The Search for Enlightenment

Summary

The speaker shares their spiritual journey, detailing an initial quest for truth through various teachings, culminating in encounters with teachers like Mooji and Gangaji. They express struggles with the desire for enlightenment, likening it to an addiction, and the challenge of distinguishing between true spiritual longing and craving for an unattainable experience. The speaker is advised that enlightenment is not an exotic experience but the recognition of one's own being, which is inherently peaceful and complete. The dialogue emphasizes that happiness and fulfillment are not found in external objects or spiritual practices, but in recognizing one's true nature.

Takeaways

• 🌱 The speaker has been on a long spiritual journey, exploring different teachings and paths in search of truth and self-realization.
• 🤔 The speaker expresses feelings of jealousy and frustration when discovering others who seem to have found enlightenment more easily.
• 🧘‍♀️ The speaker compares the desire for enlightenment to an addiction, similar to craving material things or relationships.
• 🗝️ The speaker's teacher advised them to 'drop the desire' for enlightenment, which initially provided some relief.
• 🔍 Despite advice, the speaker continues to feel an urgency to find enlightenment and worries about never achieving it.
• 🌸 Enlightenment, as explained, is not an experience or something to be obtained; it's the simple recognition of one's being.
• 💡 Enlightenment is often misunderstood as the ultimate object or experience, but it's actually the awareness of the self that has always been present.
• 🔑 Happiness or fulfillment does not come from external objects or relationships, but from recognizing the completeness of one's own being.
• ⚖️ The teachings suggest that people mistakenly seek happiness through material or spiritual objects, when true contentment lies within themselves.
• 🌀 The direct path to peace and happiness involves turning away from external objects and recognizing the nature of the self as already complete and fulfilled.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial reaction upon discovering 'A Khatola'?

The speaker's initial reaction was one of jealousy, thinking that 'A Khatola' was lucky, and wondering why they themselves were not as lucky.

How did the speaker's spiritual journey evolve over time?

The speaker explored various spiritual teachings, starting with Christianity and moving through others, before eventually discovering Mooji, Gangaji, and similar teachings. About five years ago, they found a teacher (referred to as 'MSG'), who helped guide them further in their journey.

What realization did the speaker come to after talking with their teacher about enlightenment?

The speaker realized that the desire for enlightenment was like an addiction, similar to wanting a material object or life goal. Their teacher advised them to 'drop' this pursuit, which helped to some degree, but the speaker continued to struggle with their longing for self-realization.

What advice did the teacher offer about enlightenment?

The teacher explained that enlightenment is not an experience or something that happens to you. It is the recognition of one's being, and it's not something to be added to oneself. The self has always been there, and it is simply the veil of thoughts and feelings that obscures its clarity.

How does the speaker describe the nature of the self?

The speaker describes the self as something that has always been present throughout their life. It has remained unchanged, even though thoughts, feelings, and experiences have come and gone. The self is imperturbable, peaceful, and not influenced by external circumstances.

What distinction does the teacher make between desires for material objects and spiritual desires?

The teacher points out that all desires, whether for material objects or spiritual enlightenment, are ultimately desires for happiness. The pursuit of these objects is motivated by the belief that they will bring happiness, but true happiness lies within, not in external objects or experiences.

What is the role of spiritual traditions according to the teacher?

The teacher respects spiritual traditions but emphasizes that rituals, mantras, gurus, and other religious paraphernalia are not directly related to enlightenment. Enlightenment is simply the recognition of one's being, and all the spiritual practices are tools that might help point toward this recognition.

How does the teacher describe happiness in relation to the self?

The teacher describes happiness as the nature of the self. It is the absence of lack, a sense of contentment, and the fulfillment of being complete in oneself. True happiness is not something to be achieved through external means but is inherent in one's essential being.

Why do people seek spiritual paths, according to the teacher?

People seek spiritual paths because they have recognized that conventional objects and experiences cannot provide lasting happiness. After exhausting the pursuit of material and relational fulfillment, they turn to spiritual practices to find peace and happiness, often leading to a direct path of self-recognition.

What is the direct path to enlightenment mentioned in the script?

The direct path to enlightenment involves recognizing that peace and happiness come from within, without relying on external objects, rituals, or spiritual paraphernalia. It is about directly understanding and experiencing the true nature of one's being.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 The Journey Towards Self-Realization and Struggles Along the Way

In this paragraph, the speaker reflects on their long spiritual journey, starting with the discovery of 'a khatola' teachings 12 years ago. They initially experienced jealousy, feeling unlucky, and sought other teachers like Mooji and Gangaji. The speaker shares the persistent longing for enlightenment, seeing it as an 'addiction' and a challenge they constantly face. Despite receiving advice to 'drop it' and let go of expectations, the speaker struggles with doubts about ever achieving self-realization, fearing they may spend years searching without success.

05:37

🧘 Enlightenment: Not an Experience, But a Recognition

Here, enlightenment is described not as a tangible experience or object to be obtained but as a simple recognition of one's true being. The speaker emphasizes that enlightenment is often misunderstood as something akin to obtaining an object, like a car or a partner. Instead, it is the realization of one’s own self, something that has always been present. This recognition does not add anything new to a person but uncovers the true nature of the 'I' that has existed throughout one’s life. The self is not to be enlightened; rather, it is to be unveiled from thoughts and feelings.

10:41

🌙 The Constant Presence of the Self Through Experiences

This paragraph highlights the consistent presence of the 'I' in every experience, from dreams to deep sleep, from childhood to adulthood. Despite life’s changing circumstances, the essential self remains unchanged. The speaker points out that while experiences and feelings may fluctuate, the observer, or the 'I,' remains undisturbed and constant. This undisturbed nature of the self is referred to as peace, and recognizing it is key to understanding one’s true nature.

15:45

🕊️ The Nature of True Peace and Fulfillment

The speaker explores the nature of the self as inherently peaceful, fulfilled, and complete, needing nothing from the outside world. Any sense of lack is illusory because the self is already whole. The desire for material objects or relationships is driven by the mistaken belief that they will bring happiness, but true happiness is found in recognizing the completeness of one's own being. The paragraph discusses the futility of seeking external fulfillment and encourages the recognition of the peaceful nature of the self.

20:48

🔄 The Shift from External Seeking to Internal Recognition

The final paragraph delves into the universal human pursuit of happiness and how most people are conditioned to seek it in external objects, relationships, or substances. However, after repeated disappointments, some turn to spiritual paths, hoping to find fulfillment. Even spiritual practices can become objects of desire that fail to deliver lasting happiness. The speaker suggests that true peace comes from directly recognizing the self’s completeness, without relying on external sources, whether material or spiritual. This direct path to happiness is why people gather to seek such insights.

Keywords

💡Enlightenment

Enlightenment in the context of the video is the recognition of one's true nature or being. It is not described as a mystical or exotic experience, but rather a simple, ever-present realization of the self. The speaker contrasts this with the common misunderstanding of enlightenment as an experience or object to be gained, like a possession or goal.

💡Addiction

Addiction is used metaphorically to describe the constant longing for self-realization or enlightenment. The speaker compares this desire to worldly cravings, like wanting a luxury car, which distract from recognizing that true contentment comes from within. The addiction reflects a misunderstanding of enlightenment as something external that can fulfill a perceived lack.

💡Self-realization

Self-realization is the process of recognizing one's true nature. In the video, it is presented as the ultimate goal, where a person comes to see that their essential being is already complete, peaceful, and fulfilled. The speaker emphasizes that self-realization is not about gaining something new but about recognizing what has always been present.

💡Object of desire

An object of desire refers to anything that a person believes will bring them happiness or fulfillment, whether material (like a car or relationship) or spiritual (like enlightenment). The speaker explains that all desires, whether for worldly objects or spiritual fulfillment, are ultimately rooted in a desire for happiness, which can only be found within the self.

💡Happiness

Happiness, as explained in the video, is not derived from external objects or experiences but is the natural state of one's being. The speaker emphasizes that people mistakenly seek happiness in material possessions, relationships, or spiritual achievements, but true happiness comes from recognizing one's own peaceful and complete nature.

💡Peace

Peace is described as the inherent quality of one's true self. Unlike the temporary peace that might come from external circumstances, this peace is stable, unchanging, and independent of thoughts, feelings, or experiences. The speaker points out that recognizing this peace is a key part of self-realization.

💡Cultural conditioning

Cultural conditioning refers to the societal and cultural influences that teach individuals to seek happiness in external objects, relationships, or achievements. The speaker explains that much of humanity is conditioned to believe that fulfillment comes from outside themselves, leading to endless cycles of seeking and disappointment.

💡Seeking

Seeking is portrayed as the continuous effort to find happiness or enlightenment outside oneself. The speaker suggests that seeking itself is part of the problem, as it implies that something is missing or lacking, when in fact, the peace and happiness people seek are already present within them.

💡Fulfillment

Fulfillment is presented as the realization that one’s being is already complete and does not need anything external to make it whole. The speaker contrasts this with the idea that external objects, relationships, or spiritual achievements can provide lasting satisfaction. Fulfillment is inherent and independent of external circumstances.

💡Direct path

The direct path refers to the approach of seeking happiness directly within oneself, without relying on external objects, spiritual practices, or religious rituals. The speaker advocates for this method, emphasizing that peace and contentment are already present in one's nature and do not require external validation or achievement.

Highlights

The speaker discusses their initial reaction to discovering spiritual teachings, experiencing jealousy and feeling like they were missing out.

After trying multiple paths, including Christianity, the speaker began exploring the teachings of Mooji and Gangaji.

The speaker expresses a deep longing for self-realization and how it felt like an addiction to becoming enlightened.

Their teacher advised them to let go of the desire for enlightenment, comparing it to wanting material things like a Porsche or a relationship.

Despite understanding the advice, the speaker still struggles with expectations and fear of never achieving enlightenment.

The speaker has a recurring fear since adolescence that they might die without discovering their true purpose or enlightenment.

Enlightenment is described as not being an experience or something that can be found, but a simple recognition of one's own being.

The teacher explains that enlightenment is not an exotic experience but a recognition of the self that has always been present.

The speaker acknowledges that despite experiencing various emotions throughout life, their essential self has remained unchanged.

The teacher emphasizes that the self is never disturbed by thoughts or emotions and its nature is peace.

The teacher clarifies that enlightenment is not a state to be attained but a realization of the ever-present nature of the self.

All desires, whether for material things or relationships, are ultimately desires for happiness.

The teacher explains that people often mistake external objects or experiences for the source of happiness, but true happiness is found within.

The speaker is encouraged to recognize that their essential being is already complete and doesn’t need anything external to fulfill it.

The final lesson emphasizes that all spiritual practices and traditions are merely pointers to the self and true enlightenment lies in recognizing the nature of one's own being.

Transcripts

hello thank you for the opportunity I

think about 12 years ago I discovered the  teachings of a khatola but I think already a  

long time before that when I was young that I was  that had this urgency of finding the truth so I  

tried Christianity or Christian Church as I tried  many things so um when I did discover a khatola my  

first reaction was just jealousy actually thinking  okay he was lucky why am I not lucky and somehow I  

don't know I didn't go in too deeply into it for  years yes after and just about five years ago I  

started to hear and learn about the teachings of  Mooji and gangaji all kind of G's and and I don't  

want to make it put it down I'm just saying that  there was this and after sometime they had this  

big longing for finding a teacher and msg yeah  just the G was missing but the rest was there and  

it was like a mixture of a friend and the teacher  I was very lucky finding him and after some time  

I told him look it feels like an addiction this  wanting to become enlightened when will this ever  

stop you know where it either has to stop or I've  finally have to find out this self realization and  

I know I know all of this that it's there and  that's why I can't see it because it's so close  

and it's very very easy actually and that that  is the problem but still this urgency was there  

and he told me look it is the I'm addiction like  wanting a Porsche or fortunate wanting a great car  

or wanting to find the man of your life or it's  pretty much the same thing so just drop it and it  

did help me you know in the sense of okay I can't  make it anyways so why not just drop this and it  

did help me but still I find myself in just like  coming here this weekend and I try not to have  

expectations and still I find myself and waiting  for you to give me some kind of key or hint so  

I can finally find it you know and it's a mix of  disappointment desperation and even the sphere of  

will I be doing this in twenty years from now you  know going to some kind of retreat or and still  

having the same feeling and this fear been having  also since almost as a teenager that my life would  

end and I'm very grateful for my life it's not  that I suffer or anything not a lot at least but  

that my life would end and I would think I missed  it I missed the very much thing what I came for

yeah I don't really know what I expect from  you to say I can see that I'm trying to find  

some relief or you know if to be honest if  I could get rid of this wanting to see or to  

find or all this that we have been talking  about these days then I would you know and  

also I don't know if I can really distinguish  when it is an addiction for wanting to have  

something that is not there or that feels like  it's not there and from by theory I know it is  

and the distinction the distinction  between that and a real like a very  

genuine wanting to see it has been I would  say accompanying me for quite a long time

an addiction is always an addiction to  something or for something for some kind  

of object of experience and the way you speak of  enlightenment it is some kind of experience that  

you think you're going to find or that he's going  to be added to you or given to you like the the  

Porsche or the man of your life but only better  steadier more reliable nor more like the ultimate  

object and then this is this is how many people  perhaps most people conceive of enlightenment  

the ultimate object of gratification the ultimate  experience that is more stable more reliable more  

trustworthy basically permanent and as long as we  feel that enlightenment is such an experience we  

are by definition going to be disappointed  enlightenment for want of a better word it  

is not an experience I don't know how to say  this more clearly or more simply enlightenment  

is not an experience not something that  happens to you it's not something that  

can be found it is simply the recognition  of your being of the nature of your being

there is nothing remotely exotic about  enlightenment the taste of tea is more  

exotic than the recognition of the nature of  your own being your own being is simply that  

which shines in your experience as the knowledge I  am before what I am has been colored or qualified  

by experience it is to say it is intimate it is  not right because it suggests that it is very  

very close to you it is not close to you it is  you it is just the recognition of what you have  

been calling I all your life it is not something  that is added to I it is not something that I am  

might experience if I'm lucky enough it is just  the recognition of what we call I it is not that  

in fact enlightenment is a complete misnomer  our self doesn't become enlightened our self  

is simply veil for most people their self is  veiled or in darkened by thoughts and feelings  

and therefore they do not see themselves clearly  yes and I've heard this many times you know it's  

I am established about yourself now you have  always been yourself yes yes okay so yourself  

has always been with you no tell us about the  self that is always with you not even always  

with you it is always you when you are a five  year old girl you you felt I am myself when you  

were ten fifteen twenty twenty-five you've always  thought I am myself irrespective of what you were  

experiencing you always felt I am myself and you  always thought that my self is the same self yes  

yes when you look back on yourself yesterday  you feel yesterday I was the same self that I  

am today and when you look back 10 years ago you  feel I was the same self 10 years ago as I am now  

what is that self what is it that has remained  the same throughout your life you you call it  

I it's always I who is experiencing whatever it  is you are experiencing tell tell us about that

what I can say about it is that it was always  there it's always present yes that's true what  

else when when you were dreaming last night it was  I who was having the dream when you slept deeply  

last night it was I who slept well so whatever  you are experiencing yesterday or last year or  

10 years ago it was I who was experiencing and  so yes you have always been present your best  

moments your worst moments your happiest moments  your most miserable moments you've always been  

pregnant present what else that it didn't change  perfect what you know changes but that which  

knows it never changes perfect so whatever it  is that was knowing your experience when you  

were a five year old girl is the same that is  knowing your experience now yeah it hasn't aged

nothing has happened to it all these years all  the wonderful experiences you've ever had and all  

the awful experiences you've ever had have not  changed your essential being perfect what else  

nothing else not really let me ask you a few more  questions about it your your thoughts and feelings  

may often be disturbed or agitated but but you  the one that knows them the one in whom they  

appear is that one ever agitated does he share the  disturbance of your thoughts and feelings no what  

would be a would be another way of saying  that what would its nature be in that case

just observing yes observing but observing  without being changed by what it disturbs  

in in other word by what it observes in other  words it is imperturbable cannot be disturbed  

yeah in other words its nature is peace  but remember we're not talking about how  

you might become we're talking about how you  are now they're just looking at what you call  

you what you call I am we're just looking at in  trying to find words as best we can to describe  

how it is now not how it might become does any  experience that you ever have or ever have had  

to add anything to your essential being no  in other words your essential being is not  

in a state where it needs to be completed by  an object it is already complete prior to any  

particular experience it is not incomplete  it is not in a state of incompletion always  

needed to be completed by an object or a  relationship it is it is already complete  

it needs nothing from experience well what's  the common name for that meeting nothing

or the absence of lag my mind is  going nuts the common name for  

it is just happiness or fulfillment or contentment

what more do you want you've recognized  that I get the impression that you're  

speaking from your experience you've  recognized that who you essentially  

are now yes is ever-present  it's never hurt or tarnished  

by experience it's never disturbed it  needs nothing but what more do you want I

can't trust if the wanting will stop you  can't trust it let the wanting will stop

what are you wanting if you have found that in  yourself which is inherently peaceful and has  

no sense of lack what are you lacking there's  nothing what do you want the one thing will  

only stop when you recognize that you are what  you want because you don't really want to push  

no or a man what you want is a what you hope the  only reason you want I know you don't want the  

Porsche or Amanda I don't know I'm presuming  that the reason we want to push or a partner  

is not really the Porsche or the partner it's it's  the happiness we believe will be derived from them  

what would you desire a Porsche or an intimate  partner if you knew that the moment you receive  

them you would be miserable you wouldn't if you  were if you were if you were offered a Porsche  

on the understanding that you would be miserable  the moment you received it or or a third hand for  

but you knew that the moment you got it you'd be  happy which would you want you'd go from the Ford  

yes yeah of course of course why because it's not  really a Porsche or a car you want its happiness  

you want if you were offered the most handsome  intelligent generous loving man in the world  

but you were told that the moment you started  your relationship with him you'd be miserable

or you were offered a guy who was he  looked okay but nothing he was he was  

reasonably intelligent but nothing  nothing great he was unemployed and  

didn't have much money but yet you were  told that the moment you started your  

relationship with him you'd be happy  Oh which of the guys would you choose

because it's not the guy you want it's the  happiness you want it's all desires our desires  

for happiness never for the object so here we go  directly for happiness we don't go via an object

happiness is the nature of our self by happiness  I don't mean that you're always singing and  

dancing and smiling I just mean just the ease of  being the absence of the sense of lack the feeling  

that I don't have to leave than now because I'm  just content fulfilled I am complete I don't  

constantly need to be filled up by someone or  something I'm just at peace it that is your nature

it's what you are it is the nature of yourself  well all that's necessary is to to recognize  

the nature of us up that that's what enlightenment  is, all the stories the gurus that the mantras the  

yoga's the the names the photos the images that  all of this is just religious paraphernalia it  

has absolutely nothing to do with enlightenment  nothing enlightenment is just the recognition  

of our being that's it that's all it is  the recognition of the nature of our being

why is this room full of people then

because then this room is full of people who  have like all 7 billion of us been seeking  

one thing alone happiness and we have all been  encouraged by our culture to seek happiness in  

objects substances activities and relationships  and all of us have been failed numerous times  

by these objects and activities and we've  begun we've either understood or we've begun  

to understand we've intuited that the happiness  we longed for simply cannot be delivered by a  

relationship or a person or a substance so many  of us in this room had this recognition several  

years ago two or three decades ago and we turned  to the spiritual traditions for happiness and we  

were given the mantras the gurus that chanting  the etc and this for a while satisfied us but  

sooner or later even these more refined objects  left us unsatisfied so almost all the people I  

would I'm guessing that but I would suggest that  nearly everyone in this room has come to meeting  

this weekend because they've either understood  or you are on the brink of understanding you  

have intuited that the peace and happiness  for which we all long cannot be found in the  

conventional objects of experience the thoughts  the substances the activities the relationships  

nor even in the less conventional objects the  spiritual perronnette paraphernalia the Guru's  

the mantras the yoga's the chanting all of  this and when when we have exhausted all the  

possibilities like the prodigal son who has got to  the end of the possibilities nothing else in life  

no other object however fine or Noble that maybe  can satisfy us there is this turning around and  

that turning around is the beginning of the direct  path that's what we do here the direct path means  

we simply go directly for happiness we don't go  by the conventional objects of experience objects  

substances etc but nor do we did go through  the conventional spiritual objects the gurus  

the teachers the mantras or all of that I know  that there are several of you here who have been  

on and please don't misunderstand me I have great  respect for these traditions there's a place for  

them but I know that there are people here who  have been on you know on a spiritual path for  

years if not decades and those spiritual paths  their true spiritual paths they're genuine I'm  

not suggesting that these paths and the teachers  at least some of them are not and are genuine and  

they are but at some stage we get even to the  end of this conventional spiritual path we're  

ready just all we want is just happiness directly  peace and happiness or peace and fulfillment and  

that's why everybody is here this weekend it's  why you're here this weekend I would suggest yes

thank you