WelcometoReality

@FredFred Different states come and go. Those are not problems. But what is it that want to hold on to different states?

@danton Why do one or the other? You can have a spiritual practice alongside your ordinary life. Better yet incorporate the practice into your life so that's fully integrated with your daily chores.

That is a whole other topic imo. So you don't mistake any concept for truth?

Are you trying to get back there? Did you try to get there the first time?

What I'm saying is that they are two different things. That actuality is PRIOR TO concepts. They are not simultaneous. What is more real, the actual seeing or the concept of the seeing? And what if you mistake all these concepts of seeing for actual seeing. Wouldn't that be like living in a dream world?

Here is an analogy that hopefully makes sense. Think of a computer that contains an image file. The raw data on that file is just 0:s and 1:s. The computers uses a software program to interpret this data to create an image on the screen. Without the interpretation it would just be 0:s and 1:s on the screen. In the same way there is the raw data of seeing on the screen of awareness. The mind then interprets the data on the screen and makes distinctions like "my hand", "table" and so on. Actuality is the raw data on the screen. The software interpretations are mind creating the distinctions like "my hand" and "table". The looking on my hand practice is a way to bypass the software.

@Barna Isn't the expression of that self based on fear and rejection of the present moment and therefore based in illusion? Meet it with the loving and accepting self. Meaning when that self says no you say yes.

Can't take any credit. Shinzen knows his stuff. ? Yeah can we really stop resistance as it comes up? Maybe we just are more prepared/willing to accept the next time it comes up because we have experienced it before?

@SoonHei seems like things always can go deeper. And in the moment it always feels complete (like it never can go deeper) and maybe every moment is complete in its essence? Btw I like shinzen youngs equation Pain x Resistance = Suffering By that concept even a small amount of pain can give an infinite amount of suffering if the resistance is big enough. And a huge amount of pain doesn't have to produce any amount of suffering. Seems like those people resisted the trip alot.

@PsiloPutty Not a monk but a hermit. Monasteries felt to crowded for my taste.

I would really resist that. ?

The moment you try to grasp it it's gone.

Awesome! I've had a few myself. The hardest part is to do it when they are gone.

Some pieces of wood REALLY look like snakes though. And some actually are snakes. Just not venomous snakes. My take on it is that once we start to see resistances for what they are they start to lose there power. And once we get as far as welcoming resistance that when things start to take off.

@vincity gialam welcome to the forum Vin! If you have any questions I'll gladly help you.

@Psyche_92 I'll be damned. Trump a Leo fanboi!

Don't make it an exercise. Live that way.

Good. But it's really easy when that is happening right? Nothing to do when we are in that state. But what about when there is resistance?

Does that question appear when one is totally submerged in the actual experience? One could argue that the question itself is a resistance to what is. Great investigation my friend.

@Pramit If you want to be alone, be alone. If you want to be around people, be around people. Why exclude one or the other? If there is fear of being alone or around people but a need for it, meet that fear head on.

So you did the exercise for 5 minutes and now it's back to discussing for hours and hours? What you're doing is trying to conceal the truth. Why is that?

@MM1988 The higher your awarness gets the more aware you become of the thoughts that feed your self image. Doesn't mean they go away, just that you are aware of them. At a certain point though all self referential thoughts fall away and then self esteem falls away too. But if you suffer of low self esteem it's probably better to adress those issues by reprogramming your mind with affirmations and inquiry.

@Shin I don't mean that the words themselves are true. The sentence points to words not being true.

@Violinpracticerdude Reason separates you from what's real. It's a nice tool to have but when you start to see the limitations of it your whole world view starts to change. Here is something that is true: The tree is not a tree, it just is. Is it logically correct?

@Alexo45 No book will get you enlightened and no youtube video either. Are you seeking enlightenment the same way you'd look for an answer to a riddle? Because there ain't no answer.