This sounds interesting. The “independently enlightened” person would probably be unfamiliar with the Buddhist lingo, so their self-description would not resemble the typical ways.
It is possible that they would have a problem putting their experience in words. Then again, if they could, we could get a description free of the Buddhist lingo.
Maybe even their experience would be different. Like, maybe there is a thing called “enlightenment”, but there are multiple ways to get there, and traditional Buddhist way includes some steps that are not strictly necessary. That person might find a different way (perhaps with different unnecessary components).
People who stumble into awakening on their own very much do have a problem putting their experience into words because they’re trying to communicate a subjective experience that most of the people they talk to have no base of reference for.
Once anecdote I’ve read had a woman describe the experience as being “bigger”. I interpret this to mean that the non-self objects in her consciousness no longer feel like “non-self” because the self/non-self duality has evaporated.
There are indeed different ways to get to awakening. Traditional Buddhist methods are not the only effective means.
This sounds interesting. The “independently enlightened” person would probably be unfamiliar with the Buddhist lingo, so their self-description would not resemble the typical ways.
It is possible that they would have a problem putting their experience in words. Then again, if they could, we could get a description free of the Buddhist lingo.
Maybe even their experience would be different. Like, maybe there is a thing called “enlightenment”, but there are multiple ways to get there, and traditional Buddhist way includes some steps that are not strictly necessary. That person might find a different way (perhaps with different unnecessary components).
People who stumble into awakening on their own very much do have a problem putting their experience into words because they’re trying to communicate a subjective experience that most of the people they talk to have no base of reference for.
Once anecdote I’ve read had a woman describe the experience as being “bigger”. I interpret this to mean that the non-self objects in her consciousness no longer feel like “non-self” because the self/non-self duality has evaporated.
There are indeed different ways to get to awakening. Traditional Buddhist methods are not the only effective means.