Bill W

Yes, as said also by Jbram. I agree with you. I agree with every word actually, except whether or not you are guilty. That I don't know! Good post. You nailed it. I don't want to dilute Jbram's journal with my own stuff, but while we are here, I don't care much for all this enlightenment, who is God, nondual, infinity stuff. I don't understand it and I don't really want to or need to right now. I have loads of tangible self-development stuff I am working on and there is enough things on this forum for me to get my teeth into that I do understand.

Have you seen the link (posted today) in the "is the forum addictive" thread. The man wanting to buy some new concepts. That's the memo I got. There is a few memo's going around possibly?

@Richard Alpert haha, that's brilliant. Should make it a sticky.

Enlightenment or psychosis Sorry, I'm in what might be called a devilry mood. When I'm in the devilry mood I feel like starting a thread called "I'm not enlightened, don't ask me anything" and see what comes back. Devilry is a word I never heard of before, can't help but smile to it. I can relate to some of what you experience on the forum. However, fortunately for me, whenever I reach that point where I think everyone is writing a load of complete BS, I stumble across a real nugget, some real inspiration that gets me thinking about things differently. It's also an exercise for me to practice humility and tolerance. I've had to stop myself a few times flippantly replying to a topic that I have no interest in. I'm not for a second suggesting you are not humble, I'm speaking about myself. Personally, it does me some good to pick out the nuggets and try to not get bogged down in nonsense. However, one man's nonsense is another man's inspiration. We are all infected with the human condition and everyone has their own way of controlling the symptoms I guess.

Looks awesome, thank you!

Your Avatar is scary. Was it taken during a nuclear bomb test?

I don't think he was saying everyone. He was just saying some people. I'm actually more interested in people's definition of addiction and the discussion around why addictions develop. Can't get enough of that topic right now. Honestly. I have become a bit obsessive with checking the forum throughout the day but if work is really crazy busy I don't check the forum and don't seem to suffer from not checking the forum if that makes sense. I guess it's interesting to see if there is a difference between obsessive/compulsive traits and an addiction.

@Anton_Pierre Thanks friend. Must admit, I don't do much breathwork BUT slowing down my breathing and deepening it when I go to bed has helped my insomnia a lot. I need to look at other examples of breathwork though.

Having struggled with various addictions to mind altering substances in the past, psychedelics are a big no-no for me. I simply do not have a track record of being able to use mind altering substances in moderation. Like you say, there are lots of ways to self-actualise and get spiritually wealthy.

I believe there is never a lack of motivation on any area we are struggling in. I am coming around to the view that motivation drives our unhelpful behaviour and we need to identify this motivation and release it and let it go. I believe we don't need motivation to move forward. We need to release the motivation driving us back. Then we will go forward automatically, even with zero motivation at all. I believe we can't be in neutral. Only reverse and forward. Hell or heaven to various degrees. Stop reversing. Remove the clouds and it's all blue sky and sunshine. Except at night.

Everything seems to exist if you believe in it enough.

Hi, This post is a heck of a lot more interesting than the topic title led me to believe. You write in the title "political questions" but to me I see "life questions". I'm a little overwhelmed with the amount of questions you pose but they are interesting. I hope to come back to this. For now this grabbed me I think a mentor can be such a great tool for navigating through life, or the life area you are focusing on. However, I think care needs to be taken to still keep somewhat in "not knowing mind" when beginning with a mentor, as they may not have all the answers themselves and you have to watch for projection anyway (yours and their projection). But to actually do the work and practice with a mentor can really speed up your own skills and development. You can learn from their mistakes they have made on the path. But still, you need to go through the growing pains anyway I guess. When I think of a mentor I think "what do they have that I want or need?". I've also learned to not be so perfectionalist minded when I try to spot a potential mentor as no one is perfect. As long as they are further up the actualisation ladder than me and can teach me things I need to know (not necessarily what I want to know) then they could be a good mentor. A good mentor sometimes has to tell you things you don't want to hear. Painful things. You need a good trust base for this to work.

I would get rid of all masculinity. All of it. Even whatever the most cherished and healthy elements of it are. Everybody would be 100% feminine. Then one year later I would collect all the statistics for crime, brutality and really bad devilry and congratulate myself on a job well done. Edit: If there were unforeseen side effects and complications with this I would reintroduce masculinity but under strict conditions. Abuse your masculinity at the expense of another and you will be put back to 100% feminine. Feminine not perfect. Still some devilry and brutality but not as bad as before this culture change

@Aaron p Okay, I was probably taking things too literal in terms of the universe. You are so right about not taking what others say as an absolute truth. You for example say "As soon as you get enlightened the entire universe ceases to exist my man". You have experienced this or have heard it from others and it makes sense to you? Man I love the Bible, but I am new to the Bible and new to the forum as you will painfully be aware of here

@Yannik looks good. Is it possible for me to get 7 days access please?

@Aaron p Thanks for your post. I especially liked the reference to the Bible. I am new to the Bible and finding it a great source of inspiration. What do you mean about the entire universe will be destroyed? That sounds a bit dramatic?

One way is to investigate is what demands you are making of how you should be, how others should be, and how the world should be. You can look at the demands and shoulds. They are there! Then you can look at how realistic they are and if they conform to reality.

Any particular emotions in mind? Quickly thinking and looking at my book shelf..... Happiness and How it Happens...... The Happy Buddha Love is Letting Go of Fear...... Gerald G Jampolsky Letting Go...... David R Hawkins

Careful friend. Leo is on the prowl for low quality threads. The thread you refer to was deemed bullshit of the highest order by Leo and it got locked.

This is the first self-help book I ever read. It was a game changer for me. About 23 years ago I think. I still have my original copy. It's absolutely covered in pen and scribbles from how much I used it. It's falling apart. It introduced me to cognitive behaviour therapy, and I went on to study it and get qualified in it. I see cognitive behaviour therapy as really useful but everything I have since learned, especially things of a more spiritual nature, takes me to a higher level than cognitive behaviour therapy alone could.

@Shadowraix I know. It's scary isn't it. On the same day I can go from 1/10 to about 8/10 - It really pains me when I realise later on I was at an 8/10. I can feel almost ashamed. Within a few seconds of the interaction I can realise I was at 8/10. Some times even half-way through the interaction I realise this, but the train has left the platform, and it's almost too late due to poor self-control. One of my dreams about self-actualisation is that I catch an 8/10 reaction at the moment it arrives and short-circuit it. Self control at the point of "attack", what a skill that is to have! I'm chasing it!

I'm starting to think we are all on the projection scale and that it is not static, but variable, depending on a host of factors present at the time of the communication with the other or others. My thinking here is that 10/10 on the projection scale = Hostile and/or passive aggressive projection onto another without any meaningful insight you are doing this. Loads of self-denial, the other person is always to blame, and the projection intensity is easily enough to fracture relationships and even lead to physical violence, and at the minimum psychological harm if the other is vulnerable to this. 1/10 on the projection scale = Projection is able to be self-corrected or self-managed as it happens. There is insight, self-control and immediate reflection to limit or avoid any damage at all to the quality and authenticity of the communication/interaction with the other.

Great topic. I'm pretty sure mindfulness meditation has virtually put an end to my insomnia. That and deep and slow breathing at night. My preference is to focus on one sound and for that focus to be as uninterupted as possible. Usually I will focus on the sound of the traffic. Some times a ticking clock. Sometimes the clunking of weights at the gym. I have found that focusing on a specific sound keeps me grounded in the present moment.

What happened?

Or exclude men if the guru is male and gay, or exclude both men and women if the male guru is bisexual.