Key Elements

@Shin @Sevi You're welcome.

@Shin This lady wrote a book on relationships. And she also talks about it...

If it happens, you can choose to leave it. And do other work. I find too many relationships a distraction. I remember Leo saying in one of his relationship clip, if you are in the wrong/abusive relationship, you could just get in your car and take off. That's the end of it. Same goes for if you find yourself in an open relationship and you don't like it. You could become free/single, just like that. The only thing is, it takes a lot of work on your part to get to that level. Learn to leave unwanted / dishonest relationships with celebration. Open relationships and polygamist relationships are also according to society's standards -- the "other" society's standards. It could be peer pressure too -- to look cool and popular cause I'm getting laid, or whatever the reason. It's all made up definitions on what is "good" and what is "bad."

Ok, then. All I'm saying is that humans choose. We have choice. Simple.

Interesting Shin... By whose definition? The word 'definition' is man-made, just like a laptop. Even when two ppl are married and have a marriage certificate to prove it, are they really married? No. Not according to nature. Why then do some ppl choose to stay together without 'cheating' or having an open relationship? Is that wrong? No. It's choice. We get to choose. Not everyone is the same. We have choice. Humans can go beyond the animal instinct.

Leo said a lot of things and not just this. The break off point doesn’t have to be at age 40. And also, life isn't just about sex. You seem to be too focused on it according to your posts/threads. I would really encourage you to look into what he said here: Just a note: sex can come with a lot of consequences and responsibilities. If I was in your situation, I would be more focused on job/career/life purpose. You already have some skills that you could use: getting a master's in teaching & martial arts. Why not teach martial arts?

Interesting journey... It answers a lot of questions. I like the part where he said that usually, in most ppl's lives they ask: What do you do for a living? In what kind of neighbourhood do you live in? But, his experience in being a monk, the questions were different: What good did you do today? How did you contribute? Monks asked deeper questions, he said. Also, what he said in the end made sense to me: a person doesn't have to live a minimalist lifestyle. Please feel free to share any thoughts on this.

Yes, this part is probably missing. He didn't say it. Not all ppl who enter the monestary get to experience the no-self (nothingness). Ppl call this by different names: nothingness, everythingness, absolute infinity, Satori, Riding the Ox Backwards, etc. If you go on YT and look at Shinzen Young's 10 Ox Herding Pics, it ends with a monk (The Cloth Bag Monk) being helpful and giving to others in some way. This ending matches the clip above. That's why, even if the person didn't experience the no-self, if the person continues to be detached from the ego and be helpful to others (all is 'you' anyway), then experience of the no-self may come one day. @Prabhaker I could relate the most to Sai Baba and Shaolin monks put together. I've mentioned them here. The reason why is, both do live minimalist lifestyles, but they are able to give because they have developed themselves enough to give. They have nailed life. How can you give if you have nothing to give? We live in a different time than Siddhartha Gautama. How we give cannot be exactly the same as how he gave. Other's lifestyle have to be taken into consideration. @Ether Cool.

This reminds me of... Mr. Miyagi telling the karate kid, "Either you do karate yes or karate no. Karate in between, you get squashed like a grape." Same goes for yoga, "Either you do yoga yes or yoga no. Yoga in between, you get squashed like a grape."

This is getting out of line. It's the wrong message for enlightenment and self-actualization.

@vanish Ok. I get what you're saying. The real death is the real thing. I agree with this part. However, we did talk about the physical earth that we live in being a "phenomenon" or "realm." I call it earth phenomenon, but you could call it whatever you like -- like illusion, hallucination, or whatever. Now, it's a miracle that we are even experiencing this phenomenon. How do you know that there is just this earth phenomenon that you wake up to? The absolute has infinite possibilities. It covers everything -- all phenomena. How do you know there is no heaven or hell phenomenon? Get it? How do you know there is no karma phenomenon? Although Leo has a clip on it, we haven't covered these things in depths. Before moving forward and making a decision, think before you do something.

Thanks. I like yours too. I guess we like to go incognito.

@egoless Today, get yourself a pen and notebook and start researching, learning, exploring, and taking action in this area. (Or, whatever area you are interested in.) I think I already recommended this book if you want to make whatever it is your life purpose. It's a great beginners' book.

I think this question may be helpful. We still have to live this life (phenomenon) to our fullest.

I'm an OCI. I already shared my work in a link on this thread. So, do you want to travel abroad?

I've mentioned both the gurus here. Baba Ramdev's products could be found in regular stores like Sparr and not just small shops. Now it's online and in Indian stores in the US. Awesome. The sooner the better. Just start contemplating and exploring. You too. I love how they go to school and work in a colourful way. I love travelling and immigration. Would highly recommend immigration and staying in a different country for a few years, different from how you grew up and learn all about it. It's easier to transend culture and so many other things this way. Stayed for 7 yrs in India. Before that, 1 yr and 3 yrs there.

Of course it can. Try to plan a brilliant life purpose and incorporate the awakenings into it somehow. It can work. Look at Sai Baba and Baba Ramdev. They are brilliant. I just wish that Sai Baba is still here in real life. Too bad he's gone -- great role model.

Yes, that's right Leo; nothing is necessary. It's all up to you and what you feel is right. However, I noticed something. It's the reason why I brought up this question. The sages/saints/gurus/monks/etc who became entrepreneurs and then finally philanthropists and beyond seem to be much more independent and less needy. I have seen a monk (and heard of monks) who did not go through this this phase, and they were not independent. When it came time to go to the hospital for something serious (like a heart attack), they had to depend on their followers raising money for them. The monk I knew didn't go to a very good hospital. Connections (during any networking) to well-qualified & trustworthy ppl are also important for a life of abundance. It's for your advantage as a sage (or whatever you become). It's not just about money and capitalism. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think in one of your enlightenment clips, you recommended the "middle path." You mentioned this. To me, the "middle path" means, if the person doesn't skip any stages, there is less suffering and more opportunities to help others. Unless, of course, you could tolerate the suffering. (Eg. Someone you mentioned in one of your enlightenment clip, who is enlightened, going to the dentist, dentist gave him a root canal and he refused to use novicane. Dentist thought he was trying to be macho. ) -If you have any more thoughts on the "middle path," please let us know. -That’s why I thought you also wanted to become a sage/philanthropist. It's because you didn't want to skip it. It's an important stage to go through after becoming entrepreneur. Also, because of this clip: (Basically, what I'm saying here is, if you skip stages in life, and/or not learn the lessons presented to you in life, you may have to endure a lot of suffering. Unless, you are able to say, "I am the pain!" Because you don't let your earthly/fictional ego bother you. You may even rid yourself of karma if you become a philanthropist along the way.)

Well... I wouldn't call it that -- because, these experiences do help in life, even if you're hearing it from someone else. It helps to compare notes. Sometimes you could relate to it, and it's very meaningful. It gives directions on both sides. @Nahm Wow! Cool! Well, for me... I already put what I learned in the pinned and featured threads. I might as well write about it eventually in my startup. Not very easy to incorporate -- might as well do it in 3rd person in art/story form to avoid controversy. Not all in society is ready to accept. Those who are ready to hear it will hear it. I still have to work on mastery. And, we still have to make a living and go beyond that. It's just that I'm detached from all that. I'm more into the flow than thinking, "Ohhh..I have to do this." I'm glad that you love the guitar. I'm also an artist but in a different way.

Same to you! Happy Holi! I recommend playing it with goggles. It hurts my eyes, both the wet and dry.

I meant in practical ways.

"Don't take anything in life for granted."

@Leo Gura Do you feel that becoming an entrepreneur / philanthropist is a necessary stage to go through in life? You said that you wanted to become a sage. Do you also want to become a sage / philanthropist? (Btw, on your Christmas video or maybe it was your blog video, you said to buy out all the YT channels to make it high conscious channels. It was around the part where you mentioned Bill Gates. So, both the answers are: yes, correct? )