What is the definition of "Enlightened" or "Very Spiritual"?

Enlightened is One whose Soul is awakened and Spiritual means turned towards the Soul!

The Soul is the real Self. However, due to ignorance, we are not aware of this real Self. And hence, in life after life, we believe the worldly self only to be the real Self. This belief of, ‘I am John (please insert your name here)’ is a false projection of one’s identity, and this false projection is what keeps creating new life after life. One continues to do this false projection until there is ignorance of the Self.

When one realizes the Self, the Soul is awakened. From there, one begins one’s true journey on the spiritual path. One is actually enlightened only after Self-Realization.

Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan, an Enlightened being, describes this enlightened state:

“After acquiring Self-realization, you stop doing pratishtha (false projection). Your worldly life exists because of previously done pratishtha. After Self-realization, there is no ego (the wrong belief that I am really John) in the words you utter. It is indeed a wonder that new creations cease to take place if pratishtha (false projection) is halted even for just one lifetime. It is a great achievement!”

Both, the Gnani (Self -Realized) and the Agnani (Non Self-realized) have a pratishthit Aatma (the worldly self). But what is the difference between the pratishthit Aatma of a Gnani and that of an Agnani?

Param Pujya Dadashri says:

“The ‘I’ in a Gnani refers to only the pure Self and it means only for the pure Soul within; whereas the ‘I’ in the Agnani person refers only to the pratishthit Aatma (John – the worldly self).”

So, one of the main attributes that distinguishes an actually enlightened from the rest of the crowd is what they believe themselves to be, not in words but truly within. And that comes out obvious from where their state of awareness lies – is it in the ‘Soul’ that they dwell in most of the time, or is it ‘John’ where their awareness is all the time?

Param Pujya Dadashri explains:

“A non-Self-realized (agnani) person himself endures suffering…. He has not known or recognized the real Self, the original Self, the pure Soul (shuddhAatma), so how can he be called the pure Soul? Yes, if you know and recognize the pure Soul (have attained Self-Realzation) and constantly remain in that state (of awareness of your real identity) then you are the pure Soul; but if you are John and if this body is yours, then you are the pratisthit Aatma (the worldly self or the projected self) - you did the pratistha (installation) of the ego (as I am John) and attachment (towards whatever is John’s), and therefore you are the projected self (John).”

Just saying to sound good is all ‘interference (for those who intend to progress on the spiritual path)’ done with the intent (bhaav) to collect attention, boost one’s image, enjoy the sweetness of pride, etc. While spirituality is all about turning towards the Soul, these things take one away from the Soul.

Param Pujya Dadashri says:

“The pure Soul does not have bhaav. It is separate and beyond bhaav... People (Agnani) create bhaav (attachment) towards what they like; they continue to have likes and dislikes. The likes and the dislikes really belong to the pratishthit Aatma (John) and that is what binds karma (bondage). They do bhaav for transient things and therefore they become transient. When you believe the image in the mirror to be your real self (Aatma), what headway can you possibly make?”

Param Pujya Dadashri further suggests:

“The Soul (Self) is the Knower and the Seer of John (non-Self) and it never interferes in any activities of John. All interference is done by the projected self (John)… Why does the projected self (John) meddle or interfere? It meddles because it is interested in the worldly life. The pure Soul has no such interest; it is the Knower and the Seer and is the abode of eternal bliss. The Soul illuminates the Self and the non-self. The projected self illuminates the non-self (John) only. The Self Sees and Knows the Projected Self. Therefore the projected self is gneya (the known; object) and the Self is the Knower (the Gnata). The relation betwee
ShuddhAatma and projected self is only that of the Knower and the known.”

Ultimately, we need not bother about if someone actually is enlightened versus just saying it to sound good, because the law of Nature will take care of it.

Param Pujya Dadashri says,

“A lie will cry out from the roof and so will the truth, but the lie will speak out at once whereas the truth will take time to be revealed. A lie will come out the very next day.”

So why worry? Rather, let us go to the Enlightened One; with His grace, we get our Soul enlightened (like the crescent moon), and in His divine presence, we progress towards the attainment of full enlightenment (like a full moon)!

To read more, visit: https://www.dadabhagwan.org/path-to-happiness/spiritual-science/absolute-vision-of-the-enlightened-one/