Illuminism

Illuminism is another word for enlightenment, a state of achieving a spiritual union with Heaven or God. It is the state of attaining true wisdom and raising oneself to the realm of the ultimate truth of nature.

The word 'illuminism' is derived from a French word illuminer. Illuminism was also used as the name of a special state of enlightenment that was considered a rise in rank among various secret societies that originated from the Bavarian Illuminati.

Illuminism refers to different forms of enlightenment. According to Hinduism, it denotes the liberation (moksha) of one's soul from the bondages of physical world. It also signifies the completion of one life cycle and entering into the next cycle of life. In other words, it is the dissolution of one's self (ego) into the oneness of the world. Thus the practitioner of illuminism attains 'nirvana', a complete liberation of self from the material world.

In Buddhism, illuminism is achieved when the self is completely extinguished after completing the cycle of rebirth. Bodhi (illuminism) is attained when ten fetters that bind human being to the world have been dissolved, when four noble truths have been thoroughly understood and all the cravings for physical needs cease. At this stage, the individual is liberated from worldly emotions such as greed, aversion, delusion, ignorance, ego and craving.

Illuminism finds relevance in almost all religions of the world, often as the path towards achieving the ultimate goal of human life.