Now let's take a look at these steps you can take to help you begin your journey. Towards spiritual enlightenment you have to understand that Buddhist enlightenment is not a pra-existent human ideal that is fixed and unchanging for all human beings in all times.

Buddhism was founded on the idea that all things are impermanent and that all things are interdependent. Here it is the impermanence that must be emphasized. Human nature changes as culture interests and needs change so will the idea of what is admirable of what is good in life.

Enlightenment is not fixed. What was enlightenment a thousand years ago is not the enlightenment of today. Enlightenment is also not supernatural and the way toward it will not grant omniscience or even a perspective that is holy from the finite self. The idea of enlightenment upon an unreachable pedestal and will discourage you from the path. realize that enlightenment is attainable. And that the way toward it is personal.

Apply the right understanding. Why do we suffer? Is it because of our environment or the people around us? Not entirely. It is our response to that which surrounds us that often defines the degree of our suffering. We become attached to certain ideas things like our love of youth, material possessions, power and fame.

We base our self-worth on pre-built cultural systems. Which tell us how we should look how strong we should be and what we should own. One of the benefits of striving for enlightenment is that these things are no inherent meaning. When we understand the truth about the nature of suffering through a correct understanding of reality. We are able to create the conditions and mindset to transcend suffering as much as humanly possible.

Why allow your desires to cause you undue suffering? The distance between what we have and what we want is often the source of our unhappiness and stress. Our achievement oriented culture would tell us differently that we can only achieve true happiness by sacrificing everything to the altar of success. But that's not true. Freedom from craving delusion and hatred is where true peace lies and that is the goal of enlightenment.

One of the first steps toward enlightenment is to become aware of your thoughts words and actions. Mindfulness is an intentional awareness of what we are thinking and doing in the present moment without passing judgment on these thoughts and actions. In Buddhism this is a prerequisite for the development of wisdom and can take the form of meditation.

With right mindfulness we are able to become aware of our true nature and we become able to deal with our thoughts. Then movements to a place of detached peace. And understanding from our preconceived notions and judgments. Practicing mindfulness isn't limited to common meditative postures. You can do it anywhere.

Simply focus on the moment and observe your mind's inner monologue. Focus on the sensation of your feet upon the ground or the air against your face. Practice this and you'll take your first step along the path to enlightenment.

Next step use the right speech. the path to enlightenment is paved not only with self-awareness but with self-control abstaining from lying, abusive speech, meaningless chatter and divisive words. Make up the concept of right speech, lying especially, is destructive as it goes against. One of the core principles of enlightenment to see the world as it truly is. Make every effort to do no harm to yourself or to others in your speech. Be polite and allow your words to be soothing to bridges rather than walls.

Let your words be connected with the goal of enlightenment, that which we communicate. And how we communicate it reveals what is in our hearts. And negativity reveals a heart still torn by hatred and cravings. Both of which are fueled by those presuppositions we should be attempting to shed.

Thanks to social media it is easier than ever to spread suffering through our speech to a large number of people. Do your best to refrain from this! Remember the goal the alleviation of suffering! Do not inflict upon others that which you wish to avoid yourself.

Then apply the right effort. Right effort is as simple and as difficult as actively developing wholesome qualities within yourself. While releasing unwholesome, ones being self-aware through mindfulness allows us to examine our thought processes. We can use to pick out negative qualities that do us and others harm, greed, anger, ignorance and other similar attributes.

Mindfulness also allows us to cultivate good qualities that are conducive to peace and happiness such as generosity kindness and wisdom. You can do this by simply recognizing your negative mental habits and redirecting them before they exhibit themselves as actions.

Do you become angry when you are stuck in traffic? Redirect your thoughts to how thankful you are for a longer period of contemplation and peace in your vehicle. There's nothing you can do to go any faster. Release your need to move through traffic and embrace the happiness that comes with that release. Practice this and you will soon find that you are changing as a person for the better.

And also important, apply the right action. Ultimately your right effort will lead to right action, just as right speech means doing no harm through communication. Right action entails ethical conduct in this context. Right actions entails ethical to act without selfish attachment or our own agenda.

It means not causing discord and suffering. Right actions come from a place of compassion from a sense of we rather than them. Not only wanting to free others from suffering but actively pursuing this goal.

It is the mark of someone who is on the path to enlightenment. When we understand our true nature that we are all one all interconnected. We understand that the suffering of one is the suffering of all. Ask not for the bell of death. And suffering tolls because indeed for thee, at some point in your life you have to come to the realization of the divine oneness and unity in creation and this point begins your higher state of awareness.

These steps are just the beginning. And remember this journey is one toward empathy and wisdom and peace. It is not a journey of personal achievement or becoming more enlightened than others. It's about recognizing the truth we are all in this human experience together. And it is only together that we can alleviate suffering on this earth.