Arman

I also wanted to add that using chrome on android, my browsers URL bar turns black to match the board and it looks sexy. Also on my comp, chrome gives notifications if a thread thats open in another tab gets posted in. This board system sure beats vBulletin

Thats a cool idea. There are some decent chat clients out there. One of us should sort that out. I'm on my phone otherwise I might look into it myself. If I remember!

I believe buddha is almost a generic term or title for awakened one. In buddhist traditions there are many buddhas. The fat bellied happy buddhs is one representation of one buddha. When people refer to the buddha, I think they generally mean siddartha.

unfortunately, the alternative seems to suck a lot harder.

yeah dawg, lots of people on this forum. myself included. (to be honest I didn't watch the whole video but it seems like your run of the mill new-age stuff) I'm not so much into ghosts goblins and ghouls but I have heard a foundation of interesting other-wordly/non-physical/astral ideas from enough people that I respect or revere to suspect that there's probably a lot to it. Every year of my life I have had a pile of ideas that I consider reasonable and another pile of what I consider nonsense, and every year a whole heap of the nonsense pile started moving into the reasonable. So I try not to judge anything anymore. After a while you realize that a lot of it is interesting, but not necessarily that useful.

The craziest part about quitting TV is when you happen to stumble across tv programming again in the future and you notice how much of it is advertisement. It just seems insane how much of TV is just mind-numbing ads and that people sit through it on auto-pilot. Even if the show or movie is high quality art, it's constantly broken up with crap! When you stop getting used to it, it's almost like some gross dystopian shit.

I love Teal.

Big thumbs up. for this book. It's also in the public domain so you can download the ebook free at www.gutenberg.org.

Sometimes. However sometimes you can be bound to an awful experience simply because the tides of eternity decide to kick your ass that day.

Lets talk about the old adage 'just be yourself' I think to a lot of people it is something that sounds nice to say out loud but that most don't really believe. Like if you wanted to go to a party and someone said to 'just be yourself' then you might say, 'well being myself would involve gravitating towards someone I know, being quiet, not meeting new people' - so why would I want to be myself? I think the truth is that a lot of our behavior isn't authentic expression. Given any social interaction, there are layers and layers of emotional and social conditioning. What are people thinking of me? How do I look? Am I dressed well? Am I standing the right way? What ideas are appropriate and what aren't? Am I being judged? Does this person like me? Even if people aren't conscious of these things, all these factors are impacting their ability to express themselves. The problem is, that those things don't really have anything to do with you or I. That stuff is all imprinted as a result of the collective and it's really inhibiting. When we become aware of these subconscious factors by becoming conscious of how we feel, think and what we're motivated by, then we have a chance to overcome them. When these issues aren't identified or resolved, even when someone is externally coming off as charismatic, at best it is like a cheap magic trick. People aren't fooled for long and we can sense that the energy is distorted because the fear is still there. However someone who has worked through this stuff can now be closer to their truer self. Authenticity is something that resonates and appeals to us on a deep level. It's attractive and invigorating. I think that's what is meant by being yourself. So I think part 1 of charisma is to become aware of the emotional and social factors that are inhibiting you and working through them. Part 2 is to lead a fulfilling and purpose driven life. If you're purposeless and without any seriously deep core values, then your charisma is going be seriously limited. It's a lot easier to be charismatic when your life rocks. I'd then say part 3 is to take action steps. A large part of charisma is learning to work with social energy and momentum and taking steps to be more assertive and have socialization as something second nature. So practice practice practice.

I have had the same experience where a family members voice flared a deep response of irrational anger and heat in my body. Even if they were being jovial. At the time I couldn't have really explained why either. It has since resolved. I really like Teal Swans stuff (that ayla posted) and I recommend you check her material out. I'm also of the opinion that it's related to a deeper emotional imprint. When you're triggered emotionally, take time to sit with it unconditionally and breathe through it. You might actually find the emotions getting deeper and more difficult, but that's a good thing and in time it will unfold and resolve as long as you choose to be present with it instead of stifling it or judging it. I imagine it would be difficult to get your mother to change, and even if she did, the underlying issue might not be addressed.

Morning to set the day and late afternoon because I find that I'm not too tired. Sometimes I can find meditation right before bed overstimulating and I have trouble getting to sleep.

Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman! - Richard Feynman

This is a practice that's really popular in a lot of kinda new-ageish movements. I personally love them and have found them really effective at dealing with headaches or resetting my mood if I'm in a funk. I also find if I've been through stress and anxiety that I'm holding in my body then the cold shower can release it. Wim Hof, known as The Iceman, has talked about the effects of the extreme cold on consciousness. In combination with breathing techniques he talks about the ability to regulate the temperature of the body and active the immune system to levels beyond previously thought possibly. I think he's now been through some good studies to back that up. He's known for climbing Mt Everest and Kilimanjaro in just a pair of shorts and running a marathon in the desert. He claims everyone can learn this stuff. If anyone's interested, I recommend they watch his interview on the Joe Rogan podcast. As for the cold showers, I really like them but unfortunately haven't found many studies (though I haven't looked very hard) to back up the huge catalogue of health claims from the internet.

Markus nailed it. It's just a pinched nerve, not lack of circulation, so you'll be fine. Stretch out the limb or portion that's numb and wait a few minutes. If I'm doing 20m+ or endurance meditation, then sometimes I've found your leg can actually kind of move into the next level of numbness where it feels oddly fine like 10 seconds, then goes beyond the pins and needles sensation into a kind of awful hollow feeling that's hard to describe. Even that goes away after a few mins. It happens to lots of people. It's only an issue worth considering if it's effecting you in the rest of the day. Not even worth adjusting for in meditation itself.

that's just the beginning, baby note it as scenery and nothing more, and return to your practice whether its focusing on your breath, repeating a mantra, etc

During conversations, start to become more mindful and present by slowing down your breathing. Then start to take small action steps even though they are uncomfortable. It can be things like finishing your sentence when someone else starts talking, instead of usually stopping, or giving your opinion when you otherwise might not for the sake of practice. The trick is to feel the fear/resistance and do it anyway. Later, chances are you might feel uncomfortable or have the negative inner monologue but it's only a sign that you're moving out of your comfort zone, not that you're doing anything wrong. At first the changes will seem artificial but in time they will become more natural and you will find yourself feeling more comfortable in conversation.

Everyone is different. Some experience benefits right away and others don't notice them for some time. It's not uncommon for others to notice the change in you before you notice yourself. Do you keep a journal? Keep practicing without expectation and you will see change. It will be worth it.

A huge beautful overgrown garden with a stone cottage. Maybe tucked away somewhere in the english countryside. Kids, and a living being creative.

I second this. This book changed my life when I was around your age, Ray.

Hi Ray. I'm sorry to hear you're going through a difficult time. I'm sure people here may be able to point you in a good direction. I recommend you introduce yourself to 'mindfulness' practice. It's about returning to the present moment and it will help to process emotions and create peace. Emotions, even negative ones, only cause problems when we push against and resist them. Mindfulness can help us become more conscious and less fear based. I'm on my phone at the moment so it's a bit difficult to link you to resources, but you can make youtube searched for 'mindfulness', 'mindfulness practice' or 'what is mindfulness?' to find good things. I recommend the teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn. He has lots of good stuff on youtube as well.

You can have sex during NoFap. At least nofap as the modern movement kinda thing. It can have lots of impressive effects, especially in conjunction with meditation and taking care of your body. I don't think its going to be viable permanent or long term for 99% of people. I think its something every man should at least try for a few weeks to gain insight into themselves energetically. Quitting porn would be something I wouldn't mind doing though, because I think it can have a detriment on sex life.

Take radical action

My name is is Arman, I'm 22 and living in Western Australia. When I was 16 I discovered the book The Power of Now. As a kid I was about as anxious as most, and the book helped me to develop a lot of peace and put me on the journey I'm on now. I became interested in weed and psychedelics over the years which was eventually dropped for yoga and meditation. I have a deep interest in methods and practices that release emotional imprinting, as it's helped me find a lot of happiness, self love and freedom of expression. I enjoy talking. My dream at this point would to be what Joe Rogan does and just have great conversations for a living. I would like to travel as a minimalist for a few years. One day I'd like a family with a huge garden and lots of plants and dense plant-life. My greatest passion in life now is growing to become less inhibited in creative expression.