After enlightenment, what's left, what's the point? ~ Shinzen Young

[Aezandar42]

Permit me to answer this a little more succinctly. I don't want to step on your toes Teacher. But... what's left after enlightenment? Nonsense. There is no before and after to the enlightened. There is only being.

[anapanasati1970]

@Aezandar42 Agreed. Shinzen once quoted a teacher of his as saying "Enlightenment is the loss of the distinction between enlightened and non-enlightened."

[stanmh1]

Shinzen realizes, after all his effort, that his achievement is not so amazing and personally life-changing as he imagined it would be, so he asks, "what's the point?", and unable to imagine a satisfactory answer, he falls back on a familiar old saw--Love. But there is no "THE point", only the next point, and those that follow, to be found only in the extended consciousnesses beyond his current conceptions or even dreams.  Re-open Shinzen. You did before, do so again.

[flower1921]

I think I've had a "sudden" enlightenment sometime in april, but I have a long way to go. Being enlighten once doesn't mean you are tomorrow although it clearly does imply a total paradigme shift, at least it did for me. But I have to meditate every day in order to keep my mind quite, otherwise I easily fall to the thought of a separate self. And do I mediate everyday?? No, I don't. I tried to meditate in everything I do, but I feel I should meditate more. I just want to learn more about life

[authmaax]

what a brainwash

[TheLongHallway]

umm..Shinzen is 65(now 67)? WOW!

[Vapaavuori]

After enlightenment, left is left, and right is right.

The question itself - what's left? What remains? - implies that something vital is taken away by the experiment. But actually only delusion of self is taken away. Of course the delusion of self is basic human assumption and primitive motive for our biological needs. We need for us first. But after the "self" is let go, there still remains a whole world that we can be aware of and take care of. Old traits (and will) are part of the picture.

[eclecticwhyzas]

Once the false is seen as false, what needs to be fixed? The "Screw-up" is not real and doesn't need corrected.

"Until you are free of the drug (of self-identification), all your religions and sciences, prayer and yogas are of no use to you, for, based on a mistake, they strengthen it"  ~Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

[adriandecleir]

Mine was sudden,,only a month ago, thanks for this video, its taking time to get a grip with emotions, I think the most important thing is that I need to accept that negative emotions will still occur, and also sometimes the self will still rear its head from time to time, not in the same way obviously because this time there is knowing, but there are still feelings of non clarity from time to time,however I wouldnt take a 1Billion dollars to go back, I cant put a price on inner peaceful silence

[greenrate]

0:13 "The best way to deal with this question . . ." is apparently NOT to answer it (?)

Well, let's see how that MIGHT make sense.

It MIGHT make sense . . . if there is no answer to this question.

It MIGHT make sense . . . if there is an answer . . . but he doesn't know what it is.

It MIGHT make sense . . . if there is an answer . . . he knows what it is . . . but feels it's invariably misleading to try to say what it is.

[romentheposmen]

Having read the comments, I realized most commenters in Youtube are enlightened beings.

[szeleale]

@romentheposmen Does that make sense though? If only 1 out of 10,000,000 are at the level of peace, that means even less are enlightened. Are you sure all of these people are then enlightened?"

[bamboosa]

I would leave out the last word. For some, that word conjures up vast reservoirs of hate. You who are judging me now do not understand this, go serve your righteous self to the needy.

[bamboosa]

Take away your car, your home, your family, your money. Now meditate.

[KrassiusCharr]

the point, is indescribable. It is not love for anything. thats the first thing the mind or ego will say. "well what do I love?"

The love spoken of is the experience of being loved. Feeling a love for yourself and all things. A love that is not attached to any thing but to nothing and makes all the things around this nothingness seem incredible. It's seeing the world as a child who has seen no evil and knows nothing, not even the difference between good and evil, but know everything as it is.

[szeleale]

@KrassiusCharr Everyone says it's like seeing the world through a childs eyes, but a child does not know what it's doing. It just does. this is just my opinion but, its the awareness of treating all things with unconditional love.

[KrassiusCharr]

I love knowing there is so much to learn.Thats something that we can all share. there are so many points of views. I love knowing myself. The grace, (effortless flow of emptiness) the silence peace, eternal tao, stillness. It's all so similar. Being so still and with what some call the eternal source or what we believe to be pure cosmic energy. I love knowing about all these things. It doesn't change but we change around it. That is a wonderful thing.

[KrassiusCharr]

I love knowing there are s many people looking into this. :)

[caspareisermann]

Get to the point. Enlightenment means FULLNESS. Love is just one part of it.

[VenusAsABoyFilms]

thank you. this rings true! :-)

[patriot501]

The funny thing about enlightenment is, is that one realizes you were always enlightened - it was always right their in front of "you". Enlightenment could vaguely be compared to a fish trying to describe to other fish that it has seen the ocean before.

Those who attain this risen state of awareness might see peace and bliss. Others, however, see a true horror and haunting, that you can not escape. One is truly alone, and all duality is seen as an illusion.

[freedomtrain007]

I've read a ton of books on buddhism, traveled the world, lived in Italy for a couple of years, owned properties,taught school, climbed the corporate ladder, remodeled home etc. etc. I was NEVER satisifed and got totally worn out chasing fantasies. I had to let it go and KILL my EGO!! I opened my bible and started reading. I forgave myself, everyone, am kind and compassionate and now I just am. It's so amazing!!! The EGO kills! Worship God and be thankful, forgive and be kind & compassionate

[impermanentoo]

@freedomtrain007

Nibbana (enlightenment) is the supreme bliss. There nothing that can save us but it's through our own effort, we can attain enlightenment.

To be enlightened, one has to eradicate greed, anger and delusion. Meditate base on Satipatana sutta as taught by the Buddha to see the truth.

[koriki69]

Great video. I like the closing comment about love. I have ran hot and cold on the subject of buddhism and altruism. But lately believe I am seeing more the purpose and if there is a point it may be compassion and love.

[paramveer25]

thank you for the vedio sir.

[dreamtongue]

this guy definitely knows what he's talking about

[mesa134]

my opinion is if they are asking this question they are not yet enlightened

[mesa134]

@fukwiththestars not really cause if u really were enlightened i think u wouldnt see them as lower(not experiencing it aswell) infact ur love will reach them and they have no choice but to meet you

[lahnjules]

I really respect this man and what he shares. A wonderful, inspired guide for self development and evolution.

[SomeUser9753]

I would suggest you see "the third eye" video in my favorites

[SomeUser9753]

What's always been there !

[ManicSkates]

if one REACHES enlightenment, one must do it through meditation/yoga spiritual practices. it is completely different than the enlightenment that you're talking about. Example: a buddhist monk gains far more wisdom and life experience through achieving enlightenment, than somebody whos been through some traumatic experiences and been enlightened. a monk or meditator also gains far more knowledge of the ego, something that eventually comes back with a person whos experienced trauma

[Enrique6299]

Must,Should,Have are all trick sof the mind to keep stuck in it.

[Allyredstar]

can you look into a monk or meditators head and heart, how do you know who is better than the other and is it up to you to decide ? What you wrote down here is also the myth and your own thinking about monks and meditators. This is the first video from which i understand what is everybody looking for, enlightment, and also helps he explains that some just have experiences without practice, difficult to find out what it is than when you don't know anything like me.

[mesa134]

good luck...

[gefftom]

thats not tru to reach enlightenment there are many easy methods one is to not to try to save yourself

[BaileyLush]

He looks 45! Great vid!

[sidthinker]

ALL of this stuff from Shinzen is absolutely real and awesome. This guy is the real deal. Thank you so much for an excellent core collection from this wonderful master.

[thespaceshipmartini]

Thank you for this great video.

[stonepitts]

sweeet! love is all there is. thank you, shinzen.