Jacobsrw

@Inliytened1That’s definitely one side of it. The other is that pure being takes the form of a mystical state through the process of initiation then shifts into the normality of life once embodied. The duality first converges then re-merges once one becomes permanently awakened. @tedens indeed, I am told. I am confident that would be the case. However, I would say that meditation is an incubative tool to maintain ”beingness” opposed to a mystical entry into a temporary state.

@Forrest Adkins meditation is far from useless. It’s the most accessibly simple tool that enters you into pure being without the use of hardcore interventions. @DoubleYou said it perfectly. Meditation is “being” in its uncultured simplicity. It is in that it is so simple that it’s importance becomes overlooked. Psychedelics on the other hand, force you into being through mystical states. Their power in doing so may be unmatched but the complicated nature that comes through them is what makes them harder to integrate. Unfortunately, meditation is so poorly considered in the modern day that it becomes perceptively depreciated. It’s usually considered as far as being a frivolous feel-good stimulus, which in turn undermines its true purpose. It’s purpose is alignment to “being” without all the decorations. The power in its practice really comes down to the investment in your action.

@Sizeable OofTo say something is bad is to undermine the good, to say something is good is to undermine the bad. I feel you completely misunderstood what was said in the video. From what I gathered, Leo was speaking in reference to the absolute, where morality is a complete fiction - relative to humans. Something is only bad relative to whom it threats, and good relative to who it nourishes. So, in other words labelling good and bad is complete contradictory and dependent on how it is pontificated. Also notice, being annoyed at another is ones own morality attempting to impinge on someone else’s.

Having not posted on here for a while, I thought I would take the time to start a meaningful thread. I’ve noticed a far majority of what’s discussed here emulates the topic of suffering - of course that’s to be expected in exploring the mechanics of self. However, I see it also conducive discussing some of the progress people have each made and the things they have noticed to be working in their journey of actualisation. A positivist approach, you may call it. I would deem it more a constructivist way to asses pros and cons of growth. Just for a moment anyhow. So what are some of your methodologies and self explorations that seem to be serving real value? Or what appears to be the nature of your success to which progression has began unfolding? Would love to hear others stories and progress

Butterfly effect, Inception and Black mirror: bandersnatch.

@electroBeam haha well unfortunately the one who becomes so fearful of paranoia becomes the most paranoid. That’s why we are best to admit being crazy to begin with. Not to mention that is already the inherent default position of the human condition ?

@Maarten your comment seems to be reflecting the very thing you are trying to avoid.

@electroBeam This is actually a great way to consider modern culture. It’s something I often think about myself. People in developed countries often unknowingly uphold the religion of materialism. The premise that all physical pleasures can be acquired through either material or conceptual acquisition. Image, status, objects, success, relationship, money etc. - essentially anything that maintains the notion of being a finite being. The notion that there is a thing such as physical pleasure is its self a part of the very same materialistic belief being upheld. In this light people who live in this way are no different to the individual who prays in a temple to acquire the solace from religiosity.

Awesome thread @pluto Here are some snaps I took a while ago in some beautiful mountain areas in Queensland, Australia.

Wow this discussion took an unexpected turn. Let’s try and share these ideas with the greatest respect to each other’s opinions. @Shaun this is so ironic you brought that up. I previously thought this too until I heard Rupert speak in depth on the relationship between consciousness and self. Much like Leo, he explains consciousness as a spacious field that experiences itself through different avenues. Stating that in order for consciousness to experience itself it must fragment itself into a multiplicity of finite perceptions that experience consciousness in their own unique way -this is the self. This is similar to Leo’s explanation as he explains consciousness as a giant mind that experiences itself through taking the form of one of its probes. In other words, consciousness experiences itself through the separateness - the self. Further, they both seem to explain consciousness as imaginary in the context of self, it’s realness is only apparent relative to context of duality. Not to mention I actually initially intuited Rupert and Leo to be competitively different until viewing a substantial amount of their content. The reason I’ve mentioned all this is not to try and make Leo and Rupert equivalent in their teachings, but rather in that they are both pointing to the very same thing in slightly different ways. So my point in sharing this post was not to impart debate, but rather deeper realisation of the essence of what lies common across each persons teachings.

@TheAlchemist sounds interesting I may have to have a listen. Thank you for sharing. @traveler could not agree more. Direct experience is much more informative. I feel like I’m getting to a point where all the words and language are just becoming a distraction and I feel a longing need for a break from it all very soon. The mind is a deceptive construct to the point it will maintain being transfixed by what fascinates it rather than what lies beyond and coincidentally, that’s what threatens it. I try to do my best taking each speakers words delicately and be sure to confirm it myself before just merely believing it. Thank you for sharing.

@fi1ghtclub 100%. He is one of a kind on the topic of consciousness. I feel that interrelating the explanations of different speakers allows you to more deeply appreciate the depth of what each one has individually espoused. Enabling a more full and sophisticated understanding. Multidimensional gap filling so to speak.

@enderx7 I like this a lot nice description too. I feel for me I tweak it just slightly, using the ‘love’ to project to the situation rather than myself. Just so the judgement of the situation can be fully dissolved and substituted. I would then attempt directing it to myself. Whenever I find my self in situation of struggle, tension or resistance. I do the observe and let go. I use acceptance for the letting go. I observe my current bodily tensions and let them go, then focus on letting go of the conceptual mental constructs that surround them.

A realisation that struct me today. More deeply than just the thought of it. It was an experiential realisation. Here is how it unfolded. Death is conceptualised as the ending of “some-thing”, that thing being human life. When in fear of death it invariably equates to fearing “no-thing-ness” which is synonymous with emptiness. All fear essentially leads to fear of emptiness, nothingness or death. It must, as it is great depth of all fear. The thing one cherished or only knows then vanishing, is the immutable fear. The unknown is feared as it entails stepping into something inconceivable and comprehensible to present experience. The very fact death entails not knowing is the fundamental fear itself. The fabrication of our everyday life is the utilitythrough which we use to distract ourselves from the inevitability of death. This is my most recent realisation that has really had me deeply look at how our decisions are structured and how we interact with life. It seems to me, our relationship with this fear determines the fundamental quality of ones life. Contemplating death had been a regular exercise of mine and this realisation has just urged it that little further. Hope this provides some value to others!

Failure is something I typically deal very well with at a high capacity. However, ordinarily, today in a statistics psychology class I felt a strong urge of self defeat after coming to incorrect answers for simple questions. I have never been one to be very skilled at arithmetic. Though, the sensation I felt throughout the class was very demoralising. More so than bigger life changes or adverse situations. It would seem this plummeted feeling of failure has just dragged along with me since my history of maths as a child. Its not so much the maths that bothers me, as funnily enough I enjoy statistics. It’s more my instinctual reactive response to the situations involving it. Some inherent fear seems to be pervading my psyche that seems beyond my awareness at this stage. Humbly, I feel I have developed enormously after starting, reflection, meditation, writing, cold showers and contemplation over the years. Yet there still remains some fundamental deep issues to attend to. A faculty of the unconscious that requires deeper exploring. Self enquiry is something I have been attempting to do now and then yet seem to lack any progress in it so far. Any feedback or insight in similar experiences would be greatly appreciated!

@Nahm Haha this is gold. The great paradox one could call it. I appreciate your input.

@SoonHei It seems you are trying to answer your own contemplation with contemplation rather than observation.

@zeroISinfinity haha it’s all in good sharing and discussion regardless of first enteree ? @Nahm interesting narrative. I find it deeply thought provoking. However, I think you may have taken some of my statements too literately rather than figuratively. I cannot figure whether this method of message is for patronising purposes toward the ego or whether they are for deep contemplation. A formal response may have been more conducive. Thank you for your response though, it is much appreciated ?

@Nahm this I would agree with. However, I am not enlightened at this moment and may never be haha. However, I have made huge leaps in consciousness and conceptually understand all these concepts you speak of. It’s just the understanding of the psyche has not yet penetrated the physicality of my very being. This incessant human condition which we all seem to be conditioned by seems to be inherently programmed within us. So psychedelics do seem viable at this point for small discrepancies of this sort. Even though they are not necessary and I have a quite healthy and self aware lifestyle. The could be conducive to the subconscious mind. What are people’s experiences of self enquiry? I believe in it though I have yet to have much traction.

@seeking_brilliance yes to some degree. There is an increase in body temperature and tension. @WelcometoReality I would say these dichotomies are human constructions that have no real substance to them at all. However, since we have created them and become the creator that has deceived itself, it has is now a serious problem. Ie. morality, fear, love/hate, prejudice etc. Basically the human condition. So now there needs to be a purifying process it would seem. For my example I would say it is quite possibly a self deception to which I require deconstructing. It just seems to be in an area the conscious mind does not want to go. I agree and have felt the same. I feel more introspection and reflection is required in this matter. Hence why I wanted to do psychedelic makeup to penetrate the subconscious.

@Neorez I don’t believe it would have a dangerous affect unless you were sharmanic breathing, which I was only doing controlled in an exhalations. @SunnyNewDay they have to become a full body experience to gain benefit I found. A full embodiment. Yes I am interested in trying saunas to be honest.

Hey everyone, So I thought it may be of some benefit to share my recent 3 month experience of taking cold showers everyday. This I did in winter and had fully cold throughout the entire duration of the shower. I have currently stopped them for a few weeks and plan on recommencing them very soon. Here are some of the things that came from my recent experience of cold showers: Heightened Sense of Body Awareness and Surrounding Awareness- As the senses become hyper engaged taking a cold shower, I noticed it further influenced this throughout my daily experiences. I was able to be more in touch with the physical sensations and activity of the body. Increased Awareness and Sense of Being- cold showers revealed to me how much mindless activity occurs within. It ripped me out of the circularity of my minds incessancy and positioned me into a more conscious and observant state. I was able to more easily detach from thoughts and concepts. Elevation of Intuition- A great deal of intuitive intelligence seemed to pervade my experiences when taking cold showers. I would experience things beyond my thoughts and bind with indescribable senses. Powerful insights came with ease and without the need for thinking. I had a more fluid approach to my days yet this fluidity had within it great stability. Developed Stoicism and Tolerance- I became more equipped with the ability to become impartial to external adversities that occur in my experiences. I noticed I was able to simultaneously seperate from my situations occurring around me yet have them more self conducted. I felt less controlled by situations yet more control while immersed within them. Solidified Habits- Cold showers also seemed to create stable activity. It influenced the permutation of more positive daily habits. I found myself more capable of doing other powerful habits throughout the day as it Laura the prior foundation. Kept me in check and assisted my focus. These are just some of the benefits a had from having cold showers. They are truly powerful if you fully engage with them experientially. Do breathing exercises and just feel into the full intensity of the sensations while having them. I had a morning routine of meditating and journaling after cold showers so this also enhanced results. I highly recommend this habit and implore people to apply it to see what growth can be had.

@Aaron p Interesting elaboration. Question is: is a human unique to physical properties? Or is being human a conception of mind that holds no ground to begin with?

Hey everyone, I thought it could be of practical use to start a thread that contained a collection of deeply existentially profound questions. I think this could serve as a dynamic benefit as each person articulates a very unique way of asking questions. It could help create a nice synergised approach for further exploration. So, what are some questions you see as existentially profound? Here are a few of mine for example: What does it mean to be a human? And what things constitute this? What is the way in which you exercise consciousness uniquely? How can you strive to enhance the totality of your life? What does it mean to be an individual and part of a collective? What are the fundamentals of unity?

@nistake Thats great! They are kind of like a introspective energy field. In this, it depends on how you position your self in doing them for what you will attain from them. I found they were quite basic at beginning but then I started to contemplate and do deep observation in the shower and profound things began to emerge. Much like psychedelics preparation and intention is important there is much growth that can be had it is all how you approach the experience. Try introducing some contemplative, breathing and observation exercises when taking cold showers you may be able to attain more from them.