Moksha

I see ego as the conditioned mind, which can't help but be egoic. You can still be awake to your ultimate nature as Consciousness, but until the attachments of the mind are entirely dissolved, there will still be some ego. Few have moved beyond the ego entirely, which is the definition of enlightenment. The collapse of the ego is the dissolution of the self. From the ultimate perspective, there never is an individual I to be enlightened in the first place. It is all part of the dream journey of Consciousness, appearing to be separate, back to the Self.

Awakening is caused by Consciousness. It has various ways to awaken to itself within the human experience, including meditation and suffering. When you choose to meditate, it isn't you choosing it, but Consciousness guiding you to choose it. When meditation leads to awakening, it isn't you choosing to awaken, but Consciousness choosing to reveal itself within you. The more awake you become, the more free you will actually be to make choices, but only because you are doing so according to your true nature as Consciousness. Only Consciousness is ultimately free.

Not a criticism, just an observation. Glance at the forum topics and notice how many of them were created and perpetuated by the identity of @Razard86. How would it feel to be in spacious serene silence?

@Javfly33 I agree with you, and that is the difference between awakening and enlightenment. You are still loosely bound by the dream state, but you are perpetually lucid even within the dream. Deeply present and Self-aware in each moment, as the Conscious witness of the phenomenal universe that you created.

The realization that "you" are alone is a hallmark of solipsism. It seems she is still bound to the idea of "you". It is a partial awakening, but deeply realize that there is no ultimate you, and that every being in the universe is the same Consciousness infinitely manifesting itself. I am the same Consciousness as you, in another form, and not an illusion in "your" imagination. It is all Consciousness. That which is awake even in our sleep, Giving form in dreams to the objects of Sense craving, that indeed is pure light, Brahman the immortal, who contains all The Cosmos, and beyond whom none can go. For this Self is supreme! As the same fire assumes different shapes When it consumes objects differing in shape, So does the Self take the shape Of every creature in whom he is present. As the same air assumes different shapes When it enters objects differing in shape, So does the one Self take the shape Of every creature in whom he is present. - Katha 2.2.8-10

It fits the pattern I have seen in my own life, where the closer you come to actualizing your purpose, the more desperately the ego fights to preserve its delusional existence. Take the resistance as a compliment Self-realization is more judo than karate. Rather than fighting the ego on its turf, presently observe it and it will collapse from its frenetic struggle for relevance. Ultimately, Consciousness is calling the shots. The closer you come to self-dissolution, the greater the resistance will be, until it finally dissolves and there is only being.

I haven't read "Theory of Everything", but the irony of truth is that ultimately it can't be grokked by the human mind. There are so many threads on this forum, filled with treatises on truth, but most of them fail to realize that truth is the unassailable Mystery that cannot be conceived, only directly realized. Any concept limited to the relative universe cannot be true. If you want to realize truth, let go of every concept and look within, to the Consciousness hidden in the deep cave of the heart, and waiting to discover itself. The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth. The named is the mother of ten thousand things. Ever desireless, one can see the mystery. Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations. These two spring from the same source but differ in name; this appears as darkness. Darkness within darkness. The gate to all mystery. - Tao Te Ching, first sentence

Any journey with integrity is going to encounter resistance. Especially if it is threatening to the ego. The closer you come to selflessness, which ironically is Self-fulness, the more obstacles the ego throws at you to sustain the illusion of its relevance. Take the resistance as a positive sign that you are on the right path. The downward road is easy, but it takes courage and clarity to climb to the summit.

You're wise to be skeptical of self-deception. Not that Conscious manifestations don't occur (they do), but it is according to the ultimate will of Consciousness and not to the so-called will of the human mind. Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." - Matthew 12:38-39 You may recall that Jonah was swallowed by a whale, so be careful what you ask for Rather than looking for external manifestations, discover God within. Jesus said to find the Kingdom of Heaven that is within you. Kingdom of Heaven is translated as the Dimension of Spaciousness. It is the inner Dimension of Consciousness. Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven does not come with signs that can be perceived. You cannot say it is over here, or over there. The Kingdom of Heaven is within you; it is the eternal subject. “You are what you are looking for.” - Eckhart Tolle

I agree that the ego always pedestalizes, whether to others or itself. It thrives on feeling special, and doesn't care if the specialness is due to apparent inferiority or superiority. What the ego cannot stand is sincere love, which is realizing the sameness in all beings. Love others, love yourself, it is the same thing.

So true, and terrifying to the conditioned mind which desperately wants control. Embrace the mystery, and in the unknowing space realize the Self. Lucidly dream ?

Sounds like a present path to enlightenment. It's all about the sameness

Meditation.

@Breakingthewall Most people do not drastically go from one to the other. They go through a prolonged transitional period where they are partly still the suffering entity, and partly the liberated consciousness. So that can go on for quite a while…You reach a point where you suddenly realize that suffering is optional. And you also realize that you needed to go through quite a bit of suffering to come to this realization. Suffering is necessary until you realize that suffering is unnecessary…There is vast suffering on the planet. It has a purpose. - Eckhart Tolle

There are no absolute humans or aliens, only Consciousness manifesting itself through an infinite variety of forms. From the relative perspective, there are deeper levels of Self-realization, but ultimately Consciousness is already and always awake. Step out of the universe, and see the face of God.

Interesting, it reminds me of synesthesia: I haven't experienced it, but must be beautiful. I have walked down streets and seen the sameness of myself in everything else, especially trees, but the seeing is more spiritual than sensational.

There is no universal path to enlightenment. Meditation is an ancient practice that can lead to profound spiritual insights and, more importantly, help dissolve attachments to the conditioned mind. Still, it isn't claimed to be a cure-all. It is like circling a diamond (Consciousness) and realizing its beauty from different angles. Four pathways spoken of in the spiritual texts are: karma yoga (selfless action), jnana yoga (knowledge through renunciation), bhakti yoga (devotion), and raja yoga (meditation). Try them all and see how well each works for you.

@Kksd74628 I agree with you. As Consciousness, aware of itself rather than distracted by the delusions of the conditioned mind, we are presently creative and wise. Thoughts are necessary to navigate the practicalities of life, but there is no value in identifying with them, as if they had the capacity to understand our true nature. Consciousness is only directly realized, beyond the limitations of thought. The Self-realized are able to constructively think, rather than destructively be thought. Hard it is to train the mind, which goes where it likes and does what it wants. But a trained mind brings health and happiness. The wise can direct their thoughts, subtle and elusive, wherever they choose: a trained mind brings health and happiness. Those who can direct thoughts, which are unsubstantial and wander so aimlessly, are freed from the bonds of Mara. - Buddha

@Kksd74628 Well said. The conditioned mind claims to know all the answers, but I've learned not to trust my thoughts, especially when it comes to spiritual progress. I don't blame the mind. It is trying its best to keep you well, but is blinded by its conditioning. It is an elephant that needs to be tamed. That domestication, as you realize, is guided by Consciousness. Who could expect the elephant to tame itself? It is not an easy task, but what an ally when the elephant is finally tamed. Instead of sabotaging your progress, the unbound mind will carry you to creative heights that would never have been possible otherwise.

I haven't experienced telepathy, but have seen synchrony. It's like the apparent borders between beings dissolve, and Consciousness flows. You are guided to just the right place, or your mouth speaks just the right words, but it is not you calling the shots. I once discovered a tree that planted itself in an empty pot on my rooftop, at a moment in my life when I was closer to Consciousness than I had ever been. It has never been by intention, it just happens. I'm not sure it could be any other way, since the resonance is at a higher order than the conditioned self.

There's a French expression: Reculer pour mieux sauter. It means taking a step backward in order to brace yourself, and jump farther forward. Overall, the progress is positive but it is punctuated by periods of apparent regression. The last few years have felt like a step backward, but inevitably we jump forward to a point that wouldn't have been possible without the regress.

@Godishere I agree, and it underscores the enormous value of fostering Self-awareness, in ourselves and in others. There is no higher purpose. It is the only real solution to selfishness and suffering.

Borders are imaginary, which awakened waves realize. The wave is not only a wave. It is the expression of the ocean itself, whether it sees it or not. The deep ocean is Self-aware, but it dreams itself into waves. Why? Apparently the dream of phenomenal existence is its intent, an apparent contrast to its infinite and unchanging being. Maybe a complete awakening is equivalent to a universal supernova. All of the waves collapse, and there is only the deep blue sea. Wash, rinse, repeat

Sin as I see it is unconsciousness. It is damage due to not seeing. If you are awake, there is no desire to damage yourself or anyone else. You realize that it is all the same Consciousness. Love.

The being that is awakened is a wave on the ocean, realizing in that moment that it is the ocean. All waves are the ocean, but few see it. Their form is only temporary, and the ocean is their ultimate nature. The whole universe is Consciousness, but the vast majority of it is not Self-aware.