members of their religion, realising that they have gone astray. Usually this results in their own death.
Religions do not want truth. Religions want followers.
If you are holding back from investigating enlightenment because you think it is a religious thing, be assured that it is not.
Enlightenment (or Liberation) is a Reality thing. It is a shift in perception. It is an experiential realisation that the ego self does not exist. An enlightened being becomes the Awakeness.
If you are in a religion and you experience enlightenment, be warned that your beliefs and opinions will fall away.
Beliefs and opinions belong to the ego self. The Awakeness exists before language.
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