Enlightenment Day, by Jason Betts, Midwinter Solstice, 22nd of June 2008

I set out in search of Enlightenment one day. It didn't come to me, nor did I find it. But something came.

I walked for a while, and watched the wind, and the grass, and the trees do their thing, but no revelation came, no touchings of epiphany upon my being. And when I did look, with active effort, into the mix of religion, philosophy, theology and superstition, all I found was confusion. Unsurprised, as I had always got this.

In every system was set of beliefs. Compare every system and there exists a contradiction, and when you faithfully apply it to your own life, you become something other than your true original self. So, the quesiton presents, if there is an Enlightenment, what is it, and how is it used without making us not who we really are, but something enlightened? And likewise, if Enlightenment is actually nestled within a system of self-realisation (be it religion, philosophy or other discipline) then why isn't it working for those within it? Because if it did, it surely would not be in the state that is is now, as no system has demonstrated to the world en masse a perfection of its members ethically, morally, spiritually or politically, nor any evidenced psychic realisation or power that can be learned by all members equally easily by a simple replicable process.

What I would like to see is the demonstration of a system that begets the realisation of Humanity as an Enlightenment - with the physical manifestation of spiritual power and organisational intelligence. That is, a system of doctrine and dogma that does not require belief, one that does not conflict with the beliefs of others, one that demonstrates spiritual and psychic power, one that helps all of its practitioners, one that actually takes a person to their pinnacle of intellectual realisation and spiritual revelation of who and what and why they are.

Can such a system exist? Let us examine this problem logically.

For it to work on all of us, it must work at a broad level that touches all of humanity. Yet it cannot be so specific that it affects our religious, theological or philsophical beliefs. Secondly, it must require some element of thinking - a process, a simplicity - that takes us to the answers that together may gift us the Enlightenment we crave, so that all who are unenlightened may follow. Thirdly, it must deliver us the powers, abilities and revelations that mystical experience promise, for in that lies our own experiences of understanding our inner wisdom. This much is true. And then there are other thoughts that may arise and may be unknowingly false.

If, in our revelation, we think we have experienced the bliss of Enlightenment, then who is to say that we have, other than ourselves? What if we can say that we do know all of the answers, then are we no better than other systems of belief? And with our Enlightenment, can we prove it by scientific and testable demonstration?

So my answer is thus:

Those that can answer the questions of thought alone may be guided to the answers for themselves.
The answers must speak to all Humans, and so must be beyond the delineation of syntactic language.
Thus symbolic riddles, formed properly from the issues preventing Enlightenment, may be used for this.
The test that this works is that it generates the same answer for all humans no matter their background or beliefs. As for the demonstrations, these are self evident, and when one has achieved the Enlightenment, abilities will be easily tested by the same means and the same effect. I document some ideas for this now.

So how do we write the riddles of Enlightenment? Do we start with all the beliefs there are in the world, and then work out what is left, or do we start afresh with all self-evident simple truths as regards Humanity, and build our house of self-realisation? Build away, I say, but with spaces instead of walls, because we cannot tell you the answers, but merely state the problems - the inhibitions we have - towards Enlightenment. This ediface we must all build for ourselves in our own understanding, without learning from others, and the truth shall make its presence known unto us as individuals in our truth Humanity.

I make no declaration that there are a finite number of problems we must overcome, but I say that if we can overcome a finite number of them, then together we may share our Enlightenment with Humanity.
Such are our problems, and form the basis of the riddles I have created for self-realisation:

1. Where is my attention?
2. What happens if I do?
3. Will this cause harm?
4. Why is this important?
5. Who am I in their eyes?
6. When am I become free?

And so now I will attempt to create a riddle for each, and then a riddle for all.

1. Is your world in your mind or is your mind in your world?
2. What are all of the consequenses from all of your actions?
3. Will it help or hinder something in achieving its purpose?
4. Why are the intrinsic values shared by all concerned true?
5. Are others perceptions of me in alignment with my being?
6. What stops you from doing all manner of different things?

These are valid questions which will inspire all manner of behaviours condusive to Humanity.
It is the actions which are governed by beliefs of religion and theology that go against these questions which will hinder - not help - Humanity. The question of God is not necessary to be mentioned, as beliefs between humans may vary, and thus any system of Enlightenment must be more primal than theologic philosophy.

The questions above stimulate behavious that, once mastered, conduse the practitioner to humanity.
They do not stimulate the formation of beliefs that are beyond the perception of the practitioner.
They may, however, help cultivate the feelings of being apart of something greater - the nobler part of the human self - and thus become a part of Humanity greater. So let us now ask some endo-psychic questions:

1. If a thing exists, now or at any time, does it cease to be at any time?
2. If a thing appears real to one but not another, can its reality be tested?
3. If a thing is inside of another thing, which thing is seen on its outside?
4. What makes a thing, a thing, and who owns the thing, and its actions?

Psychic powers to be demonstrated are extensions of the virtues of Humanity. Here are some:

1. Patience, extending to Surrender, extending to Acceptance and then Encompassment of All.
This leads to an attunement of the forces of Nature and the gift of Knowing the Minds of Others.

2. Love, extending to Compassion, extending to Devotion and then the Responsibility for All.
This leads to an attunement of the wellbeing of others, with the gift of Healing by Present Touch.

3. Consciousness, extending to Wisdom, extending to Intellect, then the Knowing of Answers.
This leads to an attunement of universal knowledge and the gift of Ability to Solve All Problems.

4. Respect, extending to Humility, extending to Holiness, then the Power of Divine Purpose.
This leads to an attunement of the divine flux current and the gift of Knowing Soul Purpose.

5. Appreciation, extending to Beauty, extending to Sacredness, then the Power of Sanctity.
This leads to an attunement to the universal soul and the gift of Providence and Protection.

6. Fortitude, extending to Vigilence, extending to Liberty, then the Power of Real Creation.
This leads to an attunement to the real power of change and the gift of Real Manifestation.