Pierre

A very clear, concrete and precise book on how to make the transition between mindfulness practices and the "no practice" of Awakened Awareness: Stephan Bodian, Beyond Mindfulness, Non-Duality Press, 2017

As far as I know good ol'Mooji is still alive and well. Maybe you mean Papaji (Mooji's guru)? As to Watts, no one can deny that he's a bloody Internet star. Hard to see him as underrated. By the way, I just finished reading one of his less well-known books, Myth and Ritual in Christianity. A superb mystical interpretation of this stuff many of us have come to consider as out-of-date childish bullshit.

You're right. But we have to live with it. Trying not to be addicted would be even more fucked up.

@doucey24 An excellent question, and, believe it or not, one that's also been bothering me! Though he probably never had any spiritual preoccupation ( if he had, I'm sure he would be one of the foremost teachers of our time ), Arnold is really a Master of life. I guess he has always been in a state of flow, manifesting life, desire, energy, with a minimum of internal conflict or any need to force himself. In that, we could say he is the opposite of neurotic. Few people have that kind of congruence, and it certainly cannot be faked. I think the best way to really be driven would be to identify your deep desires and let them shine. The question whether they are "spiritual" or not is not relevant.

"The Wisdom of Insecurity" by Alan Watts. It explains in a very clear way why there is no separate self.

Something quite unique about The Power of Now (and perhaps the reason for its success) is that it articulates Mindfulness and Non-Duality.

I'll give you the taboo word that might boost your practice: PLEASURE Meditation is fun and pleasant. Don't force anything.

Concentrating on thoughts will keep you on a mental level. It's much easier, and more effective, to focus on the emotion. That's what make you suffer. If you let them come, accept them, you'll see that they are fluid, inconsistent and superficial. And that will free you.

Well, I see two solutions for you. You can either choose a traditional way that combines martial and spiritual aspects, such as karatedo, aïkido or kung fu, or practice tai-chi alongside a very down-to-earth fighting technique like jujitsu, kickboxing, krav-maga, kyokushinkai karate, etc. Hope this will help.

There've been a few posts on this topic, but I think it's important to revive it regularly. Here are some of the great advantages of the Headless Way: - It's simple, straightforward and concrete. What Zen and Advaïta point to, here you literally see it. In fact it can be a difficulty, as many people will tend to underestimate the tremendous implications of the seeing. - It's inclusive. You don't have to get rid of the Ego, of thoughts, opinions, scientific objectivity, etc. They are simply placed in a wider context. - It reconciles direct and progressive approaches. The seeing is always right here and now, but the benefits at a relative level unfold as you go on seeing, day after day. - It is totally compatible with any other practice, meditation, mindfulness, yoga, psychotherapy, you name it. - It is highly contagious. You don't need to be an accomplished Master to share it with anyone interested. The ground book is On Having No Head, by Douglas Harding (1961). Here is the website: http://www.headless.org And the BatGaP interview of Richard Lang:

Yeah, go for Tai Chi, it's perfect. Find a teacher.

No one enlightened here, we just want mind masturbation.

You let all the shit come up, and you deal with it.

Trust yourself, find what resonates with you. Follow your guts.

You are desperately in love with this woman. You have to break free before you can do any spiritual work. Accept the pain, and move on. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about.

I have Shiva's phone number, here it is: 079 639 42 02. This is not a joke.

@egoless ah man, be careful, you need direct contact with a teacher. You're also interested in martial arts. It is a very good combination. That's what I've been practicing for 20 years: yoga and karate. And, gosh, I don't regret it.

@SOUL Yeah, you know, when we get too ethereal a good slap is precious.

Gandhi was a very self-repressing man...try Ramana or Nisargadatta instead.

It happens in the present...just let it be.

The witness position is still dualistic. But you need it to establish the primacy of consciousness. Then, just be this spacious awareness.

I definitely could jerk off watching her videos.

@egoless Alan Watts would have so much agreed with you!

The truth is, I want to be special.

@SOUL Ha ha, excellent, a bit of good ol' down-to-earth materialism is just what we need here!