Exponential Enlightenment

 

Enlightenment is a complicated concept. There are varying explanations as to how it exists, why it exists, or whether or not it exists at all. Enlightenment is usually a positive term, as it should be, but coming to such a state is considered, usually rightly considered, to be an extremely difficult undertaking.

So difficult, in fact, that some think true Enlightenment is more myth than fact.

Setting aside skepticism, I want to engage in a thought experiment highlighting the difference between static, permanent Enlightenment, where you achieve a sort of "pinnacle" of enlightenment that is a solid, definable accomplishment that you need not achieve any further accomplishments, and a concept called "Exponential Enlightenment." 

Exponential Enlightenment is where you grow toward Enlightenment exponentially, but never reach a definable sudden achievement that stops the growth and makes further growth unnecessary. You never reach a pinnacle because there is no pinnacle. No "Top of the mountain." The mountain goes up forever. 

Eternal growth towards a perfection you never reach, but get more and more improved and "enlightened" as you approach it.

This exponential Enlightenment would include an unending, exponential accruence of knowledge, wisdom, beauty, glory, liberty, Love, and understanding of many aspects, facets, and components of Infinity and Eternity...but NEVER achieving some sort of pinnacle or plateau. 

I found a similar concept in the theology of an early Christian church father named Gregory of Nyssa, one of the most profound thinkers of early Christianity. He described the approaching of God a "constant progression" where we never reach a full understanding or knowledge of God, but we "continually transcend all that has been reached before."

I wonder what form of enlightenment I would prefer: the extremely difficult sudden "final achievement" of it, or the constant eternal exponential progression towards it. I think reaching the top of the mountain is glorious and all, but the thought of "climbing a mountain" that has no top is actually rather enticing, especially if it gets exponentially more glorious and you get exponentially more enlightened the higher you climb.