Debunking the #1 myth about enlightenment | Robert Waldinger
Enlightenment: After the ecstasy, the laundry. Why enlightenment is never an end in itself.
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Ask people what it means to be enlightened and you’ll get a wide variety of answers. But according to Zen master Robert Waldinger, permanent enlightenment rarely — if ever — exists. In fact, we should be suspicious of those who claim to be “fully enlightened” beings.
Although some people claim to have acquired total enlightenment after experiencing some fantastic spiritual event, Waldinger believes this perspective of “acquisition” can be dangerous. Instead of viewing enlightenment as something you acquire, he believes it should be something you practice in each moment, like an activity or a habit.
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About Robert Waldinger:
Robert Waldinger, MD is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, a practicing psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and a Zen teacher and practitioner.
For the last two decades, Waldinger has been the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development. This study, conducted over more than 85 years, has analyzed the entire lives of 724 families to determine the activities, behaviors, and dynamics that enhance a person’s life-long well-being. Waldinger has dedicated his career to examining these elements and discovering what brings true fulfillment to human existence.
He is the author of several books, including his most recent, The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.
@erik_1953
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
It would be nice if you could switch it offf.
@Mahyar360
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
Eckhart Tolle says that 3:39
@BruceMollberg
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
Just when you think you got it …. There is always a paradox … you are absolutely nothing …. And you are absolutely Everything ……….. ( lots of excellent comment , just throwing in my 2 cents )
@infopablo
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
In true zen ther is no enlightenment, zen is silence, people who talk about zen are just noise.
@texastexas4541
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
It is a thought created in your limited mind because someone else preconditioned you. You think there is something deep to it bot NO such thing at all! If you spend many years chasing it, at some point you will start imagining more things because along the way, you accumulated more preconditioning. That is all. Sheer foolishness indeed!
@bonnyd.5334
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
Mr Waldinger is an intellectually dishonest man. It turns out that he was ordained as a 'Zen Priest' by a person who is a New Ager, whose ordinations are suspect. Dr Waldinger is a Freudian psychoanalyst; he does not do real science. He posts his talks on a New Age website, one that features chakras and that sort of crap. WHEN YOU SLEEP WITH DOGS, YOU GET FLEAS. MR WALDENGER IS A QUACK. (That's how come I will not use any of his titles… he essentially renounced his titles when he got involved with the New Age.)
@loveoutpouring
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
The number one roadblock to Self-realization is Self-doubt, the belief enlightenment is unattainable, which is what this gentleman is betraying.
@thomsharma4149
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
You are right. You will experience many stages, which is beyond this body and mind, where all your senses don't work. But when you come back to your senses, you are as normal as all other beings. The important thing is that you will be very clear that you are not this body. All your senses are not you. You are simply a pure existence . You are the centre of everything whole existence. Try not to think. Once you find out that your centre, you are done. You are a peaceful, loving, kind, and helpful person.
@allenmorgan4309
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
I live in what people call an altered state all the time. I am enlightened. I am in all and all are in me. Everything is connected but it goes even deeper because everything exists within everything else and everything is the reflection of everything else. The whole is reflected within its parts and each part is a whole. When you say perfectly evolved is a misconception because there is no so called "perfectly evolved" person because everything is already perfect and whole in and of itself. It is not about evolving or becoming. Enlightenment is simply seeing reality for how it truly is and everything comes down to energy and consciousness which is what we are in our essence.
@bobyers3071
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
You know I'm 78 years old Starting when I was about20I've been chasing this enlightenment and Zen and Buddhism and be here now and ram dass You know I've come to the conclusion that In the end it's just a opinion Someone who attains enlightenment I don't know They're still a person there's still a mind body organism with a brain and a mind and they still think don't tell me they don't And so what all of it in the end the meaning of life Jesus Christ No 1 knows the meaning of life and no 1 ever will But there's still even today a lot of people chasing around running in circles pursuing enlightenment everyone from Carl's Casanova's don Juan to Robert Adams Good lord all of them I guess it's better than being Donald trump No there is an example of Low awareness low consciousness and Non enlightenment I think maybe I'm enlightened Knowing that And seeing all the madness around him and the political horror show going on in America these days The meaning of life Is that life is insane Ha ha
@Pax-h7r
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
That’s very sweet (maybe the wrong description, don’t care)
@zleepyg0599
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
for me enlightenment started in hell….i took drugs I died,never survived "that".
god put me in hell for that…as i walked through the dunes in my town.
through a gate of "hallucinated" fire….(never touched it,don't know it it really burned)
i looked upon the world in a new,way…an upon a day,i looked upon the mirror.
and a seen a great serpent in my apple. (the beast 666)
I'm a beast an evolved ape (science),part of enlightenment in to be aware of that. (christian enlightenment,to indulge).
i constantly eat of life,meat flesh…like an addict i ate souls…i realized another day.
I'm eating the same stuff I'm made out off,enlightenment is to be aware of that.. (christian enlightenment,to indulge).
time…enlightenment is always in the corner,and punctual,like a violin "he" plays consciousness…..
(this is getting too long and a comment wont suffice)
god/life is like a really really good teacher.
he wants people to be enlightenment…hes trying to get "that/those" beasts..
to be self aware of there nature…that is christian enlightenment in short.
"important!" out of there own free will or choice.
to convert and convince,not to force.
@randomvicky939
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
Omg ! Finally someone speaking the truth… Aleluia !
@Johnlynchfilm
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
If you know – you know. If you don’t know you don’t know. If you know that you don’t know – then you know. If you think you know – then you don’t know.
I agree with much of what this guy is saying – but – – – – he should try a Transcendental meditation for a span of time. I’ve done many meditative modalities my entire life. TM is the longest and deepest way to get to a place and stay in a place and allow that place rather quickly I may add – to become part of you. Zen meditation is great. I’ll endorse it any day – but I don’t do it – I do TM and there is a reason why. It’s the least effort of any meditation (no effort/ effortless) and you get to a wonderful place that sticks and stays and keeps you evolving.
@PalNok-nm6fv
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
True talk , i like the Video❤
@MicheleHerman-kq4ll
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
In the old days a person whom had the experience i did would have been considered a prophet of someone whom was a disciple and close to the Gods a seer i however dont see myself as that i believe i released some natural abilities to heal yourself temporarily like the third eye stuff because its how it felt the air was electric and even sounded electrfied.
@MicheleHerman-kq4ll
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
Actually nothing is separate and ive had that awakening as i walked and was crying ans animals came up to me deer a groundhog a wild type of fench bird landed in the palm of my hand and another on my knee that was while i was resting on the railroad tracks and my sandles had just broken and i still had 3 miles left to walk i felt God or jjst the power of all the crickets and the slunds of the trees in sync with my heart beat after i sat there layed back onto the ground and looked up at the sun takong deep breaths i became one and all of the sudden i had the energy to gather myself up as if being lifted to my feet and each leg was almost as if you help a pupet to walking ghis was happening to me i felt my mouth get watery as if i just quenched my thirst and i felt no hunger its was completely amazing this happened to me right exactly where 10 years prior I had flipped my car and broken my neck for the 2nd time reinjured C2 in my neck and injured L 1 and 2 in my. Anyway i made it home to be changed forever by what i experienced i oy wish i had someone to talk to me about the things i continue to witness and feel and dream of what seems to be messages. I wont talk to someone who has less school than someone learnjng to bag groceries in my opinion even the dr. Of psychology have no idea how to treat people and medicines just block what is actually happening and its unhealthy to medicate and bury things thats why they never cure anyone they are blocking it
@arosalesmusic
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
So you think Eckharte Tolle is not enlightened?
@unseekingseeker1359
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
I would say, effortlessly bilocating awareness between duality and singularity, breath by breath, in an unending continuum is what enlightenment represents
@erukaarivu6404
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
Sorry to say you are wrong sir, one definition of enlightenment is one who is permanently in “light” or who enjoys or feels permanent connection with the god or absolute. Some acquire it with practice over several incarnations, some come with connection by birth , whom we call “avataar” in India
@quantessenz
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
Ah yes, no video about enlightenment without 1000 opinions from other enlightened beings in the comments. I am happy, I am not alone… WITH HAVING AN OPINION!
But most important, respect for the opinion of Robert Waldinger and thank you for using your voice in this wilderness!
@kevinnielsen1356
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
Enlightenment is not a concept, it is experiential
@fortunatomartino8549
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
The enlightenment in Europe was a total scam
All the enlightenment philosophers wanted restrictions lifted from society so they can unleach their unbridled desires
@marktapley7571
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
A person’s life must be guided by a set of principles and not by transient mental fantasy. That is because what the individual perceives as an inspiration could be from a good or bad origin. the Bible provides a good example of this. We are commanded to obey the Gospel of Christ as revealed in the pages of the New Testament. Our opinions, feelings or so called personal revelations are of no consequence but only the message as it is delivered by the inspired word as recorded for our edification.
@kamilyassi7170
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
interesting content i must admit I've consistently felt driven to contribute to humanity's greatest pursuits, aspiring to wield influence, power,secrets to perfect health and security. Recognition has been a persistent desire, not stemming from pride or extravagance, but from a deep sense of identity and purpose. Internally, I yearn to delve into the depths of human understanding, seeking knowledge reserved for the select few. My aspiration is to embrace the enlightenment that our predecessors fervently wished for us to attain.
@neemnyima2166
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
That was so terrible and banal. This isn't an overview of enlightened but a small piece of neche zen dogma from one branch of zen. Boo, bored. Embarrassingly poor content. Do some research.
@philgundy4798
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
Yes. People can mistake being in a state of bliss for being in a state of enlightenment. Enlightenment is something to experience once, but to imagine you can go through it again, or need to go through it, or need to remain in it, is to mistake what it is. You can remain as a person who has gone through enlightenment, actually you have no choice in the matter, but then you are on your own to carry on with life. I suspect that an 'enlightenened being' is one who wishes to stay on a particular path in life afterwards as an example to others.
@RLekhy
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
Saturation of knowledge is barrier to enlightenment. 2600 years after Buddha our human brains have filled up with uncountable data (in Buddhist word Sankhara) and we have lost innocence too. Now even powerful knowledge can't thrill us for longer time. We don't enjoy love even in quick reply on whatsapp but in ancient time lovers used enjoy love even in awaiting for years, we don't enjoy sex but in the past people used enjoy sex for longer time even in memories. I think this is also happening to enlightenment. Our enlightenment might be fickle and short, and that is why we feel there is no Enlightenment.
@AngusDanu
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
Here are some things Jesus Christ said of Himself.
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." John 3:18
Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. Matthew 16:13-17
Skeptics said for centuries, said "The bible we have now has been corrupted through the centuries.". In 1947 the Dead Sea Scrolls were found and proved otherwise. They said, "There's no way Israel can become a nation again as God promised in preparation for the end times.". Israel became a nation again in 1948.
All this being said, it does require faith to believe. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Also John 20:27-29 states, "Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Don't be deceived, Jesus is the Son of God and the only way of being saved from God's judgement for our sin. Christ consciousness won't save you. Believing Jesus was an ascended master, a prophet or a good teacher won't save you. Romans 10:9 tells us how to be saved, "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved". Trust in Him, He shed his blood and gave His perfect life for you. Call on Him, He loves you, and He hears you.
@Wild_Sugar_Love
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
Thank you!
@Wild_Sugar_Love
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
Gosh! Now I understand!!!
@ChrisContin
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
Push darkness a higher level. 1-Close your eyes, this is subjective darkness. 2-Follow a force to discover two, overlapping truths about yourself, filling the darkness one measure.
The subconscious does this mechanically, so it is how "life" is. The consciousness is elevated! I am Bramaya, btw.
@beerad1228
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
But didn’t Buddha say that enlightenment is the end of suffering? But this guy says you still suffer from time to time
@franccescalove52
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
In other words, you are part of the void, you are in the void, and you are watching the void. That's enlightenment. The world keeps being crazy, and the wise do not grieve. All you need to do is to stay in the core of the engine—-your heart and mind, and you can always find peace.
@jacoblogan
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
This entire video is nothing BUT myths. He's conflating things together and has no rigorous definition of anything he's talking about. There are 4 stages to enlightenment; the experiences he's referring to are far from the end of the path but he talks as if it is. Enlightenment is NOT a switch that flips after one experience; it's the culmination of a very long hard journey that BEGINS with that first experience
@nelsbrown3674
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
Real awakening is not an experience. The experiencer dies forever. Noting else changes. I have met people who do not suffer. They feel pain, their body and mind go through all the things that anyone else's does, but they are NOT there to claim it at all. The only thing is that there's nothing you can do to bring enlightenment on.
@Yol4f
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
@2:40 bro is missing the whole point😂
@cubestur8157
September 5, 2025 at 3:18 am
his views seem verrrrry un
Comments are closed.