Enlighten me

Somebody asked me a question today on Quora.com about enlightenment. The question was how do I know if I am enlightened?

My first reaction was, though I didn’t write it, that you wouldn’t be asking this question if you were. Ha, ha, ha. But then it got me thinking. What if one was enlightened?

I have been fortunate to meet some enlightened people and one thing is common. They are always smiling. Well, actors are always smiling, you will say. Especially in public. Politicians are always smiling in public. The less said about the politicians, the better. Actors are just playing a part off screen.

But the enlightened people wear their smile like clothes. They are never without it. It is because they are always happy. They don’t get angry. They can chide somebody if need be but it doesn’t rumple their inner tranquility. They are never in a hurry and they don’t rattle off just like that. They take their time to answer but the words, when they come out, are so soothing to the soul.  Somebody can master that, you will say. Yes but the inner peace that guides all their actions comes only when one is truly enlightened.

You truly see yourself as one with the universe. You see the same energy in everyone around you and caste, religion and race become immaterial to you. Because you are one with that eternal light.

I don’t know if I ever will be enlightened but one thing is for sure. Just being aware of what it means has made a difference in my life. I wish the same for you.

So be it!!!