Enlightenment Level ?

I had earlier written about Spiritual level and asked what is your spiritual level?
In the same vein,I would like to think of what is enlightenment level?
How close are you to enlightenment or really how far?
But before that I would like to ask the following questions .
1.Is enlightenment total or can it also be partial?
2.If one is partially enlightened or totally enlightened,is it permanent or it could be temporary?
3.Is enlightenment obtained gradually or suden ? If gradually is it over a long period of time or a short period ?
4.Does enlightenment appear and then disappear if you dont know how to hold on to it properly or if you misuse it or brag about it ?
The questions are serious and not in a lighter or sarcastic vein.
Coming back to the main issue of enlightenment levels ,I am making the following hypothetical measuring scale.
Lets assume that the scale is from 0 to ten,going on a reverse scale.
Zero is the level that Buddha reached,that is,full enlightenment.
In Buddhist terminology,Shoonya is an important word which means emptiness,or void or a zero.Thats why I have kept zero as the ultimate in enlightenment level.
Lets keep level ten the highest level of unenlightenment.
Each person has to ask himself this question what is my level? if he is into setting himself on the path of enlightenment.
Most of mankind is not into this.How much money have you made,how successful have you been in your career,how famous have you become,how happy are you with your family,how compassionate are you,how much you have returned to society,how environment friendly are you,these are the types of questions generally asked.How much have you refined your inner being towards enlightenment is hardly ever asked.The science of the inner world has not been investigated enough.Why not?

Understanding “emptiness”

The meaning of emptiness as used in Buddhist terminology is grossly misunderstood, not without reason.Empty connotes meaningless as in “my life is so empty”.Empty also connotes hollow as in “Your words  sound so empty”.

But emptiness in Buddhist terminology means something else.It is more of absence of junk objects, junk thoughts,junk emotions-like when a room is empty (of objects) then it is full of space.If your mind is empty of thoughts,it is full of stillness.

To look at emptiness with this perspective will give a whole new dimension to your perception of meditation.Emptiness will no more be cold if you associate it with stillness,vast space and beauty,like the Universe.

What is within?

Abundant silence is within-if only you shut off the speakers of your mind.

Total peace of mind is within -if you remove the turmoil of restlessness.

Vast space is within, as much as outer space,if only you can dive deep within.

The trick is to find the right balance between within and without….

The trick is to know what to look for within.

The trick is to know how to go within.