Hillary Kapan

@Emerald Wilkins That is the most helpful, super-short list I've ever seen. Fabulous. Thank you.

@Emerald Wilkins Wow, thanks so much for the reference to Spiritual Autolysis! I'm going to check it out. Thanks again. It sounds similar to something I've done that worked super-well, only a bit different. It sounds amazing, thanks one more time. I'm so glad I joined this forum!

Terrific questions! I wonder the same things. I don't have any answers, but here are some thoughts. Enlightenment can be considered as freedom from self-definitions. Presumably, babies don't define self, so that checks. However, if we reincarnate repeatedly, then we're on a longer trajectory and maybe babies, while free of self-definitions still have a ways to go, just like the rest of us. Personally, I find it helpful to no longer think of 'emptiness' or 'pure consciousness' as unchangeable or even timeless in an absolute sense...I find it works better in my life and practice to imagine consciousness--the ability to experience--as evolving, not static, just evolving so slowly, it's not yet noticed. Ultimately, I don't have a clue, so I'm into whatever helps, is practical, etc. Thanks again.

@WHOAMI I'm quite intrigued. Can you give any examples? Thanks much.

Great and central topic! Thanks. I've been watching my thoughts for decades and don't have an answer. However, thoughts are clearly conditioned by language. As we learn, we also learn meanings of words which signify things, concepts, processes, and so on. We can, if we want, think of thoughts as flows of meaning, from one to the next rutabaga. In that sentence, 'rutabaga' did not fit the meaning-flow signified by the prior words. Once meanings of words are learned, the meanings can be used without replaying the sounds of words in the head. Why will a given thought happen? I have no general notion, yet often, for myself, a sight, sound, taste, or other input will trigger an association. Seeing a peach in a grocery store may remind me of wonderful peaches I once had in Utah. Then, the combo, {peaches} and {Utah} combine to trigger the idea {those peaches are no longer available} then my mind may follow a string of further associations. How does it work for you?