As you recognize that you already own the wholeness you seek, and no one outside you can give you more than you already are, dysfunctional situations will evaporate like bad dreams exposed to the morning sun.
Alan CohenRead
Enlightenment does not ask you to be perfect; it simply asks you to find perfection right where you stand.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Enlightenment encourages self-acceptance and appreciation of one's current state rather than striving for an unattainable perfection.
This quote by Alan Cohen suggests that enlightenment is not about achieving an idealized version of oneself, but rather recognizing and embracing the inherent perfection in your present situation. It underscores the notion that personal growth and understanding come from within, and that the journey to enlightenment lies in appreciating the moment and acknowledging one's existing strengths and qualities.
Themes
EnlightenmentPerfectionSelf-AcceptanceWisdomAppreciation
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal growth.
More from Alan Cohen
All quotes βCommunication is an offering. When you tell someone your truth, you must release your expectation of what the other person should do with it. They may thank you profusely, love you forever, argue with you, or ignore you. It doesn't matter. Of course we hope the gift will be received with appreciation and thanks. But if it isn't we must not dictate. We've done our part, and we must trust the universe to do the rest.
Alan CohenRead
When you learn to say yes to yourself, you will be able to say no to others, with love.
Alan CohenRead
We attain freedom as we let go of whatever does not reflect our magnificence. A bird cannot fly high or far with a stone tied to its back. But release the impediment, and we are free to soar to unprecedented heights.
Alan CohenRead
You can be helping many people, but if you are not helping yourself, you have missed the one person you were born to heal.
Alan CohenRead
When you protect yourself from pain, be sure you do not protect yourself from love.
Alan CohenRead
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We ask for what reason our Lord was unwilling to state the time of His coming (cf. Mk. 13:31-32). If we ask it, we shall not find it is owing to ignorance, but to wisdom. For it was not to our advantage to know; in order that we being ignorant of the actual moments of judgment to come, might ever be as it were on guard, and set on the watch-tower of virtue, and so avoid the habits of sin; lest the day of the Lord should come upon us in the midst of our wickedness.
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When we ask for advice, we are usually looking for an accomplice.
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When there are multiple versions of a story, you really have three ways to go. You can pick the most sensational version. You can try to balance things in your gut to get to what you think is the honest truth. Or you can err on the side of kindness.
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When you spring to an idea, and decide it is truth, without evidence, you blind yourself to other possibilities.
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I took a closer look. There is no such thing as ignorance. Ignorance is nothing But my limited knowledge. I took a closer look. There is no such thing as defeat. Defeat is nothing But the inspirer Of my increasing will. I took a closer look. There is no such thing as death. Death is nothing But my strengthening And Dreaming rest.
Sri ChinmoyRead