Interesting comment as mostly, Harry.
I have to concede that my interpretation of 'enlightenment' as a marketing buzzword was a metaphorical shot from the hip. In my personal experience the word is mostly used in a religious/esoteric context. Basically I guess it should mean a state of consciousness where human is 'one' with the universe, having potenial access to all information that exists therein, but there's also a or countless supreme super-being(s) (=gods). They (gurus and priests) teach that we can get there through meditation, prayers or rituals (and giving them money/devotion/power in exchange) in our foreseeable future or after death, respectively.
And that's, in my humble opinion, bullshit.
There's apparently no information of the whole universe stored in our bodies, nor do we have telepathic powers. Of course we're all made up out of materia that condensed after the 'big bang' of our universe (more accurately, according to a recent scientific theory, the bang our universe bubble in the foam of the multiverse) and processed by stars. So there's effectively some (very) tiny fracture of that big bang in each one of us. But from that fact we cannot conclude that we have a built-in quasi magic power that we just have to awaken (only takes 12 lessons for €200 each and I'll teach you that
) and then we're superman (or the hero of your choice, I like Asterix and Obelix, I'll get the new comic at my birthday. Just 13 times sleeping!).
Your interpretation of 'enlightenment' I would describe as 'altered consciousness'
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On your statements on authoritarian abuse of such drugs while sponsoring
p... I mean big pharma we're singing from the same sheet again. It's noticeable in Europe, too. Although broad-band treatment of adolescents with ritalin (which is prescribed here in central Europe mostly, at least that's what I hear from media) and doping for adults (not only in sports, but also for students and in business, is at least considered a problem already, because of health risks.
I ask myself whether it's really necessary having to enhance ourselfes and wearing our minds and bodies out just to be able to compete with others and earn enough money to support ourselfes and our families, just like drilled monkeys. And when someone can't keep the pace anymore, he or she is considered ill and hopefully treated, more often - regrettably - on the way downward the social spiral. Burned out.
Although it's surely better to burn out than to fade away (that's a quote, guess I don't have to mention the origin, but just for the record: ), the simple solution would be that all of us worked less hard, long and often, getting a fairer share of the overall income, and had more time to relax and do whatever we really want to do. I do that, and I'm a happy citizen not wanting to revolt, but to evolute. No danger to the state nor society. I've got lots of hobbies and a demanding wife (who wants a dog, after years of discussion I'm meanwhile done [as in fully cooked] and consenting... don't be surprised if a hopefully well-educated dog accompanies us next summer in London, but to find the right one will probably take at least one or two years more, so most likely we'll meet without canine company), zero time for bad behaviour.
Sigh, I life in my personal utopia. And I like it.People should just occupy themselfes with some science. They'd learn (among many other things), that cooperation was the key to success for the human species, not competition.