In the western world the concept of spiritual enlightenment has become synonymous with self-realization and the true self and false self, being regarded as a substantial essence being covered over by social conditioning.
In eastern traditions, however, enlightenment has generally not been viewed in such terms and has often been thought to involve the total absence of self (anātman, anatman). In the various Buddhist traditions, for example, it has been considered to be nirvāṇa, a state of peace that is free from the suffering caused by desire, aversion, and delusion.