zoey101

So I have been trying to read up on some of the stuff Leo has posted, as well as what others on this forum have posted, about meditation and reaching "enlightenment". I read some stuff about the "ego-self" vs "non-self". I am trying to understand it all but it's so overwhelming and hard to keep up with. I spoke to a few of you guys about how I have been having relationship connection issues. I have been doing my best to work on it, but this subject is just so big and complex. Is the "ego-self" like the you that is still tied to worldly things? and the "non-self" is the you once you have decided to live beyond those things? and is that supposed to be the point in which you reach "enlightenment"? Or is it supposed to be something like once you feel connected and "one" with everything and everyone around you, then you have reached "enlightenment"? and how do you know if you have truly done that? I was raised Christian and pretty poor, so the idea of living beyond things is pretty much second nature to me. But I know I can't be "enlightened" now when I feel far from peaceful... I also saw something about Koans in relation to meditation and Zen practices. Riddles designed to "open the mind" and help you unravel truths about the world and yourself. The most famous one would be "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" This is supposed to "open the mind" but how do you reach the point where you are not sitting there just thinking about what the actual sound would be? Is this stuff even related? I want to understand, but I feel like I am just missing the whole point of it...

I agree. Just can't help but enjoy the conversation a little more than what's going on.. helps me feel a part of something.. it's nice.

Wow. You're all so passionate about this. It's really beautiful to read what comes to my mind when I read this is like how no Good deed is selfless(Friends reference) if you feel any sort of self satisfaction or if you feel just better, then it wasn't selfless. But that could be off base just what came to mind.

I'm sorry...

I still don't understand... He was possessed and then Jesus cast them out... The demons were separate from the person... They weren't the person himself.. at least that's what I though..

I'm sorry... I'm missing the connection

Isn't that the story of Jesus casting demons out of a girl into swine?

And then my daughter swoops in and starts giving me kisses all over my face I guess it's not all bad

Man this is hard but I admire the end goal of it all. He woke up and was being a prick almost immediately... I tried to hug him to make him stop and he pushed me away and told me that I already ruined the weekend... So I guess I can't do anything... But I didn't get mad... I think he just wants me to stay away from him for now... So be it...

Thank you... man this really sucks... But at least I can be "free" of it while he is asleep... Nothing I can say or do at the moment so no use stressing... Right?

God dam... That made me cry... But you're right..no matter how furious and hurt I am... I know it's not about me.. he's been going through a lot lately.... Found out a friend he knew since middle school committed suicide... And now his grandfather that he doesn't really like (because he asked if our daughter came out white) is dying... And he hasn't seen him yet... I don't know what to do...

I'm sorry... I guess the "ego" is persistent...

Thank you. That's really beautiful. But it seems like today is determined to be pretty shitty too... I'm borrowing my husband's phone because I can't find mine and he got a message from a coworker about giving him some meth.... I looked through the messages and he has apparently been doing it all week... That would explain his over extreme responses this week... But shit... What can I say? I had a feeling but I wanted to believe he wouldn't do that behind my back... What do I do with this? How am I supposed to "actualize" this....? He's sleeping it off now I'm getting and it's taking everything in me not to just explode right now...

Man had a rough ass night.. but still trying to stay positive and think about what you all said... Can be tough sometimes though..

What is your dream?

Woah, that's a lot! Thank you

Found this article. Thought it was a cool simplification of the Koans. Thought I'd share it. https://fractalenlightenment.com/37292/spirituality/5-zen-koans-that-will-open-your-mind

I wouldn't mind that at all

Thank you all so much. Like I said, I'm still super confused about a lot of stuff, but I think I'm grasping some of it Please keep going, I'm having fun.

God i feel kinda silly right now. I can't stop smiling and I feel so smart right now. :3 I'm already trying to think myself positive like what @Arkandeus said. I've been having a pretty alright day. It's been pretty uneventful and boring, like most days. But I've felt pretty good. Usually when the days go like this, I feel drained and super sleepy, but I feel pretty energetic and happy right now Even if that's not exactly what it's supposed to do, I like feeling this way

Okay, so basically just live and focus on the now, because you can't change what has happened or what will happen so no point in living your life trying. Just live and work in the now. Is that close?

I still have no idea what you mean by psychological time though

*blush* lol you guys are sweet. Honestly though, I haven't felt this excited about learning something in a long time. I definitely don't understand all of this stuff, but it's pretty interesting. I want to understand it all but I know that's gonna take probably years to do.. Although I am pretty impatient lol one of my "ego" characteristics I suppose

That's about the long and short of it, I think. The best example I can think to describe it is that Hope implies joyful expectations. Ex. "I hope I make it out of this hardship" While Faith, as Amilaer said, is just purely believing in it. Ex. "I have faith that I will make it out of this hardship" Do you hear the difference when you say it? The second one sounds more sure of their ability to make it through, while the first is really wanting it, but doesn't sound sure it will actually happen, if that makes sense. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.

Goodness... I feel like I kind of understand it but wow is it overwhelming! I have always been interested in seeing what these do, but I fear trying because I really don't want to know what a bad trip is like. First of all, can't believe you commented on my thread! Thank you! I will admit, it's a bit intimidating. I'm having just a little trouble wrapping my mind around this not sure what question to ask to better understand it... I think I get this. It's like how even despite all parts of the world being totally isolated when they were developing their own mythologies and such, you still see instances like Prometheus (Greek), Maui (Polynesian), and Loki (Norse) stealing fire for humanity? I think I can see that. The only reason the name for anything exists is because we decided that's what we were gonna call it. So is the thinking process supposed to be that it only "exists" because we assigned a name to it, but if we recognize that the name is just a concept, then..... <-- and that's where I lose it I'm glad I understood even just one part of this lol Is this kind of like: He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move and nothing will be impossible for you.” ~ Matthew 17:20 ESV As in, until you are one with the Spirit, you won't be able to see or experience what the universe is holding beyond our flesh?