Ziran

There's more than one way to cultivate. Intellectual cultivation is narrow. Emotional cultivation is broad. However, there's many opportunities within intellectual pursuits if one is not overly reliant on being rewarded.

"Completion" is counter intuitive when the scope is literally infinite. A permanent state of completion in this case would be consistently including forever and ever and always.

"... like I'm really confronted by it ... " in contrast: " ... just being in the moment with zero or so low distractions ... " What you're describing sounds like a "psychological ambush". It's not something to transcend. First, the settled state needs to be superimposed on the agitated state. Like layers of tissue paper. It softens the metaphorical "ambush". Then I advise walking meditations which are fine tuned specifically to deconstruct the triggers which produce the agitation.

thank you, i'll do that.

What I meant is, there's one and only one [ correct intellectual conception ] which includes them all. Hopefully I haven't misunderstood? The "peak experience" or stable realization you referred to can be described, maybe, as a non-dual inclusion of these states within one's awareness? If so, there can be one and only one complete non-dual realization which includes them all. It makes sense that only a rare few would possess an intellect capable of apprehending such a realization, even for an single moment.

Hello Davino, it's nice to meet you. Thank you for the thought provoking topic. Yes, because there's only one correct intellectual conception of the "highest states of consciousness", reaching these states requires significant intellectual resources and effort and/or just dumb luck. It's a good reminder.

... a bold assertion.

In the causal chain above, as written? I agree there's nothing wrong with the arousal. That's a bit different, but, in general it's modal logic. In particular, if harm is caused, the perpetrator of "what shouldn't have happened, but unfortunately did" would be liable for negligence.

Lacking informed consent, seduction is lying by omission. Lying, without just cause, is objectively wrong.

Lacking informed consent? Yes.

Redemption is stronger than perfection because on the rebound inertia is working in favor of the redeemed.

It's not delusional. It's like dancing with two different partners. You'll get it sorted.

This is how I break it out: Matter and spirit exist in contradistinction to each other. Matter exists in a specific place and breaks down over time. Spirit is omnipresent and eternal. A spiritual practice engages with aspects of reality which are omnipresent and eternal. In each of the examples above, whether or not the practice is spiritual is a function of whether or the not the individual is engaging with the eternal and/or omnipresent. Meditation, in my observations, most often intend to cultivate an awareness of either the infinite spark within ( aka soul or God-consciousness ) or some form of awareness of the nearly infinite negations without ( aka neti-neti or chaos-and-void ). Both the infinite spark and the collection of nearly infinite negations are omnipresent and eternal. Contemplation, as I understand it, is becoming aware of specific types of insights and associations which develop from "one-to-many" relationships. Each new revelation produces many more unanswered questions. As the individual contemplates, level to level, their awareness expands to include more and more at a geometric rate. The rapid inclusion approaches a sensation which the mind interprets as infinite. Then this accurate conception is like a spring-board for the mind. While it, the mind, is "springing", for lack of better words, it is engaging with a medium which is omnipresent and eternal. Many describe this medium as a field of infinite light or perfect resonance. Exploring diverse perspectives = Experiencing diversity It's the same underlying mechanism as contemplation, but, more accessible if the aspirant pushes beyond their comfort zone in the right ways and at the right times. Intellectual contemplation requires accurate conceptions in the mind. This accuracy is not easy for some, and requires an education or access to reliable resources. Exploration develops insights and associations which are often "one-to-many", but the awareness that expands is in the metaphorical heart not the mind. Because exploration, as a spiritual practice, is heart-work, is cultivating an understanding within the emotional construct, and emotions are always accurate and true, it's much easier for most to progress personally through exploration rather than contemplation. This one sounds like a bit of a stretch to me. Going out and doing activities alone can be a spiritual practice. It can also be superficial vain temporal nonsense. Maybe ask yourself? When does solitary activity feel like a spiritual practice. Let your own heart and mind guide you. Cultivate a sensitivity to your own spirit. What makes your heart go pitter-pat? What makes your mind swoon in awe of it all? Love is the quintessential and most often used example of a spiritual aspect of reality. Does it break down over time? Or does absence make the heart grow fonder? Anything which regularly engages with love can be developed into a spiritual practice. Prayer, when it's honest, includes elements of all three, contemplation, meditation, and love.

They're both true in their own ways. In general, the spiritual model includes more within its schema; so in a manner of speaking, one could argue that the spiritual perspective in more true. On the other hand, the evolutionary model could be considered more true ( accurate ) because it excludes error-prone subjective judgements via the scientific method.

Almost everything that exists, here and now, in the material world, can be condidered as body-and-spirit, as vessels-of-light. "Mundane" objects and experiences are flickering with opportunities. Cultivating optimism helps with this. Best wishes,

Reading text written by others permits others to make impressions on the mind. Lacking foreknowledge, the author of the above text is granted control over the mind.

The realization of Truth is wholly independent of presence or lack of Truth with one and only one exception. The realization of Truth solely depends on the awareness of Truth within oneself.

Yes. Lacking your direct experiences it's impossible to truly grasp it. Empathy and compassion are a medium through which caring thoughtful individuals can relate to what you've written. The "relating" in the heart and mind is a layer of abstraction bridging the gap between knowing and understanding.

Within is a curious word. Both "with" and "in", "within" is a mating correspondence like petals blossoming from a bud or hand in glove. Because of this, to me, "The source is within" expresses a specific sort of correspondence between the outer manifestation and its inner seed or root. The macro outer shell corresponds with the micro inner source like a hand in a glove. One can see this motif reflected in the art chosen for the message. The smaller inner bright star and constellation, the source within the individual, corresponds and is connected to the larger bright star and constellation beyond.

"... when becomes one ..." " ... when expectations end ... " "... the moment of true living ... " you're describing love in the form of integration?

Good question. If god is infinite then god necessarily possesses human attributes. If god wants to be known, then it makes sense to reveal itself using these human attributes.

Thank you. For sure. Lacking intelligence is ignorance. For me, speaking only for myself, connection beyond myself requires strict agnostism: "I can't possibly know it."

My vote: The difference between intelligence and consciousness is like the difference between "can" and "should". An intelligent individual accurately considers, "Can it be done?". A conscious soul instead considers, "Should it be done?" "Can it be done?" is a simple matter of fact. in the same way, "intelligence" is a matter of fact. "Should it be done?" is much more complex. Answering accurately requires awareness of the consequences on others and oneself. In the same way, "consciousness" is a confluence of self awareness and connection with others beyond oneself. I hope this helps,