I’m afraid of being gullible when being open to new ideas?

[Forestluv]

22 minutes ago, Drake72 said:

@Forestluv I’m not trying to smart off yes ik that’s happening now but that just makes it all sound like you’re saying the obvious is a the goal here but if enlightenment is a thing then there should be something different from normal experience other wise that would be like chasing your tail and calling it life changing 

This is a spiritual paradox. . . 

You have one part down - the part that there is a thing I am missing. I'm not saying that is wrong, it is one side of the coin. I'm saying that there is an awakening that cannot be found in a timeline - it can only be found Here and Now. 

Consider the below two lines. The horizontal line is a timeline, to the left is the past and to the right is the future. The point the lines cross is what you would call "Here and Now". Yet you are seeing it as a dot. Of course the dot will be "obvious" and "boring" if the mind is consumed within the horizontal timeline that some magical thing exists not Here and Now. Such a mindset will miss the vertical line. Notice how long that vertical line is - it actually continues into infinity. There is a whole new reality to be explored within the line - as much as the horizontal timeline. Yet most people get immersed within thought stories and imaginations of past and future. 

In terms of knowing and intuition, you know what is Here and Now is Truth infinitely more than you know any thing outside Here and Now to be true. It isn't even a close contest. Yet this is unpalatable to a mind that is seeking. I'm not saying seeking is wrong, it is part of the human experience. I'm saying that there is an awakening that the journey is also the destination.

Imagine seeking hours for your glasses to realize they were on your face the whole time. . . 

 

[Drake72]

@Forestluv interesting so the “goal” here is to get the astonishment that kids have from being aware of what’s below all of the thought stories? I’ve heard all of this before but I feel refreshed 

[Drake72]

The only “concrete” evidence ik of is monks being brain scanned I guess that’s enough and sort of what I’m looking for. I’m also wanting to hear other peoples experiences if they notice any strong differences “see for yourself” isn’t assuring lol 

[Intraplanetary]

6 minutes ago, Byun Sean said:

apply your own skeptical thinking to your own skepticism ideology. What if thats not true?

Also the Truth is simply what is the case and always has been and will be no matter how much you question or believe one way or another. You can never hurt the Truth by questioning it.

Only falsehood needs to be defended from being questioned further. Your fear of opening up to new ideas already smells of falsehood and ideology. This is not a negative thing. This means there is room for more growth.

Your not believing in crazy nonsense when you open up to new ideas. You are simply opening up to the possibility of your worldview being incorrect and that another idea could potentially be true. Your being flexible. Your not making any conclusions one way or the other because you are admitting at this point that you simply do not know what is true.

If you realize you truly do not know and you acknowledge it. This is amazing because now the pursuit of actual Truth can begin whatever that may be.

Most people don't care about the Truth. The Truth is very dangerous to the ego. 

Thanks, this makes so much sense. I struggle with confusion, hence scepticism too. It really is extraordinary challenging to embrace and navigate through confusion and not-knowing. It's like not having stability, flouting in the unknow. Ego simply doesn't want this as it's scary. Sometimes it feels like I'm a bit cuckoo from questioning so much and not getting any solid, assuring answers.

[Forestluv]

4 minutes ago, Drake72 said:

@Forestluv interesting so the “goal” here is to get the astonishment that kids have from being aware of what’s below all of the thought stories? I’ve heard all of this before but I feel refreshed 

This is one of the major "doors" that can be opened. 

Kids sorta have it. They can leave the timeline and enter a world of Here and Now. When we let go of the thought stories, we can go deep and expansive. Yet kids are also missing something. They can get so immersed into Here and Now that they aren't even aware of it!

Have you ever gotten into a "flow state of consciousness" or "in the zone?". So immersed into Here and Now that you forgot about yourself and time. Perhaps playing a sport or a musical instrument. It's like the trumpet is playing itself. Then we snap back out of it and our personal self returns with all of our stories and worries. . . Being in that "flow state" is beautiful - yet rarely are people aware of it while they are in it. 

[Drake72]

@Intraplanetary Yeah he explained well without confusion I’m glad it’s helping other people 

[Forestluv]

3 minutes ago, Intraplanetary said:

It really is extraordinary challenging to embrace and navigate through confusion and not-knowing. It's like not having stability, flouting in the unknown. Ego simply doesn't want this as it's scary. Sometimes it feels like I'm a bit cuckoo from questioning so much and not getting any solid, assuring answers.

Imagine being in a raft floating down a river. It can feel unstable. It's very different than solid ground. Yet after enough experience, one can actually forget they are in a raft floating down a river. It can seem just as grounded as the earth. And it can be exciting and exploration. The water and scenery is constantly changing.  Imagine how boring it would be to be fixed solid in the earth. 

It is a balance between the two. Ying and Yang. Groundless and Grounded in harmony together. 

[Intraplanetary]

love your metaphor.

3 minutes ago, Forestluv said:

It is a balance between the two.

it's always the balance... 

[yetineti]

One of the best things I’ve ever heard Leo say is ‘You have to be skeptical of your skepticism.’

Some personally examples of doing that is asking myself questions about why I’m asking questions. It’s simpler than it sounds.

Ex: Why did I choose to question this topic?

Do I have some bias or reason for questioning this topic?

What is my history with this topic/could my history with this topic have caused the feeling of needing to question it/be skeptical of it?

Questions like this allow me to become conscious of why I am skeptical of something. Sometimes I find out I don’t need to be skeptical and I’m over thinking, sometimes I feel I’ve already used a sufficient amount of skepticism and remain content or sometimes I realize I do have a reason to be skeptical about something and I keep question it.

Ultimately I think it’s good to worry about being gullible - just moderately and with consideration..

[Death_]

@Drake72 Be skeptical in more conscious way.