Enlightenment

Guru: When you know something, you have to use your senses like eyes, ears etc through which perception of an object takes place. This perception is already controlled by our mind and therefore the health of our mind influences our perception. Further, what you have taken in through your senses and mind is interpreted by your intellect for understanding the object the way you understand it. Now you can see that it is possible to have as many perceptions and understandings of an object as there are people with different grasping powers. This is called subjective perception or understanding. As against this the object has a compelling force to be understood objectively. This is called being grasped by the object where each one's subjectivre grasping of the object is adjusted against the reality of the object.
Seeker: Do you mean to say that only philosophers can be enlightened? What you have said above implies some kind of philosophical thinking.
Guru: Not at all! In fact some who claim to be philosophers, thinkers, scientists, wise people etc. need not be truly enlightened people. Enlightenment is something that is available to everyone provided one is willing to be enlightened and is ready to travel on the road to enlightenment. When it happens it is sudden and is automatic inspite of our long and arduous journey.
Seeker: If so, what should one do in order to be enlightened?
Guru: First and foremost, the seeker of truth and aspirant of enlightenment should create an atmosphere conducive to enlightenment. It need not be like the atmosphere of meditation and stillness created by masters like Sri Budha or philosophers like Sankaracharya as it is not feasible for everyone. What is feasible for everyone has to be created out of each one's life-situations and this has to be done by each one. Some general principles for the same may be presented here for use by those who are interested in being enlightened.
Seeker: What are those principles?
Guru: The first principle for a genuine seeker of enlightenment is to be thirsty for enlightenment. It means that the seeker should be thoroughly interested in it and is ready to take steps that will lead the person to enlightenment. The second principle is to create an environment conducive to illumination and enlightenment. People who are busy with daily routines of life can do this by adopting certain principles of action like being honest, just and decent in whatever they think, say or do. This attitude creates an atmosphere or environment from within which one may aim for enlightenment.
Seeker: I thought that such an attitude is a result of enlightenment rather than its cause as you seem to suggest.
Guru: Such an attitude is not proposed as the cause of enlightenment, but rather as its environment from within which true enlightenment becomes possible. Since we are bound to do some action, it is our look out to see that we are not getting entangled in its harmful aftereffects that will necessarily follow any selfish action. Thus our actions, speech and thought itself should be pure and unselfish in order that an environment for enlightenment is created.
Seeker: Given an environment for enlightenment what should one do for real enlightenment?
Guru: Our third principle is about mastery of mind that should lead us to genuine enlightenment. Left to its own devices, the mind will completely be distracted and will be led into wild imaginations and harmful thoughts leading us to act in very irresponsible ways. Thus, it is necessary to control the mind so that we are its masters and not the other way around. This is done through reflection and meditation on words of wisdom of great masters or gurus. The ultimate in words of wisdom can be seen in the Word of God found in Scriptures of religions.