You only become immortal when you feel the suffering of others and become one with it, and you feel the joy of others and become one with it, and yet step beyond both into mortality itself and dissolve in Eternity.  And yet that tear remains even after enlightenment, even though it is invisible.  It is only visible to those who know.  And there is no way to will that.  It will come when it will through the grace of God. 

And therefore, to be so absurd or so knowledgeable, or even as a teacher, autocratic, or to assume anything at almost any time seems to forget that there is a tear in the eye of the Buddha and that we are all Buddha, and we all have that tear.  But because we are so caught up in the illusions of Self Realization that we forget that our Self Realization is of little importance, and that what matters is the welfare of others.  And when you forget that, you forget what matters, and only when you remember that will enlightenment occur. 

When you become totally concerned with the welfare of others without any sense of self-importance - it is only with that complete commitment and simplicity and humility and humor that is engendered by taking on the impossible task of selfless giving, and doing it anyway - perfectly - without any sense of self - that real progress begins to occur.  That is the preparation for the higher enlightenment.  It is a noble endeavor. 

-Rama