enlightenment
Buddha's ultimate realization
Enlightenment is the state of gaining deep understanding or insight, often after confusion or ignorance: Reading that book was a moment of enlightenment for me.
The word suggests clarity breaking through—a light turning on in the mind.
In Buddhism, enlightenment is the ultimate spiritual awakening, liberation from the cycle of suffering and rebirth.
More casually, enlightenment is simply being informed: I'd appreciate some enlightenment on what happened at the meeting. (Capitalized Enlightenment is the 18th-century intellectual movement.)
Return to consciousness
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
- satoriSudden spiritual awakening
- bodhiBuddhist spiritual awakening
- mokshaRelease from rebirth cycle
liberation · transcendence · illumination · dharma · meditation · mindfulness · contemplation · wisdom
Sudden profound insight
- realizationGrasping what's true
- clarityState of being understandable
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- breakthroughSudden important advance
understanding · comprehension · discernment · cognizance · apprehension · perception · discovery · flash
Release from legal bondage
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- releaseTo let go
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
- salvationDeliverance from harm
redemption · unbinding · awakening · transcendence · self-determination · autonomy · unshackling · escape
State of sentient awareness
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- alertnessActive mental awareness
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
attunement · wakefulness · presence · clarity · recognition · discernment · acuity · vigilance
awakening
Return to consciousness
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
- satoriSudden spiritual awakening
- bodhiBuddhist spiritual awakening
moksha · liberation · transcendence · illumination · dharma · meditation · mindfulness · contemplation · wisdom · compassion
epiphany
Sudden profound insight
- realizationGrasping what's true
- clarityState of being understandable
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
breakthrough · understanding · comprehension · discernment · cognizance · apprehension · perception · discovery · flash · dawning
emancipation
Release from legal bondage
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- releaseTo let go
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
salvation · redemption · unbinding · awakening · transcendence · self-determination · autonomy · unshackling · escape · disenthrallment
consciousness
State of sentient awareness
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- alertnessActive mental awareness
sensitivity · attunement · wakefulness · presence · clarity · recognition · discernment · acuity · vigilance · observance
- BuddhismBuddha, dharma wheel, Four Noble Truths, nirvana, dharma
- philosophy termstruth, reason, knowledge, wisdom, logic
- 17th-18th century Europe movementsbaroque, rococo, reformation, absolutism, mercantilism
- metaphysical conceptssoul, spirit, free will, determinism, afterlife
- abstract conceptsparadox, emotions, justice, truth, beauty
- humanitiesphilosophy, history, literature, philosophy class, novels
enlightenmentignorance
Absence of knowledge
confusion · bewilderment · benightedness · puzzlement · incomprehension
enlightenmentdelusion
Stubbornly held false belief
samsara · illusion · maya · ignorance · spiritual darkness
enlightenmentobscurantism
Restricting access to knowledge
Dark Ages · superstition · irrationalism · anti-intellectualism · medievalism
- spiritual enlightenmentProfound transcendent awareness
- Age of EnlightenmentEra prioritizing reason