Aaron p

@phllip103 ok so if your looking into enlightenment, "do nothing" will not raise your consciousness anywhere near as fast as self enquiry. Fuck the do nothing technique. Do self enquiry. Not only does this work faster, I find (the more still I am during *this* technique) I go into a trance and forget that my leg is numb and my back is sore. I don't even know about it. So self enquiry (for enlightenment/raising of consciousness) is much more advantageous for you. Breath meditation and "do nothing" perform as helpful supliments for your self enquiry, but should not be regarded as the primary practise. You'll not get enlightened. You need to EXCAVATE yourself (the person you think you are) and remove the false beliefs of your identity. ***There is no teaching, there is no teacher, there is no student. The only reason you are here if to find out *WHO YOU ARE* *** (Also: you can't be stuck, who is the one who is observing the 'stuckness'? You have to find certain ways of asking yourself who/what/where you are. For example, it might be easier to word it like this "if my heart was removed and replaced with a different heart, would my existence also be removed and replaced with a new existence? [Observe the direct experience and return to the natural sense that of "I exist"]. Or another way you could word your questions could be "if my happiness were to fade away, would my existence also fade away?" Using different phraseology for different parts of "you" can be very helpful) Remember...no teaching, just find out who you are. Anything more than this is wrong

1. I think what your asking here is what I refer to as "spiritual knowledge." When you are operating at the most basic levels of your own existence (i.e the experiential sense of just "being") you can use logic to determine that you are not that which you observe. The reason you need to use this "anti-knowledge" (so to speak) is because the observer cannot be observed. (A knife cannot cut itself, a fire cannot burn itself). Therefore you can acquire this negative-knowledge that I call spiritual knowledge. However this kind of knowledge is both the most necessary and the most dangerous. It's the most dangerous because it's so tempting to believe. Even though you know the answers to the question you ask yourself within self enquiry, you must allow your mind to answer with whatever it feels like. When your mind takes a snapshot/memory of the truth, you no longer have the truth...you have you memory of the truth. 2. You cannot look at awareness and you cannot find awareness. You need to constantly revert back to the direct experience (always in the now), the *feeling* of being. That's your grounding. How you know your awareness is is seperate to your mind is by process of elimination. A typical enquiry into the mind (for me) goes like this: "What am I?" "I am mind." "What part of my mind is me?" "All of it." "Ok well let's pinpoint different parts then. Give me one part." "The memory." "If my memory, as a whole, were to fade away...would my existence also fade away?" [Observe the present experience of being] "No, i would remain here." "Therefore am I the memory?" "No." ... And this is what you do, you'll eventually realise (subconsciously) that your not your mind or body and that's enlightenment. 3. There's lots of ways you could shoot this question. And lots of ways you could answer it. You mind (ideologies) wrap around reality in real time, which means everything you look at in the present moment is tainted with false ideologies and it feels real. Also outside of the present moment, all you have is memories. Which arent reality either. But then you enquire into your own self to discover that your mind, body and whole existence is all being observed by you. There is nothing that exists other than consciousness. But it's important that you do not lean onto what I am saying as a belief during your spiritual practises. 4. Overcome the mind. But you do not overcome the mind by trying to overcome the mind ("trying" to overcome the mind, IS STILL THE MIND) The only thing you need to concern yourself with is "who are you". Work on making sure your technique is perfect and you'll be on your way to death/enlightenment in no time.

@isabel "if everything is in the mind how do you go beyond your mind?" Right...you need to be really clever when your looking into questions about enlightenment and such. For example you cannot believe that everything is a belief, because that itself is a belief. Be careful to make sure you don't believe anything anyone here says (that will be the biggest rut you'll get stuck in.) You are not meant to try to "go beyond your mind." It took me ages to get this down, super confusing at first. But just trust it. The ONLY kind of questions that will be beneficial for you (the real you) to ask are self enquiry questions in the present moment each time. The whole idea is that you are that which does not change. Which is logical. If your shirt is removed, is your existence also removed? No. You are still there, even though your shirt is not there...therefore your shirt is not "You." It's that simple. And that's it! Anything more and your going off track. It's very tempting to *try* to attain the results of meditation because of how expansive and effective the results are. But DO NOT seek the results of enlightenment or meditation. ONLY enquire into *who* it is that desires the results. "There is no teaching, no teacher, no pupil. You are only here to find out who you are." - Papaji If you do anything more than this, you will find yourself moving off track. The kinds of questions your asking can be insighful but theyre not to do with enlightenment.

@omTom what do binaural beats actually do?

@Greg O i don't know about you, but when enlightenment takes place within me I'm Gona be using my spiritual wisdom as much as possible to help people. However this is not my goal, enlightenment is my goal. Nothing else. I think it would be better to see this story for its principles, as opposed to its literal content (like you would do with the Bible as a spiritual seeker). Don't worry about what happens after enlightenment, I have no doubt both of our expectations for enlightenment will be CATASTROPHICALLY underestimated. From my glimpses, it's not just good....it's not just bliss, it's like...the concept of "bliss" shits itself at the raw presence of god...to literally BE God with a capital G. I've said it before, what we are doing here is rather literally, creating prophets of God. You will know what you need to do when you are enlightened.

@purerogue word

Sounds like a good definition to me. But this won't get you enlightened, probably better asking "who is the one who desires to understand integrity." And who is the one who observed the answer to that question? The reason I am so strict (with myself also) is because we very easily drift from the purity of the simple aim of meditation and enlightenment and start focusing on menial things. We are, after all, in an enlightenment/meditation thread. Use everything to your advantage. everything that isint bring enlightenment is pushing it away, and enlightenment is the only thing that matters. Without enlightenment, everything else is false.

God is much more internal that what you think. But remember brother, do not have beliefs. Especially spiritual ones about god and truth. We are removing beliefs, do not be tricked into believing the truth. Only observe it, don't touch it. Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The one and absolute ONLY teaching you need is this: There is no teaching. You are only here to find out who you are. Anything more than this, will trick you

I agree with that there^ It's generally true that if your trying to change something about something, u gotta shake it up loads. I think it's easier to let of the idea that I understand reality when I see what's possible with my consciousness. My mate is growing some psychedelic shrooms. And I cannot WAIT to eat them bad boys during a retreat. #ShakeItUp, freak your mind out a bit to give it a kick up the ass into the realisation that it's not as big and strong as it thinks it is

@Inliytened1 the way I see it...we need to conquer the whole universe before we help other people do it. If you don't know how to swim, jumping out of a boat to help a drowning man will only pull him down. Moral of the story? I should have spent years teaching *myself* how to swim first

You'd probably be best informing a friend of what you intend on doing incase you start tripping balls. If your really worried you could arrange for them to phone you. I've never did lsd but mate...I want 2 lol. But yes, because the trip feels so real it's good to know you've got plenty of time and nothing to fear. But yes, having a friend on standby incase is just good

@Aaron p @Hugo Ferraro a lot of these questions sound very mystical as if they have some deep meaning, resist the temptation to understand it in some spiritual-mystical way. For ages I got stuck *looking for a deep answer* when gurus told me to ask "who is the one who observes." Looking for something will never work, because looking for something carrys with it, some kind of idea about what your looking for. That sneaky idea will fuck you up. But yes I find grass helps me to. Who is the one who wants to look?

@Hugo Ferraro so your going after awakening. Good, me 2. But yo, check it out...don't be dooped by knowledge. Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, instead eat directly from the tree of life. What do I mean by this...you talked about how your "growing to understand Leo's language and teachings." Good man, but it's super easy to get distracted by knowledge. Your focus should only EVER be on "WHO AM I". Anything and everything else is bullcrap to be quickly forgotten. A certain degree of spiritual ideology is required...you need to have some sort of idea of "meditation" or "enlightenment" otherwise you would have no reason to continue. But do not ask questions like "how can I train will more effectively." Only ask "who is the one who desires to train more effectively?" "If the desire to have more effective techniques were to fade away, would my existence also fade away? [No] therefore is this desire me? [No] This is extremely difficult to see the first while...but the only teaching you need to remember is this: "No teaching, no teacher, no student. We are only here to find out who you are." That is awakening. Took me 4 months to get that. It's 100% reliable to practise by. It's very literal, there is no teaching (that will be beneficial for you anyway.) Also, enlightenment is easy...it's just not easy right now. This sounds stupid, but it only becomes possible *as you do it.* It's like those double doors in banks where. The second door only opens when the first door is closed (for safety reasons). But it would be impossible to just enter the bank directly, you must go in, wait for the outside door to close...and only after your halfway through it will the second door open. So, doing it will enable you to do it essentially

@Hellspeed I have come to the understanding that everything is true and false at the same time. There is much more, but all things come back to "i"

Papaji (a direct devotee of Ramana Maharshi) was asked in an interview, "What would be your most important teaching in a sentence or two?" He replied, "No teaching, no teacher, no pupil. We are here only to find out who you are." It actually takes quite alot of enquiry work to realise how perfect and accurate this quote is.

"No teaching, no teacher, no pupil. The only reason you are here is to find out who you are." - Papaji

Matthew 15:11 "What goes into someone's mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them." But this is the wrong question if your asking it with enlightenment in mind. The only questions you need to concern yourself with are ones that point straight to the source. Who is the one who has the desire to be a vegetarian? If this desire faded away, would my existence fade away also? Therefore is this desire me? Also, nothing is crucial for enlightenment. Infact if you believe that something is critical for it, you will be thrown severely off course. Who is the one who is interested in finding out what is crucial for enlightenment? "No teaching, no teacher, no pupil. You are here only to find out who you are."

@isabel dont get too attached to termonologies like these mate...do NOT fall into the trap of "searching" for something or "letting go" of something. You cannot search for something if you do not know what it is your searching for, therefore "searching" brings with it the subconscious idea of what your searching for. And ideas are what we are avoiding here. Nothing outside of the direct experience is true reality. (Note: words/concepts are not direct experience) therefore, regarding your question "what is acceptance" do not accept anything...ask: who is one who is trying to accept? It was observed after all, wasn't it? Or (my personal favourite)...ask: If this 'trying to accept' were to fade away, would my existence fade away? (Very powerful). It's a tricky one because your not meant to look for anything... The following is the single most important teaching within all of spirituality: "No teaching, no teacher, no pupil. You are here to find out who you are."

I'd like a handful of people to just comment how long it takes to reach the point of ego death. From either yourself or someone else you know, what do you guys think would be the ballpark timeframe for reaching this state (for someone who has dedicated themselves to enlightenment with self enquiry every day)? On average. Ur answer doesent need to be big

@non_nothing I might have to give that book a read, who's it by?

I @Leo Gura ive been spending a lot of time ensuring my technique is perfect all of the time so to ensure I'm squeezing all the juice out of each meditation. I'm aware of a lot of traps and pit falls in my own mind. For me, this is all that matters now. I really want to get DMT and take it after a 10 day solo retreat (in silence). I also want to visit an enlightened teacher in a different country who i admire greatly. I don't want to overcomplicate myself either...spread my focus too much and dilute its strength. I can assure you, my practise is serious, I work towards deeper levels of genuineness within myself and the methods I'm using are the ones you recommend. I am serious about it like

I know what your saying, I agree. I've noticed a deep disconnection with a lot of areas in my life. I find myself not needing my friends as much, not needing religion at all anymore, not needing family (I accidentally didn't talk to my mum for 2 months haha). I've definitely noticed that large parts of me have just instantly became a lot weaker. I hope this is the death taking place in different areas of my life.

@Sahil Pandit for the first 3 months I literally didn't know what I was doing when I went in to meditate and enquire. I kept myself in the dark because the feeling of assurance I had in my heart was so real. I was operating in a out 98% confusion. It's only now I feel guided to even look at my knowledge. The Almighty Self has shown me that knowledge is actually my friend, it's what awareness rides on. Without Aaron Patterson, the I Am would not be here (not experientially). I haven't experienced much confusion in the last week or so, which is concerning. By no means am I suffering unbearably yet. However, it took a lot of suffering to get me out of religion. I had to topple that tower first. Even when my time to suffer comes, something in me will know to keep going no matter what. Know what I'm saying bro

@purerogue My mind is making it seem like it's impossible to achieve...but I know if I leave my life behind it will happen. I honestly don't want it to take long, but I'd definitely be willing to spend my entire life at it. Something within myself allows me to grasp the magnitude of enlightenment. I know that it is literally the only thing that matters. Everything else feels like shit. I'm not depressed, it feels like I'm just 'clear' (regarding the big picture of my life). I don't really wana waste it. It would be such a fuckin waste to spend 80 years just working a little job, pretending like I enjoy family dinners, and doing some cool drugs and banging some nice girls. Such a waste. I want to be able to motherfucking SEE!!!!!!!! I want to live. I look forward to the day I'm shitting myself about to die, I want to feel every bit of it. Cuz it's not me. Not who I truly am.

@Serotoninluv I had a feeling this was Gona be brought up...i know there will come a point where I have to go completely all in, or leave it. Somehow I know that enlightenment is the only thing that matters. I have a deep witness within me, I know i'll either get enlightened or die trying But yes, I think I definitely need DMT. I'm also looking into that "1000" book about the highest levels of consciousness. But by this point I'm hooked...I've tasted it lol. It's gooooooooooooooooooooooodddddddd I like it a LOT. I'm Gona try get dmt. Thanks for the reply mate