Becoming enlightened is a multi-faceted process that involves a great deal of practice and patience, but if you are truly dedicated to experiencing your life from a truly authentic perspective, you have already placed yourself on the road to success.
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Enlightened beings are fully in tune with the permanence of the universe and their existence within the world at large. In order to become enlightened, you must learn to release your attachment to temporary aspects of life while embracing a level of consciousness that many humans never strive to achieve.
Initiate your personal enlightenment process by following these nine steps and fusing them into your new-found worldview.
1. Familiarize Yourself With Enlightenment Teachings
The first step toward reaching enlightenment is to ensure that you have a complete understanding of the concept from both a historical and spiritual viewpoint. Seek out a variety of books, films and lectures that focus on enlightenment-centered teachings, and approach this from a well-rounded perspective by studying both Eastern and Western philosophies.
2. Go In With Realistic Expectations
Although you may be eager to achieve enlightenment as quickly and effortlessly as possible, remember that you will make mistakes along the way and that perfecting a new way of life takes time. Accept that roadblocks on the path toward enlightenment are to be expected, and do not become discouraged when you falter. Use your missteps as teaching moments.
3. Start Practicing Mindfulness In Your Daily Life
Mindfulness, or being completely present in every moment that you experience, is an important component of enlightenment. Refrain from allowing yourself to drift through life without making a focused effort to fully embrace the here and now. Practice observing each of your thoughts and actions as they occur, taking care to not let subjective judgments guide you.
4. Recognize The Value Of Humility
While moving toward enlightenment, humble yourself by acknowledging that you are one part of the universe at large, no more or less valuable than any other being in existence. Let go of character traits that are counterproductive to enlightenment, such as pride, arrogance and elitism, and embrace humility in all of your deeds and encounters.
5. Let Love And Acceptance Guide Your Actions
Love for every element of existence, including yourself, other people, the physical realm and the spiritual realm, is an intrinsic and guiding principle for those who have achieved enlightenment. Allow love to become a positive force in your life by striving to accept others as they come and to treat them with kindness, compassion and grace.
6. Strengthen Your Connection To Nature
Appreciate and be grateful for Earth as the plane of existence on which you reside as you move closer toward your goal of enlightenment. Spend time connecting with nature and observing the beauty of your physical surroundings while being mindful of your placement within this vast environment. This is a grounding and centering experience.
7. Set Aside Time To Meditate
Although your daily life may be busy, commit yourself to finding some time each day to practice meditation, an activity in which you allow thoughts to freely flow through your conscious mind without pausing to interpret what you experience.
Meditate in a quiet, distraction-free area that is conducive to calmness and relaxation. As you evolve in your practice, try integrating yoga poses into your meditation sessions.
8. Separate Thoughts From Emotions And Judgments
As regular meditation helps you to perfect the practice of noting your thoughts without allowing emotions, value judgments and intense feelings to 
become part of your observations, start applying this principle to your existence outside of meditation as well. Accept each thought in its most basic and true form as it exists in the present; avoid bringing the past or future into your experience.
9. Communicate With Spiritual Mentors
Spiritual support from those who have already reached enlightenment is invaluable to you as a student of this way of life. If possible, attend retreats offered by enlightened teachers and gurus. You can benefit from their wisdom while connecting with other individuals on a similar journey as that of your own.
