Dodo

Real question is why do you want me to stop so badly... Also man, embrace contradictions, don't get so wrapped up in every word to look for something to bite at, but instead try to see what is being said. Also really work on that judgemental part of you - have a look around, there are threads about judging on this very forum that can help you out. We're in this together.

@Wormon Blatburm OK I will conclude by Enlightenment you mean something different than me. To me it is simply realizing what you truly seek is peace of mind and starting your journey with the right goal. All I need for this practise is to rest in being, in the place before thought, doubt and belief. For some that is not enough, and I will never understand why. I do not need to imagine God or attach to God @Martin123, I've never been one to believe or have blind faith. Neither Left nor Right is truly correct - the Middle is where we need to aim, from wherever we are. Some need to go to the right, others need to go to the left, depending on where they are. But some need to stay where they are - those who have found the power of being. Any experience is experience of infinity, we are just not appreciating it as such, because lost in thoughts. No one's to blame. I am not enlightened, I am just sharing my understanding and experience, not expecting you to kiss my feet for being right and call me the enlightened one. This is why I am against this thread - basically telling people that they should give up on going after peace of mind... Madness. If by Enlightenment you mean some figment of your imagination where you meet with God and he tells you how awesome you are or something, then sure, give up on that, because it's only mind.

So anyway, I wasn't even answering to you, you should look into that judgemental mind you've got going on. It's really immature behaviour, sorry I have to say... We are here to have a grown up conversation. If you have something constructive to say, please do. Otherwise, maybe send me private messages for savage attacks

Who was preaching? PS: Maybe what you thought as preaching after I had apologized to you, was not preaching and it was your projeection

You may argue and feel bad about other opinions, but it is how it is. I like that I am pushing your buttons and it's funny that you think you know who I am or what is being said here. I will never reach your Enlightenment, simply because you've put it on a pedestal that no-one can reach. Look at this belief. You are the one claiming to know what Enlightenment is due to what you've heard. I have no problem being an unenlightened Ego. The pointing fingers game is fun :))) PS: You claim you haven't reached Enlightenment yet you know that I'm the one who's wrong? Even if I am, you cannot claim it so passionately my "duuuude"

Whether you are right or wrong is based on One: What you mean by enlightenment Two: Whether it can be attained by choice and effort or by surrender and letting go. Maybe the very turning away from it of fear of failure and "gambling" is exactly karma in action making you think you need to suffer some more before attaining what you already are.

Judging is negative (destructive), caring is positive (constructive) - simplest explanation Therefore non judging a situation or person or ourselves is good, but not caring is bad - if we suppose there is good way to be and bad way to be, which is the pillar of self improvement. But ofcourse we should not judge outselves if we don't care and we shouldn't judge if someone else judges or doesn't care

Is it only me that thinks Conciousness sounds like the name of some really fine lady? Might name my kid that way if I have one

But the true self is nothing but peace...

Isnt the goal of a meditator always to achieve continuous peace of mind in all experience?

I think London, where I live right now, ticks most those boxes. Still neurotic people all around, but I can say life is doing a pretty good job over here.

I concede to this, by definition

I know this like knowing the Earth is Round. Certain. Without necessarily having to experience it for myself.

For realising everything is illusion one doesn't need direct experience- one can get there logically - if one Trully understands cause and effect, one will know something cannot arise from nothing - it is elementary left brain attainable knowledge. Nothing always was, is, and will be. At the same time left brain attainable knowledge is the fact that nothing is at the same time everywhere and nowhere, and is the only thing that doesn't change, and is who we are deep within. If we follow this logical conclusion that only nothingness is trully real and no one can ever delete nothingness or change it, we realise nothingness is the only thing that we can be. The Absolute Golden Middle that everyone has access to, because they are that. In reality we are nothing, but in the dream/illusion we are concious of it, so we can say we are conciousness, which is the 1 after 0, the initial illusion and bridge to nothingness or source or unmanifested. Nothingness is concious of illusions. How nice. Equivalent to there is no I, because the I is nothingness.

One time after smoking weed alone in the park at night, i was contemplating if there is someone else seeing what is happening and judging- so i started talking at high voice to my "viewers" and said, to my viewers out there, if you are watching this, then you guya dont have a taste, isn't this boring to you? I never watch big brother for a reason!!! Stuff like that. I was like, if you are gonna judge me, i am gona judge you for watching this crap

That which is not afraid of the going down is not afraid of going up

Within the void? ??

Well ok, but I've aknowledged that it is not up to me to awaken. All is according to God's will or in other words genes, cause and effect and this gives peace of mind now. Buddha's definition of enlightenment was simple and did not necessarily include reaching infinity. End off suffering (effect) caused by transcending the desire for outcomes and life to be a certain way(cause). I've become aware that this type of desire stems from the belief that there are doers. So we tackle that by cutting at the root the false belief that we are the doer and not the Universe aka God aka however you want to call the force. So journey to truth is a lot simpler for most people, because what does everyone want? End of suffering for this human being in this life. Not having a deep and transient experience necessarily, although ofcourse nothing against it. But this view of truth will bring many suffering due to desiring the situation to be different than what it is, which is impossible - even the most ignorant can't help it and is just as vital part of this dream as the most "enlightened", because no-one could have been any other way.

Tolle is a very wise teacher. My observations are that you and me are not ripe to talk about enlightenment. We must listen to experienced beings of the likes of Ekhart, Mooji and so on. We do look silly, I'm sure

If existential truth is not here and now Aren't we surrendering to becoming seekers after infinity, which is fool's gold because it can never be reached? It's infinite for a reason, can never be attained, there will always be more, infinitely more, so isn't the logical conclusion to simply abide and accept what is? Why are we not satisfied with this magical ordinary existance? It's not like it is going to last forever... And since there is no you suffering, making progress or anything else, who is tasting that sweet sweet existential truth?

Seeking is important to turn to the right direction. Once one understands what he is truly after, seeking will stop on it's own. I really like the representation with crossing over to the other shore - you use a boat. Don't discard the boat prematurely.

HAs anyone done this one already? Well here goes: I am enlightened

If i could be stoned all the time, i wont lie to you, I would be. It gives me the biggest highs, I feel like absolutely nothing needs to be added in such times, nothing needs to be thought learnt or changed. At the same time, sometimes it makes me active, doing happens, spontenaity etc, because it is an amplifier. Decisions that I would never make unless on the substance. I even walk around the streets talking to myself and others, even though I am super shy individual. Its like i change completely, I even saw myself and my girlfriend as not human but as a lizard entity or another time a blob of paint, part of the painting, whuch felt awesomely relaxing and my entire body was just Happy. I could switch paradigms and enjoy different ways of seeing the same reality. But it doesn't stick. I've become inlove by the picture my eyes see, especially when I do it in the park with nature. I've felt everything I see as God, the best painting there can ever be, and it can only be seen from exactly this angle if I was there at that moment looking, which gave me a sense of infinitely strong purpose, because I allowed such beauty to be - at such moments I dont think of it as illusion or truth- i just thoroughly enjoy it. I would stare at the grass or trees, and the sheer hd-ness of the picture blows my mind away. Also it felt like with every movement and action, i was rearranging the painting in infinitely big way. I would move a little tiny stone from one place to another and feel like ive created a masterpiece. I would draw on the grass with my feet. I felt like a true artist just by looking at the ordinary scenary, but it looked anything but ordinary. I wondered how did I not see this before, it was right infront ofof my eyes. When i completely let go and become still, ive even become completely aware of my imagination gone wild. Its like I became my imagination and saw inner movies of my own imagination without full control, but with the power of directing it (best way to explain) Like a conductor doesn't control the orchestra, but the orchestra flows with the conductor's lead. Many many many experiences, HIGHS, but the highs come with a price. SO now i am trying to lay it off. Not trying even, laying it off. If I am to find piece I cannot look for it in highs, because they are not permanent. Mental abilities are deeply impacted by the use. Stay fresh and off drugs kids Highs will be worth it, but when they pass, you wont even remember what it was like, but the negative impacts will be with you. Ohh and forgot to mention - dreams are so much better when you're clean. They are my natural highs.

Agreed, but we gotta take into consideration the conditioning and how expression is linked to that. Its a gradual process. Also the need might not be there to do such things, but that doesnt mean they should not happen. Just like you dont have need for that ice-cream, it doesnt mean it can't be eaten. Aware has stated to me that his test is a game, and I played - it was an experience Otherwise fully agree Ps: There is such a thing as freedom of speech and i believe it to be a very important thing for humanity. Sticks and stones might break me, but words.. etc - harmless.

All the time boss! Ever since Leo's Neti Neti vid. It's kind of what leads to I am (blank), because any thing that I am aware of cannot be me.