UnbornTao

banana

May be offering some valid points under a bunch of rhetoric but sounds like a good charlatan. Careful with all the fantasizing going on in spiritual circles. It's best to ground these matters on science, not on cosmologies.

Tell the truth.

That may be true, however creating one is very useful and empowering. Without a conscious life purpose, a lot of mischief can happen as pleasure and pain dictate our lives. The saying, Idle hands do the devil's work, is apt here. Watch The Trap of The Toxic Life Purpose.

What specifically makes you say that? Have you actually looked into his work? He might be partial to plant-based, whole foods diet, however that doesn't invalidate the research backing up such lifestyle choice. To me he also tries to present accurate info and studies about what he's claiming. In any case I find his work very useful and inspiring. I find nutrition to be a fascinating research subject. I figured you didn't receive the notification as it was later edited to include what you said.

Could be fun.

Clarify what you want out of life - create a deliberate purpose for encompassing certain activities aligned to it Commit to it Develop a vision of the necessary steps required to accomplish the results you want. Create an image of what you want in your physical environment, relationships, career, depending on the purpose

Sounds like you might be operating from the assumption that purpose is found, and this may be what is causing your suffering in the first place. A way to solve this dilemma is to question what purpose is. Is purpose found in objective reality in the same way that you find a grey stone or a tree in the forest? Where is purpose found? Purpose is the reason why an action or course of action is undertaken. Make it up! Why am I doing the dishes? Simply, to get them clean, or to practice mindfulness, say. Purpose is generated by you, not by external factors! This is a reason to be hopeful. It also means that you must take responsibility and face the openness necessary to create purpose for yourself out of nothing. Expecting purpose to "arrive" by itself at some point is based on flawed presumptions. Now, people think that, since purpose is something that they make up, that it therefore isn't the "real deal". This is mistaken. Either they're creating superficially, merely in an intellectual fashion, or they're still missing the nature of purpose. Here we're looking to generate purpose intentionally, whereas before it had been done unconsciously. In short, clarify what you want and construct a conscious purpose for your life. Ask yourself: Am I willing to commit to whatever purpose I set up for myself? What do I want to master and devote my life to? To me, What is worthwhile doing?

nice.

"When Dr. Michael Greger, founder of NutritionFacts.org, dove into the top peer-reviewed anti-aging medical research, he realized that diet could regulate every one of the most promising strategies for combating the effects of aging. We don’t need Big Pharma to keep us feeling young―we already have the tools. In How Not to Age, the internationally renowned physician and nutritionist breaks down the science of aging and chronic illness and explains how to help avoid the diseases most commonly encountered in our journeys through life. Physicians have long treated aging as a malady, but getting older does not have to mean getting sicker. There are eleven pathways for aging in our bodies’ cells and we can disrupt each of them. Processes like autophagy, the upcycling of unusable junk, can be boosted with spermidine, a compound found in tempeh, mushrooms, and wheat germ. Senescent “zombie” cells that spew inflammation and are linked to many age-related diseases may be cleared in part with quercetin-rich foods like onions, apples, and kale. And we can combat effects of aging without breaking the bank. Why spend a small fortune on vitamin C and nicotinamide facial serums when you can make your own for up to 2,000 times cheaper? Inspired by the dietary and lifestyle patterns of centenarians and residents of “blue zone” regions where people live the longest, Dr. Greger presents simple, accessible, and evidence-based methods to preserve the body functions that keep you feeling youthful, both physically and mentally. Brimming with expertise and actionable takeaways, How Not to Age lays out practical strategies for achieving ultimate longevity." --- Let's make our conclusions after we've read the book. What specifically makes you say that? Have you actually looked into his work? He might be partial to plant-based, whole foods diet, however that doesn't invalidate the research backing up such lifestyle choice. To me he also tries to present accurate info and studies about what he's claiming. In any case I find his work very useful and inspiring. I find nutrition to be a fascinating research subject.

@Sidra khan the book is releasing on December 5th.

Nothing external will do it. You need to get to know yourself as a character and personality. What makes you tick? Find that out and get clear on that. Explore and experiment. After trying out stuff, stick with what you like. Purpose isn't found but created. Start the process of discovering/ creating your life purpose by doing research. About the issue of motivation: you can act without feeling motivated. No need for that. Start by adopting empowering attitudes and dispositions instead of waiting around for inspiration to strike. Consider that everyone takes a shower, goes to work, etc. everyday regardless of how they feel. It's about doing it, not about being motivated or not. Again, this is something you must do, no one else will do it for you.

James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Change your disposition. If you approach skill-building as a learning process, as something you like to do, it becomes easier to do. You're focusing on the result instead of on the whole process.

Okay. In any case I'd be very careful about making claims of being X% enlightened. It's likely that you're fooling yourself, even after genuine enlightenment experiences it can be possible. Keep up the good work.

I know the theory. People confuse fluency in a "spiritual" language with having had the experienced that led to the creation of the words in the first place. You could have become conscious of something but it's also clear there's a lot of fantastical thinking in your reply. You're coming from belief systems and are confusing intellectual understanding with direct consciousness. There is "work" as in sustained contemplation as "enlightenment" is unlikely to fall on your ass without your conscious intention and questioning. Awareness is a function of mind whereas consciousness is prior to and the basis of, both. It might be the simplest thing and yet we're ignorant of it. So let's open up, be honest and keep contemplating.

It's enough to become conscious, as that is called an enlightenment. From what I've heard, they can vary in "degrees", but a shallow enlightenment is still an enlightenment. Usually one becomes conscious partially, and not completely, say, about who you are. This doesn't mean you're conscious of the nature of now, space, what you are, existence, and "other absolutes". This may be paradoxical. In other words, realizing who and what you are means you're clear on what those are but confusion and ignorance can still be present since there's more stuff to become conscious of -- now, space, etc., which are also "absolute". It's entertaining to speculate and have these debates, but we're talking out of our ass. Until we ourselves grasp everything, there's more work to do.

Nah, virtually nobody is okay with it. Ramana Maharshi was, though. Not minding death is extremely rare and would require being deeply conscious of what you are.

sorry for the late reply, I was joking.

Contemplate. Ask questions. Wonder about it.

Becoming deeply conscious of an absolute aspect of existence, such as you, Now, and space.

Can't transcend what you're not conscious of. Start with that.

Moneyyy!

You seem to hold yourself as the effect of your drive and so unable to be held accountable for it. You think that it overpowers you, and that you have no control nor responsibility in the matter. This isn't true. Consider that adult humans are by nature sex-craving apes. And yet individuals in our culture mostly control their drive, either by masturbating, engaging in healthy sex, exercising, channeling their attention and energy on a life purpose, being entertained, etc. And again, be more honest and rigorous with yourself: do you really love women, or do you love the fact that they can potentially provide you with sex? I don't think you're afraid of being overwhelmed by love. Just stop overthinking and relax. I think that when someone is horny and needy, he should get his needs met in a healthy, conscious way. Watch Leo's episode called Burning Through Your Karma. That may help.