In class we have studied the ideas of enlightenment through the eyes of great enlightenment figures. Through their beliefs, enlightenment is a tangible goal. It is one that can be achieved by the use of knowledge and reason. In The Heart Sutra we realize that this school of tangible knowledge is not the only form of enlightenment. In Buddhist philosophy, enlightenment takes on a different form outside of western ideals. To be enlightened is to let go of the physical pulls that keep us to this earth.
What is Enlightenment in the eyes of a Buddhist? To understand this concept of Enlightenment, we as westerners must open our eyes and expose ourselves to a new train of thought. The perception of what is knowledge is strikingly different to that of western ideals. The knowledge we seek in this case is that nothing is real, that all of these physical distractions keep us here in the physical plane and prevent us from reaching nirvana. Enlightenment is freedom it is letting go, knowing that there is nothing.
How vastly different two cultures view the same word, enlightenment. It is refreshing to read a different viewpoint on the subject, one that isn’t concerned with the same values and concepts as our own. I think it would be a disservice to these readings if we as a culture overlook these views points because they do not coincide with our own.
