ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Enlightenment in Buddhism

Okay buddy, so let's talk about something called "enlightenment" in Buddhism. You might know that Buddhism is a religion that teaches us to be kind, peaceful and to understand ourselves and others better. Enlightenment is something that Buddhists strive to achieve, and it's like being really, really happy and content all the time.

Imagine that you have a toy that you love and play with all the time, and it always makes you happy. But sometimes, your toy gets old, and it doesn't play as well as it used to, and it makes you sad. Enlightenment is like having a toy that always makes you happy, no matter how old it is or how much you play with it.

To reach enlightenment, Buddhists need to follow some rules and ways of living. They need to be kind to others, learn things that help them understand themselves better, and meditate. Meditating is like taking a break from playing with your toys and just sitting down and being quiet for a while.

Once someone achieves enlightenment, they become like a superhero. They can help others be happy and content like they are, and they never get sad or angry. They see the world and people around them differently, and they know how to be kind and helpful to everyone.

In Buddhism, enlightenment is the ultimate goal, and it's like finding a secret treasure that makes life amazingly happy and peaceful.