Eugenio

Just the thoughts of taking another drink proves to me that I'm not awake. How do I explain it? Ego, mass chemicals and trillions of cells knowing... my best thinking is the issue. I have nothing to offer except for this. You already know. Now walk the talk...

I've never heard of... oh Krishna. Yeah I've heard of him. I've read Tolle and he emphasizes the same thing. Truth is always found here, now. Memory is illusion because it exists in the mind. Fantasy, pipe dreams and the like are also illusion. In the moment seems to be where its at... and the moment seems to be changing constantly. Good stuff... Oh and I like what identity theft said also. ?

@exhale How many facts (realities) exist? How many people are there on earth? Well then, I'd say that there's at least this many facts, realities, points of view. I've been watching Leo's series on Spiral Dynamics. Just finished green. I'm thinking that he says that duality exists as a fact for many. Christianity is a fact. Buddhism is a fact. What I'm suggesting is that all can be considered fact to someone. My reality may not be yours. This is so hard for me... allowing others to be wrong ? however the thing is that I'm learning not to take things personally. But when I do, it could me a projection of my Shadow and it's trying to show me something. Not about the other person but abou my own personality.

@Moreira I am able to consider the reason why we tend to go to extremes. Heaven or Hell explains this nicely. Pretty much everybody has been exposed to it. The reward/punishment system. All or nothing. When grownups scare little children with all eternity in hell... well damn. This creates adults who are scared to death not to be right. Ignorantly I've basically lived most of my life this way. Fortunately not now but for those who are still caught in that trauma, well this affords me opportunity to practice my beliefs. Love, compassion and understanding. And I could use the practice... ❤???????

I can understand this. Now that you've mentioned it this does fit with the way I've lived my life of "so-called faith". It does pain me that I've listened to "hand me down" information for so many years however I'm glad to be free to now live and experience life which includes discomfort, fear and anxiety at times. And yes, even doubt but today I'm grateful that these are part of life, that I can accept it and not be afraid of the devil who only exists in the mind...

@Lento I'm personally not in religion though I grew up Southern Baptist. I have read and studied the Bible for years with an open mind. I'm not a hater. I don't feed that dog. I feel a great deal of discomfort when I see others, dogs whatever being abused. But I won't hate because it's wrong to hate. Also, I'm a huge fan of Carl Yung. I watch videos on YouTube, Academy of Ideas. I can't say that any way for another is right or wrong. I'm simply seeking as this seems to be the reason for my being here.

@inFlow wow! This is a gem. Never heard of it before. This is why I am a member here. Not to look for Shadows in others (which I don't consider possible) but to see my Shadow through others... thanks for the share.

I'm not sure I agree. Others are more likely to project their own Shadow onto another. When I point out to you that which "I " think you need to know or see about yourself, chances are high that I'm projecting my own dark side onto you. This is the technique which seems to work best for me. Otherwise I'm simply judging... e.g. I'm watching a movie. This gangster thug type is being cruel to others. He's degrading and humiliating them. I become disturbed. Chemicals are firing in my head. My face is flush. I'm freaking mad! I want to kill that man. Why? I could tell myself "I hate evil". Could even justify this with a couple Bible verses (which can make anything acceptable). But the truth is... "every time I disrespect another, talk about them maliciously behind their back, shame them, or whatever... then that gangster is me". I used to hate. Gays, blacks, the Government, you name it. I've even hated members of my own family. I was able to recognize this within myself and began to work to change. Prayer for others helped. Helping others worked some. Then one day a commercial came on T.V. The ASPCA. People abusing animals. Cruelty to dogs. I felt those same sensations as with the gangster. I hated people who abuse animals. I was guilty... of hating. I was a hater, and haters hate! Today when I recognize those sensations I pause. I don't feed it. I am not a hater. I will not hate. I won't even hate a child molester. The world has enough of this going on without my contribution. When I see a piece of trash on the ground, instead of complaining "some people just don't give a fuck", I pause... then pick it up. "The world has enough people willing to point the way when what we really could use are leaders". Oh yeah. I said I don't hate... but I'm certainly capable because it's in me. I too have a Shadow.

It's hard to say. To me, the Shadow shows up in a very unusual way. I'll come face to face with someone whom I find fault and it can go as far as my not being able to stand that person. But why? The Shadow knows... "and the truth will make you free... but first it'll piss you off". So I suppose this thread is about seeing ourselves in the content shared by others or have I missed the point?

@Bill W good one...

What does this suggest? Identity theft... Did I just make a funny?

I'd rather be a warrior in a garden, than a gardener in a war... ❤??????

@LfcCharlie4 I sense that you're missing my whole point and that you are an instructor of sorts explains much. Thank you none the less... I have no interest in psychics. Nor do I have a desire for money collectors. After I read "Awakened Empath" and "Old Souls" by Luna, Lonerwolf.com and realized that there are many out there who seemingly share information under the guise of being Enlightened in order to promote a business, though they don't necessarily start out this way, I became detoured. Maybe a person truly wants to help but then greed sneaks in and all is lost, literally. I can have one Spiritual Awakening and then run with and never have another though you couldn't tell me anything because ego has the ability to deceive.

@LfcCharlie4 Your point is well taken. I'll have to sit on it for a minute. Not sure what message I'm receiving from this. Please allow me to explain: My experience on Facebook leaves me a bit concerned. If you've ever joined any of the many so-called Enlightened groups there then you may understand the reason for my alarm. Hmmm maybe you can help? Help me to know how to view the many wizards, empaths, lightworkers, fairy's etc... because I'm really getting the feeling that these are mostly mentally ill people, possibly active addicts who are posing for the audience, deceiving not only themselves but others. For a brief time, and I'm talking about a month I joined in, desperate to find others who understood me... what I am going through. I'd all but given up on being "understood" and I still don't rely on others to an extent but after stumbling on one of Leo's videos on YouTube I came here. As I watch, I feel a connection. I am of the opinion that he has experienced what I have only I don't use drugs at present to get there, (and the jury is still out) though marijuana does affect my perception and I really like the affect/effect. Ayahuasca has been a consideration but there's much fear to even consider this. I've had nothing but bad experiences those last attempts with shrooms and LSD (middle 80's). And too, I forget. All of those wonderful things that I experience leave me (that is I loose consciousness). I've rambled so I'll stop. Hopefully you or someone will connect with me... After reading this for errors I'm seeing that I'm struggling with sitting still. With being. Waiting. And I'm tired of posing.

@Lento I'm sorry. Still new on this format. Hit the wrong... well you know. Anywho, of the 12 signs a person is "not" Enlightened, I'd like to post the top four. Hey, how many of us have at one time or another adhered to the signs that we were? THE SYMPTOMS 1)You think you are enlightened. The most obvious one. If you find yourself thinking about yourself this way, you can rest assured, you have not nearly grasped the true meaning of what it might mean to be enlightened at all. Your ego may tell you otherwise, but the presence of the very same ego is the surest sign that something is missing and that is enlightenment itself. If you have this point checked, you may as well check all the other 12. You are as far from your goal as you humanly can be, at least for the moment. If you do not understand why, read on… 2) You talk about being enlightened and how you’ve become so. Bragging has become quite a habit, in fact in social media culture, bragging is a must: Otherwise, people would never notice you. Do you find yourself telling others about your great experience of enlightenment? The sad news is, this is little less than bragging, and as such it has the prerequisite of an inflated ego. Yes, bragging, social media culture, and most aspects of contemporary life work very well in the favour of our egos. At the same time, they work really great against spirituality, true enlightenment, and the humility this all means. If you talk about being enlightened, rest assured, you are nowhere near it yet. 3) You think yourself special because of your enlightenment. Enlightenment is ought to make you someone special, isn’t it? Also, you should feel this really. After all, if you are really special, the least you can expect is to feel so. The problem is, everyone craves to be special in one way or another. We all want to feel how good we are and how much better than others. We need to prove ourselves constantly, this is well built into our society. Wanting to be special is nothing special after all. Our society is obsessed with success. Such “success worship” comes directly from the need to be special, or better than others. And being special, successful or better, all mean the same thing: Placing yourself directly above others, being, or feeling to be better than them. Truly enlightened people, on the other hand, show great humility and feel they owe mankind. Their selflessness and service are what sets them aside. Think about figures like Mother Theresa, or His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Would you agree they have been or are truly enlightened spirits? It is easy to spot the common theme of selflessness, humility and service. They have served or still serve mankind. They do not crave to be more than others. They do not try to be leaders. They do not strive for fame and riches. And most importantly: They never claim to be special: This is what makes them truly special. Have you noticed the word selflessness? The cessation of the ego is one sure sign of being on the path to enlightenment, yet feeling special in any way is a product of a strong and inflated ego. Do you see how it is impossible to feel special and be enlightened at the same time? 4) You know more about enlightenment than an average Zen master. Having read all the literature, traditional or modern, all religious texts, Sutras, Vedas, Viking Sagas, whatnot; memorizing all you’ve read, learning mantras by heart… this can all turn you into a great walking encyclopaedia. If you ask such a person anything about enlightenment, they will surely have a ready answer. Does knowing all about it grant they are enlightened? Not much more than knowing all about blue whales would turn you into a blue whale yourself. "O, you say you are a blue whale? Well then, good luck in the deep blue ocean…" From a Zen Master: ❤??????