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Advanced Tips For Self-Inquiry https://youtu.be/Y23xkd2kqlo Advanced tips for self-inquiry are for people who are already in the process of doing self-inquiry regularly When doing self-inquiry, ask yourself what you are looking for and what form the answer will take The answer you are looking for is formlessness, which is the opposite of anything you have ever encountered Formlessness cannot be found through the mind because the mind can only focus on forms Formlessness is found by letting go of the mind and going beyond it To do this, focus on the present moment and be aware of your thoughts and emotions without getting caught up in them Self-inquiry requires a willingness to be honest with yourself and to see things as they are, not how you want them to be Be patient with the process and don't expect quick results Don't be attached to the idea of enlightenment and remember that it is a journey, not a destination Be open to new perspectives and don't get stuck in your own beliefs Be consistent and make self-inquiry a daily practice Seek guidance from trusted sources, whether that be books, teachers, or other practitioners Remember that self-inquiry is about discovering your own truth, not about achieving some external standard of enlightenment The present moment is the most important and is the fabric of reality Self-inquiry is about becoming aware of and present in the present moment, without distracting thoughts and ideas Enlightenment means understanding that the body and mind are illusions and that reality is like a dream It is significant to recognize that you are not the body or the mind The mind is constantly thinking and creating stories, but the present moment is always happening It is possible to awaken from the dream of reality through self-inquiry The goal of self-inquiry is to become aware of the present moment and see through the illusion of the mind and body Different questions can be used to approach self-inquiry, but the process is ultimately the same Experiment with different approaches and questions, but always come back to the present moment The present moment is always happening and is the key to enlightenment. The identity of a person should be challenged regularly It is important to be honest about one's own identity and not rely on theories or beliefs from others It is helpful to identify with specific, concrete sensations or objects in the present moment and question whether that is what one is The process of questioning and discarding potential identities can help to arrive at a deeper understanding of one's true self It is important to avoid the trap of believing that one is nothingness or that one's identity is solely the body This process of self-inquiry can be difficult and requires patience and persistence There is a constant thing that exists across all time and space This constant thing is what we should be looking for This constant thing is not dependent on our perceptions, ideas, or bodies Our identification with temporary things like our body and mind is a misidentification We can use the fact that our perceptions constantly change to realize that they are not the constant thing we are looking for There is no specific technique or process to reach enlightenment Techniques can increase your chances, but enlightenment is a discontinuous jump Enlightenment is not something that can be grasped rationally or through the rational mind It is important to let go of expectations and demands for rationalism in order to reach enlightenment The moment of enlightenment is not something that can be willed or forced to happen, it is a fortunate accident Self-inquiry can increase the chances of having a fortunate accident (enlightenment) Both the concept of "no self" and "true self" can be useful in reaching enlightenment, depending on the student It is important not to get lost in the words or images and to read between the lines to understand the true meaning of the teaching There are many valid paths towards enlightenment, and the best path for you may depend on your individual circumstances and situation Follow your own path and do what feels most appropriate for you It is not possible to know which path will work the best for you in advance, so be open to trying different approaches. Old-school way and other methods (Buddhist, Christian, etc.) can be used to achieve enlightenment It is normal to feel stuck, confused, and frustrated in the process Work requires patience, like the feather in the rock Remind yourself that the end goal (enlightenment) is worth it It is the answer to life's questions and the ultimate gift of infinity The journey requires challenging work and a true desire for truth and a leap of faith Tips: check out resources (website, forum, course, book list, blog) and ask questions if needed If not seriously pursuing enlightenment, stop wasting time and talking about it If seriously pursuing enlightenment, continue or start the inquiry process and stop talking about it so much
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Heaven isn't some lifeless goalless future where all goals have been completed and no desire is left. It's isn't some lifeless future world so terribly and awfully perfect that there is nothing worth doing; No challenges, no stumbles, no failure-ridden paths to triumphs, followed by yet more of the same. Some awful state where one has no unfilled desire to achieve more, to climb higher, to fight and hopefully defeat another worthy tough opponent, no unfilled desire motivating one to fight another deliciously grueling fight to overcome a worthy tough challenge. It's not that. It isn't that because that doesn't exist. That imagined future state does not and cannot exist. And it would be unimaginably terrible if anything remotely like it could and did exist. It would be a state so incredibly lifeless and unmoving that it is worse than any death one can imagine. For it is a death without rebirth. It would be a lifeless nothingness so extreme that nothing could come out of it. And that awful absurd lifelessness is what some people desperately do their best to imagine when they imagine a heaven. Heaven is to wake up every day, look around at your world, and honestly say, "When I think about heaven, I imagine this," that is inner peace. That is true happiness. That is nirvana. That is heaven. It is to be in heaven and know it's heaven
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AL-LAD Trip Report - A Powerful Tool For Consciousness Work https://youtu.be/4atDuXqr0y8 The speaker is Leo from actualized.org and is sharing a trip report about the psychedelic substance AL-LAD AL-LAD is a powerful tool for consciousness work and is a companion to 5-MeO-DMT AL-LAD is longer lasting and easier to handle than 5-MeO-DMT, but still produces profound experiences The speaker suggests using AL-LAD for personal development and growing consciousness, rather than for recreational purposes The speaker will share details and insights from their AL-LAD trip and provide tips for using it for personal development The speaker discusses the concept of shamanic usage of psychedelics, which involves using the substances in a respectful and intentional way The speaker emphasizes the importance of being fully prepared and having the right mindset before embarking on a psychedelic journey The speaker describes the physical and mental effects of the AL-LAD trip, including feelings of unity and oneness, enhanced sensory perception, and insights into the nature of reality The speaker reflects on the insights and lessons learned from the AL-LAD trip and how they can be applied in daily life The speaker concludes by stating that AL-LAD is a valuable tool for personal development and encourages others to consider using it for consciousness work. The speaker has been experiencing discomfort and has been trying to figure out the cause through medical consultations and changes in diet They have also been getting blood work done When they take a substance called AL add, they feel like their body is working properly and they have a sense of vitality and energy They also experience a sense of presence and being, which is difficult to describe and can be accessed through direct experience, such as with psychedelics This sense of being can be beneficial for meditation practice, as it gives the speaker a preview of what they are working towards The substance also slows down and steadies the speaker's thought stream, giving them a sense of intellectual power The substance also allows the speaker to feel more connected to their emotions and to other people The speaker believes that the sense of presence and being is more fulfilling than material possessions or financial success The substance allows the speaker to feel a sense of magic and divinity in their life Personal story of life feels unquestionable Reality is a framework or context that we accept as truth Psychedelics can reveal a new context of nothingness This new context shows that our current understanding of reality is limited and only makes sense when we forget about the larger context Conscious breakthroughs, such as with psychedelics or deep meditation, can help us see this larger perspective In this larger context, things like the brain, Newton's laws, and social structures are insignificant The speaker's psychedelic experience showed them that everything in reality is groundless and that everything is interconnected The speaker saw that their ego and sense of self were illusory and that they were connected to everything else in the universe The speaker realized that their thoughts and emotions are not their own, but rather a result of the universe's consciousness The speaker saw that death is not an end, but rather a transformation into a new form of consciousness The speaker's experience led them to believe that the universe is a single, interconnected consciousness The speaker talks about the journey towards enlightenment and how it can involve experiencing deep existential terror Insanity is a social convention and context-dependent Breaking through insanity and experiencing higher consciousness can lead to a shift in one's understanding of reality and the conventional definitions of insanity and sanity The speaker experienced a taste of infinity during a mushroom trip, which felt like being inside an Escher painting and seeing reality from multiple angles simultaneously Tasting infinity can be maddening for those who are not ready for it and can lead to difficult or horrific trips The speaker advises that those who are interested in exploring spirituality, personal development, and consciousness would enjoy these experiences. Psychedelics are a powerful tool when used properly Don't let negative experiences with psychedelics tarnish their potential Al-lad is a good psychedelic for introducing newbies Al-lad is also good as a post-breakthrough companion psychedelic Party drugs can be used for deep spiritual work Don't use psychedelics more than once a week and allow for plenty of integration time Spend time on integration if you want to use psychedelics for growth Intentions and self-purification are important before using psychedelics Trust your own experiences and insights gained from psychedelics Don't rely on psychedelics for all of your personal growth, do the hard work in your everyday life as well.
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Mystical Traditions Around The World - Nonduality Goes Cosmopolitan! https://youtu.be/iAE055eH7yQ Introduction to the topic of mystical traditions around the world and their focus on enlightenment Explanation that the work of sages and mystics has been happening for at least 5,000 years Importance of understanding the mystical cores at the center of every religion, despite negative views of religion in modern times Commonalities between mystical traditions around the world, including the search for existential truth and the belief that existence is a unity, formlessness, and singularity Distinction between mysticism and religion, with mysticism being focused on personal experience and religion being focused on beliefs and rituals Overview of various mystical traditions from different parts of the world, including Eastern traditions (such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Zen) and Western traditions (such as Gnosticism, Kabbalah, and Sufism) Discussion of the concept of nonduality, which refers to the idea that there is no separation between the individual self and the universe Conclusion emphasizing the importance of understanding the historical context of mystical traditions and the value of exploring and learning from multiple traditions. Theosophy teachings by Aleister Crowley and others Perennial interest in nature of existence Convergence among different traditions and cultures Different names for enlightenment and God across traditions Love-hate relationship with word "God" God is another word for reality or existence, including the whole world Understanding or direct experience of nature of existence or reality Contemplative and meditative practices can help discover true nature of existence List of over 50 names for enlightenment and God, including: Enlightenment God Truth Absolute Infinity Consciousness Awareness Presence No self True self Oneness Nothingness Non duality Ego death Self transcendence Self realization Some traditions focus on devotion to a deity or guru Other traditions focus on self-inquiry All traditions ultimately point to the same fundamental understanding or experience of the nature of reality Resources available for further study and exploration of these concepts and traditions. The real, ultimate truth is not hidden or veiled, but rather it is the individual who is unable to see it The goal is to become fluent in non-duality, understanding the interconnectedness of all spiritual traditions and how they ultimately point to the same thing It is important to have a holistic, integrated understanding of this field in order to be able to converse with people from different traditions and cultures Some enlightened people may have a narrow, sectarian view and only understand their own tradition, lacking a true understanding of the interconnections between all traditions A truly enlightened master does not claim to have a monopoly on the truth, but rather has the most integrated, biggest picture perspective possible It is important to avoid the trap of thinking that one's own way or tradition is the only way, as this speaks to ignorance Enlightenment is not just about enlightenment itself, but also about understanding and integrating all spiritual traditions and being able to share this understanding with others The goal is to become a sage, someone who is knowledgeable and wise in this field of non-duality To become a sage, it is important to study and understand the various traditions, as well as their differences and similarities It is also important to practice and integrate the teachings and principles of non-duality into one's life Finally, a sage should be able to share their understanding and insights with others, helping to guide and inspire them on their own spiritual journeys. The speaker encourages the listener to research specific mystical traditions Look for commonalities among these traditions when doing research This will create a foundation for pursuing enlightenment in a personal way The field of non-duality is a rich and meaningful area to study It is important to combine theoretical understanding with practical application for the most effective results The speaker will be releasing more in-depth content on becoming a sage in the future This content will include both abstract and practical information It is important to stick with the speaker for success on the spiritual path and in life
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Enlightenment Guided Inquiry - The Neti Neti Method https://youtu.be/Oq4NDMNDzSs Introduction to enlightenment guided inquiry using the neti neti method from Advaita Vedanta Neti neti means "not this, not that" and is a process of elimination towards enlightenment This method is not for those new to the concept of enlightenment, but can be effective for those who are clueless about it The goal of enlightenment is to discover one's true self Most people think they already know who they are, but there is often ignorance about this and a lack of consideration for the possibility of being something other than what is already believed The purpose of this exercise is to create the possibility of being something other than what has been believed the entire life This requires an openness that most people cannot stomach The goal is to have a direct experience of one's true nature, not to change beliefs It is important to understand that the words being used do not have a connection to the experience itself The goal is to use the words as a springboard for the direct experience It is important to relax and let go of the ego, as the ego is the barrier to enlightenment The ego is the idea of being a separate individual It is important to let go of the ego in order to experience the unity of all things The ego is also the source of suffering It is important to let go of attachments and identification with the ego The process of neti neti involves repeating "not this, not that" to eliminate all possibilities of what one is not The goal is to reach a state of pure consciousness or "I am" In this state, there is no ego and no separation It is a state of pure bliss and unity with all things This can be a difficult process, but it is worth it for the benefits of enlightenment. The speaker asks the listener to close their eyes and notice the darkness that appears The speaker then asks the listener to open their eyes and observe the colors and shapes that appear The speaker then asks the listener to close their eyes again and notice that the colors and shapes have changed The speaker points out that sight, or visual experience, is constantly changing and therefore cannot be what the listener fundamentally is The speaker then asks the listener to consider if they are a sound, but points out that sounds also constantly change and therefore cannot be what the listener fundamentally is The speaker then asks the listener to consider if they are a taste, but points out that taste also constantly changes and therefore cannot be what the listener fundamentally is The speaker then asks the listener to consider if they are a smell, but points out that smell also constantly changes and therefore cannot be what the listener fundamentally is The speaker then asks the listener to consider if they are a touch or sensation, but points out that touch and sensation also constantly change and therefore cannot be what the listener fundamentally is The speaker concludes that the listener cannot be any of these senses or experiences, and asks the listener to consider what they are if not these things. The "I thought" is not constantly active, so it cannot be the "self" The "body" is a combination of feelings and thoughts and is not constantly active, so it cannot be the "self" The "intuition" is a feeling or thought and is not constantly active, so it cannot be the "self" The "perceiver" or "source self" is not an experience and cannot be found through examination The self is not a body, mind, brain, neurons, feeling, intuition, thought, or experience The self is a question mark and the true nature of the self is unknown The speaker has completed a guided visualization and is now discussing the potential outcomes One outcome is that the listener had a direct experience of nothingness This experience is rare and may take a lot of work to achieve Most people's minds are too closed to have this experience If the listener had a direct experience of nothingness, it may be scary but is ultimately positive If the listener did not have this experience, they should keep questioning their assumptions about reality and locate themselves in space The speaker claims that this practice is profound and can be done repeatedly to eventually "discover empirically that you are nothing" The speaker encourages the listener to be open-minded and continue this practice until they have a breakthrough The speaker's theory is not just a personal belief, but something that can be empirically proven through this practice The speaker encourages the listener to share their experiences and continue exploring the nature of reality
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The Enlightened Self - A Description Of Your Existential Nature https://youtu.be/cpr-KFks6-c Introduction to the concept of the enlightened self, also known as the true self Importance of developing a strong conceptual framework for enlightenment work Overview of the idea that most people identify with their body and mind and believe that is their entire being Introduction to the possibility that this identification is false and that the self is not a human being Explanation that the self is actually a collection of stories and beliefs that are learned and accepted as true Discussion of the ego and how it reinforces the identification with the body and mind Introduction to the idea of self-inquiry and the process of discovering the true self Tips for engaging in self-inquiry, including being present, observing the ego, and letting go of identification with thoughts and emotions Conclusion and encouragement to continue on the journey towards enlightenment. Ground yourself in inquiry work The true self is pure, transparent, empty awareness This is what you are existentially You are not a human being, software in the mind, neuron activity, or made of atoms Instead, you are empty awareness, also known as consciousness or presence The term "spirit," derived from ancient languages, means breath, air, or wind and represents what you are You are not an object or a thing, but rather empty space that allows for the existence of objects such as trees, tables, cars, people, colors, sensations, and emotions These objects occur within awareness and space, and you, as pure transparent empty awareness, contain space and time and everything else This awareness is transparent and empty, like the gap between the walls of a cup that holds liquid This awareness holds experience and all of reality Reality is composed of absolute zero, or nothingness Features of absolute zero include non-duality, meaning there is no separation between the self and the rest of reality, and impermanence, or the constant change and fluid nature of reality This understanding can bring about a paradigm shift in perspective and lead to enlightenment There is a transparent field within which everything is happening This field is not separate from current experience and objects Everything is happening within nothingness, encased in a field of empty awareness It is possible to train the mind to focus on this field and become aware of awareness itself Awareness currently thinks it is a human body living inside a skull, but it is not a thing Mind can only work with things, and cannot conceptualize or think about enlightenment It is not possible to find oneself because the human mind is addicted to objects and space To reach enlightenment, a process like self inquiry must be followed This process involves letting go of the ego and surrendering control Enlightenment cannot be reached through thinking or mental effort, and it is not a destination or a thing It is a realization or understanding that one is already enlightenment This realization comes through a shift in perception and understanding the true nature of reality
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Contemplating Your Own Death - To Stay Motivated For Life https://youtu.be/jK1EqqHIOqw Contemplating one's own death can be a way to stay motivated in life Death is a finality and there is no second chance in life Contemplating death can help put things in perspective and prevent wasting time on petty matters Examples of individuals who have used contemplation of death as a motivating force include Marcus Aurelius and the Buddha The Buddha's contemplation of death led to his enlightenment and the creation of various traditions Reflecting on the fact that life is miraculous can be a way to stay motivated Contemplating death can be a way to appreciate the present moment Thinking about death can also help with making big life decisions Contemplating death can also be a way to let go of fear and to find peace It is important to balance contemplation of death with living in the present and enjoying life The speaker is asking the listener to imagine going to sleep and never waking up The speaker notes that in deep sleep, the person is in a state of nothingness with no awareness or sensations The speaker encourages the listener to consider how much time they have left in their life and to imagine never waking up again The speaker notes that existence and experiencing the world is a miraculous and rich opportunity The speaker encourages the listener to live the best and most rich life they can, regardless of how long it is The speaker suggests that if the listener does this, they can die in peace and accept their fate The speaker will count to three and when they reach three, the listener will slowly wake up feeling refreshed and alert
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All Of Religion Explained In One Video https://youtu.be/X_xZcD4veGc Introduction to the topic of religion and the speaker's personal perspective on the subject The speaker's background in philosophy, personal development, and consciousness The speaker's recent attendance at an enlightenment workshop The speaker's curiosity about religion, including how it can have such a strong hold on culture and society despite being seemingly unsupported by science The speaker's warning that the video may not be well-received by rationally-minded individuals The speaker's intention to not defend religion, but to ultimately encourage dropping religious beliefs The idea that religions are not necessarily wrong, but that they may not be complete or fully understood The importance of exploring personal experiences and consciousness in understanding religion The speaker's belief that enlightenment is the ultimate goal of religion, and that religions are essentially paths towards enlightenment The concept of God and how it has been understood and described in various religions The idea that religions may be attempting to describe the same ultimate reality or truth, but using different language and symbolism The possibility that religions may have evolved or changed over time The speaker's suggestion that it is important to question and critically examine one's own beliefs, including religious beliefs The importance of finding and living one's own truth, rather than blindly adhering to religious doctrine Conclusion and invitation to continue the discussion on the topic. The sense of self is an illusion It is possible to "jailbreak" the mind from the brain and discover the true self, which is nothingness This realization is called enlightenment Existence arises from nothingness, and this nothingness is also referred to as God Other people are also nothingness, and therefore identical to the self at an existential level The absolute truth is that existence arises from nothingness There are multiple levels of enlightenment that can be experienced After enlightenment, the ego and the sense of self may still exist, but they are seen through and no longer identified with Enlightenment allows for a deeper understanding and connection with the world and others The process of enlightenment involves letting go of attachments and desires The ultimate goal of enlightenment is liberation from suffering. The concept of the psyche and the subconscious mind is relatively new In the past, people used mythology and storytelling to explain the concept of "no self" Some people (mystics, yogis, sages, etc.) were able to achieve enlightenment and see the truth of "no self" There was no reliable process for helping others achieve enlightenment To share the truth of "no self," it had to be tailored to the culture and era in which it was discovered Religion tries to explain the truth of "no self" in a way that is palatable to the limited minds of dogmatic and close-minded people There are many different religions and each one explains the truth of "no self" in a different way The ultimate goal of religion is to help people achieve enlightenment and see the truth of "no self" The truth of "no self" is universal, but the way it is explained and understood may differ from culture to culture Hell refers to one's current existence and identification with their body, which leads to suffering Heaven is the disidentification with the body and becoming absolute nothingness, in which nothing can harm you and nothingness exists forever Faith is the ability to open one's mind to the third possibility and the willingness to take a leap of faith to experience it directly Good and evil are relative and metaphorical terms, with good being selfless actions and evil being selfish actions and identification with the ego The afterlife is understanding the absolute truth of nothingness and being untouchable Salvation is being saved from one's wicked state and understanding the truth of one's being Enlightenment is the realization of the truth of one's being and understanding that everything is interconnected and one is everything Karma is the concept that actions have consequences, both positive and negative, and that one reaps what they sow The ego is the identification with the body and mind and the belief in separation from everything else The self is the realization of one's true being as interconnected and everything, beyond the ego and identification with the body and mind
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Yesterday , from my second inquiry ( first serious investigation ) through the Neti Neti meditation I just got that intense frustration of running out of resources about who I am , and along with leo's affirmation that i am " this " came to me the HOLY SHIT sensation followed by the aware nothingness for around 30 secondes to 1 minute , followed by a sense of peace and calmness . That flow was too powerful and intense that after the realization I felt my eyelashes unceasingly blinking fast , it's just like my eyes wanted to open and yet I was resisting . After that i sticked with Leo's post visualisation explanation with honesty . I am planning on doing the work and inquiry tonight again even more seriously .. but looking for recommandations and guidance . Thank you Leo , Thank you ' community '
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Ry4n replied to Vercingetorix's topic in Spirituality, Consciousness, Awakening, Mysticism, Meditation, God
Depends how much in the "illusion" you are; any POV is completely imaginary and there's definitely no limit to the amount of POVs that could be taken on, which could manifest in literally infinite ways that a small monkey brain on a flying rock couldn't ever possibly imagine or know about. There is nothing outside YOU as this infinite, vast divine nothingness, and yet paradoxically any collection of experiences that are imagined from this are by definition finite. If you delude yourself into believing that the finite imaginations you're experiencing are all that is, you are a solipsist. If you awake to realise any content of consciousness at all is by definition finite yet occurring in an unknowingly, boundlessly infinite space as its context then you are God. It's pretty simple actually. -
VincentArogya replied to VincentArogya's topic in Spirituality, Consciousness, Awakening, Mysticism, Meditation, God
@Holly Jean Thank you so much for taking the time and responding to my question. Firstly, with the fading away of awakening "experience", there was the pursuit to get it back (it still exists but not as powerful as it did before). What has replaced this drive is the question "what if there was no second awakening experience", leading to alignment and working with the understanding derived from the awakening. Secondly, there are distractions when I sit down to deconstruct my conditioned beliefs and assumptions. Common distractions being swaying away from the process and later realizing that the deconstruction was botched by mental chatter or jumping from one subject to another. Thirdly, I do not have the recognition of emptiness, nothingness, and infinity. What I am working with is the recognition of love, oneness, and bliss. If you would ask me what is reality made of, I would say without a doubt, love. And when there is talk of reality being empty or nothing, it doesn't compute due to the lack of reference experience. So my question is, is it wise to pursue more awakenings, which I don't know how to even go after? Or, work with what I know and live from this space and understanding. But choosing the second path brings the danger or "selfing", which is the activity of separate self arising when I am not aware. -
OK, let's go back. Here is how I tried to describe "THIS" in one of the posts (again, this description is only a pointer): "What we actually know in our direct conscious experience is only a flow of qualia inseparable from the "isness/presence" and conscious awareness of them." So, "THIS" is not a state necessarily absent of any forms, labels or ideas. The forms (sensations, feelings, imaginations, thoughts that include labels, beliefs, ideas etc) may or may not be present, and it does not really matter whether they are present or not. So, any our state, including your state right now looking at the computer, is actually already "THIS". The difference of the "enlightened" way of experiencing THIS vs. non-enlightened way is that in the non-enlightened way we unconsciously interpret THIS "through a lens" of a certain layer of beliefs. For example, a common human interprets it through the belief that he is a "perceiver-self in the center of the world looking at the external material world of separate objects and subjects" etc. This interpretation is so persistent that people actually "see" and "feel" themselves and those objects in the "world out there" as absolutely real. A more spiritually advanced person may interpret it through a different belief that all that is happening appears in the "Absolute Formless Consciousness" (aka "God"), in the "Absolute I" that is aware of all fleeting phenomena. But that is just another interpretational layer. But the funny thing is: all these interpretational layers and beliefs are simply part of THIS, of the experiential "flow of qualia inseparable from the "isness/presence" and conscious awareness of them". All these interpretation layers, beliefs, labels, ideas, no matter how good or bad, true of false they are, are all automatically included in "THIS", but none of these beliefs are true or false in any absolute sense. So, there is in fact the "I" or "Truth" or "a computer" as an idea, as a phenomenon of experience included in the flow of THIS. And as phenomena they are all "real" in a sense that we actually experience them as thought-forms. But when we say that there is no "I" or "Truth", it really means that there is no independent reality of "I" or "Truth" other than simply them being just the content of those thought-forms. As the Buddhists would say, they are "empty" of independent existence (empty of existence as some actual entities like "I", "God" or "a computer" other than just our thought-forms about them). Now, you can go rather far in your spiritual practice and experience a state absent of any forms. It is actually quite useful and helps to realize that all our beliefs and ideas are only thought-forms that may be removed from THIS, as well as added to THIS. When I practiced dream yoga, I once had an experience of lucid deep sleep where there was actually nothing at all, not even any sense of any "I", but there was still conscious experiencing of this nothingness (absent of any conceptual understanding of it). It was quite revealing, but that is not what the Enlightenment is, it's just a useful experience that may (or may not) help on the way. If you never had such experience, don't worry, it's not a prerequisite.
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Hi there, here is a trip report of my last trip (shrooms), in which I discovered Solipsism is true, which was SHOCKING. I also added some questions at the end and would love to hear your opinion if you have one! Thanks (also: french here, sorry for my bad english). 1 - I am consciousness I was tripping calmly on my couch, then I realised that I was only consciousness, the present moment itself. 2 - Everything is consciousness (or mind, or imagination) Then it hit me that everything that I could see and feel and think was all contained in this consciousness that was me. My environnement was mind, my sensations were mind, my thoughts were mind, everything was mind. There was no material world fundamentally, only consciousness, only "mind", and I understood why enlightened people are saying that the world is imaginary. Everything is emerging from the nothingness of consciousness. I also had this strong knowing that nothing could exist outside consciousness, because it is everything. That was another way, very different from my previous awakenings, to experience Oneness. 3 - Consciousness (I-I) is creating everything (but I can't do what I want) I had this strong knowing that I was the thing that was creating my environnement. This feeling was so strong that I tried to modify it just as and artist modify his/her painting (it did not work lol). 4 - Consciousness creates complexity as its goes along Ok this is a wild claim and I am not sure that this is true, but I felt like things are not intrinsically complex, but that consciousness was creating this complexity moment after moment after moment. Like, this cushion over there is just a form, that is it. But then the next moment, it is a form, but also a thing with texture, density, and so on, which was not the case the moment before. It was just as if complexity unfolds / appears as consciouness is thinking it. Consciousness seemed to be an infinite whole, constantly including and transcending everything by adding creativity. Not sure about this one though… 5 - Solipsism feels good because you are truly secure (for the first time of your life) Solipsism was good. I realised how much my relative "I" has to survive all the time, that this drive for survival is part of my human nature and implies suffering. I realised how, as a human, I can't and will never feel fully secure, because I have to survive physically and psychologically. We can let go of some of the survival stuff, but never completely...My whole body is always ready to react to any danger, each second of my life. Being consciousness itself gave me a profound sense of security: I was (almost) only mind imagining things; what could be dangerous? I guess if there were a guy threatening me with a knife at this moment I would switch mode, go back into human mode and protect myself so I did not transcended totally my ego, but at this moment I still felt pretty free from survival. Actually this was a bit hard to swallow: I will never be able to be fully at peace as a human, and I never realised it so that profoundly before. 6 - Solipsism helped me love my human self more (and be more compassionate in general) I don't exactly understand how, but after this trip, I felt more at peace with myself. I remember having a deep compassion for my human self and other beings who do not taste that peace and suffer a lot most of the time. Also at one point during my trip, I felt the strong desire to "create" love by helping people very directly. To reach for anyone and give my energy and love to them. 7 - Lasting effects After this trip, I could for 2 days still feel solipsism, but it is now fading away. Thus this trip meant a lot for me. Trip after trip my mind opens, and these truths are shaping my conscious and unconscious for the better (I think). Touching to turquoise is a game changer (I hope as much in the long term than in the short term). Conclusion : This was an amazing experience that I did not expected. During the previous 3 or 4 trips, I was unable to go this far. It was just as if the world around me was reflecting my depression: all sad limited and unpleasant. It was impossible to transcend this stage. But before this last trip, I was feeling better since a few day, less stressed, more ok with myself. In my opinion, unless we take a strong dose, our mental health influence our capacity to transcend the ego. At least it seems to work this way for me : if I don't feel good, it is gonna be more complicated to go into God Mode. Also, I now understand so much better the work of Alex Grey (see picture), which makes it more amazing. Questions: (I would love to hear your advices/opinions!) 1 - I would love to rise my everyday life stage of consciousness and always be connected with my "true self", but it is not easy at all… I am meditating everyday (half an hour of zen which is not that much) and try to be conscious in my everyday life, but I don't feel it is changing anything. I wonder how much I should meditate to get results, and if there is anything else to do? Should I try to be conscious in my sleep? What are the next steps? 2 - Related to the previous question: I read "One Taste" from Ken Wilber, who seems to be always connected to the True Self, the I-I thanks to his zen practice. In this book, he says that when he drinks wine, he looses this connection. I am wondering if psychedelics could slow down my efforts to be much more conscious on an everyday life basis. This logically should not be the case since psychedelics are supposed to rise our level of consciousness (and not diminish it like alcohol), but who knows? It seems that Leo is also struggling this that, but I don't know how it's working for him now. Any opinion about that? 3 - During my trip, I knew really strongly that everything was mind. But in another way, I feel that saying things like "everything is mind or imagination" does not reflect the holistic truth. In a way, yes everything is mind (maybe at a more fundamental stage of the holarchy?), but in another way, everything is also material. Isn't it problematic to limit our vision of existence by taking into account only about one perspective, excluding the others? Thank you very much!
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YogiCosmos replied to Someone here's topic in Spirituality, Consciousness, Awakening, Mysticism, Meditation, God
This is all interesting. But this is conceptualization and living in the mind. The true reality is of being. This simple message will get lost in the unawakened minds that read this. It’s okay. Perceiving others and the world as an illusion is of duality. “Other” is an illusion… that implies there’s another that’s not real. For true non-duality, subject and object have to collapse into one. All is real and all is also not real. True totality must be lived from a baseline of being. What does this mean? The world, the ego and this dream is inclusive of the totality of non-duality. Everything is that. True non-duality is inclusive of ego, creation, other, Self, and no-thingness. Solipsism is only true when totality is lived 24/7, not conceptualized or experienced. You can imagine how hard this is to put into words. But the dream is real and also unreal. Sorry guys. This also means you cannot spiritually bypass humanness. Many awake teachers view themselves and the world as an illusion and think they are above their shadows. They view themselves as the only awake entity in this universe. Hence, abuse occurs in their spiritual circles. Unresolved karma surfaces when awakened and plays out. Seeing the world and others as an illusion is the second step of evolution in perceiving reality. This is where many get stuck. The third step is seeing the world as divine play. The fourth step is transcending and seeing the world as uncreated in nothingness. The last step is seeing that the cause of creation is just pure divine power. -
Vladimir replied to Vladimir's topic in Spirituality, Consciousness, Awakening, Mysticism, Meditation, God
@Jehovah increases The Absolute Truth of Nothingness has always been Known. -
Nercohype replied to Someone here's topic in Spirituality, Consciousness, Awakening, Mysticism, Meditation, God
Yes, there is ONE spirit but many bodies. One Spirit is looking through many eyes. Spiritually speaking we are One. Materialy speaking there are others. We have different bodies, brains, and psyches but ONE spirit. Energy is the opposite of Spirit and yet they are the same. Two sides of the same coin. If it were otherwise you would never recognize anything. The Spirit would be just itself. Without darkness, there is no Light. Without Light, there is no Darkness. Shakti and Shiva Nothingness = Spirit Something = energy Merging of Spirit and Energy = Illumination You have to square the circle You have a Material body so you have a capable brain and nervous system. And because of that, you have a working persona. (to keep the body alive and to procreate) The ONE Spirit in that individual body wills the material body to move. Spirit uses the persona(mind) to realize and look back at itself. Your true self is the Spirit. And Spirit has a WILL so this means that matter has no will. No thing = infinity = one 0 = ♾️ = 1 One Spirit has three aspects. Spirit = no space + Matter = infinite space = Oneness Consciousness is Spirit. Your true self. Which is no self or infinite selfs. Poteto potato. Energy is motion so Spirit being its opposite must be No motion. No motion means It's perfectly still. This means the only means to match that primal state is to be completely still in body and in mind. ? -
Nercohype replied to r0ckyreed's topic in Spirituality, Consciousness, Awakening, Mysticism, Meditation, God
I am the body (ego, seperate self) I am infinity (spirit/consiousness) Awakening. You must merge Spirit(consciousness) and energy (physical world) to be illuminated being. Inner world (psyche + consiousness) + Outer world (natural science) = illumination. They are BOTH the real. BOTH exist in complete unity. Imagine the Jing Yang symbol. If all was just white (consciousness) how would you regonize the black? What if all was just Black(energy) , how would you regonize the White part? You can't regonize them. But when they are together you can regonize and become illuminated. The fact is that you can't have one without the other. This proves that there is external world and Inner world. Physical and spiritual. BOTH are sides of the same coin. Spirit and energy are the same thing but in different STATES at the same TIME. DO YOU SEE? It is not right to say that external world does not exist. It exist as much as consiousness. Because it is consciousness but in completely different state. Without this relationship with spirit and energy you could never ever realizes anything at all. The fact is that there is only ONE Truth. Not multible! And the Truth is that Spirit is one thing. This means it is timeless. Timeless is eternal. It is personal. Timelessness has no space. No space means it is SILENCE (No motion) Spirit is completely motionless, unmanifested nothingness. Matter on the other hand is complete opposites of spirit. Matter is motion, Time, space, un True, indifferent. Seperation. Thinking is motion and this is why thinking alone cannot reach Spirit. Spirit can only know spirit by BEING SPIRIT. This means that psychedelic which amplify imagination (thinking) is not a valid place to draw any real facts. Only by complete relaxation and Stillness can pure consiousness shine. There in that unity is wholeness and KNOWINGNESS. -
Moksha replied to Galyna's topic in Spirituality, Consciousness, Awakening, Mysticism, Meditation, God
Beautiful, Galyna ? Reminds me of "Dark Night of the Soul" by St. John of the Cross. It is a desperate journey that moves you beyond the childlike euphoria of initial awakening, into the deep ocean of self-annihilation which is necessary for true God-realization. I love the commentary by Mirabai Starr: This is a path of annihilation of the ego. But we must first be brought home to ourselves before we can bear to see our nothingness before God…It is less for those who are struggling to find themselves than it is for the ones who have a clear sense of self and are ready to purify it… This is a path for those who use their suffering as a tool for transformation. In the dark night of each soul, we are simultaneously annihilated and immeasurably strengthened. -
In no particular order, if I was sorting through your thoughts as if I was you: What makes you think that he is truly happy, as opposed to putting on a facade? Or that he is not simply experiencing the absence of pain due to suppression and consequent numbness? For example: if you took away all of his toys and put him alone in a room for a while... how long would it take for him to fall into pieces (and to be reduced to a childish stub of a person) due to being forced to be around himself and his own psyche? And what would be left of him after this? IMO, even speaking moderately from personal experience as my upbringing was very harsh and emotionally suppressive in many ways: you can't have that kind of harsh, stitled tone when you talk all the time... and actually be capable of real happiness. And that tone is likely the result of someone who has taken all of his vulnerable, most childish emotions, thoughts, dreams, and impulses, and just CRUSHED it down into near-nothingness so he can "be a man". Happiness expresses itself in the body as being a sort of ease and expansive quality, generally. This can be seen in people's body language, and generally, it's very easy to spot in the way that people can usually tell a fake smile from a genuine smile.... what do you think? There are multiple versions of "fierce" spirituality embodied well but this is not what it looks like, IMO. First and foremost: It FLOWS freely. It is not so stilted and tense. This particular microcosm of the internet tends to really emphasize "absolute responsibility" over your reality more than other places. Perhaps it's the self-help bent? There are a ton of upsides to this stance, even in taking it to an extreme, but it's also a recipe for absolute misery for everything that you have somehow failed to address and account for. You can delay this with temporary copes, but eventually it comes back to you, like pulling a rubber band and it snapping against your wrist. And when it does, it hits hard. Even with the numbness. And guess what? It never ends. By definition, you cause yourself suffering in this way if you don't learn how to loosen your grip a bit. In general, living in a state where one is taking a narrow, aggressive, goal-orientated focus is not actually that conducive for happiness. Because all there ever is... is "right now". But it is conducive for bailing yourself out of situations and creating new ones, with the way that he is using it. In my experience, to be happy while also having goals and objectives is to embrace all the meaning and pleasure you take in your purpose... but RIGHT NOW. Not later. Now. Actually, are you aware that Buddhism also advocates for total personal responsibility? (That this is what ends "karma", which is mainly really just referring to the cycle of entanglements in causes and effects?:) Hinduism (at least theoretically) operates on the same principle.
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Razard86 replied to Razard86's topic in Spirituality, Consciousness, Awakening, Mysticism, Meditation, God
Well that is a deep question. Every POV has truth because every POV is literally truth, it just is seeing and experiencing truth from a particular perspective. As a POV grows its ability to see truth expands, so yes Buddhism holds truth. The problem is Buddhism doesn't incorporate the Love aspect of reality, it emphasizes the void, the nothingness, but it doesn't emphasize that the nothingness is also desire, which is Love. It doesn't emphasize that the void is desire, but desire at the highest level, the desire that is without distinction, infinite peace. The ultimate truth, is there are no levels, no progress, and every POV is always equal no matter what it does. That everything is just a game, a play, and the only reason awakening exists is to become aware of this. After that, you can pretty much live your life how you wanted because now you can finally live in peace. Most don't get authentic rest until their dream ends, with awakening you can rest in the present moment. So yes Buddhism holds truth, but they forget the love aspect/don't emphasize it. -
caspex replied to Someone here's topic in Spirituality, Consciousness, Awakening, Mysticism, Meditation, God
@Someone here What's right here is that nothingness. I am not trying to preach non-duality but you gotta apply that here. What you observe is nothingness and so are you. Worrying about the universe suddenly changing states into nothingness can only come from a lack of understanding that it's already nothing. Yes, you don't know if you're making sense or not, you're only believing it because you see others replying coherently to your thread. But how do you figure if they are being coherent or not? Through your own sense making no? How do you know that's coherent? Through others? That's circular reasoning. By chaos I mean complete inconsistency. How would you ever know if reality isn't already completely insane but you just, being insane, think it's sane? What I meant was how do you know if the past even happened? Worrying about whether the past happened to begin with is the primary concern, and only after answering that could you worry about, will the future be consistent? -
caspex replied to Someone here's topic in Spirituality, Consciousness, Awakening, Mysticism, Meditation, God
How'd ya know the universe hasn't collapsed into nothingness already? How do you know you are speaking coherently and making sense? You don't know if any of your thoughts are rational or not. You don't know if your idea of rational is rational or not. How do you know you're not in complete and utter chaos right now. You don't. I think worrying about consistency should be done more like this. What happens physically should be a secondary issue. You can worry about whether the sun will rise tomorrow after figuring out if it ever rose to begin with. -
Carl-Richard replied to Someone here's topic in Spirituality, Consciousness, Awakening, Mysticism, Meditation, God
Nothing stops reality from just collapsing into nothingness right now. Nothing to worry about though -
Moksha replied to Galyna's topic in Spirituality, Consciousness, Awakening, Mysticism, Meditation, God
I agree, but these ideas can be derived from a partial awakening. You can directly realize nothingness, or the Consciousness that you are, without the deeper realization that Consciousness is all, including the universe that it creates. The problem is, people may have these partial realizations and then build a theory on it, which locks them into a conceptual framework that prevents a full awakening. -
Salvia is another thing. It's outside the spectrum of regular psychedelics. I haven't tried the dmt's but hope they are less brutal. Still in shock a bit, but I want it to write it fresh. I hit it twice. Then lay down. Next thing happening is me exiting this reality. I couldn't even locate the one freaking out because it wasn't me, that flesh and bones, I just felt the breathing of the body drawing in the nothingness but I couldn't ubicate myself or nothing, it's just so radical, you forget you took salvia, you forget everything. After this brutal peak, the ego after the punch of salvia gets wild and I take out a peace of robe I had in my eyes to have complete darkness. Then I watch the room in a weird psychedelic distortion while shouting mantras, like they would kind of save me of the ego death. After this whole drama I go back to it. Some family members popped in visuals and anxiety of my parents just randomly rocking into my room even though they are not home. Then the Salvia spirit just pops in and starts telling me how we are supposed to work like this if I am full of fears and anxieties. Then I tell her how am I supposed to react after that, then it becomes obvious I am just a child and that reaction is of a child, and then kind of shows me that I am a whole bunch of cables all distorted in a big mess and reality and infinite thread that can created in nowness but all lead to duality. Then pulls me to consciousness and I'm in a kind of existencial appreciation of duality while it is disappearing into the nothing in the nothing, how all this conglomerate of cables are just a drama. Then I have my peak state as God, just grasping the consciousness of that moment in shock. The dream of this life, of this reality, what death really is, how consciousness is encapsulated in the "body" and how it leaves it through the spine and exits in the crown towards infinite, like watching your body as a spec of dust knowing it is not you and it never has been. Consciousness itself engrossed in the crown entering the spine and expanding into the five sense, experience and mind as this big conglomerate of threads. When I was more into the body but still feeling my consciousness state, salvia spirit pop backs and my body-mind just starts appreciating deeply duality and the beauty of it. It's very hard to explain transcendentalism and relativity simultaneously as both your doing and just being conscious of it. The trip evolves then to Salvia asking me is this really what you want, to know you are God. Still with shit in my pants and profoundly, existentialy shocked I start shouting yes like a fanatic. Even though, it was as brutal and as radical as anything I have experienced this is the path and I fully embrace it. Then I understood why Leo is more about the peaks of consciousness than raising base line consciousness. If you happen to read this, I am telling you, that peak is beyond any base line, go for the peak, go for it, all it's a joke when you have that peak. While my consciousness was kend of getting tuned in again in my body through the spine my body mind ego was like thanks god, the full personality that was disolved kind of getting created again like o my god I see the profound beauty of reality of doing the regular life, I'm so grateful I can fucking work and be in duality. Then as God I see, oh that's why I have done it. Then my ego seeing that this procces is about itself killing itself to get to God and then me as God like lol I am God let me be a random dude in a generated existance. I just see the joke of it all. Anyway, be careful with Salvia. VERY CAREFUL. We don't listen I know, we just randomly go reading these posts and going on with our life but listen here, Salvia can unzip reality like water is wet. And the moment you leave the pipe while the smoke is still in your lungs you will know. I found Salvia extremely helpful in the path but only if you are dead serious about it. How to know if we are dead serious, you are not, you hit that salvia and feel like a child and get humbled down. Then if you are not profoundlky traumatized depending of the dose you do the radical work of realizing you are God. Now with 30min perspective is amazing, my first ego death and consciousness realization but it's too radical, radical beyond what the limited body faculty of imagination can do to grasp it. It's beautiful but it's too radical, it just depends on you, after getting fucked by Salvia fully if in the come down it asks you is really God-Realization what you want? Hope you shout like a freak yes, otherwise enjoy this beautiful duality, it has a sense to be trust me, it's amazing the way it is, you don't need at all oneness, oneness came to be duality and duality exists to go to oneness. It's a rabit loop hole of relative and transcendental. Sorry for any spelling errors, english is not my main language and I'm still settling down.