RickyFitts

Interesting, I'll have to try it out!

@Waken Love it, thanks for sharing

Yes, this is exactly right - it's like you're a moth to the flame, you know it'll be the end of you but you can't resist the pull of truth. If you truly want the truth, you will get the truth.

I think that's key, yeah Can be easier said than done, but it gets easier with practice.

@Gianna Ahh right, gotcha - I think I've heard that line of reasoning before, not sure I completely agree with it either but I can definitely understand the logic of it.

Wow, Esilda, amazing images Here's one that sprung to mind as I was reading your thread, I don't know why but I figure I'll share it anyway:

This has been my experience, too, when I've engaged in practices that bring attention into the body I've noticed that I'll have periods where I'm having vivid, often rather troubling and upsetting dreams, presumably as the result of the resurfacing of old traumas that had previously been buried in my subconscious. Not always a lot of fun to experience, but it's actually a positive sign that the practices you're engaged in are working.

Great idea, sounds like you've made a good start already I'm not sure I follow you here, why might desiring to be alone make you inauthentic?

@Ananta Oh yeah, another classic scene

@Preety_India Yeah, that sounds like a great suggestion - I'll give it a try, thanks again That makes a lot of sense to me!

@Preety_India You're a sweetheart, Preety, thank you - my real name's Daniel, by the way @Marcel So often how it goes, we have to reach rock bottom before things start to get better

@Preety_India Bless you, thanks @Marcel Really glad to hear it mate

Good stuff mate, you sound like you've got a good head on your shoulders - hope everything works out for you

Me personally? I don't, is the honest answer What you see 'out there' is a reflection of what's going on inside you, so anything that's unresolved within you - any anger, hatred, sorrow, despair, resentment, and whatever else weighs on your heart - is going to distort your perception. Conversely, when your heart is pure, the world will appear pure to you too. Just keep in mind that going to war with your inner demons only creates more inner conflict - you have to see the beauty in your own apparent ugliness (and we all have that, don't worry).

@Ananta Oh yeah, one of the best scenes in the film for sure! Oh man do I love Kevin Spacey in this film, he was born to play this role

@Marine A man after my own heart

@Marcel I remember a couple of years after I first started to awaken that I started to desire intimacy more and more, it was my heart's desire. And I got what I longed for, without even consciously looking for it - it just seemed to happen, certain people came into my life and I formed very strong, loving connections with them very quickly (things got very messy and painful thereafter, but that's another story - the phrase 'be careful what you wish for' comes to mind, but alas). The universe has a way of making these things happen sometimes, when the intent is there. I hope you find what you're looking for, my friend.

@catcat69123 Cheers bro, I'll give the guided meditation a go later Forgiveness is definitely a big part of it I reckon, I've found in my own experience that emotions like anger and resentment tend to harden the heart. Easier said than done, obviously, but I'm working on it! You're so right about the closed hearts - good luck opening yours too, man

Cat's out of the bag!

@Marcel Ah mate sorry to hear that, I suffered with feelings of intense loneliness a few years back and it felt unbearable at times, I really felt like I couldn't bear to be on my own. After a while I started to inquire into what exactly was so terrible about being on my own, and the truth was that I just felt like I couldn't bear to be alone with all the heartache I was feeling, I basically just wanted someone to kiss it all better. From that point on, I resolved to sit in meditation with my pain and just allow myself to feel it, and the feelings of loneliness dissipated after a while - along with the desire for a relationship, funnily enough.

Never heard of the guy, but I find it hard not to like someone who writes a book with a title like 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k'

It'll always have a special place in my heart, because it awakened me to the mysterious beauty that underlies all of life when I was in my early twenties and feeling rather lost in life. It touched me profoundly

This needs to happen

The phrase 'no shit, Sherlock' does rather spring to mind