How does one become enlightened, spiritually liberated, at one with the Godhead or All-Suchness?

It is by knowing our own mind as it truly is.

It is not by knowing thoughts, but by knowing our mind, which is that empty screen upon which thoughts arise or appear. The thoughts are not us — they are just passing scenery int he mind. It’s the Mind that’s YOU, it’s the mind you want to find.

The fundamental substrate of  mind is at one with God, the ultimate nature, Brahman, Buddhanature. By knowing, by realizing it, by experientially realizing or "seeing" its true nature you become enlightened. The awareness you have is the awareness of theultimate nature, so the only way to know the original nature is to find the source of that awareness. That source is behind, beneath thoughts.

That knowing or realization of mind is self-realization, for it is knowing your own mind. That realization is free of thoughts, for it is known by wisdom insight (a non-conceptual experience) and not by mental activity, for mental activities only appear in it like a movie that appears on a projector screen. Knowing our mind as it truly is is realizing, experientially, that our mind is empty and absent of all forms and appearances. That is what matches with the original nature.

So how do you reach that? Meditation — at first the stilling or pacification of thoughts. And then the shedding of all thoughts entirely, including tiny, refined thoughts that almost seem non-existent. In detaching from thoughts, they eventually die down themselves and pass away without any efforts needed on our part. So meditation teaches you to shine awareness on them without involvement, and eventually one can abandon them entirely because the habit stream dies down.

What’s left?

Your own mind as it really is.

It is mind through which you will known enlightenment, not through matter, not through thoughts. All mind and matter have the same ultimate origin int he universe, but while one cannot trace matter back to Mind and original nature, one can trace mind back to Mind and original awareness which empowers little mind.

That’s the method.

 

Related posts:

1. The Pope Asks, “Who am I?”
2. If You Say You’re “One With the Father,” They Will Kill You
3. Samadhi versus Enlightenment