Ananta

Hi, Lots of questions! Not that I mind *" So you're new to Actualized: what brought you here? " Luck of the internet draw I guess. The Tolle forum has slowed down since I started there in 2010 and I was looking for somewhere else to post, as well as there. Most sites that I found and went on were either not active at all or barely. So before you ask, no, I dont know anything about Leo and I am not looking for a Guru or someone to follow. *"What are you hoping for, what do you expect? " I've been on a forum long enough to know not to have too many expectations really. Whats hard is to be a newbie, but not much one can do about that. I am looking for a more active site with challenging questions I suppose. *"What do you think would challenge you?" That's the thing maybe, I've been on the Tolle site so long that no one challenges me, at least not often. So, at this point I'm not sure? I like to answer questions though. If I feel compelled to. *"I'd be very pleased to hear about your first awakening - or subsequents" Well, they were time bound Self realizations, therefore experiences. They come and go. The kinds where you have to pick your jaw up from the floor. No mind-full stop. Then, the mind comes back to say "what in the helllll was that!" And tries to make sense of it all. They don't happen anymore (not for a year now at leadt) and I'm currentry in the assimilation phase of the Self knowledge that's been gained or you could say the loss of Self ignorance. But I'm not saying I'm done, there's more work to be done. *"and of very course I'd be interested in hearing about your perspectives on your self" Anna, is an "apparent" person, mithya/illusion. She exists, because she can be experienced, but ultimately she is not real. The definition of "real" being unchanging, always present. I'm awareness/consciousness, even when I slip and forget this, it doesn't make it any less true and it doesn't last very long. So, my default setting, if you will, is of myself as awareness, my true nature. As far as my "worldy" life, I'm 46 and work as an RN home care coordinator at a hospital. Been a jack of all trades, as I have my EMT and cosmetology licenses also. How about you? How long have you been on this forum? Do you follow what Leo prescribes/teaches? Have you had any awakening moments/epiphanies? And what is your perspective on yourself? What do you do?

Hi, I'm new here, but not to the spritual scene, so to speak. Started with Eckhart Tolle's books in 2009 and have been on Eckhart Tolle discussion forum since 2010. There I came across various teachings. Ive read "I AM that" and other books by Nisargadatta, Ramana, Adyashanti and others. Watched countless hours of various teachers on Youtube. I had my first "awakening" in 2011 I believe, then others since. My understanding now has grown and blossomed. I have now studied traditional Vedanta for the past year, which cleared up any confusion as to whether or not I'm truly "the Self" (awareness).