asgard94

Couldn't agree with you more. I'm glad I'm not the only one bringing up this subject over and over again. Some spiritual people seem to have completely lost their touch with reality and they start believing in all kinds of pseudo-scientific ideas without a drop of skepticism whatsoever. It is nothing more than a wishful thinking and a very comfortable state of delusion. Sam Harris talked very clearly about this in his video "Spirituality without religion" and made it very clear how there is a rational side of spirituality which does not have to involve all kinds of biased concepts. And that the core of Zen Buddhism is by itself harmless and very useful as long as self-improvement and the realization of truth is concerned. The problem begins when people start mystifying this whole 'enlightenment' thing. I personally disagree with Leo that there is some kind of "path" we need to follow. People treat the idea of 'enlightenment' as if it were something real or objective. Some kind of place one gets to. But the whole idea that there is some kind of a mystical 'journey' is completely absurd. Zen Buddhism should be used as a tool for discovering certain truth in life, instead of making it a lifestyle.

Beliefs are not necessary if you have eyes. Just observe, see reality the way it is without formulating any judgement upon it. Unless you see a unicorn. I hate unicorns...

1. mental equilibrium (mental peace & calmness) 2. absolute freedom, e.g not being limited by other people, including the 'loved ones'. 3. limited connections, partial, almost idealistic, isolation from the masses. e.g Choosing to communicate only with people that benefit you in one way or other. In other words, no gain, no interest. 4. productivity & daily effort towards greater success. 5. Being skeptical/questioning everything. e.g questioning the cause, the essence and its value. 6. dominating every possible space&situation. 7. maintaining absolute financial independency, e.g never worrying about the bills, food and other needs. 8. Survivalism. In other words, trying to survive no matter what. My life above everyone and anything else. Even the lovers life. Self-sacrifice is absolutely unacceptable, without any exceptions whatsoever. 9. Self-honesty. In other words, being honest with myself, but not necessarily honest with others. Depending on the case. 10. Taking down my enemies (financial enemies, e.g other companies) silently, undermining their business, and promoting my own over theirs.

Enlightenment does not exist. It is just an idea created in your head. I'm joking! Ha. Actually, I'm not...

Guys, please understand. Leo created this forum so that you can talk to other self-actualizing people. He did not exactly create it as a chit chat space, and certainly not a chit chat with him. It's probably stressing him out. I mean he said many times how he wants to go and live alone in cabin in the woods, and what's happening is that he is locked up inside of his own creation

Simply quitting Facebook would be good enough! But I'll consider that challenge too.

Don't forget the other side of things. You know.. They may be really busy self-actualizing so they can't commit to your question. So busy self-actualizing... Like, dancing in the clubs or some s**t. You never know...

Donald Trump's The Art of Deal beats 48 Laws of Power. Ha!

#BUILD THE WALL! #MexicoPaysforTheWall! GO TRUMP 2016!!!!

How about THIS COINCIDENCE over here? Donald Trump was apparently in the movie Back To The Future, where he is supposed to be a president in 2015. And the producers were shocked to see that he might really be one in 2016! I freaked out. http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/28/politics/donald-trump-biff-back-to-the-future/

@AHappyTeddyBear @abrakamowse Just so you know, if you don't like that specific book, you can search for some other book. NLP is divided into 2 categories 1) Self-help 2) Influencing others. If you want to influence others, you have to look for specific books designed for that purpose.. Good luck! And... Please be a Jedi, don't fall to the dark side.

Start with Allan Pease - Body Language book, and after you finish reading it and practicing/making observations and learn how to 'read' peoples thoughts you should immediately move on to reading NLP books. There are many, and you can start with any one of them you like. However, learning body language first will be a good start..

Yes, I can give you my word that it is not pseudo-science. The stuff really works, and when you become a master of it you're basically gonna be like Trump, or maybe worse... Depending on your 'heart'. But NEVER ever share the fact that you're learning NLP with your friends/girlfriend/community. It gives you a SIGNIFICANT advantage over them. I shared this here because I love you guys too much on here. Okay, now I'm waiting for Leo to criticize me, telling me how bad it is for enlightenment to be manipulative & sneaky! Bring it on, Leo!

NLP involves too many variables and details to explain it down in one article. You'll have to read Richard Bandler - Persuasion Engineering <--- However, before getting anywhere near NLP I recommend reading Allan Pease - Body Language <--- It will teach you how to read people's thoughts by their body gestures, so that helps you figure out WHEN you should use NLP in the first place.

Donald Trump is using very advanced set of techniques called NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming). It is a very powerful thing, I have used it many, many times. Mostly I used it on girls to make them fall in love with me to the point of fanaticism, and I also used it to make a cashier believe i already gave her the money for the products, without actually giving any money. People who think Donald Trump is a fool and doesn't know what he's doing, are basically wrong. This guy is a master-mind and a demonic leader. By the way, I made a YouTube video, making fun of Donald Trump. You can see it here!

modern scientific research claims garlic is good for health. And I started eating it nearly every day. But now I read some other article claiming that garlic is bad for you. And that its too toxic, not compatible with human consumption.. I believe it is some kind of a Pseudo-Science. What do you think? Here is the article: http://www.rense.com/general76/Dpi.htm

one day I find myself listening to Ovnimoon - I AM mantra and being in the 'enlightenment mode' all serious. And then the second day I find myself listening to DJ bobo - Somebody Dance With me, and just dancing under that song. I think self-expression is very important in terms of mental health no matter how primitive it looks/feels. Besides, it helps you become less shy as a person. Btw, check that Dj bobo song its awesome!

I see some people here claim science is no different from every other perspective. But I want to ask you, what is your real motive for taking such a neutral position? saying that science is 'only' a perspective. What are you trying to achieve by bringing down science? Do you want to sit zazen 24/7 and "become the perception" like a tree? A mindless perception that just 'is' like a plant. Really? is that all you got? How about the universe that needs to be explored? How about physics and math, how about countless other solar systems we know nothing about. Are we actually putting the state of 'empty mind' above a rational/analytical mind that analyzes things, measures things. This state of nothingness-awareness you are all so proud of looks to me more like ignorance than self-actualization. I mean yes, the fundamental nature of reality indeed may be nothing. But it doesn't mean you have to give up your rational capacity and live like a plant. Because giving up on your rational capacity is a mental suicide. We are born with an intelligence that is naturally creative. Is naturally curious, and is fascinated by the world. And then people who are so dramatically focused on enlightenment say "Don't think. Don't use your reason! Contemplate nothingness." So the alternative to a rational mind is this.. mystical, spiritual model. And this destructive philosophy is designed to take what is the most basic about the human experience, which is perception and turn the perception into the identity. Totally DENYING the rational capacity that organizes what is perceived, and then interacts with it intelligently. You see, the world makes sense! We live in incredible times. A lot of the leg-work has been done. So what would you like to create? What would you really like to do here? But sticking with perception only and saying that nothingness is your identity... Seriously, Just imagine the difference between a culture that idolizes staring at a wall and not moving for hours, and a culture that idolizes thinking and rational capacity. Who built the world? It is the people who did the thinking. Measuring. Figuring out how everything works. Who built the airplanes? Was it the people thinking, or was it the people attempting to escape the existence by defaulting to perception? 'defaulting' to consciousness.. Because that's the invitation to spirituality. It is to give up your intelligence, give up your capacity to think critically and become a vegetable. And even though that vegetable is relaxing, it's suicide! And if you don't care about living then that makes sense. That's why spirituality exists, because existence is terrifying. And since you don't want to THINK, and Examine and investigate and use your intelligence to overcome and deal with the problems in life, then you look for some spiritual 'answer', to do that for you.. and it works! Because its suicidal. You don't want to exist anyway so rather than taking courage to kill yourself you go towards spirituality, so that you can live a mental death. You can commit mental suicide.. Perception is nothing. Life is literally nothing without this rational capacity. Your capacity to choose, remember, analyze. That is what creates the world. And the fight you are up against, is the continual attempt to trade your intelligence for some kind of solution. And yet you don't realize that your natural intelligence IS your solution! The only problem with that is... You HAVE to THINK. You have to put effort in it. spiritual: - I am the perception.... rational: - yeah but we need to fix the refrigerator. spiritual: - you'll have to call somebody else. rational:- well how are you gonna eat? spiritual:- I don't know.. I am the perception... food will just come.. rational:- oh the roof is leaking! spiritual:- well that's okay I'll just perceive the water dripping on me... rational:- But you're gonna get hypothermia! spiritual:- It's okay... I'll just be cold. I am perception. <--- Nobody actually lives this way! Because we're REALLY intelligent. So perception is already the case, you're here. You exist. Now, what do you want to create? What do you want to explore? what are you curious about. The only problem with any of these questions is that in order to investigate them you HAVE TO THINK.. And you can. You can sit down and figure anything out. It might not be easy at first, but that's what learning is. You can do anything you put your mind to, INCLUDING commit mental suicide.. Through spiritual ideas of 'perception is my identity. I am nothingness.' It's the simplest way to feel like everything's okay. And it doesn't work, unless you want to die. Because it is mental suicide.. So please say no more about how science and reason is 'only' a perspective. It is much more than that. Science and reason is the fundamental essence of our existence on this planet as rational, intelligent organisms. And by downgrading the importance of rational capacity you are destroying the very essence of what it means to be an intelligent human being. That's all I had to say. You are free to share your thoughts...

Then don't explore. Sit home, don't even make money, who said you need to survive? Don't look at the stars or wonder about anything at all. Just sit and die. Good luck! I've got some work to do.

"Science is huuuuge!" ~ Donald Trump

Yes but we can't make decisions based on what some ancient yogis and cultures that had no scientific research concluded. . .

I don't know what Leo has to say, But personally I believe that the true change occurs when you find out the answer for those questions on your own. Because as long as there is a sensation inside of you, that you have been helped and guided, your progress may always be limited/linked to the person who helps you. The value of progress achieved truly on your own is far greater than that of having been helped. An 'external' example would be.. Marrying a rich person, and becoming wealthy by the help of this another person, versus the wealth acquired by putting a lot of effort to achieve success on your very own. Of course both sides of reality have their ups and downs, however, in the long run I believe it is worth seriously committing to solving your internal and external problems, on your own. The same applies for fitness. Unless you switch that laptop off, go and do the cardio, run and stay on a balanced diet, you will never find out the answer. " All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I believe the question is what do you need self help for. If its success and money then put emphasis on learning how to be successful. If you want to 'ascend' to a higher plane of existence, realize the whole nothingness philosophy and live in the woods, learn the things required for it. But i'd suggest you focus on the first one. But I have to say, that there is only 1 step separating theory and action. All you have to do is put all your mind to it, and make that step come true.

I am INTP. The Logician! A great master mind. But not greater than Leo Gura, I must confess. I don't think that this personality test should be taken too seriously! First of all, because the human mind is not a constant. It always changes, it is flexible. You may be this now, but that tomorrow, and so on. . . And if you admire the current personality too much, you will miss a chance to grow and become something more.

I have asked this question to so called "Enlightened" people numerous times. I got answers such as "I will be compassionate and walk away, chanting 'gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha' ". But does anyone ever think about the psychological consequences of such events? Does it occur to you that maybe such an approach to life will allow people to walk over you and will leave you with countless psychological traumas? Even if you try to act from the perspective of your 'higher self', this still does not change the fact that a psychological damage has been done to you. You may keep denying that, but every neurologist/psychologist can confirm that the damage is being done. Suppressing your anger at such times is not healthy for your psychological health. So I say we should kick some teeth in, if someone spits in your face. Besides, if you let someone do this to you and walk away, how will you ever have any confidence in other aspects of your life? How will you ever be confident in relationships? What do you think about it? and also please write down, what would you do in such a case.