The Enlightened Individual

transformation-journey-01As spirits in a human body we are living each life here on Earth school to learn, to love, to evolve and bring ourselves ever closer to Source, to God, to the Creator. Everyone’s path is different depending on the stage of development of their Spirit, the lessons they need to learn and what they are being asked to master to move onto the next set of lessons, the next life, the next body. As we evolve, we move toward enlightenment, or liberation from the imprisoning of the mind, true understanding of our existence here on earth and freedom from suffering, freedom from the continuous cycle of death and re-birth.

Let’s look at the characteristics of an enlightened individual.

  1. Non-judgmental.
  2. Lives without fear and desire.
  3. Accepting.
  4. Compassionate.
  5. Kind and loving towards Self and others.
  6. Acts on behalf of the whole rather than the self alone.
  7. Is peaceful, not engaging in harmful thoughts or actions towards any being.
  8. Patient and understanding.
  9. Humble.
  10. Has clarity.
  11. Possesses Inner Strength & Wisdom.
  12. Healthy in Mind, Body & Spirit.
  13. Committed to Spiritual Practice.
  14. An enlightened person always acts with integrity and is honest in all of their dealings.

There are more, but this is the short list.

The enlightened person has a high level of sensitivity, of awareness of all that is happening in the world around them. The greater the sensitivity, the stronger the connection to God. They will also learn how to master their emotions to become stable as to not be swayed by the external forces. They must learn to be highly aware but not so sensitive that other’s words or actions can knock them from their center.

CharlesFrancis writes,

“The enlightened person is a leader. Having awakened to the point of understanding the nature of suffering, she realizes her duty to help other people find freedom from suffering. She leads by example, rather than control. People follow her because of who she is and what she stands for. They want to be more like her. The enlightened person is humble. Since he knows his place in the universe, he doesn’t need validation from others. Therefore, he has nothing to prove to anyone, including himself. His humble nature allows him to be kind and gentle, and be open to everyone he encounters. The enlightened person is patient and understanding because she appreciates how our ignorance creates our own suffering. She understands the challenge of becoming enlightened, so she doesn’t condemn people for their missteps.”

Enlightenment really is all about Freedom. Freedom has been my main quest in this lifetime. It has shown up in my life as wanting to be free from the constraints of a system (the machine) that is flawed and limiting, imprisoning all who are trapped within it’s unnatural confines. It has shown up as wanting to be free from anyone telling me “what to do” either in relationships, in religious organizations or in workplace environments. But ultimately, I am seeking the freedom that accompanies enlightenment, and that is an inside job. I had a spiritual awakening in 2001, but being awakened is just the first step toward becoming enlightened.


How can we become free within our mind’s, within our perception?

One example is to live in Trust that everything is in Divine Order and know that one’s destiny will lead them to the people, the events and what is necessary to express their soul’s deepest offerings. Be patient, stay true to yourself, do the work and let the path unfold. All that is yours is coming to you. To live in trust is to be free of worry.

To be compassionate is to be free from hatred. If you can see that the father who abused you was living in so much pain that he could only express himself through his pain, is to see that this man was hurting and was extremely limited, and unable to break the cycle. With this understanding of his suffering and inability to change it, you will be able to have compassion for this person who carried this much pain and not hold anger or hatred in your heart toward him, but extend your understanding and love so that you may be set free from their pain. Forgiveness frees you from anger.

To be accepting acts to unite all who exist under these stars, to feel the oneness of all beings inhabiting this planet. When we accept we recognize where another person is on their path and we allow them to grow in their own time, at their own pace without judging them. We can then be there for them to lead by example and to teach, offering our support as they evolve, with kindness and understanding. To accept is to give us freedom from judgment.

To live in the present moment is to be free from anxiety. When we project into the future and try and figure out how we are going to solve the problem that we may foresee coming down the road, we move out of the present moment and create anxiety. We can’t solve that problem because we aren’t there yet. So recognize that in the place where we are (right here, right now), we are safe, we have everything we need and we are taken care of. And breathe. And when we get to that place down the road, we will also be in the present moment and we will have what we need to solve our problems. Take one step at a time and free your self from anxiety.

As we begin to set ourselves free from the mental constraints that limit us, we will begin to understand how blessed we really are. As our reactions to events and people change, we will feel lighter. As our perceptions shift, we will align with the Truth. “And ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you Free.”

In Love & Truth,

Elizabeth Wright
Spirit Works

References: Leonard Jacobson, Charles A. Francis