RickyFitts

Brilliant!

Christ, there's a head-fuck right there

That was about as subtle as a sledgehammer Still almost went over my head, I was sat there thinking, 'What the fuck has using bladderwrack - bladderwhat? - got to do with wanting a woman with a good personality?'

@Gianna Completely agree I've come to think that music is one of humanity's greatest achievements, the way it can speak to your soul just blows me away. Wow, that's beautiful

I think that's largely because we humans tend to be so lost in our thoughts, we're very mind-centred beings - and that concentrates focus in the head (more specifically in the third eye area, or at least that's how I experience it). I know that for me personally, a big part of my spiritual growth has involved shifting attention into my body, and particularly into my heart; intellectually wrestling with the concept of non-duality didn't really cut it for me, it just caused frustration in the end. Realisation happens on all levels, not just on the level of mind.

I know, I always find it so heart-breaking when people can't see how wonderful they are, it makes me wish they could see themselves through my eyes...

I know, it's so true - I remember Adyashanti saying that the person you'll have the hardest time accepting is you, yourself, and I think he was so right about that (I've certainly found it to be true in my own case, at least). @Terell Kirby Excellent post.

Yeah, it's very common - I know I've experienced that too, it can be hugely frustrating and despair-inducing. But your soul craves something more - something with infinitely greater depth and substance - than the familiar old habits that no longer satisfy, whilst at the same time you fear change and the uncertainty that comes with that. This is where you need to be brave enough to let go into the unknown, to let go of the whole world.

Amazing work, @FlyingLotus, thanks so much

This is a key question I think. People often fear negative judgment if they express themselves honestly, they think others will be horrified or repelled (I know I've felt this myself) and that leads them to become uncommunicative and closed off. But other people are often much more understanding and sympathetic than we imagine they'll be.

@Gianna It sure would

Exactly! I want to get that on a bumper sticker

Yeah, I get where you're coming from - I've gotten into the habit of putting it on in the background (I've got Radiohead on as I type), I rarely give it my full attention these days. Shame, really, one of my favourite pastimes used to be getting high and listening to music (I used to enjoy the bass guitar particularly, males tend to resonate with those lower frequencies apparently) but I don't really do it these days, I find it a bit of a struggle to really take it in.

Oh yeah? Cool, I personally prefer to do my spiritual work in silence but I can see how it could be beneficial to do it to music

This is great, I love this. It's something I really struggled with a few years back when I was suffering with anxiety, I had to learn to be comfortable with not knowing (and boy, it wasn't easy). Trust, I've found, is such a big word. This is such an important question. For me, true confidence is quiet and unassuming, it doesn't feel the need to announce itself.

@taotemu Never heard that Jung quote before, but I like it!

Sure, I think it's best to be flexible about these things rather than taking a hardline approach about it. I've had phases in the past 2-3 years where the thought of listening to music was completely unappealing, so I just didn't listen to it (a part of me did feel sad about it/worried there was something wrong with me, but, y'know), and other times where I've been listening to it a lot. Best not to overthink it, I feel.

Just in case anyone wasn't sure, EQ stands for Emotional Quotient, it measures emotional intelligence.

@Blackhawk I'll be honest, that bit made me a tad apprehensive

@Blackhawk I love the first couple of lines of the fine print in 'Perfect Brilliant Stillness': I like it already

True enough, nicely said

I agree with you that co-operativeness and supportiveness are desirable qualities (it's a two-way street of course, it shouldn't be one-sided in my opinion).

Interesting that a good sense of humour's been mentioned a lot, that was probably one of the big things that attracted my girlfriends to me - not sure what it is that's so endearing about it, exactly?

@sda My understanding of the word (and I may be lacking nuance here) is that a submissive person is someone who meekly does what they're told and doesn't stand up for themselves. What does it mean to you?