Quote: "Enlightenment is a concept found in several religions, including Buddhist terms and concepts, most notably bodhi, kensho, and satori."
A state of mental and spiritual awakening, characterized by a profound understanding of reality and liberation from the cycle of reincarnation.
Hinduism: A major religion and cultural tradition of South Asia that includes a diverse set of beliefs, practices, and traditions.
Buddhism: An ancient religion based on the teachings of the Buddha that focuses on the attainment of enlightenment and liberation from suffering.
Taoism: A philosophical and religious tradition based on the teachings of Laozi that emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with nature and cultivating inner harmony.
Zen Buddhism: A school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes the practice of meditation to attain enlightenment.
Yoga: A physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India, primarily focused on the attainment of a state of profound peace and tranquility.
Meditation: A contemplative practice that involves training the mind to achieve a state of calmness and clarity, often used as a means to attain enlightenment.
Karma: A concept in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism that refers to the actions we take and the consequences that follow, believed to determine our destiny and future life experiences.
Reincarnation: The belief in some Eastern religions that after death, the soul is reborn into a new body, leading to a cyclical process of birth, death, and rebirth.
Ayurveda: A system of traditional medicine that originated in India and is based on the idea of balancing the energies in the body to maintain health and wellness.
Nirvana: A concept in Buddhism that refers to the ultimate goal of spiritual practice, believed to be a state of perfect peace, happiness, and liberation from suffering.
Zen Enlightenment: This type of enlightenment is based on a Zen Buddhism philosophy of sudden awakening to the true nature of reality.
Advaita Enlightenment: This is an enlightenment that comes from the non-dualistic Hindu philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, emphasizing the unity of all things.
Theravada Enlightenment: This is an enlightenment achieved by following the path laid out in the oldest Buddhist sacred texts, emphasizing discipline, meditation, and detachment.
Mahayana Enlightenment: This is an enlightenment based on the Mahayana Buddhist philosophy, emphasizing compassion and the realization that all beings are interconnected.
Tibetan Buddhism Enlightenment: This is an enlightenment that combines elements of Buddhism and the indigenous Tibetan traditions.
Taoist Enlightenment: This is an enlightenment based on the Taoist philosophy of following the natural flow of the universe.
Hindu Vedanta Enlightenment: This is an enlightenment that comes from the Hindu philosophy of Vedanta, emphasizing self-knowledge and the realization of the ultimate reality Brahman.
Sufi Enlightenment: This is an enlightenment that comes from the mystical branch of Islam – Sufism, emphasizing the realization of union with God through love and devotion.
Jaina Enlightenment: This is an enlightenment that comes from the Jainism philosophy, emphasizing non-violence, non-attachment and the realization of the true self.
Confucian Enlightenment: This is an enlightenment that comes from the Confucian philosophy, emphasizing personal cultivation, ethical behavior, and social harmony.
Quote: "It represents kaivalya and moksha (liberation) in Hinduism, Kevala Jnana in Jainism, and ushta in Zoroastrianism."
Quote: "In Christianity, the word 'enlightenment' is rarely used, except to refer to the Age of Enlightenment and its influence on Christianity."
Quote: "Roughly equivalent terms in Christianity may be illumination, kenosis, metanoia, revelation, salvation, theosis, and conversion."
Quote: "Perennialists and Universalists view enlightenment and mysticism as equivalent terms for religious or spiritual insight."