Flower

Does anybody have experience of, or could recommend a good practice other than meditation for specifically cutting energetic ties to a person you have been sexually intimate with. I have just come out of a relationship in which I was emotionally and sexually very connected to the other person and now I am having difficulty detaching myself. I understand that with time there is a natural healing process, but I really want to cleanse my aura of my ex's energy and be entirely myself again.

There seems to be a lot said about people struggling with mental health issues, and I feel as though it is often seen by spiritual or developed people as a sign of not being developed enough, or not having 'conquered the mind'. However, research shows us that there is a strong genetic association in mental health and so, if is only to do with conquering the mind and managing your emotions, how can this be understood in light of the fact that depression is medically, a disease just like any other- just wanted some perspectives on this views?

I really liked this article and I can relate to it so much... I think many of us feel like this.... http://wakeup-world.com/2016/03/24/are-you-a-bridge-between-two-worlds/

@a e l i This sounds like a great opportunity for introspection! I agree with @JustinS and think you should use the time to meditate and look within yourself. After all, what you find in books on enlightenment - you can find all that and more contained within yourself! Dive deep and you will find many pearls! Hope you have a lovely holiday

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Anybody have any advice for how to reduce sugar intake? I don't have particular issues with processed sugary foods , sweets chocolates etc.. In fact It is more an excessive consumption of bread, fruit and other carb-rich foods. It is really difficult to come off it, I do try to eat lots of vegetables and salads, but I always prefer the sweeter option I also find that when I am upset, i tend to eat less but what I do eat is just carbs. Sometimes I can eat a whole loaf of bread .

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it

I think this is also a matter of self-respect, If you know she is in a relationship you should not flirt with her even if she flirts with you because either she does not have a good relationship with her boyfriend and is looking for something new or she just wants a bit of fun, and the question is not a matter of your coming in between her and her boyfriend because she is choosing to flirt inappropriately and cross a boundary herself. On your behalf what is important is that do you want to have a a fling or a relationship with a girl who either a) will have her fun with you an get over it or b) will leave her boyfriend for you ( but do you want to be in a relationship with someone who flirts with other guys whilst in a relationship?) I personally in this situation would not flirt back and make it clear that I respect myself not to be involved with someone in a relationship- I know how hurtful it can be when your partner lusts over or flirts with other women and I would not want to be that cause of hurt for another person.

Love this. <3

If you do not feel like you need anyone and you are happy then why do you worry about if it will be hard to find someone? why do you 'need' to find someone- my point is that you don't I feel like we are often sold this idea that as part of the normal human progression through life-you know- education, career, marriage family and so on... that it is normal to have a partner, and if we don't have a girlfriend or boyfriend we are somehow missing out or that we are not competent- I do not think that this is true. I am telling you from my personal experience. I am single now, and working on self-development, and unlike other times where I thought about a better relationship or finding someone in time, this time I have really embraced myself fully and realised that when I am truly happy with myself I have no need to seek another. When I find myself slipping or falling into the trap of considering a relationship, especially when there is an opportunity - looking deeper I discover that it is only desire and I do not wish to disturb the relationship I have with myself particularly whilst I am trying to be a better person and doing self development. I would like to discover everything within myself and realise how much richness there is to this inner life, so that I do not need another- and If I do end up meeting someone, they will only complement the completeness of my being, not add anything to it thus removing the need for any dependence. @Psychonaut If you are happy as you are, do not worry about girls or helping them with their 'ego'. you can find happiness in your beautifully complete singularity, and with time you will be with the right person at the right time- and if not, that's ok too!

Beautiful poetry by Rumi, and the music is by Armand Amar & Lévon Minassian - "Araksi artassouken"'the tears of the river'

@Holdup I hope you enjoy them! The 6 pillars of self esteem is really good I have heard- only just started reading it! ☺️

I thought this could be an interesting discussion. I am not looking for any answer, it is just an interesting topic to get some opinions of what others think? Can a person be rich, live affluently and indulge in lifes pleasures yet still be spiritual in the same sense? Often with spirituality, associated notions are that it is non-materialistic, not egoistic (where desire comes in) and higher consciousness is not in the realm of physical hedonistic pleasures. So how can the two (richness and say seeking spiritual enlightenment) be reconciled. My personal opinion is that they can be compatible, so long as the person sees his wealth, attachment and desires for what they are and is not a servant to them ( although this must be supremely difficult!) Where a person posseses wealth, but wealth does not possess the person- so the person is not attached to it as such. Can a person persuing spiritual enlightenment also persue wealth and status? I believe @Leo Gura thinks so, and I also think it is possible but difficult not to let one contaminate the other. what are your thoughts? Enjoy discussing!

well belly fat is the toughest to get rid of. By the sounds of it you are doing all the right things, it could just be a matter of time before it begins to shift. Of course you should do more core exercises and keep that up but besides that; My mother had this problem, and she started every morning with a warm glass of water with some fresh lemon juice ( you can add honey if you wish) and she started losing belly fat she has had for years. Also different things work depending on you body. For me, If I have my last meal before 7.00pm and avoid eating after, this tends to help.

Sex is a need depending on how you define a 'need'. It is not a need in the sense that we need it as we need food or water, but it is a need in order to lead a good overall quality of life and of course for life to even continue!. Sex is pleasurable and brings happiness. But @Ken Lecoq I can understand your experience, because Sex with someone you love and respect (not just someone you find attractive) is very different to just casual sex. Sex can be a very spiritual experience if done with the right person and within the right context.

I completely agree. It is better to deal with the deeper issues and not use a relationship as an escape, you will only end up searching for happiness in the other person. When two people are fulfilled and happy, and have dealt with their own issues and are in a comfortable place- not needy or desperate for a relationship, only then can you have any true connection.

Since Narcissism and Sociopathy are continually on the rise, It would be great if Leo could do a video on the topic. Are these people capable of becoming enlightened? How can we deal with people who wear a mask of sanity. I know a few sociopaths, some of which are supposedly pursuing self-development and enlightenment, but to what end are they doing it? Are these people capable of being normal and having normal relationships? how can we spot/deal with the socio/pscyopaths in our lives?

'A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and beautiful woman also attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her cross to the other side. The two monks glanced at one another because they had taken vows not to touch a woman. Then, without a word, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her across the river, placed her gently on the other side, and carried on his 
journey. The younger monk couldn’t believe what had just happened. After rejoining his companion, he was speechless, and an hour passed without a word between them. Two more hours passed, then three, finally the younger monk could contain himself any longer, and blurted out “As monks, we are not permitted a woman, how could you then carry that woman on your shoulders?” The older monk looked at him and replied, “Brother, I set her down on the other side of the river, why are you still carrying her?” I think if we take the women in this story to represent worldly things or wealth then spirituality is compatible with wealth so long as the wealth does not enter our heart and we don't become attached to it- it does not occupy our mind. Just as a poor man can be worldly and greedy, A rich man can be spiritual because he owns the wealth- the wealth does not own him. He is not ruled by ego, and since desiring money and materialistic things are of the ego, he does not let his wealth rule him.

@Holdup Are you afraid of commitment? Why do you feel you cannot reconcile your sexual desires with loving someone? I understand your dilemma though, and I also understand from Ambers perspective...because I have been that girl myself.

Thank you all, I think I will be taking some advice from all of you. A combination of meditation to increase will power. changing the composition of foods and also your right that cutting carbs is the only way to cut carbs!, so will begin by changing my current diet.

I was wondering what you guys think about trusting your gut instinct even when intellectually things appear to be going well. I have been in a relationship on and off with the same person for five years ( I am 22 and he is 21). We are both pretty young. We used to break up all the time, because he would lie and cheat but we would get back together because he would promise to change.... the thing is I did actually see improvements, and he did make an effort to change. I realised though that the relationship was toxic for me and tried to leave on many occasions, but he always won me back and I always gave In. So recently he started watching Leo's videos and was really inspired by them- In fact he also introduced me to Leo! He has since been meditating for the past few weeks and really making an effort to change, so we were back together... yet still my gut instinct about him is not good. Something tells me that there is something in-genuine about him trying to be a better person. He often talks about how much 'knowledge' he now has, and he is realising how 'ignorant' other people (of lower consciousness/ less aware) are. I sense a very strong sense of ego and desire to appear knowledgable in place of actual sincerity and growth. In this situation, is it right to trust my gut instinct, or am I merely assuming, or perhaps subconsciously projecting his past onto his current self?. I need to know, because I am in a chronic state of confusion about whether to stay with him ( all the while doubting his efforts) or letting him go and focus on my own self-development. would be interested to hear your opinions/stories p.s I have to add I can see that he is really trying, he had a bad childhood and an extremely narcissistic parent- something he acknowledges and tells me wants to break free from

I'm not too sure. I don't really know enough about his life to say anything very definitive.

@Holdup Girls are wired for other things which hinder self-actualisation and actually some girls also struggle with the sexual desires quite a bit , each has their own wiring to unwire.

@Algi Only trying to help

@Algi Of course, I never said it was easy. In fact I said it was difficult and involved a lot of suffering- So you agree with me. Also I don't believe in 'already in place' - things are in place when you exert effort to put them in place. Buddha felt very frustrated to begin with, and his path to enlightenment was not easy- but if it's easy, it's not enlightenment.