Gili Trawangan

Yes, that is more encompassing

By trying to cater to women's expectations, you're already putting them on a pedestal and shooting yourself in the foot. The mindset is that I am the way I am and I love myself. Some women will like me and others won't. I will like some women and not others. It's all good.

I think you shouldn't have offered her a place to stay if you had ulterior motives. It's only a nice gesture if there are no strings attached. You need to let her go for real, and in the future what will be will be. Maybe it'll work out, maybe not. But if I were you I would separate the living situation from the possible relationship.

If I were you, I would contemplate on impermanence and the fact that ecstatic experiences are temporary - all experiences are temporary. In order for pleasure to exist, pain and aversion need to exist as well. But in the midst of all of this, what are you?

You can't say what it is. It's prior to concepts of "thought" or anything else. What is true though is that physical body and thoughts - and everything else - are the same "substance", which is not a substance. That's what you probably realized and are now confused about.

@GreenWoods Thanks for the explanation, that's good to know.

Complete ignorant regarding transmissions here, so probably an ignorant question: Isn't there a danger, doing this kind of thing online? I mean, if it's really that strong and something goes wrong, like for example ego can't handle it well and starts fighting, then there's no one with you who can help out. I can see it being great in person, but online? Would love to be convinced otherwise. Again, I have no experience whatsoever with this.

Nope. Not caring about what others think is what helps you to stop caring about what others think.

Hey, sorry in advance if commenting here is somehow inappropriate. I hardly ever come to this section of the forum, but stumbled upon this last post of yours - just wanted to let you know that your contributions are very much appreciated and don't go unnoticed, and that your way of communicating nonduality is truly inspiring and unique. Just a random comment coming from you-know-what

You misunderstand what's being said. There is no person, there are no people. Nobody is doing anything, no one is more zen than anybody else. What you're both describing are temporary experiences that, voila, have ended and took place in consciousness, which allows for every experience. Judging the experiences comes from the ego, the only "judger" - of course, it's not an entity, it's just judgment and fear arising in consciousness, where everything takes place. Ultimate Reality fears nothing, all manifestation is Love itself. All inclusive, accepting of even the most terrifying experiences of infinity.

Inspiring to read, wonderful.

Oh, cool! Thanks for the share.

Have you tried meditation? I find that it works wonders for anxiety, the more time you put in the better.

Amen! (insert emoticon of hands put together in Namaste position which I can't find anywhere, though I've seen people use it before on the forum)

Ah cool song! I really like it, it gives out such positive vibes... nice arrangement too. I know you say in the description that it's "Elliott Smith falls into a puddle of psychedelic Play-Doh" (haha), and even though I see where you're coming from, one big difference I found was that while his music is quite depressing - though unequivocally beautiful, don't get me wrong, I'm a fan - yours I would say comes from a very upbeat positive place. Which is good, because we know how his life turned out...

Ah thanks a bunch! When it comes to the actual music, it's mostly my mixing skills that I feel are still subpar... but I'm working on them Is there any way I can hear some of your music? I understand if you want to keep yourself anonymous though.

@Rilles Got it, thanks!

Nice list! These that I quoted I find particularly difficult. Wait, what is a Purple Cow? Or Ikigai? I still don't know what my niche could be, I draw a blank whenever I try to think about it.

@Blackhawk Look, I've been in hell before. I know what it's like, it can be really hard to turn it around. During my twenties I was more often than not depressed, and on top I had pain that didn't go away for years. Today things are very different, I am fulfilled, and the way this transformation occurred was through a change in perspective. The first step was crucial: I learned to be grateful for what I have. Gratitude is where it all starts, and it doesn't come from the outside world, you can't expect things to turn around without taking the first step yourself. Be grateful. If you're physically healthy, you already have so much to be thankful for. Two weeks ago I had a kidney stone and it was the most excruciatingly painful experience I've ever had. I can't tell you how lucky you are just by being healthy. The world will not change things for you, change has to come from you. Start here, "I am young and healthy, and I am grateful for that". Start a gratitude journal, what else can you be grateful for? It's all up to you.

Thanks for the share. It's worth watching the rest of the video as well.

@Blackhawk Are you physically healthy? I mean, do you live without any debilitating diseases or chronic pain?

It's impossible period, not just for you. All you have to do is see that this is the case, enlightenment is NOT a state. It's recognizing that all states are it. It sounds like you're still searching for a particular experience, but letting go of the need for any particular kind of experience is the end of suffering. It doesn't mean you get to live without pain

I haven't watched the video, but Mike Tyson's example comes to mind. He was also unhinged in his younger days, and now he's completely different - the 5meo trips helped So there's still and always time to turn things around. It could go both ways.

Thanks for pointing it out, it never even occurred to me and yes, there are posts that I sometimes want to read again. Will start using it

Aside from what the others have said, also be patient. It takes time for the body and the mind to adapt to a life without the addictions. I'm going through it right now as well, and it doesn't feel good. But I know that it is temporary and I suspect that it's a direct result of having removed some bad habits that were providing short-term gratification which is not there now. So be patient and give yourself time, sit with the discomfort, it will pay off in the future.