What is Enlightenment?

Written by Leigh Martinuzzi 

Immanuel Kant was an 18th-century German Philosopher who wrote an essay in response to questions of enlightenment titled “Answering the Question: What Is Enlightenment?” His thoughts on enlightenment described it as “man’s emergence from his self-incurred immaturity.”

The concept centres around the idea of autonomy suggesting that one’s inability in autonomous thought and action is what keeps oneself immature and stuck and thus preventing enlightenment.

In this article, I wish to answer the question of what enlightenment. I will begin with my definition of enlightenment.

Enlightenment is an ability to live within a deep state of peace and contentment regardless of any pleasure or pain that one may be experiencing in any given moment.

This definition is similar to how Buddhism defines enlightenment. In Buddhist text, enlightenment is considered a final blessed state marked by the absence of desire or suffering. Pleasure and pain are directly correlated with desire and suffering. What we desire is usually backed by intent to move towards pleasure and avoid pain or suffering.

The paths to achieving these states are diverse, and I feel more important in the discussion of what is enlightenment. If enlightenment is a “final” state, it may suggest that the roads there are long. Actually, many Buddhist practitioners say that enlightenment may not be achieved in one lifetime but instead occur after many lifetimes.

Can enlightenment be achieved or reached? Is there purpose in striving towards it, or is it a wasted pursuit?

The best person to answer such questions would be one who has achieved enlightenment. The issue with that, of course, is that a person who has supposedly reached a state of enlightenment is only there based on their self-perceived state of being. Therefore, they are open to judgement by that of another, and it would be difficult to prove anyone’s state of being. Proof can only be found in one’s self-belief. Therefore should anyone else’s belief honestly matter?

If we can agree that enlightenment is marked by an absence of desire and suffering then each individual, in their own manner, can begin to chisel away at sculpting this for their life. Pleasure and pain have an evolutionary purpose. All organisms favour pleasure and seek to avoid discomfort to ensure its survival and while doing so manage to have its genes pass on to the next generation.

Natural selection ensures the best genes are favoured to enhance this process. This would suggest that all life is continually getting better at achieving this. That all life today is significantly more capable of survival and reproduction than past life-forms. At least that is my understanding. One perspective.

The other element to this process is, however, the environment in which life exists. Organisms adapt to their environment. If they did or could not the chance of survival and reproduction would be reduced. Pleasure enables us to protect our genes and adapt to our environment. Pain highlights for what is “bad” or harmful in consequence for meeting life’s ultimate purpose.

If life were to be absent of pain, pleasure, suffering or desire then would the fabric of our existence would be at stake? If true enlightenment is to be free from desire or suffering what implications would that have? Perhaps enlightenment is possible outside of death, to be free from desire and suffering, but then how would we know? Is death nothingness or is there something beyond life?

I’d argue that life cannot be without pleasure and pain. And it is for that reason I believe enlightenment as not the absence of desire and suffering altogether, but a state of being that allows us to live in peace with life regardless of any pleasure or pain that is experienced in any moment. It’s living free from the attachment to pleasure or pain. Easier said than done, of course.

There is trickery in pleasure and pain. It is not easy to identify what pleasure or pain is worth pursuing. In an age of novelty and relative risk-free living, it is difficult to discern what is right and what is not. For what now brings us our highest sense of pleasure or pain is less a matter of life or death and more so a case of what we enjoy or don’t enjoy.

Watching Netflix, drinking beers or avoiding a speech context will have a relatively little impact on our overall well-being and longevity. Compared to the comfort we receive embraced by another’s hug or being highly cautious as we go on a hike to prevent stepping on a brown snake. These are superficial needs versus fundamental needs.

And what role does happiness have to play in all of this? Well, pleasure brings with it happiness as does avoiding pain. That is not to say happiness is the ultimate goal but rather an indication of what is right and what is not as it relates to life’s primary purpose. I’d argue, however, that happiness is indeed life’s greatest motivation. Life is a selfish pursuit!

Happiness comes in many shades and depths. On the one hand, it is momentary and, and on the other, it seems to go on forever. Some thoughts, things and actions bring us joy yet may result in suffering. And others serve no long-term purpose.

Happiness, like pleasure and pain, can trick and it can also show us the path towards enlightenment. Returning now to Immanuel Kant’s essay, to highlight that the path towards enlightenment we must free ourselves from our self-incurred immaturity. And freedom is having the wisdom of what in happiness, desire and suffering serves a purpose to our ultimate survival and what does not.

Wisdom or sapience is the ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight, especially in a mature or utilitarian manner.

This definition borrowed from Wikipedia I feel sums up wisdom perfectly. The wiser we become, usually a consequence of time and experience, the less restricted by external influence we become. The less dependent we are on the guidance and direction of others and society. And wisdom leads to utilitarianism – what is right and useful to the benefit of a majority.

To travel toward any state of enlightenment we must become the autonomous guide of our life. We must free ourselves from the reliance on others when promoting pleasure and avoiding pain. We need to become more attuned to our self-needs.

In a utilitarian sense, we must begin to understand what is useful and practical to our personal state of happiness. And perhaps the best way to do this is by assessing what we desire and what causes us suffering as it relates to other over versus our self. What is good for the majority will be beneficial for us.

Those superficial options we crave in life, short-term fixes, or pain we may experience at a given moment is likely a result of selfish pursuits. Societal conditioning and the quest for modern-day trends have us fishing for more meaning in life. A consequence of a misguided life or self-incurred immaturity.

The path towards enlightenment isn’t to follow the carrots dangled in front of us in the hope of something more. The path towards enlightenment is to guide oneself. To let go of the temptations and misdirection thrown to us externally and embrace our inner peace. Knowing that with wisdom and awareness we are better able to see, what pleasures and pains serve a purposeful life, and what do not. And then we may be able to move into a more profound state of peace regardless of any pleasure or pain that one may be experiencing at any given moment. That is the path towards enlightenment.

End

Further Reading and Resources 

TED Talks: Ideas worth spreading

Psychology Today: Psychology Today is devoted exclusively to everybody’s favourite subject – Ourselves

Life Hack: Tips for Life

Elite Daily: The Voice of Generation Y

Four Hour Work Week: How to escape the 9-5, live anywhere and join the new rich.

The Minimalists: How to pursue a minimalist lifestyle and be happier.

Mind Hacks: Tips and Tricks for Using Your Brain

Rich Roll: Plantpowered Wellness Advocate

The Art of Charm: Build confidence, feel comfortable and networking differently.

American Psychological Association: The largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United State

The Art of Manliness: Encouraging men to be better husbands, fathers, brothers, citizens.

Tiny Buddha: Simple wisdom for complex lives

Brain Pickings: An inventory of cross-disciplinary interestingness, spanning art, science, design, history, philosophy, and more.

Mind Body Green: Lifestyle media brand dedicated to inspiring you to live your best life.

Zen Habits: Find simplicity and mindfulness in life.

Creative NonFiction: “true stories well told.” 

Addicted 2 Success: Motivation & Inspiration Website full of quotes and inspiring articles for entrepreneurs.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree: science-based answers and expert insight on how to be awesome at life.

The Positivity Blog: Practical articles on happiness, self-esteem, productivity and social skills.