Surfingthewave

@SamC I have experienced sexism and discrimination in the workplace, I have experienced feelings of being unsafe when walking down the street and I have also experienced discrimination because I date women (that's more homophobia however). Based on the many replies you have been given on this thread how will you be reframing your position on feminism?

@SamC You resonate with JP because perhaps like JP you are a priveledged male who has never experienced sexism. Do you know what it feels like to not be allowed access to a library because you are a woman? Do you know what what it feels like to not be allowed to vote because you are a woman? Do you know what it feels like to not be promoted in a job because you are a woman? Do you know what it feels like to not be able to open a bank account because you are a woman? Do you know what it feels like to be paid less than a man for the same job because you are a woman? Do you know what it feels like to be expected to give up your career because you have a child? Do you know what it feels like to not feel safe walking down the street because you are a woman? You don't because you are a man. Perhaps you should study a class on where feminism has come from, the history of oppression for women and you may have a different perspective.

@Raptorsin7 Hey, good to hear from you. I have more experiences of this space, of presence, these days as I described above. I also continue to have experiences of intense "monkey mind". It's like the Yin - Yang symbol of the Tao - you can't have one without the other. It's less about trying to resolve anything and more about keeping up with the practice, as you say diligently. Keep doing it, daily if possible, and the work will guide you. Most of my insights occur during meditations/after yoga/in silence. They can also randomly. Insights occur more often, are often deeper as is detachment to experience. Or being with presence. Other thing I would add is something that helped me recently is realising the deep body/mind unity. Meditation is important but so is movement in the body, and what we put into the body. When I eat/drink rubbish my monkey mind is let loose. How are you examining this in your life. It sounds like you are making good progress. Good luck.

The Consciousness Gap Ever noticed the more conscious you get the more you are aware of the unconsciousness of others. Got into a bit of deep water recently with this. Challenging others can be tricky but if it comes from a place of awareness/love then it is important. The ego fall out is interesting. Mainly from others ego but could also be your own. If you can see this for what it is, other's ego/ lack of consciousness at play/your own difficulties , it can help with the process. If you also do the following: What buttons were pressed for you during the exchange? Did you really listen to the others point of view? What else might you be dealing with? Is it coming from a place of love? (I also use other resources here such as letting go technique Michael Singer or The Work Byron Katie or Brene Brown's work vulnerability /shame). The mind can play a game of cat and mouse here. See the game for what it is. Another distraction from the path of consciousness and a "I'm better than you" egoic state. Remember Oneness. The main technique here is surrendering and let events play out. But do apologise if you need to, forgive yourself and if you can, forgive the person.

The Secret Do we need any more books, classes, pod casts, self development gurus? We think we do. The mind creates drama to be solved. All we need to do is remember we are not our thoughts. Move into pain, see it as energy. Allow the energy to pass through. I allowed the emotions to pass through. Like friendly reminders of what life is really and truly about. The addiction of the mind is it's function. Without thinking, it cannot survive. Today during my short 10 minute meditation I was able to access the higher self, the one that knows. The one that knows that we are not our thoughts. That was all it took. After years of practice it took me the same amount of time as making a sandwich. That's the Secret. Right now, you have access to it. This can only be accessed through experience. I describe a higher self conceptually, experientially it is like sinking to the bottom of a deep blue ocean. The ocean underneath the tidal wave of Thought. To take it a step further, the one that knows, is also the one. The (energy) source. I've been caught up recently in the mind. Trying to swim amongst the waves. Come back to source as there are great times ahead.

3 pals are back: anger fear and sadness Triple whammy this week. Huge emotional upheaval but that is what is. Yoga Nidra session = heart opening and self love Beautiful session, deep relaxation. Message this week = sometimes things are just a bit rubbish. But things change so quickly, everything is impermanent.

Moving towards joy When you begin to move towards light, darkness can be there to remind you of the opposite, the duality. I've struggled at times to walk into joy, abundance, and complete acceptance. I had an insight of why this must be. Although there is a part if it which is about the personal, and about the path of surrendering to the "what is" rather than "what was/will be" it is also about unravelling conditioning we may have put on ourselves. Being hurt by key people in my life at happy times in my life (childhood, university, coming of age, formative years) is part of that conditioning. As an artist I can often get blocked by past patterns which can impact how I move towards flow, joy and light but most importantly how I express my creativity. It can also affect how I receive energy, self worthiness, abundance and life's gifts. I realise I am here to experience this energy/ vibration and have a lot to be grateful for. It's time to let go of those past patterns. They are just part of the rich tapestry of (my) life. When you move into a lighter way of being, the darkness is just a reminder of your progress and how far you've travelled. Don't be fearful of this, welcome it. Contemplate what could be stopping you from receiving life's gifts.

@mandyjw Thanks for reading.. Great YT channel btw, keep doing what you're doing ?

There are no "moments" Insights from my meditation practice today have focused on time. I got a sense of how eternal awareness is. Awareness without perception, with no limitations of the mind. Experiencing. There is no "moment by moment" there is simply this. The mind likes to impose limitations on the unlimited. If we could see the true unlimited nature and beauty of what we're experiencing, then there would be no reason to seek at all. Today on my walk I realised I am enough. I do things because I enjoy them, with an idea of a goal perhaps, a purpose, but this doesn't limit me. I was chasing a goal for the wrong reasons. We all get caught in the trap of wanting to achieve things. When it is enough to just be alive, experiencing. Rupert Spira wrote that Time is thought superimposed upon eternity and eternity is another name for our true nature of awareness. Today remember that rather than just a moment, you're eternity.

Women don't perceive that as how you think. Perhaps unravel where you are getting your perceptions of women from? Stereotypes are outdated. James Bond included. It was a very successful film franchise written in a very out dated time. Don't base your perceptions of women's preferences on that. Lots of women want authenticity and connection. Forget game, forget movie stars. I look forward to a female being cast as James Bond, a Jane Bond who can shatter some of these perceptions.

I hope you feel proud, you should. I'm sorry you feel hurt. It's not an alternative lifestyle, it's your life. Well done to you. The whole Christian/religion/gay thing is frustrating. The shame is on them, we live in 2021 and it's time for people to update their attitudes and beliefs. My partner received homophobia at work from a colleague who is religious so I feel your pain. It's their insecurity and it's sad but I wouldn't let it change what you're doing in your life.

@Ander Tomsen Sorry to hear you live somewhere so many people are homophobic. It also sounds like you are having to keep who you are a secret. My advice to you is where you can, be brave. When people start talking in that way, casually drop in the conversation you are gay. Homophobia is based on fear of difference. Exposure is key to breaking down this fear. If you live your truth you will be not only helping others to realise it's okay to be gay, you will be aligning yourself with love and will get that in return. If someone has a problem with you being gay that's their problem and not yours. Try not to let their toxic opinions effect you. If you have to drop friends or colleagues over it, then do. So many gay people have fought and died for the right to live a life of loving who they want to love and being who they really are. Keep up the fight with three words, actually I'm gay. Truth = power and love.

You will. Keep meditating. But stop trying. Stop having a goal. There is no goal in meditation. It's just allowing what is. Also do something else, a completely different practice you enjoy to get through blockages (I do Yoga Nidra). Could be exercise, singing, drawing etc. What do you do when you put a heavy backpack down? Just put it down. Stop the efforting. It took me a long time but actually it can also happen in an instant.

@Max_V Because we live in a world where being different is feared rather than celebrated. Don't feed into this fear. Talk about your experiences. What we need is awareness. Your 21 years of experience is valuable, how will it help you going forward? How can it help others? You know the way. Your backlash is actually pushing you forward you just aren't aware of it yet. What I've realised is a backslash is an important kick towards our true purpose. But you've got to really want it.

So let go. Stop holding on so tightly. You breaking, is what's happening. Joy is on it's way - allow it.

@Someone here You can "quit" how you perceive society. Society is a construct. When you truly see this, you'll stop the searching. It sounds like you want freedom from your own perceptions. Keep doing the work and freedom is yours eventually.

What is desire? According to OHSO desire can never be fulfilled. So why do we endlessly chase desire? He goes onto say if you let go of this desire by being aware of it, you will receive great strength as energy from the endless desiring is released. What you are left with is silence. Perhaps we fear this silence when the desire is released. We fear we may loose who we are. I feel tired of all the desiring. When we look into this silence according to OHSO, like a still lake reflecting a reservoir of energy, we'll also see the universe reflected in it. Let's not forget OHSO also owned 93 Rolls Royces. Michael Singer talks about desire being blocked energy. He talks about us compensating for something being wrong in our life with desire. In fact there is nothing wrong. Meet the moment where you're at and let go of the personal. Where that leaves you is to live in excitement and joy rather than living in fear.

@Max_V Autism is a superpower. Own it. Your idiosyncrasies and eccentricity makes you, you, and the right person will fall in love with that. Start to see yourself as worthy of love.

Apparantly according to google the number 93 has significant symbolism - a compassionate meaning to help spread good to others. It's the Rolls Royce part that is mind boggling.

Life purpose Developing my life purpose has been an interesting path. What's been the most fascinating part of it is how I've tried to suppress it all these years. When I was 18 it was clear as day what I wanted to achieve in my life. This was shut down by various people and also perhaps myself. All these years later the artist within me wants to create and express the beauty of this world. However fear and being cautious has held me back. The art I created when I was younger was bold, expressive, unique and came from a place of no fear. It's mad how years of conditioning, distraction and life in general has changed this. As I awaken I am also awakening that deep part of my creativity that has been dormant and in the dark for so long, and I'm ready to express this part of my soul. Perhaps I'm allowing the expression of what is already my destiny? Watch this space as it was the space I really needed.

@SilentTears Thank you for your words. It can be a lonely path at times so it's good to know others share these struggles and how connected we are. I've come to realise the importance of documenting and journalling the journey. I'm often asked what practices do you recommend and journalling is one of the top ones.

@IAmPaulQuinn The answers to your questions can only be found through the journey I'm afraid, what is fulfilling for me will be different for you. The self help industry have created billions by trying to sell the idea there are steps to success. I won't tell you whether it works, there are no short cuts. You're 17, of course you want to chase beautiful people. When you get to 37,47 or 57 this will change. Good luck!

The fact that you are 17 and asking these questions is great, you are on the path aready. You are here. What I meant was chasing money is an illusion, like chasing anything. Illusion is a word with lots of heavy connotations , instead of illusion, perhaps chasing money and fame, success etc is a game humans play to justify themselves? Money is a tool to get you from A to B. There are no problems. Again, problems are just situations we deal with in life. These situations can be viewed as good or bad depending on your perspective. Don't start the path in the negative. Start with what you want to achieve and go from there.

We should chase nothing. We should let go of any chasing. Have a life purpose absolutely and a spiritual path if that's what you're into but enjoy the journey rather than the destination. Look around you at the beauty that is this world. If you don't see this, work on it. What can you create? Creativity is where life's richness lies. Money, fame, success are all indeed illusions created by society to make us think it's what we need. What makes your heart sing? Do that.

The seeker has returned with a vengeance. It's like you rip out the root but the weeds return. Surrendering can become too much of a thing, don't let it. In my Yoga Nidra intention this week I am allowing. I allow the moment to appear as it is, in all its glory. Surrendering for life to reveal itself is a state of freedom, of love, of beauty. My morning walk was mind blowingly beautiful. I sat and watched, listened and sensed "morning". Nature appearing as it is. The start of a new day, new opportunities, another day to enjoy the beauty of what is. There is no "more". My years of conditioning still wants to seek more. @Surfingthewave Who are you really? A bunch of conditioned thoughts, feelings, experiences. I know I am lucky to have this vision. Sometimes it is fun, sometimes it is tough, sometimes when you see what's truly there it's scary. But it's always changing, moving, growing.