enlightenment

1 education that results in understanding and the spread of knowledge [ant: unenlightenment]

2 (Hinduism and Buddhism) the beatitude that transcends the cycle of reincarnation; characterized by the extinction of desire and suffering and individual consciousness [syn: Nirvana]

3 a movement in the 18th century that advocated the use of reason in the reappraisal of accepted ideas and social institutions [syn: Age of Reason]

see Enlightenment

English

Noun

1. An act of enlightening, or the state of being enlightened or instructed.
2. A concept in religious mysticism, philosophy and psychology related to achieving clarity of perception, reason and knowledge.

Translations

Enlightenment may refer to:

Spirituality and religion

• Gnosis in Judeo-Christianity and Hellenic Philosophy
• Moksha and Jnana in Hinduism
• Moksa in Jainism
• Nirvana, Bodhi and Four stages of enlightenment in Buddhism
  • Satori and Kensho in Zen Buddhism
  • Dzogchen in Tibetan Buddhism

History

• Age of Enlightenment, a period in Western history and its corresponding movement
  • Diafotismos, the Greek enlightenment
  • Haskalah, the European Jewish community
  • Scottish Enlightenment, Scotland
  • American Enlightenment, America
  • Enlightenment in Poland, Poland
  • Catholic Enlightenment, Catholicism
  • Russian Enlightenment, Russia
  • Enlightenment Spain, Spain
• Counter-Enlightenment

Computing

• Enlightenment (window manager), an X Window System window manager
  • Enlightenment Foundation Libraries
  • Enlightened Sound Daemon

Film and television

• Enlightenment (Doctor Who), a Doctor Who serial
• Enlightenment Guaranteed, 2002 German film

Education

• Enlighten Harm Reduction
• Project Enlightenment, an educational program

Literature

• Dialectic of Enlightenment, 1944 book by Max Horkheimer and Theodor W. Adorno
• What is Enlightenment?, 1784 essay by Immanuel Kant
• The Path of Enlightenment, 1977 work by Julius Evola

Music

• Enlightenment (album), 1990 album by Van Morrison
• Enlightened Rogues, 1979 album by The Allman Brothers Band
• enLighten, XM Satellite Radio Christian music channel
• Enlighten Me, 2002 album by Masterplan

Philosophy and politics

• Enlightened absolutism, also known as benevolent despotism
• Enlightened Moderation
• Enlightened self-interest

See also

• Illumination (disambiguation)

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