Ananta

Here's my take, law of attraction doesn't work, never did, if it looks like you attracted something it's merely a coincidence or you worked for it. The relative you, you appear to be (ego/person), is a thought. The I-thought to be specific. You aren't even the thinker of the thoughts, let alone, be able to attract objects vibrationally with a thought, that you didn't "really" think. Yes, I know it "seems" as though you are the thinker...but your not, you are awareness, aware OF the thought and if attention is placed on thought it seems like it's "your" thought and that if you conjure up enough attention and place it on the thought- "winning the lottery", then it will come true. That's dreaming, wishing, praying, but not LOA, because you don't have power to alter the intellegent design of the universe, with its physical laws, with thought/thinking. You can however, motivate yourself with thought and visualization that will be beneficial for obtaining goals, but that's not LOA.

A forum I use to go on dried up after many, many years. So, came here, because this forum has a lot of activity, compared to others. Posting here is not really working out too well. Not liking it very much. I'm sure I'm as much to blame as anyone else.

Right. All along the point has been that Self knowledge (not realization), can be taught and "means of" literally means -"a system by which a result is brought about; a method." In this case, a method for Self-realization. So, it's a method of Self knowledge that removes igonorance in the mind, suffient enough to realize the Self and assimilate that knowledge. (I get you take self knowledge= Self realization, but that's not what I was saying in this thread) Just a bunch of mis-understanding through out this thread. I'm tired, im going to bed now.

@Saumaya "Vedanta is not a philosophy or a mystical path. It is a proven means of Self knowledge, compiled over thousands of years by countless Indian Seers that systematically reveals the irrefutable logic of the nature of reality to inquiring minds. It is “the knowledge that ends the quest for knowledge” and irrevocably removes ignorance of our true nature as whole and complete action less awareness. Once this knowledge is assimilated and the Self revealed to be yourself, existential suffering ends." ~James Swartz So, when I said Vedanta teaches Self-knowledge, this is what I meant.

I didnt!! I even said, "I say that as respectfully as possible". You misconstrued my intentions. It was entirely about the post and it's content. Ps, I don't like or dislike him, personally.

"If i mis-understood......" ...and I'm not convinced that I did.

Seriously? If i mis-understood what Faceless said or meant, then ok, my bad. But, hes not the one crying about it, you are, which I find .....strange.

Lol, yep.

@Saumaya GET OVER IT... hahaha!

@Saumaya Marcus posted Faceless path (below)...does it look like a teaching? Not to me. "* Spend time on you own, in solitude. Get to know yourself, and see that knowing yourself is equal to knowing God. * Interact with nature, animals and humans. Just interact with ordinary people, discuss life in an innocent and joyful creative way, and be equal with anyone, don't seek out for authority in others or in yourself"

I second that! As far as Nahm and stopping the rape, but he doesn't know why. ugh. I would stop it because it's adharmic behaviour that causes needless suffering to another human being, even if the apparent reality is ultimately unreal. It still exists "now", in the present moment.

@Saumaya The point was there IS a teaching and it's called Vedanta. It teaches Self-knowledge. If you apply, contemplate, understand the teaching you will Self-realize, that will lead to assimilation of Self (awareness), as you. Faceless was saying it couldn't be taught. I'm saying it can. That doesn't mean you will realize and assimilate, because that depends on your application, contemplation, etc. Just like you can be taught Algebra, but that doesn't mean you will be able to apply it. If you don't know anything about Vedanta, then perhaps you shouldn't comment further.

@Saumaya That wasn't my first post to him in this thread. Go back and look. The one you say we're are saying the same thing I used the word "obviously", to infer "agreement". You good now? Also, people can alter posts using the edit button, so that's possible too.

What is your malfunction? Lol. I only responded when he said you couldn't teaching Self-knowledge. Now your butting in with your 2 cents, as if I attacked him.

@Faceless I'm convince you'd prefer peeps to go off in a cave with no teaching what-so-ever. That's not gonna work in this day and age.

"Mugging up"....bahahahahaha

Obviously the teaching has to be understood and contemplated.

Self-knowledge is exactly what Advaita Vedanta teachers teach. You don't know what youre talking about and I say that as respectfully as possible.

Thank you! Thats right. It should not and frankly can not be killed. It's just a thought. How do we kill a thought? It's the I-thought, but it's a different kind of thought, in that it thinks, it's a real seperate entity. Once the understanding that "I" am awareness and not the ego, is firm in the intellect , that's when the ego (I- thought) also realizes that although it "apparently" exists (it's just the I-thought), it's actually unreal (dream/illusion), ....but it doesn't "die", its needed to function in this "apparent" world. Actually, I hate talking about ego, because of all the misunderstandings revolved around it. The closest the mind/intellect can do is infer regarding the reflection of pure awareness in the sattvic mind. That's why it registers as the thought of limitlessness, even though the ego claims it as an experience when it comes back. However, this is unmistakable or it is for me. There is no doubt, that that is what I am. If it's belief? Then, so be it, but as you've said before all the ancient texts support this, as it's revealed wisdom/Self-knowledge that is thousands of years old.

Yes, It's called a sattvic (still/calm) mind. Awareness can "reflect" within a sattvic mind and the intellect will register a thought of limitlessness and recognize that pure awareness, itself, is the formless fundamental reality of all forms, including the mind itself. This is what they call Self-realization. Which is different from assimilation of the Self (capital S), that's another topic.

Basically, it means awareness. It's the intellects inferred description, if you will, of the indescribable. Anyway, then BE reality. That's the point. Have you had any spiritual epiphanies yet? If so, have you gained self-knowledge from the experience? Self- knowledge can be gained without an epiphany though, by using a teaching, such as Vedanta. The self-knowledge I'm referring to is that you are actually awareness (or nothingness), not the apparent person you have thought you were and what that means.

Bingo! However, once you fully realize you are not the "action figure" you appear to be and know yourself as limitless, conscious, existence and assimilate that knowledge, then your preferences and desires aren't as strong and then you can either do them, not do them or do something all together different. You are no longer bound by "binding" vasanas.

This reminds me of the saying- "At the first level on the path he saw mountains as mountains and rivers as rivers. On the second level of the path he saw that mountains are not mountains and rivers are not rivers. And at a third level he saw once again mountains were mountains and rivers were rivers."

@Laymen Just off the top of my head, Id say, if consciousness happens within the brain, then what would be the fundamental reality of the brain (body)?

Omg, I laughed so hard when I read this...