If enlightenment permeates the artifacts one creates by virtue of having attained it, then it should be quantifiable in some context. There must indeed be degrees of enlightenment, and as a corollary, the value of the degrees of enlightenment can be considered. If we are to assign an arbitrary 10 point scale to the scale of enlightenment, and then assign people to them, craftsmen, artists, doctors, and began to evaluate the output, or the going hourly rate etc. we could say in a fairly specific way how much one degree of enlightenment was worth in the marketplace or a society. By looking at it in this way we can evaluate enlightenment as a path, in contrast with other paths, such as traditional education, artistic journey, military, athletic, international travel etc. It would be compelling to understand the business case for enlightenment.

The real question before beginning such a study, as enlightenment is a personal event, to begin to use traditional subjective analysis techniques to look at the topic. In aggregate, happiness can be evaluated, as can the value of any subjective experience. Compare that with what others say about a person, aggregating data to help determine and remove bias.

Measuring enlightenment and its outcomes provides us a way  to assess its impact across industries and professions. It would let us add a whole new dimension to our society and a way to help propel us forward.

There are those who would protest both the legitimacy and practicality of such a study. Many will argue against measuring such a thing by suggesting that quantifying the experience of the godhead is impossible, and rating such an experience on a scale of more or less enlightened is as absurd. It may be. Aggregating data across a sample allows us to determine distributions that can identify the "enlightenment curve" and thereby help us get to data that can indeed measure the quartile your enlightenment falls in.

Certain enlightened individuals have acquired some "truths" that can be tested for. The teachings of nearly every enlightened individual start to have commonality. Perhaps there is a way to build a lexicon of truths that enlightened individuals understand. Perhaps we could build a test like the SAT so we can check in on the progress of the youth.

We are missing an opportunity by not applying the rational sciences to the subject.

In my latest research (talking and observing people) six basic generalities have served me well. Briefly assume three levels of thought  - strategic, tactical, and transactional. Apply the principles highlighted in David Deida's work around masculine (object) and feminine (subject) energies. An individual's relationship with the world gravitates toward one of the six potential options.

People I have observed have had an object relational worldview or a subject relational worldview. Object folks keep the world disconnected from self, and operate on it. Subject folks are in flow with the world and operate in it. People change approaches in different dimensions of their life, but for the most part gravitate towards one of the six orientatons.

Some examples:
Object Strategic = Good chess player / Economist etc.
Subject Strategic = Visionary / Creator
Object Tactical = Arranger
Subject Tactical = Manager
Object Transactional = Data Processor / Mechanic
Subject Transactional = Customer Service Rep / Sales

As I come up with more appropriate examples I will update or repost this entry.

Once you realize the various illusions you create that keep you from dissolving all your barriers, they disappear.... but then what?

The "what now" of the post enlightened still bears striking resemblance to the "what now" of the pre-enlightened. The things you say no to change, but the conundrum remains, what will you spend your time on? How will you pay your dues? The enlightened may not worry about these things in the same sense as someone who has not yet crossed the first threshold, but at the same time these challenges don't go away either. How are you subsidizing your life?

On a side note, does having children change or preclude a post-enlightened stage? Many of the pandits out there seem to be childless men.... What's up with that?