Enlightenment has often been likened to the rising of the Sun.
It begins with a minuscule increase in the available, ambient light, so discrete as to be almost imperceptible, and continues until the radiant orb is at it’s zenith.
During the process of enlightenment there are many bright flares of sudden insight, many “AHA!” moments when we are illuminated by a sudden brief flash of insight, but these can be likened to the beams of the rising sun, flashing through an opening in the leaves, or peering momentarily through a gap in the clouds.
True Enlightenment is when the sun is at it’s Zenith.
There are many on the path to enlightenment, who do not acknowledge the existence of God, of a Creator. And for many, that is because Buddhism historically has always been intended to alleviate the problems of this present physical existence, rather than deal with the ‘unknowable’. This is understandable, as Siddhartha Gautama himself is reported to have instructed his followers: “…do not make a religion of this.” Instructions, which sadly enough, have not been followed.
Taoism on the other hand teaches that there is nothing in existence without an opposite, and describes it in the concept of yin/yang. Two complementary halves of one whole.
- Day / Night
- Good / Evil
- Male / Female
- Sun / Moon
- Earth / Heavens
- Arrogance / Meekness
- Strong / Weak
- Fast / Slow
The list goes on and on. For everything in existence, there is an opposite.
The key to this understanding is that it takes both halves together, in order for either half to exist.
Since we are not required to just take the concept of yin/yang merely on faith, but can instead see it for ourselves, we therefore know it exists. Having perceived it thus, we can then begin to apply it to the areas in which we are still ignorant. Not everything can be seen with our eyes, or proven with scientific observation. Not that long ago Science was totally unaware of the ‘Quark’ particle, but with the advent of particle accelerators, quark particles were ‘discovered’. Ironically the Universe had been operating for billions of years with these particles built right into it’s very fabric. Our inability to fathom, let alone conceive of this particle, in no way denied it existence.
Therefore: rather than preclude, True Enlightenment would have to include the existence of God.
I have no intention of trying to convince you here that it is so, but rather to remind you to consider this: that everything that exists, only exists in conjunction with it’s mutually complementary opposite. Inability to see it does not preclude it’s existence!
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