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Why People Who Are Not Fully Enlightened Can — and Should — Talk About Enlightenment
In Buddhism, enlightenment is not a peripheral topic. It is the ultimate goal of the path — the cessation of suffering and the full awakening to reality. If Buddhists are to walk this path with clarity, they must first have some understanding of what the destination entails. This is not just a matter for the fully enlightened to discuss; it is a subject that belongs to everyone who is sincerely engaged in practice.
For this reason, discussion about enlightenment must be encouraged and not censored. An open dialogue about what enlightenment is and what it is not is crucial for the health of a Buddhist community.
1. Understanding the Goal of Practice
A practitioner who has no conception of what enlightenment means is like a traveler setting out without knowing the nature of the place they are heading toward. While enlightenment cannot be fully captured in words, a working understanding helps orient one’s practice and prevents drifting into unrelated pursuits.
2. The Value of Diverse Perspectives
Different Buddhist traditions — Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana — each present distinct views of enlightenment. Within each tradition, interpretations also vary…
