wrathful immortal

Hi Stigweard, this is a great question, hope this helps! i have studied, and been taught, both buddhist and taoist models for enlightenment. hope my reflections are of benefit enlightenment is enlightenment, in an ultimate sense, whether the path is buddhist, or taoist. the language and culture, dictated by the human condition makes it seem to be different, and really, the differences are much more on the surface of the path, the deeper and further one progresses to full realization, the more it is seen as truly the same thing that everyone struggles in vain to put into external words and ideas, such is the plight of the teacher many strict dogma and **** will disagree to this statement, but truly, enlightenment/dao is without perspective to hold onto, so no difference. so, in essence then, what is enlightenment/union with the tao? in above steps, #6 is attaining the tao, much like enlightenment is attaining mind of buddha, but that is just a statement, what do they refer to? the simplest answer, one which holds to all definitions, and all traditions i have studied, is almost too simple. *Enlightenment is the mind acheiving a stage where there is no perspective* whether it is the tao(all things, so nothing to relate it to, as in perspective), non-duality, no self or other, microcosm-macrocosm union, state of pure emptiness, etc. so, on to what are the, apparent, differences, and why they are their.(especially since your question was about what is buddhist concept of enlightenment ) what makes the differences, is confusing what is enlightenment, and what isnt, in different traditions and methods. what i refer to as, enlightenment vs. immortality. for this comparison, immortality is the cultivation of any skill above and beyond normal human expectations, including work with qi, prana, ki, any skill come manifest. enlightenment is just that. every tradition, however; seems to cultivate both in some way, in fact, it is quite hard not to get some progress into immortality on the way to full enlightenment. in buddhism, one first,( this is generally, since their are many branches, and 84,000 methods) works on focus, and achieving at least the first dhyana. this is the mind's ability to hold onto a single object/concept/visualization without distraction for quite some time. as progress develops in focus, intent is then applied to awareness. this is the key, being aware of all things, by utlizing that skill of focus, and the direct experience of all things(no perspective / dao eventually is Experienced). with consistent effort, one can progress through the first dhyana (focus), through the 2nd, 3rd, then on to the 4th. the 4th dhyana is where it is felt that enough skill is put into focus training that the mind's visualization can then achieve results, (skills reaching into immortality). so, focus and awareness, also samatha and vipassana respectively, are totally different, and skill in one has (almost) nothing to do with the other, in other words, extreme focus of the mind creates raw potential for attainment of skills/abilities, and directing focus to awareness of the arising and passing, the impermanence of all events, both internal and external, reveals the dao/ buddha mind. this is the best book i have read in revealing a buddhist's perspective on enlightenment, it is a great source. http://web.mac.com/danielmingram/iWeb/Dani...ok/Archive.html Hope this is helpful, as it is a huge topic, and this is literally just a scratch into how far this can be taken.

Hello Tao bums, have lurked here for awhile, and enjoyed time here enough to become a member. hope to be a positive contribution for fellow cultivators!