This is an account of the direct experience of awakening.
What can be said, or written, of itself cannot reveal the truth.
Words and language are themselves an illusory tool, an aspect of the relative dream, and can only indicate or hint towards the totality, or reality, or that which is.
Upon the moment of awakening not only does the illusion of the relative self or ego vanish like a shadow exposed to light, but all “other” egos, or relative selves, disappear. All separation disappears, and the absolute Self is realized. All is then enlightened and whole, for there never really were separate entities that could become individually enlightened. There then is no relative doer, nor even an absolute doer, for all doing implies separation. Or something to do, or somewhere to go. And not just other humans, but the entire creation is enlightened and whole.
Now nothing can be judged, or observed, or transcended, as there is no separate observer, nor separate objects observed, nor even separate observing.
Here even the concept of pure awareness, the witness, unidentified with that which is observed, has dissolved into the totality. Herein lies the meaning of samsara is nirvana. The slightest separation into observer, observed and observing and samsara appears. When observer, observed and observing is an undifferentiated whole, the Self is self evident, and far more evident, than the illusory ego self.
All that is, then is, as it really is, here descriptions do not apply.
Now, what is missing from the above description of the direct experience of enlightenment?
It is the pronoun, I, for in truth there is no I, either relatively or absolutely. I implies a separation from totality, as the first person singular. Whereas the adjective Self, implies being the same throughout, as the self evident united reality/totality/all that is, and is more appropriate at hinting towards the truth.
You are in reality this Self, all else is illusion.
Relatively, this is the end of suffering. This is the beginning of endless bliss.
Absolutely, all suffering is unreal. Only the blissful Self is real.
This is the eternal Truth.
Edit to add on 2/5/12
Insha’Allah (God willing), a response will be offered to the first comment/question of each poster, in due course.
Due to time restraints and circumstances, subsequent comments and questions may or may not receive a response, preference will be given to authentic enquiries.
The more heartfelt the first question/comment, the more earnest the seeker, the greater the likelihood of deriving benefit.
Your first question/comment should cover that which you consider to be of paramount importance to your own awakening/enlightenment.
With Love/Namaste
tim
PS To clarify the definition of enlightenment, in the context that the term is applied in the title of this thread, an examination of the following links may prove helpful, for those with more than just a casual interest;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlight...28spiritual%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_realization
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daigo_%28Zen%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turiya
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80tman_%28Hinduism%29]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana..._and_True_Self
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hesychasm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigpa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dzogchen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satori
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhahood#Ten_Epithets
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tath%C4%81gata
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upanishads
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana_%28concept%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tathata