Truth Addict

@Codrina Maybe join the Muslim fasting during Ramadan. It's a challenge, with yourself, against yourself, and for yourself.

@Jkris I'm not self realised either. I was speaking from ego's perspective on reality, a surrendered ego though. There is definitely a lot more for me to learn. ❤️

@Jkris Love is an absolute quality of reality. Reality has no agenda, and therefore it's absolutely selfless for you, that's love and only you can see it. Only you can be aware of Love, not humans, not insects, not anything else.

Meh.

@DrewNows I'm not familiar with Faceless and his contributions. Those honestly were my observations. I'll take a look at Faceless's profile. ?

@Serotoninluv Yeah, that's also interesting. I get glimpses of similar experiences through concentration practices. I become disidentified with pretty much everything for a brief period of time, everything appears strange, the sounds, the sights, the sensations, and being stops being taken for granted, how is existence possible? I have to go deeper with the practices. Any suggestions? ❤️ @Lister I don't know what that is. To me it's all about removing the illusion that is fake knowledge. Stay safe my friend, do whatever feels right ❤️

The duality between awareness and objects is an acquired knowledge. It assumes perception: a perceived and a perceiver. So, it must go away. Perhaps there was never a difference between the two. @Serotoninluv That's interesting, I've never been in one. Thanks for sharing ❤️

@Lister How about this approach: imagine that you are born again with zero information about the world. You don't know anything whatsoever. You don't know if you even exist. You know nothing. What are you then?

Everything is Absolute.

@ExodiaGearCEO Books are boring when you don't need them. Perhaps you're happy with your life and you have no problems with it. I hardly read books anymore, I don't find joy or value in most of them. However, I don't feel guilty about it.

Yes, I don't drink water until the sunset. No, I don't spit off saliva. I swallow it as usual. Lol, who even does that? The time is right before the "azan" of dawn, which is about one and a half hours before the sunrise.

@Harikrishnan This is my first day, I slept at night and woke up before dawn, me and my family had "sohoor" which is the last meal before starting fasting. I slept right after dawn, and woke up at 08:something A.M. I have to go to work, as usual, so I'm not really changing anything about my routine, because I don't usually sleep a long period of time at once, my sleep is intermittent. Although I might limit my internet usage and use that time for resting, contemplation, mindfulness practice, meditation, self-inquiry, etc... I've never done serious practices in Ramadan before, so that might be interesting, it's a great opportunity that I don't want to miss. I don't think any breathing techniques are good in this regard, especially shamanic breathing, because it'll cause dehydration. However, watching the breath is still one of the most powerful techniques. In my culture (about 70% Muslims), there are some traditional food in Ramadan: dates is perhaps the most you are familiar with, but there's also a type of pastry which is called "maarook", it's similar to bread but it is sweet and most often it's covered by a sugary liquid. There are also famous drinks in Ramadan: "sous" which translates into licorice and "tamr hindi" which translates into Indian dates, I don't know if India has anything to do with it though. So after I get back home from work, I still have another job to get done, it's more physically exhausting than my first job, I'm probably not going to be as efficient as I usually be because of lack of energy, so the duration might change or I might go after the "iftar" which is the first meal right after sunset. I think it's easier to fast when everyone around you is fasting as well, still, there are very valuable things to learn from fasting alone. We usually recite prayers right before the first meal, acknowledging that we are thankful to Allah, and appreciating the blessings of food and water. Make sure you are clear about your intentions with fasting, that'll help you a lot. Some people aim for emotional mastery (me), others aim to feel for the poor, others aim for detoxifying the body, others aim for mystical experiences, others aim for discipline, etc... But all of that is done for a larger goal which is seeking the satisfaction of Allah, or in other words, seeking to hinder the devil inside of us (ego), or in other words, we must fast selflessly and not seek the attention or approval of others. Anyway, now that I have become more aware than I ever was, I don't think the kinds of food or drinks or prayers are really important, they are beautiful traditions though. My advice is to stick to the challenge and not give up, you might feel like dying and that water is the best thing in the world, and that's true, but don't give up, if you don't have any diseases, then you can do it. I hope that gave you some insight, thanks for contributing, and good luck! ❤️

@Nivsch So you've had a new insight which is: the mind is getting smarter, you see, you always learn new things about yourself. Keep that insight in mind, and notice how your meditation will work after that. Anyway, if you feel stuck and not getting enough results from meditation, then I think it's time to try other techniques, or to make longer sessions of meditation.

@jbram2002 Yeah, that's totally true. The happiest life is the one without expectations.

@Mondsee They don't have to be fasting with you. The point is to stay aware of how your ego reacts when your body lacks food and water, the most important factors for survival. The reactions include both to food and water, and when interacting with other people. People here do it unconsciously, they get angry and have word fights everyday during fasting. However, hang in there, it gets better and easier everyday. I wish you all the best ❤️

@Ferdi Le I agree. My experience is very similar.

@Mondsee If you want discipline, fast from dawn till sunset. If you want emotional mastery, fast among other people, your ego will be vulnerable and it will get triggered very easily. That can help you understand your ego and have a grip on it. If you want mystical experiences, fast for multiple days alone, I'm not sure about this one though because I haven't tried it yet.

Okay, I also did eat camel meat one other time (? seriously). Your latest post goes perfectly with your dog avatar ? ❤️

Here we go ?❤️ To the record, I have only seen one camel in my entire life, I'm 22. @Sidra Some very helpful piece of advice, it can open up a lot of new ways for you (some I wasn't aware of), I still don't recommend taking the difficult approach, I prefer making peace with what you have until you're able to change it to the better.

We are smart about it, or that's what I think of us ? Thanks for the advice and care though, I didn't know you are able to not be sarcastic ? ❤️ We have cellphones here, iPhone and Samsung and other brands, we have 4G, we have ADSL, we have laptops and PCs, we don't live in tents, nor skyscrapers, we are very mediocre. But, yeah it's certainly amazing how all of this is possible! ?? ❤️

I meant we as me and you and everyone who practices meditation though. I don't equate prayer with meditation. I stopped praying six months ago, meditation is quite much easier. I think I'll get back to praying once I gather enough concentration skills. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences ❤️ ?

@tsuki New journal, new chapter.

@Shin ISIS isn't here bro. The government is not democratic like first world governments, but it also isn't terrorist like ISIS. It's something in between, it allows these sorts of things unless they have a real influence on the country, or mostly on their ability to control the country. Most of the Syrian people are Muslims and Christians, and we always lived in great harmony. There are also minorities like Kurdish people, and they still live among us, and everything is fine between us. The war was against the government, but the people were the human shields. There really isn't a bit of real racism here, actually after the war we blended even more, some Christians now will participate in Ramadan, Muslims had started celebrating in Christmas and other Christian holidays. The media is not accurate at all bro, don't believe everything you hear. Even if they're 100% objective and not biased, you will imagine something different from reality.

@now is forever I didn't take it as criticism lol, actually I want and appreciate criticism. Just wanted to give a clearer picture about how it is here. And as for the surviving route, of course I agree, probably was just bad phrasing. I know what immigrants have been through from experience, me and my family had to internally immigrate, we moved 4 times in the same year trying to avoid danger zones. I know all about that, and I'm very sympathetic to my people, and very thankful for you and your government for letting them in.

There is. You have no idea. @now is forever If there were easy options, then everyone would have taken them. The easiest option was illegal immigration through Turkey and Lebanon, and by the sea, and that was four years ago. Most immigrants had to get out of the country, or else they would have died. Legal immigration requires a lot of money, from what I hear about £8,000 just to start a bank account. Do you know what the average salary for a full time job is in Syria? About £70 to £90 a month. That money can barely help you survive here, and without much luxury (I consider internet luxury). Can you imagine how hard it is to gather the £8,000? Both of my parents work for the government, my mother is a teacher, my father is an official. So, we're just basically surviving. I don't know a lot about Sidra, but I assume something similar, most Syrian families have been crippled down at least in terms of finances. I don't know if that seems depressing, but actually the worst is already gone, the war is almost over, at least on land. Before the war, my life was planned perfectly by my parents, I was supposed to graduate this year as a doctor, but now I'm two years late, and they were planning to buy two apartments, one for me and the other for my brother, but then in 2012 everything collapsed, the war began and we now barely have any money in our savings (gold, or whatever). I don't want to leave you depressed about us here, the truth is that now I don't suffer anymore, I don't know how I've changed, perhaps because I've suffered a lot. Now I'm just flowing with life, evolving, making everyone around me happy, I have no problems or regrets or hatred for anyone or anything whatsoever. I'm completely surrendered, and life is amazing. I already have a job, salary about £40 a month for working 4 hours a day for 6 days a week, it helps me support myself and my family. I just need to get back on track with my studying, and that'll make everything perfect for me ? @bejapuskas I don't usually tell people online where I am from because that'll make them sympathetic with me, and then I'll have to hear all sorts of questions about how I survived the war ? ...... Is anyone else having problems using the forum? It's hanging a lot here.