cetus

I must not be awake for everything seems a dream. Or maybe I'm awake for the first time and everything before was just a dream.

@Leo Gura Lol -I guess he went from one vice to another.

"For those who have ears, let them hear"

He's an old friend I haven't seen for years. He may have been through some rough patches in life and now trying to find comfort in reading the bible. What message would you suggest? -If it's not too late

@Leo Gura On second thought, he may have become silent for just moment when I said; "I do agree that the Kingdom of Heaven is found within".

He proved that by not hearing one word I said. And on the other had I heard every word he said.

Timely topic. This afternoon I was talking to a friend on the phone about spirituality and he's all about reading the bible. So, whenever I would talk, he would get ahead of what I was saying and not really listen and even talking over me with his preconceived ideas. On the other hand, when he was talking, I would be silent and listen to what he was saying. But here's the funny part. When I would just listen and not say a word, he would have to pause and ask, "Are you still there??" And I'd say, "Yes, I'm still here. I'm listening to what you're saying". What is the rule of thumb for a conversation? 70% listening and 30% talking. That wasn't the case here.

@Natasha Tori Maru Exactly.

I once watched a sunset and in it were infinite sunsets.

That doesn't exactly answer the question. Allow me to reframe: Is the "experience" of reality an illusion?

In terms of absolute truth is there any such thing as the "experience" of reality?

Sounds like the beginning of the movie Matrix when Thomas Anderson was selling clandestine disks.

I'm a jellyfish floating in an ocean of consciousness. Where does the jellyfish end and the ocean begins? -They are not two.

Face the fear head on. That's the ego's fight or flight response kicking in. It's not easy letting go. Next time you feel that fear take a leap of faith and surrender to it. Even if you said "OK fear. If you're going to kill me, kill me now". Is it really going to kill you? If anything, part of the ego will die away. Are you ready for that? In Zen this is known as Having a Red-Hot iron ball stuck in your throat. Do you swallow it? or do you spit it out? You decide.

@VeganAwake So, nothing ever happened? It was all an illusion. Is knowing it's an illusion also happening within the self-illusion? Pretty crazy stuff.

The eternal "I" I speak of is the blank screen of consciousness. Fire doesn't burn it. Water doesn't wet it.

"For here there is not two" - Sri Mooji The eternal "I' remains always. That which witnessed your birth and will witness your death. The body and mind. The world itself is in constant change. But what is that which witnesses that coming and going? That which never changes?

The only reality that exists is what is in your direct experience. Everything outside your direct experience exists only in your imagination. But here's the real kicker. It's all imagination.

When we dream, we are manifesting a reality. When we are aware we are dreaming (lucid dreaming), we can control the dream.

There has been some interesting debate about this subject lately. We often talk about ego, but what about what could be called the -truly authentic self?

It comes in many forms, but you know it when you see feel it.

I'm more familiar with the term "Energy Vampire"