Spiritual enlightenment has become a fuzzy word, which is defined as the realization of Oneness. Not the knowledge nor mind-level understanding that “Yes, we are all One; isn’t this wonderful”. But the realization is based on direct experiences. When you are enlightened, you know it as clearly, solidly and directly as you know your heart is beating. If you are in search of spiritual enlightenment, you must first seek to discover what your soul purpose in life is. Your sole purpose is the reason you are placed on earth, or can be better understood as what you should strive to accomplish during your life. Once you know your sole purpose, you can then seek spiritual enlightenment to discover the best path to reach that goal. If you are still in the illusion of separation, enlightenment, especially the first glimpse of it, can be wonderful. You’ve been looking for ways to come home and suddenly you realize you are already home. No more struggles to find your way. However, the truth is enlightenment is not the end. If it is, we didn’t need to bother to be incarnated at all.
In short, your sole purpose in life is the finish line or what you hope to leave behind, while spiritual enlightenment can be the map or direction you should take or understand in order to finish. Most people are blessed with certain gifts or abilities that can help point in the direction of your sole purpose. For example, many people are healers while others are doers. Some people have a sole purpose to help others while some will have the ability to design plans so others can be helped.
Many so-called spiritual people are struck in enlightenment. After they see the Oneness, they cannot make sense of their life as it unfolds on this earth. Surely, we are better off by dropping certain ideas. So if you find yourself not caring about worldly achievements or how you might appear in others’ eyes, great. It may take some changes in how you steer your life and you may feel disoriented for a while, but that’s just usual with major changes.
Whereas you have both male and female energies as a spirit, physically you are either a man or a woman. Whereas you could be anywhere and everywhere as a spirit, physically you are either here or elsewhere. You have every possible perspective. As a physical being, you experience one thing at a time from a fixed point of view. Being physical is restricting but also fun. We choose one piece of the puzzle over the other. Everything in this world is actually also good for us, even evil. Evil is our mistakes.
But, then we don’t have to stay in the mistakes forever. At least the mistakes are a kind of shock. When we receive the effect of our mistakes, we will be shocked into realizing that this is not a proper thing to do. And they cause us misery and unhappiness. And even all things in this world which are beautiful, enjoyable, are reminding us of our true happiness within, or in our true home. Therefore, it’s not a sin to enjoy the things that God created for us. But if we always feel very attached to these things, and God will remind us that this is not proper. And therefore, we will sometimes experience unhappiness, or misery from the things that we cherish most.
Failure and frustration bring people not only disappointment, but also the opportunity for a totally new life tempered through fierce fire. On the path of a human life, no matter how much one screams after falling down on the ground, it serves no use. Only standing up bravely right away, can one be a truly strong being. Most worldly people tend to get attached to the tangible materials, neglect intangible assets, and thus have difficulty walking away from failure and frustration. Being optimistic and open-minded can lead people towards new life, and serves as an intangible treasure for people.
Your sole purpose may simply be to raise a family so that children go on to make a difference in the world. No one can tell you your sole purpose. It is something you must seek to discover through internal reflection and self discovery. In essence, your sole purpose is whatever ability you have to accomplish something with your life. Once you have discovered your sole purpose, you can then seek spiritual enlightenment to assist in your journey.
Spiritual enlightenment is a basic understanding of powers higher than yourself and how those powers can be of help or aid in the journey to reach or attain goals. It is not a moment in time where things suddenly become clear and the path is laid perfectly in front of you. Thus, it is a process that happens over years of searching and studying to find the correct life map of the way that things should be done.
This article is an ‘Ashirvachana’ given by His Holiness Sri Balagangadaranatha Mahaswamiji, 71st Pontiff of Sri Adichunchanagiri Mahas stana Math