Phocus

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Posts posted by Phocus

  5. Posted

    7 hours ago, Haumea said:

    You're not going to die.

    This is a test of your gullibility.

    Do you fall for image and charisma or can you recognize truth?

    In a recent video of Leo’s he mentions this.  I don’t recall what vid or his exact words but he says something to the effect

    “if you were the ego trying to hide the greatest treasure, what door would you put it behind that no one would ever go behind?  Physical death.”

    an that you have to 

    “trick the ego into killing itself.  If you understood what it truly meant, you would never do it.  But, you tell it about all the great things you’ll get along the way and eventually after the years, you’re almost there so you might as well go through with it.”

    He’s also described there being many levels of enlightenment and that it is a pursuit with an unbelievable amount of depth.  It’s not, “ok, I’m enlightened, my work’s done”

    In the self deception videos, Leo also talks about the need to be physically alive as one of the foundational deceptions.

    So what is true vs what do you want to be true?  Wtf do any of us ACTUALLY know about enlightenment?  These are all just beliefs.

  8. Posted · Edited by Phocus

    I was inspired by Leo’s commitment to his spiritual journey to participate in a 30 day challenge of my own.  On May 1st, and every day since, I have been studying and practicing yoga.

    What are all of you doing to break your routine and produce results towards your inner and outer goals during this time?

     

    I have been doing stretching to properly  attain yogic poses, reading books about the premise and history of these traditions and their application and performing the techniques.

     

    Day 1: after several hours of reading and basic practices I settled into a session of practicing the techniques.  My lower body is very tight and I was not able to properly sit in the recommended poses.  After some time fighting the positions I returned to a chair so that I could concentrate on the techniques.  During my 2nd technique I felt as though the world disappeared.  I felt a strong spinning sensation in a slowly moving plane.  This was extremely exciting but I tried my best to maintain my concentration but I just couldn’t stay focused.  I noticed it starting to fade so I focused back on my breath and discovered I could control it with the depth of my breathing.  Before long my time was over and I retreated to bed.

    Day 2: I spent more time reading and learned another technique.  I am up to 3 now.  I started with trying different poses and I noticed a remarkable improvement in my  flexibility.  I could actually achieve one of the poses but it required some strain to maintain it so I decided to go back to the chair after another round of stretching.  I did not have the dramatic experience I did last time, but I was fine with that.  My focus was on a different technique.  It was a pleasant experience and I am looking forward to being able to hold the proper poses.

    Day 3: Before bed I’d experienced some negative emotions during a conversation and I observed that I had a desire to sabatoge my practice, citing the negative as justification.  I didn’t attempt any new techniques, but this was a great opportunity to experience that there is no reason not to practice yoga.  It doesn’t “cost” anything.  It restores more energy than it requires.  It creates more stillness than it requires.  After warming up my hips, knees and ankles I was finally able to meditate briefly in a half lotus.  My right side is a bit tighter than my left.  I believe the physiological reason for this is a particular way I’ve always sat on the ground, leaning to one side.  After stretching and a few minutes of meditation I performed the techniques seated again.

  11. Posted

    @Memeito I would tend to think not.  In general, most fantastical claims are rather easy to prove, and never are, for simple reasons.  As such, the James Randi Educational Fund was founded with its "One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge".

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Randi_Educational_Foundation

    That being said, i wouldn't put too much energy into researching breatharianism, telepathy, "faith healing", mind reading, future telling, ect.. other than for entertainment purposes :)

  13. Posted

    I.  Hate.  Bad Advice.

    If you've been involved with personal development for a while then you've seen it.  Bad advice is everywhere.  Some of it is intentional but the vast majority of it is not.

    Observing someone giving, or being given, bad advice just "bothers" me.  How do you deal with it?

  14. Posted

    "Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it." -Eckhart Tolle

    I find that I get more value from Phocusing on one particular quote and understanding it deeply.  I apply it to as many situations as I can; almost as a personal mantra.

    Reading too many overwhelms my subconscious and, though it does make me feel good for a few minutes after reading them, I don't get any lasting benefit.

  17. Posted

    So if life was a video game, as you suggest, then playing video games (in real life) would be the equivalent of playing a mini game within the game.  Now, while you're playing a mini game IN a game, how much progress are you making on completing the game's main storyline?

    One of Leo's earlier life purposes was actually related to video games; so he was very passionate about them for a while.

    Using video games as a medium to teach, tell stories ect.. is very different from playing video games though.

    Hope this helps.

    Edit: Also, please refrain from bumping posts less than 24 hours old :)

  18. Posted

    @Mondsee

    You're making a little bit of an assumption by saying that "exercise is painful" so lets get a bit more specific: changing the fitness level that you're currently accustomed to, is painful.

    Homeostasis.  All of our bodies natural systems tend to prefer to stay right where they are, even if "where you are" is a very unhealthy place.

    In the context of a harsh cruel world where survival is not guaranteed; food, water, shelter, are not guaranteed; this was a valuable trait that helped us keep from getting too curious and winding up as something's lunch.  In the context of a world where all of our essential needs are provided for us (and even if you can't provide for yourself, someone else usually will if you just ask) this seems more like a crippling mental illness.

  21. Posted

    31 minutes ago, Peace and Love said:

    @Babybat

    @Phocus

    Damn...this is not good...lol.....assumption is the mother of all evil.  It definitely fits into the stereotype that after you're 20's you're most likely married or in a committed relationship. 

    Lets take that as a fact.  "Assumption is the mother of all evil."  How are you using assumption to your benefit or to your detriment?

    Is there anything more powerful than an assumption in shaping ones opinion?

    Edit: Maybe thats too deep, haha.  If so try "what are you goals in this area of your life?" :)

  23. Posted

    1) Yes, that is very common.  I think it stems from how we evolved socially but regardless, when you perceive something to be very valuable, you don't perform at your best.

    2) You can facilitate an approach by putting yourself in a position for natural interactions to occur (if you're trying to meet someone new).  Or you can just initiate a conversation with them and sidestep this all together.  It's very easy to do if you're willing... just ask a question or opinion (hey, do you know of any good xyz in the area?  Can i get your opinion on this situation i am in?).  If its someone that you're around regularly (like a coworker or something) then just have more casual interactions and eventually they will get desensitized to your hotness :)

    Also, the law of state transference comes into play here as well which is: Other people will feel whatever you are feeling.  If they are bombing and you feel awkward, they will feel even more awkward than they already do.  Communicate with your energy that its no big deal.  It's ok.  Whatever it is that's going on.  Your energy of "its ok" has to be stronger than their energy of "omg i cant believe i am talking to this hot chick and making a fool of myself".  It will help him to relax.

    Does that make sense?

  25. Posted

    15 hours ago, Neill said:

    for some reason people have grown to usually vastly overestimate the importance of protein in our diets. protein is part of almost every plant-based food in existence, and on a balanced, plant-based diet, it's almost impossible not to get enough daily protein regardless of exactly what you eat.

    Why wouldn't people believe that if hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested into educating people that this is the case?

    @JevinR Same as everyone has said above: beans, nuts, lentils, oats, ect.. but its not actually as important as you think it is.  For the purposes of building muscle (which is usually what people care about when discussing protein) what's more important is getting enough calories to go with your workouts.