Enlightened One Quotes

What do the Vitaraag [the enlightened one] say? 'If you want to continue to remain in the worldly life, then do what people say, but if you want to attain Moksha [ultimate liberation], then do only what I say, then only you can go to Moksha! ~ Dada Bhagwan

One's liberation begins once he does the darshan of kashaya-free (absence of inner anger, pride, deceit and greed) Gnani purush [the enlightened one]. Who is considered kashaya-free? The one whose state is that where there was no kashaya, there is no kashaya, and there never will be any. The one who is never in the state of the non-Self. Doing darshan of such a One brings ultimate well being. ~ Dada Bhagwan

The Enlightened one (Gnani Purush) never wastes his time in counting money; focus of the awareness of the self (upayog) is wasted in doing this. One's focused awareness (upayog) is where he has 'interest'! ~ Dada Bhagwan

Gnani Purush' [the enlightened one] has the [knowledge of the-Self] essence of all religions. ~ Dada Bhagwan

One late winter afternoon in Oxford Street, amid the noise of vehicles and voices that filled that dusky thoroughfare, as I was borne onward with the crowd past the great electric-lighted shops, a holy Indifference filled my thoughts. Illusion had faded from me; I was not touched by any desire for the goods displayed in those golden windows, nor had I the smallest share in the appetites and fears of all those moving and anxious faces. And as I listened with Asiatic detachment to the London traffic, its sound changed into something ancient and dissonant and sad - into the turbid flow of that stream of Craving which sweeps men onward through the meaningless cycles of Existence, blind and enslaved forever. But I had reached the farther shore, the Harbour of Deliverance, the Holy City; the Great Peace beyond all this turmoil and fret compassed me around. Om Mani padme hum - I murmured the sacred syllables, smiling with the pitying smile of the Enlightened One on his heavenly lotus.
Then, in a shop-window, I saw a neatly fitted suit-case. I liked that suit-case; I desired to possess it. Immediately I was enveloped by the mists of Illusion, chained once more to the Wheel of Existence, whirled onward along Oxford Street in that turbid stream of wrong-belief, and lust, and sorrow, and anger. ~ Logan Pearsall Smith

What do the vitarags [the enlightened one] say? This world will keep on running, You do not interfere with anything in it. If you want to attain ultimate liberation (moksha) then you will have maintain a state of vitaragta (state free of attachment). ~ Dada Bhagwan

A lot of people, after seeking a bit, have some experience, and sometimes will believe they're enlightened. One has to be careful about that. Especially Americans, who are very external stimulus oriented. When they have some type of deep inner experience, often they think that was the ultimate experience. ~ Robert Thurman

Because of anger-pride-deceit-greed, selfishness [self-interest] remains and consequently one has no awareness of who dies or who takes birth. It is simply a wrong belief that has arisen. But after a long time, as one progresses, if he meets a Gnani Purush [the enlightened one], he will acquire the awareness that birth and death is simply a phase. ~ Dada Bhagwan

Regardless of how much wealth [material pleasures] one has, if he does not like bondage even for a moment, then he has become qualified to understand the science of the Vitarags [the enlightened one's]. ~ Dada Bhagwan

Those who believe the worldly life interactions (vyavahaar) to be the real/true; developed high blood pressure, heart attacks and other such ailments. And those who believe it to be false, they became fat. Those living on both the shores, became lost wanderers. Although living the worldly life, 'we' are non-attached (vitaraag, the enlightened one). ~ Dada Bhagwan

These are all 'ghosts'. If you are afraid, the ghosts will possess you. If there is inner fear of 'what if they hang me?'; then one should say, 'yes, that is correct'. The Soul can never be hung; nothing [worldly] can touch the Soul. All the doings are that of the pudgal (matter; non-Self). The noose for hanging is pudgal and the one doing hanging (the hangman), is also pudgal. The Soul has never been hung. This [fact] does not fit one's vision and that is why he has fear. But once his vision becomes like the Gnani's [the enlightened one], then it's over! For that, one has to stay in touch with the Gnani [the enlightened one]. ~ Dada Bhagwan

If attachment becomes fixed on a 'Gnani' [The enlightened one], then it becomes Real attachment (prashastaraag). It will get one's work done. It will uproot attachment in all other places. Because the Gnani is Vitarag, attachment-free. Attachment for a Vitarag gives liberation from all the suffering. ~ Dada Bhagwan

It is natural for a person to make a mistake (commit a fault). What is the way to become free from that? Only the Gnani Purush [the enlightened one] can show it, (which is) 'Pratikraman'. ~ Dada Bhagwan

Enlightenment is radiating peace and harmony from every cell, every gene and every DNA of our body. ~ Amit Ray

Who is the 'mother' of 'Knowledge (Gnan)'? It is 'Understanding' (samaj). Where can 'understanding' be acquired from? It is acquired from Gnani Purush (The Enlightened one). ~ Dada Bhagwan

Faith is the readiness to reveal whatever is concealed. You don't have to conceal doubts by putting on patches of self-confirmation. The readiness to be exposed seems to make the difference between ego's approach to spirituality and an enlightened one. ~ Chogyam Trungpa

What does egoism mean? It means to become blind through one's own vision. The Gnani [the enlightened one] removes the egoism. ~ Dada Bhagwan

A Gnani [the enlightened one] does not have to turn beads of a rosary; He turns the beads of own's own Self (the Soul). ~ Dada Bhagwan

The worldly life relationships are that of selfishness. All relationships are relative (temporary). Only the relationship with the Gnani Purush [the enlightened one] is real. He has infinite compassion for you. He has become one with his soul [atma swaroop] and therefore he brings forth all your solutions (and liberates you). ~ Dada Bhagwan

To be free of insistence [free of forcing one's own opinion] is the path of Vitragta [attachment-free state, the enlightened one]. Quit insisting at all places. To even insist on the truth, God has considered it as ignorance. There is no insistence in 'Us' whatsoever! ~ Dada Bhagwan

If you take an objection in the 'relative', it is intellectual rationalism. 'We' don't have intellectual rationalism. 'We' are abuddha (do not have intellect) in the 'relative', and we are a Gnani [the enlightened one] in the 'real'. ~ Dada Bhagwan

Unity does not exist in the world. Only when the Gnani Purush [the enlightened one] grants moksha [liberation], does unity arise. Unity cannot prevail without Gnan [knowledge of the self]. ~ Dada Bhagwan

Human consciousness is a law of nature. Humankind's inherent intelligence is an indivisible component inalterably linked to the whole beatitude of the natural world. We experience truth, beauty, goodness, harmony, and bliss when we live in the light of the soul. ~ Kilroy J. Oldster

What if thought is not free? What if memory is a prison, society a lie? Sometimes I look around and all I hear is screaming, screaming, screaming - what if you are the enlightened one? ~ Claire North

Despise (viradhana) of a Gnani [the enlightened one] creates hindrance in (acquiring right) Knowledge-Vision-Conduct (Gnan-Darshan-Charitra). ~ Dada Bhagwan

The Knower of the Soul is considered Self Realized (The Enlightened one). The knower of all the eternal elements is known as Omniscient (sarvagna). ~ Dada Bhagwan

A quantitative mindset, despite its nerdy aura, is in fact the Morally enlightened one, because it treats every human life as having equal value rather than privileging the people who are closest to us or most photogenic. ~ Steven Pinker

The Enlightened One, if he had meditated on it, would not necessarily have rejected a technical solution. ~ Michel Houellebecq

With a pure heart, the one who sincerely wants to know only the Soul and does not want any worldly comforts; the enlightened one (Gnani Purush) will come to him & his work will be done. A pure heart is required. ~ Dada Bhagwan

The one who becomes free from all kinds of beggary is bestowed the state of a 'Gnani' [the enlightened one]. ~ Dada Bhagwan

Who is free from illusory attachment (nirmohi)? The Gnani Purush (the enlightened one). He can see flesh and bones, through and through. ~ Dada Bhagwan

The worldly life just goes round and round; there is no end to it. If you want to bring an end to it, ask the Gnani Purush [The enlightened one], 'How long do I have to keep on wandering? I have been going round and round like the ox running the millwheel. Tell the Gnani Purush 'please bring about a resolution for me! ~ Dada Bhagwan

Why is it that 'we' (the Gnani Purush, the enlightened one) do not have any obstruction (antray)? It is because 'we' are in a desire-free state (Nirichchhak dasha). ~ Dada Bhagwan

Whatever one knows, he knows on the basis of his egoism. The 'Gnani' [The enlightened one], who doesn't know how to do anything; has no egoism whatsoever. ~ Dada Bhagwan

Everyone knows how to subtract the gross form of 'my' (tangible 'my'). But how can he know how to subtract the subtle, subtler and the subtlest forms of 'my'? That is the work of the 'Gnani Purush' [the enlightened one]. ~ Dada Bhagwan

A person cannot exert absolute control over a capricious environment. A wise person concentrates on serenely adjusting to variable permutations in the environs. A personal journey is less anxious if a person resolves to serve as a conscious witness to the natural world and the unfolding lives of family and friends. It is emotionally stabilizing when we no longer delude ourselves with grand fantasies about living and dying, experience life for what it is and stop wishing for a different existence, an altered universe. Nothing good comes from resisting reality. ~ Kilroy J. Oldster

He who controls the minds of others is a 'Gnani' (the enlightened one). Only when your mind is completely under your control, can other's mind come under your control. How can the other persons mind come under your control when one has disturbances himself. ~ Dada Bhagwan

If you are lost while travelling on the road, then if you ask a guide of the road, you will find the right way. Similarly, people have become lost on their way to moksha. They will find a solution when they meet the One (Gnani, the Enlightened One) who is familiar with the way to moksha. 'We' are that guide to moksha [the ultimate liberation]! ~ Dada Bhagwan

If only one word of the 'Gnani Purush' [the enlightened one] is understood, then your welfare [that which liberates] is done. ~ Dada Bhagwan

In order to make the egoism non-existent [zero], the Gnani Purush [the enlightened one] establishes the awareness of the Pure Soul within. ~ Dada Bhagwan

Gnani Purush' (The Enlightened one) is pure, so one becomes pure by just seeing him. ~ Dada Bhagwan

Gnani (The Enlightened one) means without Ego. ~ Dada Bhagwan

If you experience bliss of the Self (samadhi) amidst complete problematic stage, then know that you have met a "Gnani Purush" [the enlightened one]! ~ Dada Bhagwan

The Lord has said to the worldly people, if someone possesses certain energies, by recalling that person, the same energies will arise within you. If you don't know how to ask for godly energies, but if you want to jump, then by recalling a monkey and asking for energies from him, you will be able to do so. If you want to bark, you have to ask for the energy from a dog! The Gnani [The Enlightened One] has infinite energies; if you recall Him, you will attain all those energies! ~ Dada Bhagwan

This [worldly life] is a huge entanglement; every sub-atomic particle of it is an entanglement and it is impossible to break free from it. Which is why the Lord has said, 'If you encounter a Gnani Purush [the enlightened one], remain with Him'. ~ Dada Bhagwan

Whatever one does in this world, he does it out of compulsion; so it is indeed our lack of understanding when we scold someone for what they do. If you scold him, he will do it even more. (Instead) You should explain to him with love. All diseases will disappear with love. You will get pure love either from the Gnani Purush [the enlightened one] or his followers! ~ Dada Bhagwan

At the time of death, one says, 'Dear Lord, extend my life for two more hours, so that a Gnani Purush [the enlightened one] comes and I can do his darshan.' He complains in this way. Do not complain now. Why are you pleading now? When you had the control, you didn't do anything and now that you no longer have the control, you are making demands? ~ Dada Bhagwan

As long as there is insistence of the truth, one cannot know the Vitarag Lord [the enlightened one]. ~ Dada Bhagwan

The Buddha who stares back at us from the texts will be too much a reflection of ourselves, too little an image of the Enlightened One. ~ Dalai Lama XIV

How can one become enlightened? One can, because one is enlightened - one just has to recognize the fact. ~ Rajneesh

Every human being needs security. The one, who does not have security, will be in fear. So he will look for security outside if he does not get it at home. The Gnani Purush [the enlightened one] is the only one who does not need any security. The Gnani is considered to be free from all dependency (niralamb). Others will take support from Him, but He will not take any support. Only the Gnani Purush can remain free from dependency in this world. ~ Dada Bhagwan

The entire path of the Vitraag Lords (the enlightened one) is one of humility (vinaya). The practice of humility (vinaya dharma) begins from Hindustan (India). There are endless practices of humility, starting from putting two hands together (in the gesture of Namaste) to prostrating. And ultimately when one attains absolute humility (param vinaya), he attains moksha (ultimate liberation). ~ Dada Bhagwan

The one who protects the body-complex (pudgal) is not the 'enlightened one' (Gnani). A Gnani is the protector of only the Soul and it's natural attributes. ~ Dada Bhagwan

Just as on a rubbish heap swept up on a main road a purely fragrant, delightful lotus might there spring up, Even so amidst those rubbish heaps (of men) does the savaka of the Perfectly Enlightened One outshine in insight the blind puthujjana ~ Gautama Buddha

The Agna, liberating instructions of the 'Gnani' [the enlightened one], purifies the mind. Knowledge of the Self [self realization] will give the mind, solutions in every circumstance. ~ Dada Bhagwan

No one has been successful in this 'race course'. One simply dies of exhaustion from running. 'We' (the Gnani Purush, the enlightened one) never take part in this race. 'We' would simply tell, 'Dear Man, I am not capable. ~ Dada Bhagwan

Enlightened self-interest from those involved in hydrocarbons should lead to the support of technologies enabling the clean use of hydrocarbons, such as carbon capture and storage, and not to the defence of deniers and cranks. ~ Nicholas Stern

Just as someone obsessed with becoming a millionaire focuses on gaining riches and can miss out on living a fun, balanced life, so someone obsessed with being enlightened or being totally free of all difficulties can also miss out on life. Far healthier to just live a mindful, balanced life and fully participate in what life has to offer. ~ Shamash Alidina

Making sure that when my child went to school people were enlightened enough not to torture them, you know? ~ Jennifer Beals

True teachers of enlightenment are hard to find. The popular ones, of course, usually aren't enlightened because how could they be? They just tell people what they want to hear. ~ Frederick Lenz

Everything that I teach as an enlightened Buddhist teacher is towards directing an individual to happiness, a balanced wisdom and knowledge that is sometimes just bubbly and euphoric or just very still and profound. ~ Frederick Lenz

Imagine that every person in the world is enlightened but you. They are all your teachers, each doing just the right things to help you learn perfect patience, perfect wisdom, perfect compassion. ~ Gautama Buddha

The Aikido I practice has room for each of the world's eight million gods and I cooperate with each of them. The Great Spirit of Aiki enjoins all that is Divine and enlightened in every land. Unite yourself to the Divine, and you will be able to perceive gods wherever you are. ~ Morihei Ueshiba

Even when you have been somewhat enlightened by what you have read, you are called upon to continue the serach for significance. ~ Mortimer J. Adler

Figuring out our gifts in life is part of our journey to becoming enlightened human beings. ~ Allison DuBois

Egypt restored to prosperity, regenerated by wise and enlightened administration ... would shed its civilizing rays upon all its Oriental neighbors. ~ Edward W. Said

Happy people, enlightened people, successful people all share something in common. They have learned how to manage and increase their energy. ~ Frederick Lenz

The real meaning of enlightenment is to gaze with undimmed eyes on all darkness. ~ Nikos Kazantzakis

The female, she said, was like a queen who sat on her throne talking with God. This is the part of us that can converse easily with Spirit. She is wise and intuitive, and totally tuned in. However, by herself she cannot accomplish anything in the world, for she needs her best warrior to help her. This is the inner male. He has the power to bring her ideas to fruition, the power to make them real. In other words, without her wisdom the warrior acts aimlessly, even destructively. But when he is connected to her, and she is connected to Spirit, then he and she can become anything from a sage to a king, a magician, or a lover, but together they can become enlightened ones. ~ Tricia McCannon

Letter-writing too often degenerates into a communicating of facts, and not of truths; of other men's deeds and not our thoughts.What are the convulsions of a planet, compared with the emotions of the soul? or the rising of a thousand suns, if that is not enlightened by a ray? ~ Henry David Thoreau

I lay very little stress either upon asking or giving advice. Generally speaking, they who ask advice know what they wish to do, and remain firm to their intentions. A man may allow himself to be enlightened on various points, even upon matters of expediency and duty; but, after all, he must determine his course of action, for himself. ~ Wilhelm Von Humboldt

In his Word we can never go astray. We can never be deluded or confounded or destroyed in his Word. If you think there can be no assurance or certainty for the soul, listen to the certainty of the Word of God. The soul can be instructed and enlightened ... so that it perceives that its whole salvation and righteousness, or justification, is enclosed in Jesus Christ."8 ~ Justo L. Gonzalez

He seemed constantly impressed with the idea that, at the moment of his extinction, the noble fabric which he [sewed], must infallibly sink in ruins. For this, as in every other respect, the citizens of the United States are more fortunate than the Romans, as there is every reason to believe that the benefits of the present enlightened administration will extend to other generations. The ~ Jon Meacham

Self-discovery is realistic. It's not built on ideas and philosophies. It's what works. Philosophies are nice if you like philosophies. But self-discovery is predicated on something that really brings you into enlightened states of mind. ~ Frederick Lenz

According to Buddhism, all existents abide in loving-kindness free from concepts in their absolute nature. But the understanding and realization of that true nature have been covered over by the webs of our own mental, emotional, and intellectual obscurations. Now, in order to uncover the true nature and its qualities, we must dispel the cover - our unhealthy concepts, emotions, and actions. Through the power of devotion and contemplation, we must uncover and see the true innate enlightened qualities - loving-kindness that is free from concepts - shining forever. ~ Tulku Thondup

In the short term, corporal punishment may produce obedience. But it is a fact documented by research that in the long term the results are inability to learn, violence and rage, bullying, cruelty, inability to feel another's pain, especially that of one's own children, even drug addiction and suicide, unless there are enlightened or at least helping witnesses on hand to prevent that development. ~ Alice Miller

Reading literary works enlightened and sheltered me; now I'm paying back by writing.

--"My Confession ~ Zoe S. Roy

When enlightened people are so poor that they cannot help others, if they speak a word to awaken the confused or to resolve a problem, there is also boundless merit in that. ~ Zicheng Hong

When I am doing things around the house - when I'm decorating, setting up furniture, putting out a vase of flowers, lighting my candles, my mind is always thinking, "What do I need to do to make this space peaceful and restful and comfortable so that when people walk into it, aesthetically they're heightened and enlightened?" ~ Evangeline Lilly

These are moments when the intense enlightened energies of the Sages, as consciousness, reach each of us in ease.
My purpose is to be the joyful instrument that can uplift humanity to amazing possibilities of consciousness. Imagine a million Mahatma Gandhis, Rumis and Einsteins! This is a possibility in our times. We are the realities of this consciousness. ~ Nandhiji

I am grateful for emphasis on reading the scriptures. I hope that for you this will become something far more enjoyable than a duty; that, rather, it will become a love affair with the word of God. I promise you that as you read, your minds will be enlightened and your spirits will be lifted. At first it may seem tedious, but that will change into a wondrous experience with thoughts and words of things divine. Gordon B. Hinckley ~ Gordon B. Hinckley

The mind is a prison full of ignorant captives. The soul is a university full of enlightened students. ~ Matshona Dhliwayo

The intelligent are candles,
the virtuous are torches,
the wise are lamps,
and the enlightened are stars. ~ Matshona Dhliwayo

If you are a student of an enlightened master, you can literally tap into his aura, anywhere and at anytime. All you have to do is meditate on your Buddhist master and the light will come into your mind. ~ Frederick Lenz

PANTALOONS, n. A nether habiliment of the adult civilized male. The garment is tubular and unprovided with hinges at the points of flexion. Supposed to have been invented by a humorist. Called trousers by the enlightened and pants by the unworthy. ~ Ambrose Bierce

And only the enlightened can recall their former lives; for the rest of us, the memories of past existences are but glints of light, twinges of longing, passing shadows, disturbingly familiar, that are gone before they can be grasped, like the passage of that silver bird on Dhaulagiri. ~ Peter Matthiessen

An esoteric or enlightened teacher of Buddhism is someone who has the ability to transfer power to another individual. A real empowerment is not just a ceremony. ~ Frederick Lenz

Kids don't have a little brother working in the coal mine, they don't have a little sister coughing her lungs out in the looms of the big mill towns of the Northeast. Why? Because we organized; we broke the back of the sweatshops in this country; we have child labor laws. Those were not benevolent gifts from enlightened management. They were fought for, they were bled for, they were died for by working people, by people like us. Kids ought to know that. That's why I sing these songs. That's why I tell these stories, dammit. No root, no fruit! ~ Utah Phillips

Because obviously she was the most qualified for the position. At long last Edward had arrived at the enlightened state of knowing that a woman could do a job just as well as a man. Yep. That's how it happened. Edward abdicated his throne. Elizabeth would be crowned queen at Westminster Abbey that same week, and we all know she'd be the best ruler of England ever. And now history can more or less pick up along the same path where we left it. ~ Cynthia Hand

At dusk the sunset is beautifully bright; at year's end the tangerines are even more fragrant. Therefore, at the end of their road, in their later years, enlightened people should be a hundred times more vital in spirit. ~ Zicheng Hong