How To Become Spiritually Enlightened For REAL
Spiritual enlightenment is the highest state a person can achieve. It is the divine moment when you become one with the universe. It is like awakening from a dream. Basically, it means being completely freed from our delusional idea of reality [READ: How To Become Free Spirited].
There are many ways to achieve enlightenment. Perhaps the most powerful way is by practising self-inquiry meditation.
But you have options.
In this guide, I will show you how to become enlightened through meditation and other methods. But first, you might like to look at these signs of an enlightened person to see if you yourself are enlightened or if you know someone who is.
How To Become Enlightened
To awaken, you first need to find what Lao Tzu called “impurities of your mind”. To do this, we will use a quiz.
Simply complete the quiz below.
- Read through each of the questions in the five groups A to E.
- Give yourself 0 points for every time you answer “Never”, 1 point for every time you answer “Sometimes” and 2 points for every time you answer “Always”.
- Add your score up.
- But don’t worry if you don’t get a high score as you’ll find my guide to how to become enlightened below.
Group “A” Questions
| Question | Always | Rarely | Never |
| You find it easy to focus on one thing | |||
| You are able to quieten your thoughts | |||
| You feel like you have control of your mind | |||
| You are mentally composed | |||
| You finish one task before beginning another | |||
| You are calm | |||
| You live in the moment | |||
| You are good at listening to people | |||
| You rarely forget what you’re doing | |||
| You feel grounded and stable |
Group “B” Questions
QUESTION | Always | Rarely | Never |
| You accept other people as they are | |||
| You are calm even when people act negatively | |||
| You are happy around other people | |||
You understand that no one is perfect | |||
| You are tolerant of others | |||
| You enjoy the company of animals | |||
| You appreciate nature | |||
| You feel sad when others are sad and happy when they are happy | |||
| You like to help other people | |||
| You find it easy to forgive |
Group “C” Questions
| QUESTION | Always | Rarely | Never |
| You are able to forgive yourself | |||
| You accept it when you underperform | |||
You feel positively s about yourself | |||
| You accept your own weaknesses | |||
| You think other people like you | |||
| You have a realistic view of yourself | |||
| You feel proud of your accomplishments | |||
| You give yourself time and space when you need it | |||
| You are willing to put yourself first when you need to | |||
| You listen to yourself and accommodate your own needs |
Group “D” Questions
QUESTION | Always | Rarely | Never |
| You are in control of your emotions
| |||
| You find it easy to be inwardly silent
| |||
| You have mental congruence
| |||
| You live simply
| |||
| You rarely experience thoughts that surprise or alarm you
| |||
| You understand your own feelings and emotions
| |||
| You are aware of and listen to your intuition
| |||
| You understand your own actions | |||
| You are aware of negative emotions before they become problematic | |||
| You feel you have a good relationship with yourself |
Group “E” Questions
| QUESTION | Always | Rarely | Never |
| You allow yourself to fully embrace the moment
| |||
| You allow yourself to fully enjoy good times
| |||
| You feel engrossed in meaningful conversation
| |||
| When you have a good conversation, it’s as though there’s nothing but you and the other person
| |||
| You are able to fully focus your mind on what you’re doing
| |||
| You are able to perceive the beauty in the small things
| |||
| If you want to, you can get full engrossed in a good book or film | |||
| At special times you feel one with another person, place, or thing | |||
| You appreciate beauty | |||
| You are able to focus on one thing with absolutely no distractions or thoughts at all |
Group A: Mental Calmness and Focus
This group assesses your ability to focus and quiet your mind. Developing calmness is essential for meditation.
Group B: Compassion and Relationships
This group measures your emotional intelligence and ability to empathize with others.
Group C: Self-Acceptance
Understanding and accepting yourself without judgment is key to spiritual growth.
Group D: Insight and Emotional Control
Self-mastery and emotional control are vital to achieving higher states of awareness.
Group E: Living in the Moment
Living in the present is central to enlightenment. This group tests your ability to fully immerse in life’s experiences.
Scoring and Next Steps
- 0-30 Points: You’re just starting. Focus on simple breathing meditations and guided sessions to build your mental calm.
- 30-60 Points: You’re at an intermediate level. Try advanced techniques like Anapanasati or body scan meditation to deepen your practice.
- 60-90 Points: You’re approaching enlightenment. Keep refining your practice with techniques such as Dhyana and Osho meditation.
- 90-100 Points: You’re very close to full spiritual awakening. Share your wisdom and help others find peace.
Moving Forward: Meditation Techniques for Enlightenment
To achieve true enlightenment, meditation must be practiced consistently. Depending on your quiz results, different meditation techniques will help strengthen the areas where you scored lower.
- Samatha Meditation: Enhances concentration and calmness, perfect for those with low scores in Group A.
- Loving Kindness Meditation: Cultivates compassion and self-love, beneficial for those with low scores in Group B and C.
- Vipassana Meditation: Develops self-awareness and insight, ideal for those struggling with emotional control (Group D).
- Mindfulness Meditation: Perfect for fostering present-moment awareness and deepening the experience of life (Group E).
The Stages of Enlightenment: A Journey
Enlightenment isn’t a one-time event but a progressive realization. In my practice, I guide students through these stages:
- We Dream– Life feels like a dream, clouded by illusions.
- We’re Awake but Mindless– We live reactively, driven by unconscious thoughts.
- We’re Awake and Present– We start to experience the world with all our senses.
- We’re Mindfully Awake– We transcend sensory distractions, living in harmony.
- We Achieve Oneness– We experience unity with the universe.
- We Find Spiritual Enlightenment– We fully awaken to the truth.
Buddhist and Hindu Paths to Enlightenment
Buddhism offers a structured path to enlightenment through the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. Key principles like mindfulness, right intention, and right concentration are essential practices. I recommend integrating these into your meditation routine for deeper insights. Get started with my guide to Buddhist meditation.
Hinduism also presents a transformative approach, emphasizing ego dissolution to unite with the universal self. Techniques like Bhakti Yoga and meditation on the self are key tools for this path.
Key Takeaways
- Enlightenment is a gradual process, not an instantaneous shift.
- Meditation is a powerful tool, but consistency is essential for progress.
- Self-awareness and emotional regulation are foundational.
- Work on your weaknesses and deepen your practice with advanced techniques.
Need Help Deepening Your Meditation Practice?
If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed on your spiritual journey, book a private session with me to receive personalized guidance and techniques. I’m here to help you move from where you are now to where you want to be in your practice.
Paul Harrison is a meditation teacher with 25 years of experience and a deep passion for helping others. Known for his empathy and authentic approach, he’s dedicated to guiding individuals and teams toward mindfulness, clarity, and well-being.
