How Enlightened are You John?

I’m not enlightened. But, I’m definitely lightened from my enlightenments.

Once I try to claim enlightenment for myself my ego grabs a hold of the idea and everything gets very strange quickly. I start feeling grandiose, heavy, and unhappy.

I’d rather stick with just being me.

My doubts, thoughts, and emotions are not me. My body is not me. My car is not me.

I have these things so, logically, they aren’t who I am.

The key has been shedding false identities that I assumed had something to do with who I am.

Everything that I think I am is not me. I just am.

I get hooked on various thought forms on a daily basis. The socially protective part of my brain goes for a ride on guilt, shame, pride or whatever. I’ll start thinking I need to do something, or be a certain way in order to be okay. I become stressed. It’s the human condition.

But I find my way home again, and that’s where the growth takes place. It’s not growth actually. Like I said above, it’s more like shedding.

Happiness has become easier. It rises up from within and then I’m home. It’s very simple. That’s the benefit of the enlightenment practices. I’m just lighter. I’m carrying around less and less.

I fear less. I love more.

On most days bliss shows up like a good friend. Before, happiness seemed like an elusive joker who taunted me and then disappeared before I could grasp it. Now I feel happy most of the time. I feel gratitude regularly. I feel more connected with myself and others.