Key Elements

Interesting journey... It answers a lot of questions. I like the part where he said that usually, in most ppl's lives they ask: What do you do for a living? In what kind of neighbourhood do you live in? But, his experience in being a monk, the questions were different: What good did you do today? How did you contribute? Monks asked deeper questions, he said. Also, what he said in the end made sense to me: a person doesn't have to live a minimalist lifestyle. Please feel free to share any thoughts on this.

Yes, this part is probably missing. He didn't say it. Not all ppl who enter the monestary get to experience the no-self (nothingness). Ppl call this by different names: nothingness, everythingness, absolute infinity, Satori, Riding the Ox Backwards, etc. If you go on YT and look at Shinzen Young's 10 Ox Herding Pics, it ends with a monk (The Cloth Bag Monk) being helpful and giving to others in some way. This ending matches the clip above. That's why, even if the person didn't experience the no-self, if the person continues to be detached from the ego and be helpful to others (all is 'you' anyway), then experience of the no-self may come one day. @Prabhaker I could relate the most to Sai Baba and Shaolin monks put together. I've mentioned them here. The reason why is, both do live minimalist lifestyles, but they are able to give because they have developed themselves enough to give. They have nailed life. How can you give if you have nothing to give? We live in a different time than Siddhartha Gautama. How we give cannot be exactly the same as how he gave. Other's lifestyle have to be taken into consideration. @Ether Cool.

This reminds me of... Mr. Miyagi telling the karate kid, "Either you do karate yes or karate no. Karate in between, you get squashed like a grape." Same goes for yoga, "Either you do yoga yes or yoga no. Yoga in between, you get squashed like a grape."

This is getting out of line. It's the wrong message for enlightenment and self-actualization.

@vanish Ok. I get what you're saying. The real death is the real thing. I agree with this part. However, we did talk about the physical earth that we live in being a "phenomenon" or "realm." I call it earth phenomenon, but you could call it whatever you like -- like illusion, hallucination, or whatever. Now, it's a miracle that we are even experiencing this phenomenon. How do you know that there is just this earth phenomenon that you wake up to? The absolute has infinite possibilities. It covers everything -- all phenomena. How do you know there is no heaven or hell phenomenon? Get it? How do you know there is no karma phenomenon? Although Leo has a clip on it, we haven't covered these things in depths. Before moving forward and making a decision, think before you do something.

Thanks. I like yours too. I guess we like to go incognito.

@egoless Today, get yourself a pen and notebook and start researching, learning, exploring, and taking action in this area. (Or, whatever area you are interested in.) I think I already recommended this book if you want to make whatever it is your life purpose. It's a great beginners' book.

I think this question may be helpful. We still have to live this life (phenomenon) to our fullest.

I'm an OCI. I already shared my work in a link on this thread. So, do you want to travel abroad?

I've mentioned both the gurus here. Baba Ramdev's products could be found in regular stores like Sparr and not just small shops. Now it's online and in Indian stores in the US. Awesome. The sooner the better. Just start contemplating and exploring. You too. I love how they go to school and work in a colourful way. I love travelling and immigration. Would highly recommend immigration and staying in a different country for a few years, different from how you grew up and learn all about it. It's easier to transend culture and so many other things this way. Stayed for 7 yrs in India. Before that, 1 yr and 3 yrs there.

Of course it can. Try to plan a brilliant life purpose and incorporate the awakenings into it somehow. It can work. Look at Sai Baba and Baba Ramdev. They are brilliant. I just wish that Sai Baba is still here in real life. Too bad he's gone -- great role model.

Yes, that's right Leo; nothing is necessary. It's all up to you and what you feel is right. However, I noticed something. It's the reason why I brought up this question. The sages/saints/gurus/monks/etc who became entrepreneurs and then finally philanthropists and beyond seem to be much more independent and less needy. I have seen a monk (and heard of monks) who did not go through this this phase, and they were not independent. When it came time to go to the hospital for something serious (like a heart attack), they had to depend on their followers raising money for them. The monk I knew didn't go to a very good hospital. Connections (during any networking) to well-qualified & trustworthy ppl are also important for a life of abundance. It's for your advantage as a sage (or whatever you become). It's not just about money and capitalism. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think in one of your enlightenment clips, you recommended the "middle path." You mentioned this. To me, the "middle path" means, if the person doesn't skip any stages, there is less suffering and more opportunities to help others. Unless, of course, you could tolerate the suffering. (Eg. Someone you mentioned in one of your enlightenment clip, who is enlightened, going to the dentist, dentist gave him a root canal and he refused to use novicane. Dentist thought he was trying to be macho. ) -If you have any more thoughts on the "middle path," please let us know. -That’s why I thought you also wanted to become a sage/philanthropist. It's because you didn't want to skip it. It's an important stage to go through after becoming entrepreneur. Also, because of this clip: (Basically, what I'm saying here is, if you skip stages in life, and/or not learn the lessons presented to you in life, you may have to endure a lot of suffering. Unless, you are able to say, "I am the pain!" Because you don't let your earthly/fictional ego bother you. You may even rid yourself of karma if you become a philanthropist along the way.)

Well... I wouldn't call it that -- because, these experiences do help in life, even if you're hearing it from someone else. It helps to compare notes. Sometimes you could relate to it, and it's very meaningful. It gives directions on both sides. @Nahm Wow! Cool! Well, for me... I already put what I learned in the pinned and featured threads. I might as well write about it eventually in my startup. Not very easy to incorporate -- might as well do it in 3rd person in art/story form to avoid controversy. Not all in society is ready to accept. Those who are ready to hear it will hear it. I still have to work on mastery. And, we still have to make a living and go beyond that. It's just that I'm detached from all that. I'm more into the flow than thinking, "Ohhh..I have to do this." I'm glad that you love the guitar. I'm also an artist but in a different way.

Same to you! Happy Holi! I recommend playing it with goggles. It hurts my eyes, both the wet and dry.

I meant in practical ways.

"Don't take anything in life for granted."

@Leo Gura Do you feel that becoming an entrepreneur / philanthropist is a necessary stage to go through in life? You said that you wanted to become a sage. Do you also want to become a sage / philanthropist? (Btw, on your Christmas video or maybe it was your blog video, you said to buy out all the YT channels to make it high conscious channels. It was around the part where you mentioned Bill Gates. So, both the answers are: yes, correct? )

@MarkusSweden I think the answer is in your life purpose. Otherwise, the person can't do anything about it. There is a point where you become a philanthropist in your life purpose. I've mentioned it here. They are very influential, even in politics. There are all kinds of philanthropists. Unless we do this, we won't know how we're going to impact the world in our own ways.

You know what, this brings up a good question. If we do our life purpose, we would have to show our names and faces -- like Leo or Donald Trump or someone famous. They don't hide behind an icon, right? But then, we may not want to do it in a place where it's the wrong target audience. Just wanted to share these thoughts. The target audience in the beginning would have to be strategic.

Mindfulness meditation on a daily basis counts too. Don't forget this. I like how Thich Nhat Hanh explains it here: I already commented on it here.

@Deep Also, I forgot to mention, and I find this to be important other than doing retreats; being in a "meditative state" throughout your day counts. The "meditative state" don't have to be hardcore. In fact, to me, it's better that it's subtle so that you could get the "minor" things done and move on. The "minor" things count too. If you look at 4:25 of this clip, Thich Nhat Hanh comments on doing the dishes being a mindfulness meditation.

I think it's not a "low consciousness" activity if you plan it out and try your best. To me, when we are seekers, we sometimes want to just see the "infinity" and get rid of the ego as best we can. Some ppl call this the "enlightenment trap," or whatever name you want to give it. I think we don't need to be in such a big rush to see "God."

As G.K. Chesterton once said, "One man could understand the cosmos but never the ego; the self is more distant than any stars."

Try fresh beetroot and carrot juice. Blended. Watch the iron and B12. Low levels get you really tired.