Enlightenment: Through Restriction or Enjoyment?
Daily | February 4th, 2009
There are many paths to enlightenment. Be sure to take one with a heart.” — Lao Tzu
Carrie says: Enjoyment!!! The joy of crisp fresh air, the joy of puppy breath and coming home…Life expands with bliss.
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Jessica says: Enjoyment. I understand the need for some to reach their bliss through restriction, but I’ve never responded well to that theory. I feel closest to God when I’m (like Carrie) blissfully entangled in goodness.
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February 4th, 2009 at 5:07 am
May I interject for a moment please and ask whatever happened to Danielle? Is she on holiday? have I missed something? And by the way, it's not that I haven't been enjoying Jessica's replies to the dailies!
February 4th, 2009 at 5:42 am
Definitely enjoyment! I feel like restriction often leads to resentment – which doesn't help anyone. Enjoying life by making authentic choices. That's the way to go!
February 4th, 2009 at 7:19 am
Enjoyment – the moments that we can let ourselves go without hesitation, fear, self-consciousness, or anxiety and just let ourselves smile and relish in the moment are sometimes when we are most authentic. I have had moments of unexpected, magical joy that anchored me to an unexpected truth about myself. These moments where I caught myself have set me free and on another course.
February 4th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Oddly enough…I am the restriction type.
I find that enjoyment comes through restriction for me. The more disciplined I am, the happier I am as well. There's something powerful about being completely in control of one's self.
February 4th, 2009 at 7:48 am
I'm going to go for both. If you make an effort to really shead all the extra “noise” filling up your life you not only have more time and room for the things you enjoy but you have the ability to really focus on and experience them. If there were no restriction we'd be pulled in so many ways and distracted that we couldn't get to those nuggest of enjoyment that can really be transformative.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Danielle has moved on a new project, whitehottruth.com. Be sure to check her out over there!
February 4th, 2009 at 9:26 am
I think this may be a false dichotomy. On the mindful path, one realizes that some things lead us away from where we are truly headed…..so one restricts those, so that he or she can more mindfully enjoy the present. For example, one might refrain from drinking because being drunk removes some of your ability to be fully in the present moment. Restriction or limits in some areas come from knowing through experience that they don't serve us in enjoying what is truly there and who we truly are.
So, I guess my answer is both.
February 4th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Enlightenment through joy and love, of course.
February 4th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Enlightenment comes through the naturally alternating periods of restriction and enjoyment that most of us experience in our lifetimes.
July 5th, 2009 at 7:13 am
I find that enjoyment comes through restriction for me. The more disciplined I am, the happier I am as well. There's something powerful about being completely in control of one's self.
July 5th, 2009 at 7:23 am
Enjoyment – the moments that we can let ourselves go without hesitation, fear, self-consciousness, or anxiety and just let ourselves smile and relish in the moment are sometimes when we are most authentic.