WelcometoReality

If it was nothing it wouldn't exist, nothingness is a better pointer imo.

Consciousness and God can be used to point to the same 'thing' though. ?

@Something Funny Having a goal to do something x hours per day is fine but if you start by doing that you'll most likely fail. I like starting small, like doing it for 2 minutes and setting up a time for doing it as well. For example after my morning coffee I'll do programming for at least 2 minutes. That way there's the least amount of inner resistance to start doing it. And once started I usually do more than the 2 minute goal. A key point here is to pace yourself. When the goal is met and I don't feel like doing it anymore I stop and do something else. After a month or so usually there's no resistance to do it anymore because it has become a habit and then I can up the goal by 5-10 minutes. Also it's good to be able to visually track how it's going. X's on a calender works fine.

Yeah. it's: Death EQUALS non-existence which exists and that makes no sense logically. Or Death EQUALS non-existence which doesn't exist. Both statements seem to fall short. Another way to look at it is Death IS NOT EQUAL to non-existence, but it's the falling back into the very root of existence.

I only have a basic understanding about spiral dynamics but to me coral sounds like going full circle, back into the marketplace. The tenth oxherding picture.

@no_name Yeah you do become more forgiving of people. At the same time I find myself becoming less interested of being around such people. Sure it doesn't impact me the way it did before but why bother?

Alot. Alot. Alot. He's really a master of breaking down and explaining things. What I'm most appreicitive about learning from him is about spiritual work.

@Mips I agree with what @Leo Gura said. Do nothing is the core. You could also make sure that your posture is correct. Looking slightly upwards causes tension in the neck which can travel to the head. I also like to 'focus in' on the tension and actively letting go of it. A preventive measure you could try is stretches like head rolls before you start your meditation.

@Mips No you don't have to leave your family to become enlightened. I didn't. If anything I would say that my relationship with my family has only gotten better by doing the practices. The most important thing is to do the practices and evaluate what you should do next. Work smart. As everything else, once you set your goal and work towards it it's just a matter of time before you achieve it.

If you're talking about a psychedelic trip you can ignore everything I said. I have zero experience about that.

Go slow. No need t⁷o push yourself, that might be damaging. But no you will not physically die. You could also see it like that you are ready when the time has come.

@Carl-Richard Yes genetics is probably is a factor but I think there's also a matter of execution of practices.

@Ampresus I think you're onto something. Awakenings doesn't need to be one big explosive experience however. Sometimes they happen gradually over days, weeks or years. It seems like your practice is working so I would continue with as before.

@Razard86 Well said. There's something within us which is all rejecting. It's good to accept that part aswell. ?

It's important to drop all expectations and actions to wanting to change you state. Just sit with all anxieties and worries and let them flow through you.

I resonate with this bullshit. ??

@Buddha killa It's a continuum and depending on what definition of "enlightenment" you use it will be on different places on that continuum. Also, awakening doesn't have to be the same as enlightenment. It can mean the same thing depending who you ask but it can also mean different places on the continuum. I would define awakening as a glimpse or the entry level on the continuum and enlightenment as more permanent or irreversible.

@Linda22 As someone with social anxiety myself and someone who tried to get rid of it for 15 years.. One of the best things I did was accepting that I had it. When I was trying to get rid of it I was pushing myself really hard to be something that I wasn't and that was exhausting. Also it made me even more uncomfortable in social situations than I already were. I think a better approach to it is try to relax in those situations and be yourself. Even though that can make the social anxiety feel worse in the short term because it feels like you're really vulnerable at first. In the long term though you feel comfortable and grounded. At least that's what worked for me. Hopefully I'm making some sense. ?

I would define experience as the 5 senses plus thought. And separation as the sense that there is something experiencing from within the body. That's a good starting point to examine further imo.

@Gabith ??

My only tip is to meet the fear which you are distracting yourself from. That will balance out the energies in the body and make it feel more relaxed.

Yes. This is a good pointer but instead of a "majority" I would write "ALL". ?

A need to belong because there's a sense that you do not belong already?

A life without struggle and with contentment

Yes, all experiences are outlived. The question is if there's identification to parts of the experience. There might be fear and there might be a thought of an I which resists the fear. Both are parts of the experience. Like sweet and delicious dessert. sometimes at least. Other times it's like moldy bread or burnt french fries, but your hungry so you eat it anyways. And then your full and satisfied so you stop eating.. until you get hungry again. ?