Isle of View

"Mindfulness in Plain English" by Bhante Gunaratana This book is the best book I've ever read about Mindfulness Meditation (Vipassana). It is written in plain English, just like the title suggests, and has plenty of good information, examples and dismantles the "mystery" of the technique one could have acquired from other readings. It is a no-bullshit summary in a language you can easily follow and grasp. Nothing in this book contradicts with what @Leo Gura talked about in his famous video How To Meditate - The No Bullshit Guide to Meditation. You only can deepen your understanding by reading and re-reading this book. Here you can find the book: http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/mindfulness-plain-english (There is also an extensive preview in PDF format). I wish you a good read and good progress. ~ Chris

The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout This is a very interesting book about sociopathy, psychopathy and narcisism. And also about conscience and love and how all of it plays together. Highly educational. With lots of stories to shed some light on different aspects of sociopathy and what is best to do if you are connected to individuals with these tendencies. What is interesting about Martha Stout is that she says that in the western world, sociopathy is more widespread than in countries of the east. And she gives good insight about the reasons why it is so. Here are some fair use quotes from the book: You can buy it on Amazon or your local book store. Having knowledge from this book may be crucial for your personal development. Kind regards, Chris

Well, what is the interpretation of "evil eyes"? Someone is angry and enraged. What I don't understand is why he was angry or enraged because of your success? Why did it make him angry? Can you tell me?

I don't know. Maybe you can find it somewhere. There is a Kindle version on amazon in any event. Kind regards, Chris

No no, don't answer here in the open forum these questions. Just do your inquiry for yourself. Though, of course you can write me a PM if you like to. Kind regards, Chris

Thanks. It is you "can make money" or you "can't make money"? If you can, make a plan to relieve yourself as soon as possible from any remaining co-dependence with your dad. And work on the plan. Write daily Journals, let your toughts go, write them down. (Read this book if you can: The Artist's Way). You can also run a little inquiry process: Use paper to write down your answers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 1, 2 ...). Take your time. Don't rush. If you have any questions, let me know. :-) Kind regards, Chris

You want to curse him? How old are you? How dependent are you on him? Are you living with him? In order to select or formulate a working affirmation it is important to know more about your relation to him. Chris

Any thoughts on the following presentation? What do you do in order to: raise your emotional level? increase mind/heart coherence? be in flow? positively influence your environment? Kind regards, Chris

Well @cetus56 , you will need to make up your mind yourself about it. As I said, there is no one-size-fits-all.

Depends on the person and their belief system, what they currently are most afraid of and look forward to the most. There's no one-size-fits-all approach. Just being there, present for the person, understanding what she is going through will be more worth than many "prescriptions".

I suggest, all psychedelics delude your clarity of what is. If someone suffures, it is because his clarity of the composition he created got lost. How could drugs help here? It's a materialistic approach.

@cetus56 Thanks. I will look the videos later. Stay away from drugs and psychedelics. It's only more delusion. Kind regards, Chris

@Henri,@cetus56 Two days of further study, some talks with others and contemplation bring me to the following conclusions: The HeartMath Institute claims the device measures the heart/brain coherence, while what it actually measures is the HRV. They are using too much mumbo jumbo in their promotion, their prices for seminars, coaching and extended programs are too high. Their techniques can in best case bring some relief, but they won't handle the real roots of the spiritual strife of the people who use the techniques in the way they're presented. The device may be interesting, BUT what should be taken into consideration is that it ONLY reads the physical effects of the persons creation, and that it is us, spiritual presences, who produce the impact on the physical body and our environment. (bold emphasis by @Isle of View) @cetus56 I am sorry for your loss. But a device like this is not really something that can bring solace or a sense of freedom to a person who is facing death. The only thing that really helps is a founded spiritual deepness you work towards while you are alive. The device and some new-agey technique will not give him (or anyone) the real understanding of his spiritual nature. The device will not help you in short-time to experience the peace and bliss you can achieve when you have a really founded, long term meditation experience (or any other spiritual insight for that matter). It's only a device, measuring your heart rate. Like a thermometer reads the temperature of the body. Thank you all who participated in this thread. All that glitters is not gold. Chris

Exactly!

Ca. 3 months ago I stopped all coffee intake altogether. I drank 4-5 (big) cups daily. After some time of body adjustment, my energy is now higher than when I drank the coffee. And the body feels more at ease. Coffee seemingly makes the body more alert and more energetic, but lots of the energy is being dispersed. There are other threads on coffee on this forum already. You could use the search. Kind regards, Chris

No, I don't. I consider buying a set of emWave2 + the emWave Pro. The video you posted before was very nice. I liked the lady and the way she talked about the product. I am not interested much in the other services they offer, but their bio feedback device is interesting to me. ~Chris

Agree, Henri. Another factor is, one shouldn't be dependent on a device in order to know his current state of coherence. But truth is, people in general are totally detached from all spirituality. But there is a connection between physicality and spirituality and I think it's OK to use biofeedback devices in a beginning stage, of course if they are accurate. Therefore I would like to test one of their devices. As to sources: I don't know. I don't think they're hiding too much. Spirituality is evolving. Why is the Roman Catholic Church hiding tons of books in their vaults? Or why was the Library of Alexandria burned down? Too many links that acknowledged that Jesus was a student of Dharma Yoga? :-) Sometimes also not the sources are important but the simple fact? Like the fact that when you concentrate on your heart and think about gratitude or appreciation, your emotions and many other beneficial effects will be the result. The emWave2 only mesures the HRV and displays an interpretation of the reading. It can be very helpful for people who are not able yet to monitor their vibrational (emotional) state without outside validation. It's sure that they won't be able, and I don't even think that that's their purpose, to bring people really up to higher states like the ones that can be reached through genuine spiritual practice. Also I didn't check all their Research done by 3rd parties: https://www.heartmath.org/research/research-library/ I can't tell whether or not they have "bad" or unethical intentions or are totally unscientific. Science is flawed anyway when it comes to human potential. Kind regards, Chris

@Henri Thanks, mate. Appreciate your input. I see it a little bit differentyl. I think, because we live in a highly mechanistical/materialistical world, our society will be better reached with a gimmick like this. Yes, it measures the physical heart beat. But they also clearly state that it is the person that can influence the emotions and structure. It was different in old school psychology, where people have been just the "victims" of their genes, hormones, environmeltal triggery. Those guys put the person at cause position, showing him that he is responsible and in charge of his state and well being. To me it looks like some good progress I see. I am courious about the EMWave2 myself. It doesn't seem too expensive ( <200$ ). Kind regards, Chris

@cetus56 Thank you. This was very informative. You used the EM Wave2. What have been your impressions? @Henri Yes, there are many practices which concentrate on the heart and of course the practices are mishmashes of older practices from other traditions. I am not aware if their only intention is to make money. Or if they only sell the EM Wave2 and similar products to measure the HRV (Heart Rate Variability). But generally selling products and/or seminars, coaching etc. is common practice, also for representatives of traditional practices. So it shouldn't be the issue. I read what the guy from your link had to say, but as he himself says: But I agree that the term "coherence" of mind and brain may be a little bit far fetched. However, the EM Wave 2 measures the Heart Rate Variability and from my own sensations, while practicing any of the many spiritual processes I use, I know that there is a connection between the HRV, a feeling of coherence and a higher emotional level. Generally, don't you think they do a very good job to promote higher values like appreciation, gratitude, love? Whatever they charge (financially). (Still better than more Mc Donald's "Restaurants"). Kind regards, Chris

@All_Around_Me Going into nature, "hugging" some trees and some work with the earth should help. Just relax in the presence of nature, sit down under an old oak tree. Breath. All will be good. The problem with binaural beats is not only the frequency, but also that the frequencies are arranged in a asynchronus way (left/righ ear) and therefore you can end up with unpleasant sensation that have been triggered by this. The brain is not a toy. It should be one of your most valued possesions in this life. Kind regards, Chris

The problem with binaural beats is, that it stimulates your brain and your nervous system. And maybe your brain is not prepared for this kind of stimulation. These are artificially created sounds and they are not long term tested. Nowadays too much of it popps up and people think it's something good. It's not. It can bring your brain/heart coherency out of ballance. Please consider using proven methods of meditation, spiritual process or self-inquiry. Kind regards, Chris

Why are you using this frequencies? Have you tried standard meditations? × Chris

@Wouter Interesting question. The parameters in which we experience, the universal laws, seem to be a playing ground with constant rules. Who set those rules? How did we end up having them? Ho decided how they will all fit together to give us a more or less homogenous experience? I have some idea about it, but let me know if you come up with your own conclusions. Chris

So could you list out some benefits of meat that a plant based diet can not deliver? No because that is completely beside the point of my post. It is? From what I read you say: so please, enlighten me, what benefits can meat deliver, that a plant based diet can not? So what is the point of your post then? ~Chris

So could you list out some benefits of meat that a plant based diet can not deliver?