Is Enlightenment a state of consciousness?

For thousands of years, we humans have mistaken many kinds of unusual states of consciousness for the state of enlightenment.

Most of those states of consciousness are experienced as being highly integrative, expansive, immensely calm, healing, all-knowing, all-inclusive, revealing, visionary - which gives us the impression that we must be ... enlightened. We find these states of consciousness worth keeping at any cost - they are incredibly beautiful, liberating, healing. But they aren't enlightenment. They just feel that way. We are easily impressed.

Enlightenment is not a particular state of consciousness - as claimed by many in the enlightenment business.

You need to understand what enlightenment really is ... enlightenment is a process - of exploration of consciousness. To explore consciousness means going beyond the boundaries of any particular state of consciousness - no matter how cosmic or liberated it may seem.

Enlightenment is a process that nurtures a deeply rooted freedom from which we can explore and create new kinds of awareness, consciousness, senses (inner and outer). The historical enlightenments - of the Buddhas, the Yogis, the Messiahs, the Prophets - have been tiny glimpses of this freedom.

Enlightenment begins with exploration. It ends when you stick to a particular state of consciousness - even when it appears to be one of those historical enlightenments. So - if you're stuck on the Buddha's enlightenment, then you have ended enlightenment. So too for the enlightenment of the Yogis, Hindus, Messiahs, the Prophets, and so on.

When you reach out into the unknown, sacrifice the desire for psychological security, let go of your beliefs, and dissolve the attachments and aversions that define the ego - then when you rest in watchfulness, you will be the creator of new consciousness. You will discover new senses that reveal the infinite  variety of energies connecting all things.