WelcometoReality

Accept what needs to be done. You know what it is, whatever it is. Don't beat yourself up about it. Just do it.

Yes exactly.

It's just the body that the thought and sense perceptions are connected to.

@Joseph Maynor That's right. The ego is simply the identification with thoughts and sensory perceptions (body-mind). What is meant by Identification is believing that they belong to a person (you).

I'm not a believer of solipsism but spiritual work is about finding the truth and it can only be found within your own experience. It is not something you find outside so no need to theorize about it. If you like to that that's fine but be aware that it won't get you any closer to truth. @Russell People tend to make a religion out of spiritual concepts or concepts in general. I agree with much of what Mark Passio is saying but what he describes is not real acceptance. It's the dulled down spiritual version of it.

What does your day to day practice look like?

@Dino D It's easy to get caught up in black and white reasoning. Maybe don't set a goal of becoming enlightened. Do the practice because you enjoy it. See that it will increase your life quality whether you'll become enlightened or not. Take any successful athlete or musician. They wouldn't be where they are unless they enjoyed the day to day practice.

As I am reading your response there is thought of my own voice reading this. As I am reading the statement "Sandra is 50 pounds overweight" the knowledge of what you mean is there. As I am reading "globisg hsgdg sghsgfs" the knowledge of what you mean is not there. There seem to be no discarding of it whatsoever. It's just no knowledge there. If I would have had the thought "It's total garbage" that thought would have been a judging thought. But is it really garbage? Or is that sentence what it is without any value attached to it? And what is it that puts values on things? The point of my last post was is there a thinker, is there a judger? The answer is there in your own experience. You can logically conclude answers but it will only empty knowledge until you anchor that knowledge in you own experience. And what does your experience consist of?

Judgements are thought aren't they? So you are assuming that there is a thinker when there is a thought. A: There is a thought. B: There is a thinker. Your assumption is A -> B So test if it is true. Search for that thinker. Don't give up until you find it!

I don't think you've gone to far with the do nothing technique. I'd continue with it and try to not distract yourself from the empty feeling instead try to embrace it as much as possible, surrender to it.

@onacloudynight Did you have an experience of realizing your true self recently? Or if you will an awakening, enlightenment experience, an experience of oneness or emptyness?

@harisankartj You are on the right track. Keep going.

It's your choice which ones you let influence your life. Just let these decisions be conscious decisions. There are many unconscious decisions we make based on past conditioning. These pop up as beliefs of what we should or shouldn't do and what reality should or shouldn't be. Good/bad, right/wrong you get the point. Not everything you do is a product of past conditioning. How much it influence your decisions depend on how awake you are. Every decision and every reaction you make hold information to you belief structure. Become conscious of why you make these decisions and you will become free of it's shackles.

@Veggies Shinzen Young talk about some of the downsides here: https://youtu.be/qoAbCgmhqdM

@electroBeam Yeah the phase your going through is quite disorienting. No will direct you where to go. I don't think you should quit university or your job because it can be helpful to have some reasons to drag yourself out of bed in the morning. It will be easier to choose direction in life if it hasn't fallen apart completely. But yeah it's really tempting to just move out in a cabin in the woods and cut all the connections with society. If I didn't have a family that's probably what I would have done. There is really no next step to take. Let yourself fall away and things will sort out itself. I found these Adyashantis videos on the subject which was helpful to me.

@Martin123 It's been happening in this order (I think). Mind, gut and heart. And if it's a competition you've got to throw in some cool prizes!

@pedro23 There is nothing wrong with getting your foot of the gas pedal once in a while. Having convulsions may be the bodies way of saying stop. And if you don't want to stop completely switch to another technique. Take care of yourself and enjoy.

@Taavi A teacher isn't necessary. The only thing you need to prioritize is truth. Put that before your needs and your be well on your way. You had a moment. A beautiful experience. Now you need to let it go because you will never get that experience back. No matter how hard you'll try. And if you try to get back there you will miss the truth in this moment. What is true now? Right now! Yes you will have a hard time to adapt yourself to society after the experience. You will have alot of judgements about people who are still in the dream state. Those who have no clue. See those judgments for what they are. They reflect something within yourself. You have a hard time with them because you are not fully awake. Those judgements are the key to unhook from yourself (ego). In every moment that you're not content with what is lies a belief that it should't be that way. Find that belief and release it. And if you find yourself struggling we are here to help you with any questions. Enjoy! ?

@tarek1945 There is no next step. You are already here. Look at how the mind reacts when you read these words. It will come up with all kinds of excuses like that's not really helpful. I have to do something etc etc. But the next step is really the biggest illusion and also the most subtle one. Sit down and watch the thoughts. And let the sensations in the body come and go. Your already here. This is it..

@Mike Bison Are you getting hooked on the terminology? Unconscious means that you believe that the thought is true. Conscious is being aware that the thought is JUST a thought. That it holds no value of TRUE or FALSE. It's just a thought being experienced.

@How to be wise Yes, unattaching from thoughts will cause an awakening from mind and that is a part of the 'journey' to enlightenment.

@username I get the sense you are searching for something outside yourself. Searching rather hides the realization. You are already that which you are seeking so no seeking is needed. To me it was realized when I was to exhausted to seek and no effort was being made. I just watched every thought and feeling appear and disappear. When you meditate do you have the goal to awaken? That goal will put a subtle emphasis on the future and that future will never come. You will not find yourself but everything experienced, be that feelings in the body, sights and sounds, is not you so detach from those and just let them come and go. The mindset 'should' be that anything can happen. That you can't force your way to the realization rather than ok, I'm gonna awaken this time, come on on let's do this!

Yeah it did for me too in my whole body. The day after I pretty much sat in my computer chair the whole time. The body was completely exhausted.

There was alot of pain in the end and mind was screaming SSSTTOOOOOOOPP! Going from 20 minute sittings to 3 hours is quite a shock to the system. Who knew? ?

@Afonso 3 hours