cetus

The abyss was something I first encountered during meditation. Darkness within darkness. It was an aspect of the mind about death.

This is key. And once you have that locked down do a guided meditation of no-self on yourself. Something totally amazing will happen.

After practicing deep meditation and having the ability to still thoughts it became easy to bring awareness to a laser like focal point. So, what I did was to sit quietly and look back at all the history (the story) of my life and put it all in one pile in front of me. And when I had that pile collected, I said to myself. "This is all an illusion happening to no one".

I was a bit older but that doesn't make much real difference. IMO It takes total surrender of the self which could happen at any age if you're willing to let go of the identification with the ego. Even if just for a moment. I too. My wife died at the age of 42 of a heart aneurism. She left me and our two teen age kids very suddenly. We had a daughter 14 and a son 16. And we had just moved into our new house that we built. Life was so good for 2 months. She was so happy because we worked years to make this dream come true and finally it all came together. After she passed I wanted to know what happened to her when she dropped her body so I could be closer to her. I realized complete cessation of self-identification was the way. So, Leo provided the means in the video I posted. So, to sum it up, I agree that suffering can be a strong catalyst. But not absolutely necessary. The greatest takeaway I can share from the experience is that anyone can access that level of awareness if only they let go of their sense of self and location, and history, and time and all that jazz.. Just dare to surrender it all and see for yourself what happens next.

That's exactly how I felt after having a full-blown experience of no self and awakening to the big Nothing Burger.

I spent about a year doing hard core meditation plus sitting silently in nature. Plus, as @Inliytened1 mentioned, I was watching Leo's early videos. Then I started practicing no-self along with my daily meditation practice after Leo came out with this video about the illusion of the self. And it was around that time that I first experienced Samadhi. My first experience with samadhi was that it felt as if consciousness was leaving my body and becoming liberated. Like I was expanding in infinite directions. So, I surrendered to it and suddenly I was no longer aware of the room I was sitting in. I was now liberated from the confines of the body and mind and came into union with what I can only describe as "universal intelligence". Since that experience all fear of death has disappeared completely because I know that intelligence has my back and I trust it beyond all else.

Moving this to the Entertainment sub- forum.

@Natasha Tori Maru Group think. They live in an echo chamber of perpetual lies.

I stopped in on Newsmax2 yesterday, just for a moment to see what those right-wing knuckle heads were up to. And they were showing a clip of AOC speaking up against the rape of a female student at Cornell University. Then after the clip ended the news anchor said "what absolute lies this is". And he had a guest that spoke saying how the student who was raped was known to dress provocatively and drink and do drugs. And it was her who enticed the otherwise innocent male students into devious sexual behavior.

Didn't know that. So, the Japanese actually have a word for that. Interesting. No wonder they are masters at creating amazingly beautiful Bonzi trees. One tiny snip at a time. Some for over 200 years.

@Joseph Maynor You look well. Must be that bay air doing you good.

@Joseph Maynor What's up?

It's all one consciousness having a consciousness experience through the illusion of others. So, depending on how you look at it, yes or no.

-emotions and survival needs.

What defines a subject to which a subjective experience happens too?

I find God/ infinity in the negative space. For without the negative space no form would be distinguishable.

Toyota Corolla GR

@Natasha Tori Maru That's fantastic! Nice to see you in person. Well almost in person. I'll watch the whole vid. when I get the chance.

It's like Scrapple. You enjoyed it more before you knew what it consisted of.

I totally agree.

I was just finishing up a scale model of the '63 split window for a friend who collects classic cars. @r0ckyreed I'd agree with Toyota being a good choice for fuel milage and depenability.

Jeez! Lol

@Zeroguy I was reading your journal. Sorry you've been going through a rough patch lately. I see a few days ago you promised yourself you were going to stay away from the forum for a while. Perhaps it would be best if you were to take a break. If you need help with that just ask one of the mods and they could put a temporary suspension on your account. Then when you have a more positive outlook about life in general, it could be reopened.

If I may ask, what exceptionally powerful substance are you referring to?

@Natasha Tori Maru Sounds like the same problem with wild boar here in the US. I love bacon.