seeking_brilliance

The Cost of Our Assumptions Chapter Three: 28-30 3:28 Two main cultural assumptions arise and play off each other, our assumptions of not-knowing (that it's bad) and our view of self (we realize we don't know what self is, but then think that's bad.) So doing what any good little cultural not-knower, we make shit up and are left with a conceptual self that is taken as true and real. Just these two interplaying tandems are so powerful we are not even close to an experience of real being. 3:29 The author has boiled down five main effects of this interplay, effects that arise as perceived negative conditions : Emptiness, Self-doubt, feeling trapped, suffering, and struggling. 3:30 Everyone experiences these conditions at various degrees and predispositions, but basically all five can be found in operation amongst anyone. Emptiness Chapter Three: 31-32 3:31 (Growing up, I was taught that people who didn't find god were roaming around with this emptiness in their heart, a void that could only be successfully filled with God's love. The 'sinners' would try anything to fill it: work, drugs, sex, gambling, etc. ) Here the author states that this is a basic condition of all cultural individuals: with physical effects such as a rift in the heart, a void in the pit of your stomach, or a hole or incompleteness in the very core of your being. 3:32 This is accompanied with the sense that you are alone, even in a crowd. (In other words, you don't feel like anyone understands you and you are so cut off from everyone else they can never help you and they might as well not exist) Self Doubt Chapter Three: 33-34 3:33 This is referring to a deeper self doubt than just not believing in your art or work, this is at the core a complete feeling of inauthenticity. That the big answers are out there and you are left out of the loop. 3:34 So to find ourselves, we tend to try and improve our self image. This is just adding more shit to the dung pile of BS, while our true authentic self is getting buried deeper and deeper.

@Alfonsoo nothing, I just mean you might attract other religious people and not the one you have in mind. You don't really know how ready he is. It's very hard to let go of a complete faith in God.

((Reading music, or you can listen to it before reading to settle the mind)) The Self in Our Culture Chapter Three: 24-27 3:24 Since the beginning of culture, we've tried to answer the question of "what is self?" But being a culture based on knowledge, this is unanswerable through knowledge so we just make stuff up. 3:25-26 We keep looking at 'being' as related to 'knowing'. As if our being can somehow be known, if we just try hard enough. The idea that we simply can't know being, and it must be experienced instead, does not sit well with culture. Religions attempt to find the meaning of life but are still wrongly based on trying to know. 3:27 The most we get out of knowing is the ability to live a conceptual life. It is not truly satisfying (although it definitely goes through the range of emotions and thrills of drama.)

words are symbols, we just don't think of them that way because we think of symbols as visual objects. Words are symbols and the symbols "mean something" which gets translated by mind into something meaningful. It developed as a means to distinguish meanings and ideas. Animals communicate more with their body movements, eyes, and sometimes vocally, but don't have the right brain development for reasoning.

Either you are transmuting all that energy, or saving up for a nice big one. It could come like a theif in the night, if you aren't ready it will rob you blind. Stay present and prepared, but also enjoy your freedom.

@Alfonsoo trust the old saying, if they are ready, they will come (and the teachings or help will find them.) they may not necessarily do this before the body withers. If you set bait, it would draw out those who are ready, and it may not be this stage green person that you like.

I agree. This is the only place on the internet I have found that the collective consciousness is much higher than my own, helping to raise my own vibration and gives me a media to do so. It is, in my opinion, the perfect echo chamber for this work, and that includes any of its flaws. I have learned so much here, and even though I don't watch Leo's videos, I applaud him for creating this space. Thanks!

((Reading music, or you can listen to it before reading to settle the mind)) ___________________________________________________________________ Not-knowing in our culture Chapter Three: 15-23 3:15-16 As a cultural assumption that goes largely unquestioned, is that ignorance or not-knowing is bad. We build biases around this idea and shame those for being ignorant. When we notice it in ourselves, we are ashamed and get upset. 3:17 Not-knowing cannot be prevented. It exists around us already non-stop. The trick is to change our relationship with it. 3:18 Not-knowing is not a concept. (the word is a concept to describe something indescribable. It is itself, a primary being. It is prior to knowing. In culture, we avoid not-knowing like a plague. It’s a built in function of the evolution of culture and society. We come across it countless times but ignore it and chose to give the dramatic attention to the knowing counterpart. 3:19 The author isn't denouncing "knowing", but is saying that not-knowing is the source of creativity and knowledge. It is the "ever-present aspect of being. " It can appear in different forms, just as having nothing, ignorance, or a disconnect from the universe. (whereas knowing would be connecting). We consider not-knowing a defect, but it is not. 3:20 We are asked to consider not-knowing as a state, and not an absence of something. Its an empty state of being. Harmless, and beneficial, like being calm. (I personally like to call it openness, as in being open to input.) 3:21 In the state of not-knowing, we instantly bypass all the cultural mumbo jumbo that's been controlling every aspect of our lives, as well as and also any other 'knowing' we may have had. It is here we finally find our true, authentic self, unformed and open. The author refers to it as the real-self. 3:22-23 Trying to know just leads to too much spinning wheels and suffering. Our negative relationship with not-knowing just adds fuel to the fire. As we begin to question our assumptions in daily practice, it becomes clear that we have been taking these assumptions as reality. When we identify an assumption we should open up to not-knowing and "seek out a more genuine experience."

One of the problems is that kids are already lost, and are part of the cultural matrix the moment they begin mimicking (infantry)... But an innocence remains, that blissful uncertainty of what's next. The uncertainty remains but adults learn to fear it. Kids also are not yet bored and disillusioned with reality. They don't know who they are and it's amazing. Adults pretend to know who they are, and that's just the nail in the coffin. Self inquiry exposes these assumptions as works of fiction. It would be hard to convince society not to let kids grow up too fast, and of course kids grow at different speeds. But I think it's imperative to give kids better coping mechanisms and maybe just teach them it's OK to be fluid. A rigid identity is suffocating.

@Johnny5 that's it, I'm buying a new hugging body pillow. @blankisomeone do you know how to move energy? Find where the tension of 'feeling shitty' is manifesting in the body (heart?), feel the energy pooling there and then spread it out, preferably down to your toes. Can send some to throat and head for a refill but not too much of this shitty energy.

@Zigzag Idiot awesome, thanks for sharing! I think, at least in my case, that when I say "I am going to die" I really mean that the body will cease to function and wither. I really don't know what I'll do. Whoever that is. (me) BUT!!! its still a belief, because even though we've observed it with other bodies, we have not actually observed it with the body in question. We are just making an (educated) assumption.

We Are Culture Chapter Three:1-14 3:1 Everyone feels, on some deep, mostly hidden level, some anguish and angst about our fear of inauthenticity. We tend to ignore it, cover it up, or blame the feeling on something that has happened to us. 3:2 A way to cover it up is to adopt beliefs and knowledge. These contribute to a 'better' sense of self, but does nothing to the core condition. The more we adopt, the further from our source and inner peace we stray. 3:3-4 This apparently is all thanks to our culture. Culture is what controls and constructs our frame of mind. This consensus type thinking may unite communities but is just a bunch of assumptions that is like building a house on sand. There is nothing sturdy there to set the framework. Cultural beliefs can make you feel temporarily better, and sometimes the opposite, but does nothing to really get to the core issue of inauthenticity. 3:5 'Cultured' originally meant a refined taste and appreciation of the arts. Somehow it began to describe a collective viewpoint of any group of people (no matter how big or small). It still holds the air of meaning that these collective viewpoints are refined; and they are, since cultural beliefs are a type of organic evolution. 3:6-7 Culture is an imaginary phenomenon, meaning it only exists in the minds of those people. It is not a real thing. It is completely imaginary, and yet defines every aspect of our lives: such as idea, actions, biases, methods, which way to look first when crossing the street, how to pet your dog, etc. We are born into culture and I'm going to go out on a limb and say that to be an individual person, you can't separate from it. Culture is literally the person and the hive. The one and the many. Hmm… 3:8-9 Cultural programming is imaginary, yet is as natural to us as the air we breathe. The author mentions gender stereotypes for example. These cultural assumptions are constantly reinforced and become synonymous with 'truth'. 3:10 Culture is necessary for structured communities to thrive,( but unfortunately it was not programmed into culture to realize that its all a fallacy.) The important questions we ask here on Actualized.org, like "who am I? why am I here?" are important to cultures, but they are answered with cultural answers, causing formation of dogmatic and sometimes deadly religions. 3:11 The human mind craves knowledge so much, it will literally just start making shit up to satisfy. And we eat it like candy. This is a universal trait, so all around the world this is found in every culture. 3:12-13 Its painful to question our beliefs, be they deep, great, or small. Naturally, we just brush the idea that they are just beliefs under the rug and live in the imaginary reality we're creating. We may even know in the back of our minds that this and that is just a belief, but we still operate from a mode of "its truth". This is source of much unnecessary suffering. 3:14 There are two categories of cultural assumptions which we will focus on for now: 1. how we view not-knowing-- as ignorance and adopting beliefs in lieu of experiencing truth. 2. assumptions regarding 'self', which result in adopting and preserving the false conceptual self.

Empty Your Cup Exercise Chapter Two:34-36 The idea is to list everything that you think you know, and investigate whether it is actually known or a belief. Its not meant to be done all at once but to become a living practice, so I will just list a few. I encourage any study group readers to list a few things as well. @Zigzag Idiot @Vitamine Water 1: The sky is blue. Ok, well is it? What we call blue is what I see nearly every day when I look at the sky, so this seems like an easy point for a known. Then again the sky is also black, at night; which according to science is the true 'color' of it, that whole blue thing is just an illusion. And black isn't even a color. And really there isn't even a sky, its all just an illusion of ozone barrier around the earth, which in turn turns the oceans blue, which in turn makes the planet look blue from space, deeming it the 'blue planet.' And now my head hurts…. Final determination: belief. 2: Pizza hut sells pizza. Well this seems pretty easy to answer. I've bought pizza hut many times over the years and they definitely sell pizza. Of course this all hinges on the beliefs that there is an entity called pizza hut and the food item they sale is called pizza- but for now I think this is an easy known. Final determination: known. 3. I'm a white middle-aged male. I mean… pretty much, yeah. I have experiences of all of those statements. The assumptions come in what is white(caucasion), what is middle-aged, what is a male, and what is this "I'm"? Final determination: a known belief. Ok fine, just belief. 4. I am more than the body. Ok this assumes theres a body and that I am also this body, but I can definitely say I'm more than that (If I am that). This is from direct experience exploring immaterial worlds. Final determination: known-ish (based on the probable belief that I am also the body)

@QandC perhaps you dropped habitual labelling and finally saw for the first time with new eyes. I can imagine that would be very profound

Our reality is created and defined by beliefs, assumptions, and biases. These are like overlays; like playing an augmented reality game which blends with what's really there before you. These biases create veils over truth. Shadowy cloaks in which we play dress up. Clothing. Our clothing can be masculine, or feminine. flirty, trendy, smart, bold, nice, funny, pretty, and clean. or they can be plain, poor, worn, heavy, gaudy, ragged, or just plain ugly! We wear many clothes. Sometimes we change several times in a day! But no matter how much our (physical) clothes represent attributes of ourselves, we never mistake them as our true selves. No! that's the body, right? Maybe its not the body either. But we wear too many clothes to find out. We don't even see the body. First we must undress. As the popular Christian saying goes: we must stand naked before God. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. --Genesis 2:25 We must become as little children, or as Adam and Eve in the perfect garden, before the fall. The fall, by the way, was putting on clothes. But no matter which clothes you wear, be it red, yellow, blue or gold- all clothing shares the same goal: Clothing is meant to come off. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there: the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21) “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” (1 Timothy 6:7)

@mandyjw love it! I knew there was probably a reference in thomas

@WaveInTheOcean along with the contemplation of what could have been different ?

@Dryas do you get it now? What you believe to be yourself is a coat of many colors. It's pretty, but what is underneath?

@Red-White-Light the post is not really about clothing

@Dryas spiritually, sure! physically , hell no!

@Vitamine Water Yeah, I figured this would be the only way I would finally read this book...... anyway, welcome and feel free to chime in when something speaks to you ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ((Reading music, or you can listen to it before reading to settle the mind)) Empty Your Cup Chapter Two: 29- 33 2:29 When performing an inquiry, it's important not to grasp too quickly for answers from the edge of our understanding. 2:30 In spiritual pursuits, the sage is one who willingly operates from a curious state of not-knowing. They may possess deep understanding, the actual truth of their understanding is based on "the 'nothing' that not-knowing provides". This is impossible to understand from a state of 'knowing' so such wisdom will always come across as some mysterious juju that only the sages possess. 2:31 Experiential investigation is important in this work. The point is to investigate what is true in your own self and life. Doing so will lead to a direct personal experience. ( I think my biggest issue with this is my direct experience is great I guess, but what does that amount to? My direct experience WOULD give a flat earth, but that doesn't make it correct. Yes, it would open creativity channels but its hard to let go and accept that direct experience is king.) 2:32-33 As we progress, we will start to make more distinction between what is true and what he hold as a belief. By advice of the author, "If you haven't had a firsthand encounter with whatever you say is true, then call it a belief."

@zeroISinfinity

@Zigzag Idiot Glad you are enjoying... you're welcome to chime in with any thoughts even if you don't have the book ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ((Reading music, or you can listen to it before reading to settle the mind)) 2:22 looking back in history, there was a time when (assumably) everyone thought the earth is flat. Now that we know better, we consider them to be pretty ignorant. But we are too comfortable in our 'knowing', when actually none of us are astronauts and have seen it firsthand 2:23 Putting myself in one of the ancient's shoes, it is pretty understandable why they believed the world is flat. Even from the highest earthbound distance, you do not see the curve of the earth. 2:24-25 Even though we've come to know the earth is not flat, and that the sun does not rise and set but the Earth revolves around it, we tend to even ignore that and live from the viewpoint that our ancestors held. We still say the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, instead of saying what we 'know better': that the earth has made one rotation on its axis in the course of what we call a "day". The sun doesn't move, relative to Earth (although we also now 'know' that the Earth is spinning at 25,000 mph, and that both bodies are hurtling through space at a speed relative to the rest of the galaxy) We take pride in our cultural arrogance of "the rising and setting of the sun" 2:26-27 The author implores us to imagine we are one of these ancient 'flat-earthers.' We are to imagine that we know the earth is flat, and everyone around us agrees, but we begin to question this. (Ok well, like I know the Earth is flat but I don't even know how big it is. Only the gods could really know the shape of the earth, and they aren't telling. It could be square for all I know!) 2:28 We are to practice this inquiry in modern times, knowing from firsthand experience and not what nasa and others tell or show us. This might bring a shift in awareness. (ok well I'm off to work so maybe I'll contemplate this and post my findings)

@Zigzag Idiot the ultimate paradox lol