Terell Kirby

@Adamq8 that’s exactly it! It’s quite a fun thing to realize.

I'd like to hear from some you which is more effective. Personally, I've gotten a long way through strong determination sitting, and some yoga here and there. I have not taken psychedelics yet - but I plan to in the future. There seems to be a divide in spiritual communities regarding methods to get to awakening. Most traditionalist do not endorse the use of psychedelics as a path to reach Enlightenment. Why is this the case? Are they afraid? Is it looked at as being a short cut and not pure? What are the pros and cons of both? After all, isn't a sober state also a "psychedelic" state in a sense? After all, everything is imaginary so there is no duality. But as the saying goes, learning equals distinction. If one radically changes their state from one thing to another, I can see it opening the mind tremendously (just they fact of knowing "something else" is out there).

Why do we put so much emphasis on the amount of past sexual partners in dating? Happens with both men and women, but I feel as though women are shamed more for having a high count. How and why are we socially programmed to shun our sexuality? For you, how important is a person's body count when considering intimate relationship prospects?

@Leo Gura It definitely works for the viewers of your content! Most stuff out there is of low standard...that's for sure.

@MatteO22 I concur...I think the Red Pill and MGTOW (men going their own way) movements are deeply misogynistic and patriarchal. Definitely toxic for both men and women. Masculine and feminine essences and how they interact never change, society just has to get used to the evolution of how these essences are now being expressed. Not every guy needs to be the college jock or a douchebag/asshole to be considered a mans man. And not every woman needs to be America's next top model to be beautiful in her own right.

Hopefully you guys can agree - taking responsibility for you life (good, bad and ugly), allows me to assign powerful meanings to events and circumstances. It's such a challenge to do this consistently. How do some of you approach taking more and more responsibility in your lives? I am also now realizing that blaming is completely useless, both for others and for yourself. Blaming applies a negative meaning that disempowers you, instead of empowering you. Blaming and responsibility have subtle differences that I think a lot of us get confused on.

Hmm - I don't think pick up culture is a bad thing per say (of course it can have toxic elements). I know for me, I was really bad at attraction before finding PUA/self-help materials that allowed to increase my count from 2 to 12 within a three year time frame. There are healthy forms of pick up, and most guys have to go through this stage to integrate their masculinity and move on to bigger and better things (such as spirituality, tapping into their feminine essence, etc). I would couch it with spiral dynamics - pickup is mainly a stage orange activity to integrate before going to stage green. You have to fully integrate these stages of development.

I can dig this. @Vzdoh thanks for sharing it from a females perspective. It's really interesting to think that men and women both envy each others orientation towards sex. Most guys would love to have the amount of sexual opportunities women get, but don't realize the physical aspects are not as important as the emotional aspect for women - so it really all evens out in the end.

@kinesin very insightful. Thanks for the info. I am also of the opinion that meditation should not be supplemented..it's so life changing to have a daily practice. Using psychs on occasion as an enhancer seems like the best route.

@IAmReallyImportant Great advice, thanks so much for sharing.

I think the first step is halt trying to put fear to rest. There is a concept of "leaning in", your fear is here to serve you. It has a place in your psyche, and can be transmuted into being a readable signal that you are moving towards things that will grow you. Fear is your friend - listen to it, understand it..just try not to let it take the wheel on your journey.

Agreed - men tend tend be very interested in counts of women lol. Although I have seen some guys ignore it (the whole "trying to turn a hoe into a housewife" thing). But then again, what is a hoe? Does slut shaming exist? What are the benefits and disadvantages of this label?

I can totally relate. I was in pickup for a solid 4 years or so where I increase my count tremendously. Although it was a great experience, I became drained. I've now been happily celibate after a 9 month relationship that ended a few years back. It is possible for folks to change their ways/value systems. I'm a guy of course, so I don't run into too many negatives and questions regarding lay count.

So true! I guess my only question is how much of this is biological vs. social programming. I can see both sides of the coin.

Suicide comes with no guarantees of peace, liberation or freedom. The mistake is thinking it does.

If God wore virtual reality goggles, it would see your life. You are God, you are in a simulation...everything you see, hear, feel, taste, smell etc is a part of the simulation. What’s even more beautiful is that it is....infinite . So much love... Of course, you as God doesn’t actually wear googles because to wear goggles would mean you’d have to have a human form lol. You’re basically formless and unidentifiable...rendering reality through pure non mechanical imagination.

Yes you hit on the nail with the death of the FALSE self. Once you discover your true nature through ego death, you realize death is illusory in the Absolute sense. Such a beautiful realization.

@Yarco haha this was great. He makes simpler that’s for sure. I’ve already been practicing the slow ghosting method. Although I do get concerned some toxic folks may pick a fight once you begin to disappear

Your words are so powerful, encouraging and thought provoking. I have learned from you that turning inwards on the matter and focusing on my own perspective and attachment to the matter is more important than putting the focus completely on the other person. If I had to be honest, it is attachment. I was a doormat for a good chunk of my teens and early adult years, and known for low-self esteem. I would surround myself with narcissist who would take advantage of me. I think the question stems from lingering attachment to remain in that position, it’s really a resistance to change but I know I can do better. Thanks for sharing your story as well. In my heart I know that continuing these toxic connections is not good for myself and the parties involved. I must do what’s best for everyone...and that is leave.

I deep dive into the epistemology of race and the use of it as a social construct (both in enhancing survival advantages of various groups and creating institutions that preserve the status quo). There is a political/ideological/culture/academic battle brewing between stage Blue/Orange & Green/Yellow around this topic. I would love to see Leo’s take on it before it becomes yet another major cultural divide.

So true. Simply put...we’re in a dream. One that never ends...ever.

@Eternal Unity so true! I guess one would only want to escape if they thought it was actually real in the first place lol. Mankind has been the biggest fools in this regard, me included. It just feels so real...

After a week of intense meditation, I’ve finally grasps what it truly means to be immortal. Through direct consciousness, I realized that the “I” deemed as Self is not located anywhere in my present experience. Therefore, whatever happens to the body that appears in my consciousness is a happening that applies to the body, and not the “I” that is my True Self. That includes death and injury. This not only applies to physical phenomenon but also mental and emotional...the thoughts and feelings are just appearances in consciousness and not personal to the “I” that is True Self. Everything is simply being witnessed by a Being that can’t be pointed to...that being is us! Not being located in time and space truly feels like bliss/heaven! This is a fresh insight that I will have to deepen..but had to get the excitement out in some kind of way. We cannot lose our existence...because existence is infinite. We are existence...we are immortal.

Thank you all for the feedback. An even deeper realization is one of an infinite dream state. Awakening is not waking up from the dream, but waking up to the dream. We are forever in this thing...no escape in sight

FOMO = Fear of Missing Out https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-cope-with-fomo-4174664 This struck me while contemplating, much suffering is caused by resistance to the present moment. As I get deeper into spiritual practice, I become more conscious that the now is all there is, and all that there will ever be. I am also able to reflect on some of my darkest moments in, full of deep suffering, was simply caused by wishing life's circumstances were different, including wishing that I didn't wish things were different. It's amazing how many neurotic habits develop from FOMO (addiction, relationship problems, self esteem issues, etc) When we learn to accept what is, we find a tunnel of light that just may allow us to abandon thoughts of the future and the past - to really become grounded in present moment consciousness. I hope others can relate, and maybe share tips on how they overcame their own struggle with FOMO.