Galyna

@Beginner Mind I wish that would be that simple. You are aware of being aware and boom....you got enlightened. I am aware of being aware for a long time, not constantly 24/7, but very often, probably 70% of my day. Does it make me enlightened person? Of course not. To be truly enlightened you need to learn how to let go. You basically have to let go your whole personality.This is a must! By simply of being aware will not get you that far if you still buying into drama that ego feeds you.

@Seraphim Agree, but this is rather exception, then the rule itself. For ordinary person to completely turn off the monkey mind is next to impossible.

@assx95 it is the most natural thing, you don’t have to force it, just put the awareness inward and observe. Treat the voice inside you as a roommate, don’t associate with it. You are not the voice, you are the one who is aware of it. ? That “space” is you. So tomorrow when driving a car/ or in a subway, put the awareness on that space. It is not going to lead you into Samadhi , but hey.... at least something. The more you do it, the easier it will become.

@An young being You might not be fully aware of the activities within your mind. When I ask my friend "what are you thinking about now?" she always replies "my mind is blank, not thinking about anything. " I always joke that it is impossible without a proper practice, she always denies. You know how many years yogis meditate to come to this blissful state? Regular person can not seat without thoughts even for one minute. Unless you are a hardcore practitioner, then all the above will never be applied to your situation.

It is when you focus your consciousness (call it inner attention if you like) not completely on the object (any external object: tree, book, candle, person,window), but rather make awareness itself as an object. In this particular state the focus of consciousness is turned back to the Self. (where Self=Consciousness) When you become aware you are no longer become immersed in the events around you. They can not suck you in because you are centered, you rest in your consciousness. Does it make any sense?

@cetus Thanks, the guy in the video is so funny I would say that Singer is a very extraordinary person according to his bio. I wish his meditation center would be in my city.

The simplest thing you can start with is awareness. Just try to focus consciousness on Itself. When this happens, instead of being aware of your thoughts, you're aware that you're aware of your thoughts. This is a big deal for me. Notice this silent witness all the time, or at least try to remember as much as you can. As for me, I forget and remember hundreds of times during the day. This is the simplest meditation ever, it does not require any prep, special seating, posture, atmosphere. Talking to another person, become aware, writing something....become aware...taking shower..., doing the dishes....observe, observe, observe your thoughts, feelings, reactions, motives, sensations, everything.

@cetus Hey there! Quick question...I am almost done with Singer's book, could not stop reading last night, very easy for comprehension. So researched about the author and it seems like he has another best seller "The Surrender Experiment" (2015) have you read that one by any chance? if yes, would you recommend buying it? The reason why I am asking because I do not want to order another book and re-read everything that was written in the previous one ("Untethered Soul") Thank you

"The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho absolutely recommend, love Coelho, read a lot of his book, but "The Alchemist" is very easy to read with lots of meaning. Full of nice quotes: “When I had nothing to lose, I had everything. When I stopped being who I am, I found myself.” ― Paulo Coelho “This is what we call love. When you are loved, you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there's no need at all to understand what's happening, because everything happens within you.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist Also Carlos Castaneda, ofc he is the best!!!!! imo who can explain various concept of non-duality. I believe that "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry as well ( a fairy tale made for kids about friendships and unconditional love, one of the best-selling and most translated books ever published. )

In my point of view, true friendship equals love, just without sex. I take friendship very seriously. If you are my friend, you are almost my family member. If you in need I will drop everything in a heart beat to help you. I have 3 BFFs that I am really close with, other people are just a part of my social circle. I can not imagine my life without friends. One of my highest values in life is to form deep (a very important word here) meaningful connections with other people. Of course due to the nature of it, you can not form deep connections with everyone, but possible with some people. Then you develop this depth and nothing can be more pretty than this love between you and your friend. relationship's love is great, but a bit dramatic, love between friends can be very fulfilling, peaceful, without jealousy and pretensions, almost unconditional.

@Someone here just hang in there because today I will be reading this book, but I will try not to forget.

or when you want to understand why people act the way it they are, right?. But other than that it is crazy. Maybe because we are into self-development. I can not believe normal people think the way author describes it.

Yesterday you told me to not derail your threads, remember? in fact what are you doing now with mine? JK. I will get back into your thread and leave you a comment there.

You know what I was thinking, maybe then we have different ways of "hearing" it? Because I do observe it all the time, but it is not always a verbal rant. It can it be images, sounds, sensations? I do not get this, am I really special here? Meditation is different, because you try to force yourself. Making sense, yes, but not repeating what you see, come on!

@Someone here Hey thanks for helping, I do appreciate it a lot. Read this please: "...You should examine this very closely. With a simple glance, you instantly take the tremendous detail of whatever you are looking at. If you see a tree, you effortlessly see the branches, the leaves, the flowering buds. Why do you have to verbalize what you have already seen?" (Singer, 2007) @Someone here please tell me do you verbalize it like this? I do not. In fact this is crazy...why do you have to repeat everything you see? for whom will you be doing it? Do you register your body movements? I do, very often. P.S. I think I have an idea how to help you quit smoking. Sorry for the random thought, I remember you asked this on forum.

Weird how it works, because I was just watching his video last night "What Do You Desire?" and had the same thought in my mind.

If everyone is beautiful and happy, how would you evolve even as a human being? Think about living in a fairy tale all the time...you won’t be able to call it a “ fairy tale” anymore? How would you define between happy and unhappy, ugly/pretty if it would be the case? Evolution will cease to exist if variety has gone.

@cetus never knew he dad a channel.

Just realized that this topic should be under another category. Moderators, can you please remove it from this section. Thank you and sorry about it. I thought it was under "Life Purpose, Career, Entrepreneurship" Hey guys I wanted to ask this question for a long time. I really want to improve my vocabulary. However, I am tired to use index cards all the time. Question for the English native speakers...how do you improve, expand your vocabulary and turn away from vernacular language? I know academic reading helps, but I am looking for a different approach, new method. A lot of new words I learn do not stick for a long time. Especially after summer break and when not involved in academic writing. Thank you. P.S. I love reading and hearing new words, I love when people use very interesting phrases. Here, I am talking about advanced vocabulary, maybe words that even native speakers do not use that often in their lexicon.

Apparently, the topic starter and other people will be upset if we derail this thread, lol so...can not continue this conversation. All I can say is that you are the fifth Aquarius I am meeting on this forum. Anyway, it is all irrelevant, you are absolutely correct.

@Someone here No need to say anything, I already know you, lol. I can give you some generic characteristic of who you are, without knowing you personally. I love astrology.

This is very naive statement...sorry. If your sun sign is not in Libra, Gemini and Aquarius, let's bet that your moon probably would be in one of those signs. Can almost guarantee this. So just for fun, am I correct in my statement or not? But be honest. I just want to prove you my point.

@Someone hereI know you are...This forum is full of Libras, Geminis and Aquariuses. You probably one of them. Knowledge should be the highest value. I know people here on this forum will say it will distract us from pursuing the Truth, but we have to get there somehow, through knowledge first, right?

@Someone here I'm surprised you've started to read it in the first place. I am not being sarcastic, but hey, how many people even reading nowadays. Everybody is so busy, mama mia!

@cetus Here is his website: https://www.chuckhillig.com/