Key Elements

@Loreena It does help if you let negative thoughts pass by like a train. Don't catch hold of them. Try not to. Practice this. Negative thoughts are bound to happen, and that's ok. The question is, what are your true thoughts telling you what to do in life? What is the next baby step to take? We all have different baby steps. What is yours? It must be something simple to help you progress in life.

Have you ever thought of an alternative lifestyle? Check this out:

You risk falling asleep. Even if you are lying down on the floor, there is this risk. My PE teacher used to tell us this. The first thing he did before starting class was get the class to meditate. His advice made sense to me because if we have insights we'll miss them.

@Shin Well, I wouldn't call it that. I'm just learning like everyone else.

“Enlightenment is the experience of intimacy with the entire universe. There is no separation whatsoever. You totally disappear in the process of uniting with the raw content of the present moment. And because you do, you have never been more alive. […] Enlightenment is beyond the connection to me and mine; it’s past the illusion that you know who you are. In our world it is considered advantageous to have a positive self-image, but the wisdom of Buddhism is to let go of images altogether. There is a great deal of suffering in self-esteem. It’s nice when it’s around, but it comes and goes, utterly out of our control. This practice is headed in the direction of letting go of everything you think you are. Then you’re doing the same things other people are—eating rice and drinking tea—but you’re beginning to get a taste of what it is like to be free and clear, wholehearted and effortless.” — Larry Rosenburg, Breath by Breath: The Liberating Practice of Insight Meditation “Enlightenment is man’s release from his self-incurred tutelage. Tutelage is man’s inability to make use of his understanding without direction from another. Self-incurred is this tutelage when its cause lies not in lack of reason but in lack of resolution and courage to use it without direction from another. Sapere aude! ‘Have courage to use your own reason!’ — that is the motto of enlightenment.” ― Immanuel Kant

I used to watch these when I was in kindergarten, around that time - used to love these episodes. They had meaning for me. I loved the two songs in there when I heard them when I was a child.

I couldn't agree more here. The first time I saw this, I thought of "video game enlightenment." And, Leo having a video game making background, I thought he loved the topic of enlightenment and video games and decided to put it together. So, we all have to make it to the "Godly" status. And now Leo, you have "Wizard" status. (Note: I'm saying this in a light / joking way, but I'm also not kidding.)

Have you tried teaching what you learned to others? Maybe put an ad in the college/university and gather a small group and charge a little fee for an hour or two. Or, maybe do this online. Or, providing others with your service, like do programming for them. I know someone who makes a living like this. It doesn't have to be programming. It could be in psychology, if you have more interest in your major.

What do you think about this?

Ok..I see this a lot - "enlightenment vs career/life purpose." So, I just want to share some tips. Please feel free to share what has helped you so far. This is for everyone, whether or not you're going for enlightenment. This is from the book Guide to Investing by Robert Kiyosaki. This is what helped me get the job that I enjoy working in. The first step is to understand passive income or cashflow. What is it? Then, the next step is to realize that money doesn't buy happiness. If you pair this diagram with Spiral Dynamics (aka Graves Model), starting at stage orange, you will get hints as to where to go. Leo did a clip on Spiral Dynamics. There is also a book written on it. Of course, you could also take Leo's LP course. First step hint: do something you love, keep repeating (practicing) that, and try to get passive income in that. If it doesn't work, adjust it. Add something to it so it changes a little and adjust it to the diagram above and the Spiral Dynamics diagram.

Above clip: Well, that's not my art. It's just something that inspires me. I'm a bilingual teacher. I posted these before. I donated these canvas paintings that I did for the school I work for - not ready to show my website yet, so I covered them with hearts. Activities that I did with my students. Most recent ones. Framed and delivered...finally. Done. This is where I'm at on my journey so far: My Journey Bilingual education / language arts is a very interesting and marketable study. You could get creative on this in so many ways and express yourself. Here are more interesting info on different languages. The info could be subjective. You may learn the language of your choice. Ivanka Trump's daughter could speak Mandarin with a native tongue. (So cute...) If you like to add comments or insights that will help me go further into my journey, please feel free to let me know. Thanks. ☺

Sounds interesting here...reminds me of the 10 Ox Herding Pics told by Shinzen Young. Riding the Ox Backwards is the full "enlightenment experience." Notice at the very end of the story, there is a teacher/monk called the Cloth Bag Monk who passes out gifts to anyone. He teaches by action, not lecturing. Have a look... Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

@Snick No. You don't have to implement it in such a direct way. You don't have to implement it at all. It's your choice. But, tell me something, why wouldn't you want to implement it? What's the point of keeping it a secret? It's very "satisfying" if you find a way to express that we are one. You spread/trigger peace in this world. For example, Ralph implements it in an indirect way. Leo is more direct. Teal is even more direct. That's why she gets criticized a lot. Then, later her videos got more indirect.

Good question! I used to wonder about this a lot, and similar questions. I've been on this forum a while now. So far, my answer would be: Enlightenment would be seeing and being the no-self. You are one with everything. Then, you go back into being your ego, the mind and body and life as you know it. A person, after experiencing this, could try to apply it in "real life" (Maya). Some people call this "experience" an awakening; some call it a Satori; some call it Riding the Ox Backwards; etc. If the person "successfully" applies this "experience" in real life, then it's called self-transendence or the actual enlightenment. Otherwise it's just an "enlightenment experience" or awakening. It's a process / journey.

"The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” —Mark Twain. Although, I'm not certain if telling myself will speed up the process. The lessons are learned through actions after reading it or looking at it from somewhere. Now is the best time to tell oneself, learn, and take action on it.

Ok...do something simple. Like, for example, pick up a pen. Look at the pen for what it is - a pen. Let the other thoughts in your mind pass, as if you are looking at a train passing by. If you write something down in a notebook, continue to let those negative thoughts pass by like a train. Don't catch hold of them. They are only imaginary phenomena that we create. If you don't like writing, try drawing. If you don't like picking up a pen, try a paintbrush. You choose whatever tool you like. This exercise has helped me write a book, build a website, and do canvas paintings for a school. But, do not think of the goal. Do it cause you love it.

I ran into some info on how a cat can be spiritual. If we live on earth, and everything on earth is a phenomenon, there are other phenomena / dimensions too. Of course, focus on no-self/nothingness, that's the ultimate.

I know two couples who are married for years, with children - met at work. Not all couples will end in disappointment / disaster just because they met at work. There are always two sides to the same coin.

One of the biggest lessons I learned in this life is, only you know what's best for yourself. Others can only give you tips, but you have to further research and look deeply into the tip before making that final decision.

Oh, you started a fun little thread here. But, sorry, I didn't get a chance to read everyone's response. I highlighted what you said because it really reminded me of this quote: If you have a chance, just ask him out for coffee to have a little chat or lunch. Like, "Hey, I know of a good restaurant that we could try." Or, he could choose first. You sound like you have confidence - win or lose - it will always be win because you'll learn the lesson and move on.

Leo's recent video was interesting. Spirituality is one of the hardest things to communicate to others, esp to the ones closest to us. Maybe perhaps they're not interested or they're not "wired" to be interested. Watching Ralph's clip also helped. He just says things in a different way. I'm just hoping that if I make it through my life purpose which will include non-duality / spirituality, at least the people closest to me will notice. Sometimes you cannot tell ppl; you have to show them (indirectly).

You know, you wrote an awesome story. Did you notice, you didn't give up? That's an awesome quality! I would stop trying to be "Mr. Popular" and stop trying to "fit in." I was also "unpopular" (whatever that means) in my high school years, and I was kinda lost, but I never tried to "fit in." And so my life story is different. The more you try not fitting in and do the things you love, you will meet very few people, but your friends will be more and more authentic. You got to allow ppl to come and go in your life. Most ppl are only acquaintances; they come and go. That's the way it works. "Loneliness" is a man - made emotion. Be aware it's only a label of society. Try to know "you." If you discover the authentic "you," you'll be setting an example (but not for popularity).

You're really bold. For me? Well, I like to strategize on how to prepare for emergencies / natural disasters as well as lifestyle minimization. I'm still trying to find the way through my life purpose. Looks like life purpose interconnects with everything else and you'll have a solid / stable path when you walk through it. You don't always have to be fully responsible and make decisions all the time. Your life purpose will be of major guidance and help you make / find decisions accordingly.