The state of enlightenment, in which the truth of monotheism is revealed is remarkably difficult to speak about.
Words do not suffice, because words frame intellectual concepts and when talking about enlightenment in this sense we are not talking about an intellectual position, it is far more comprehensive and useful than that.
Indeed, the word 'enlightenment' itself is totally inappropriate when addressing a western audience, as it generally connotes an intellectual revolution in the 18th known misleadingly as 'the age of enlightenment'. As I shall explain, this label says an awful lot about what has gone wrong in the West, with our over-emphasis on a narrow scientific, rational intellectual view of what makes for truth, and a consequent reverence for brain workers such as scientists, lawyers, bankers which is amply reflected by their predominant position in society!
This view of enlightenment is quite elitist and exclusive. Academic, intellectual types are enlightened whereas everyone else is effectively stuck in the dark ages, and needing a patronising assistance from those blessed with braininess. This divide is reinforced by the fact of who wields power, and in the worst tradition of self-fulfilling prophesies, how we educate our children. The divide, when one looks at it properly, is apparent everywhere and is a much better indicator of class division than the old ways of describing based on eg worker vs capitalist or lower, middle and upper. And - as I will explain - the divide exists inside of each and everyone of us, and is in fact rather than being the key to our enlightenment (the power of the intellect) in fact the cause of our greatest delusion. It is a classic case of things being upside down from the way most people are encouraged to view things. This would be ok if it wasn't doing such an awful damage to our culture. Emotionally, spiritually and socially, but also (as I shall explain) politically and increasingly economically. This may seem like the overstatement of a case, but in fact our failure to overcome this crisis and the real roots of the crisis itself can be traced to this fundamental misunderstanding about truth and freedom - of what it means to be enlightened. This is because our culture is rooted in a false ideal of human freedom that has economic, social and political consequences.
Eastern cultures by way of contrast have specific words for the state of being of which I want to speak. In India it is called moksha or nirvana. But these names, a bit like concepts of mystical union with God tend to alienate, because they sound so very unworldly.
perhaps what is needed is a new word and a clear explanation
Words do not suffice, because words frame intellectual concepts and when talking about enlightenment in this sense we are not talking about an intellectual position, it is far more comprehensive and useful than that.
Indeed, the word 'enlightenment' itself is totally inappropriate when addressing a western audience, as it generally connotes an intellectual revolution in the 18th known misleadingly as 'the age of enlightenment'. As I shall explain, this label says an awful lot about what has gone wrong in the West, with our over-emphasis on a narrow scientific, rational intellectual view of what makes for truth, and a consequent reverence for brain workers such as scientists, lawyers, bankers which is amply reflected by their predominant position in society!
This view of enlightenment is quite elitist and exclusive. Academic, intellectual types are enlightened whereas everyone else is effectively stuck in the dark ages, and needing a patronising assistance from those blessed with braininess. This divide is reinforced by the fact of who wields power, and in the worst tradition of self-fulfilling prophesies, how we educate our children. The divide, when one looks at it properly, is apparent everywhere and is a much better indicator of class division than the old ways of describing based on eg worker vs capitalist or lower, middle and upper. And - as I will explain - the divide exists inside of each and everyone of us, and is in fact rather than being the key to our enlightenment (the power of the intellect) in fact the cause of our greatest delusion. It is a classic case of things being upside down from the way most people are encouraged to view things. This would be ok if it wasn't doing such an awful damage to our culture. Emotionally, spiritually and socially, but also (as I shall explain) politically and increasingly economically. This may seem like the overstatement of a case, but in fact our failure to overcome this crisis and the real roots of the crisis itself can be traced to this fundamental misunderstanding about truth and freedom - of what it means to be enlightened. This is because our culture is rooted in a false ideal of human freedom that has economic, social and political consequences.
Eastern cultures by way of contrast have specific words for the state of being of which I want to speak. In India it is called moksha or nirvana. But these names, a bit like concepts of mystical union with God tend to alienate, because they sound so very unworldly.
perhaps what is needed is a new word and a clear explanation
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