Concept of Enlightenment in Buddhism

Being the fourth part of the 'Four Noble Truths of Buddha', the Eightfold Path teaches how to stop suffering or 'dukkha', and to reach a state of self-awareness and self-awakening. All bad virtues like greed, jealousy, hatred, etc., cease to operate if one follows this path in a proper manner. The Four Noble Truths are: 'The Truth of Dukkha', 'The Origin of Dukkha', 'The Ending of Dukkha', and 'The Path that can lead One to the Ending of Dukkha'. The principle of non-attachment is also related to these truths, wherein one has to give up all the possessions to begin a spiritual journey. The Buddha left his home at an early age and gave up all his belongings in order to seek a spiritual awakening. The Noble Eightfold Path is divided into three sections: Wisdom, Ethical and Right-mannered Conduct, and Concentration. In the first category, i.e., Wisdom, the aspects of right view and right intention are included. In the second category, Ethical Conduct, the parameters of right speech, right action, and right livelihood are placed, while the third category (Concentration) consists of right effort, right concentration, and right mindfulness. Training oneself by practicing these aspects is crucial if one wants to attain enlightenment.

As Buddhism bifurcated into different schools that taught spirituality according to the respective scriptures and principles, the terminology related to enlightenment also differed. The methods may vary, but the followed principles are more or less the same. Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana are the three main classes or variations of Buddhism. In the following sections, three main interpretations or stages or 'enlightenment' have been described briefly. When a person has experienced enlightenment till he attains Nirvana, the cycle of birth has death has ceased, and he is known as an Arhat. Thus, basically Arhat means a person who has had a kind of realization of a complete ending of pain and suffering. The person may be on a path to enlightenment but may not have reached the end, i.e., attained full Nirvana. Since numerous centuries, this term also has had varying definitions among the Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism school of thoughts. In the former, an Arhat has left all sins and vices to reach a state of Nirvana, while in the latter, he is regarded as the possible rebirth of 'The Buddha'. Also called the Enlightened Being, the Bodhisattva is an individual who had reached the path's end, but often waits for the others to attain it first. Siddhartha Gautama is shown as a Bodhisattva in many old stories. Like Arhat, this term also has different meanings and interpretations, but the basic ideas remain the same. One can learn much about this supreme state in a simple manner by going through the Jatakas, which are tales about the life of Gautama Buddha. In Theravada Buddhism, a Bodhisattva might not always be the one who has achieved complete Nirvana; he might be someone who is on the correct path towards it. The literal meaning of Nirvana is often regarded as 'blown out', i.e., one who has reached the path of enlightenment, left all the desires and belongings behind, and attained a spiritual state or has become an entity of pure and decontaminated self-awareness. In Hindu cultures, it is often referred to as attaining 'Moksha' i.e., 'spiritual immortality'. But in Buddhism, attaining Nirvana mainly means a complete end or 'tanha', i.e., wants or cravings, 'dukkha' meaning sufferings, and 'moha' meaning ignorance. In Theravada Buddhism, attaining Moksha means an ending of pain and sufferings, while in Mahayana Buddhism, to attain Nirvana signifies the end of the path towards self-realization and enlightenment.