Key Elements

@Ariel Research the topic: "mentally strong people." I find this helpful: Another thing is, watch out who you hang out with. Make sure you hang around ppl who will not pressure you to make decisions that you will later deeply regret. Remember that good friends who truly understand you are hard to find. This will be true as you go further into your adulthood. Before you make crucial decisions in life, research and look at it from as many sides as you can, and then make a wise decision. There is a saying: Another useful saying that has to do with wise decision making: You said this: "The problem here is that I still don't know what to do, if I should I hide this thing or being open with people. To get real relationships I need to be comfortable with my flaws. What did you do?" No. Don't go around telling ppl. Ppl in general don't need to know. You may end up telling the wrong ppl, and all you'll get are judgements, criticisms, and gossipings for no reason. But yes, if you start a real relationship, you will have to tell her. She will have to accept you for who you are and what you did. I really think you need to work on yourself first before you start a real relationship. Be prepared. Break ups hurt ppl too. That could easily happen if you're not prepared. I recommend that you go for your interests and meet ppl along the way without rushing into a relationship. Try making real friends first. Developing a life purpose will eventually allow you to discover yourself. It's a lifelong journey.

Yeah, Happy Valentines Day! Send this to your significant other.

@h inandout A very interesting post... These points that you said caught my attention. My thoughts are: it's rare to find someone who is willing to be friends first and then go into a relationship. When I say friends, I mean very good friends. Both know their weaknesses and strengths and accept each other for who they are. To find this compatible match, you really got to grow yourself so that the right person comes along and you'll know. Are you working on your life purpose? How far along are you on this path? This path can grow you a lot, and along the way, you'll be meeting different types of ppl. Are you able to connect your life purpose with spirituality? If you are working on this, what did you discover about yourself so far? Usually, what happens is, both parties put their best foot forward. They are on their best behaviour before the relationship starts, and then, when they are actually in the relationship, all the flaws come out. Two basic things could happen: 1. The relationship could start from codependent and grow into at least an independent relationship. 2. Compromises can't ever be reached, and so the couple breaks up.

Success in the business world is defined as earning passive income to the point where the person can live off of it without a 9-5 job. In such situations, the person is free to do "whatever he/she wants." Of course, with this much free time, the person will have to contemplate on how to spend the free time. Yes. The person will have to be psychologically healthy to go through with this. It's very different than the norm of society. The norm is just getting a 9-5 job and retire at an old age. That's it. Many ppl can't relate to this part of the path. They will think that you're just doing it to become "rich and greedy." If you do try to help ppl, that could be perceived as being a "show off." There are a lot of projections from society. It's best not to say anything and to think about what to say as your occupation when asked. Just like we don't go around talking about enlightenment and spirituality as an interest. Another thing is, if you do become wealthy because of this, you can't let money get to your head. What are you going to do with all that free time? Plan ahead. So, the answer to your question is, some successful ppl are psychologically healthier, and some are not. The ones who are not don't know how to manage their free time and/or money. You don't have to take huge risks when earning passive income. You could do it from your home computer. Of course, it will take a lot of time. It takes all of your free time to commit to this.

It's all "you." Everything (from the nothingness)...Each spark is probably not a star but a universe that appeared. Going into an ego...embodiment with love.

I think it's perfectly fine to have an Indian name. It doesn't matter how you "look." "Race" and "nationality" doesn't count--big, meaningless labels given by the government and ppl. I'm glad that ppl are having beautiful names and not just having them according to someone else's norms. Your life is your life, not someone else's ridiculous norms. Hindi & Sanskrit names are beautiful. Shiva is one of the main Gods of the Hindu religion. He's the God of the destroyer. Brahma is the God of the creater, and Vishnu, God of preservation.

Hmm...work hard, work smart, and...

Some people can't change their paradigm. They just stick to whatever they feel comfortable because it feels safe and secure. It feels right. They don't know how to take risks in being successful in whatever endeavor because they don't know how to manage risks or learn how to manage risks. They assume all risks are reckless. In this case, for this topic, the person may view the unknown person as a threat just because they are different or "weird" or give the person some kind of label.

I'm saying backfire because "looks" can only go so far. If he doesn't gain the skill for that position, no one wants their company to be run down. Once you get a job in a professional setting, you may see this happen, or the ppl you meet along the way will tell you. The employer will say to the unqualified person, "You're not really cut out for this." And then they get laid off or fired. Anyway, the point is, like I was saying, your life is about you. The person who has it together knows how to make the wise decisions for his own life. The both of you are young and have a long way to go. You can't really say what are the results -- just try to make wise decisions. He's your brother. He's family. I hope the both of you end up working as a team, learn from each other, and help each other through life, instead of just being jealous and negative and splitting up for just that reason.

Ages 20 & 23 are young if you take into consideration the whole life. If he gets away with not having any skills and get paid a lot, it may backfire on him later on. It's really about discovering your interests and where you want to take those in life. Everyone has something they're good at. The question is: are you willing to discover it. I dunno if this is gonna make any sense to you now, but your life is about you, not you and someone else. Even if you get married, the main person in your life is still you -- although you're in a committed relationship.

Oh, this part is so interesting! Like you said in another post, Nahm, we all become the absolute in the end. I agree. They call the experience of the absolute in Zen: Riding the Ox Backwards. Backwards of what? Ride what? It might be backwards of "time," and you're riding this massive beam of light back in "time" from the absolute. Because in the end, we are already one and in peace. Everything has already been said and done. No need of experiencing the earth phenomenon like we're doing now. In the end, the ego and Lucifer are already defeated. Now, how do we get out of this strange loop? Just sharing thoughts.

Sounds very informative. I like what he said somewhere in the middle, "Be aware of unearned wisdom."

I like this one. As soon as you realize that you're in a strange loop, it's time to get uncomfortable and start something new. Repeat and go into a "higher realm" strange loop. Repeat. Keep going. Make sure it's a wise decision. That's how to accomplish things.

If you're not in the mood or not as focused as you should, just do it. It doesn't matter if it's slow. At least you did something during the day. Be aware of your health too. Doing something on a daily basis will slowly add up to something big.

So cute! Great analogy.

An enlightened person still has to live as a mind-body (ego) in maya (the world as we know it -- relative truth) after experiencing the no-self. He/she can now use this wisdom to improve himself/herself still living as an ego. The more the person is aware of this and practices this in the relative truth, the more the person is detached to the stories in the mind and the relative truth.

Then, do it in a public library where there are ppl. Seeing them will make you do something. Try the coffee shop in the bookstore. If you start to feel uncomfortable, get up and go to a book and browse. You may just need a change in environment. Go to an art gallery or a museum to do work if they allow that or if there's a quiet place to sit and work. If not, go back to the library or bookstore / coffee shop.

@Shin Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Do it now -- doesn’t matter how you are or feeling now. Go outside and do exercise -- walk up and down hills, walk up and down stairs, etc. We are nature bound anyway. We are not meant to stay indoors all the time. Spend time in the gym for not more than 1/2 an hr to do indoor exercises. Then, take your notebook or whatever tools you have and work on your life purpose or whatever work you have on a park bench outside next to the library or next to your swimming pool outside. At least you could hear the birds and be closer to nature.

This sounds just as complex as to what is going on in Myanmar (Burma) with the Rohingas. If you are just an ordinary person, living in a big city in India, especially in the south, you won't be facing such problems on a daily basis. You'll be living in a gated community. The worst that can happen is singing the national anthem in the movie theater for "your" country. I won't go into it because it's too controversial, political, and opens cans of worms. It's not what this forum is about. In order to be involved and seriously help ppl who are stuck in such situations, a life purpose is the way to go. Eventually, 'you' will run into a stage where you'll become a philanthropist, and then you can find ways to help out. You won't be stuck in a 9-5 job or other situations like that anymore.

There is no right or wrong. There is choice. Of course take into consideration radical open-mindedness, but not everything can be tried by everyone. One size doesn’t fit all. The decision to try whatever it is in life has to be a wise one and well thought out. Everyone doesn't have the same outcome / consequences, esp when dealing with the Absolute.

Yes. That's what it is. Everything, including yourself, is on the absolute level of things -- duality is part of non-duality. But, if 'you' are not aware of this, then you only have the perspective of seeing / viewing things at a relative level -- the body-mind (ego) in a separate world.

Enlightenment will literally reveal that everything is you. You'll see it and become it. If you become fully aware of this, and your life purpose did not take this into consideration, then you may change it or rearrange it to accommodate this. There are basically two things -- the 'experience of the no-self (seeing / being the Truth)' and then taking this 'experience' or 'wisdom' with you to fully master this life. A life purpose could help support and be a vehicle to you on this journey.

Swami Leonardo Baba