Salvijus

There is no how. Everyone knows that they exist and that they are concious. That's actually the only knowledge that you have in the end. I exist as what? That's a different question. But that I am, right here right now, is knowledge in everyone that requires no proof for it is the absolute undeniable knowledge.

You can know that you exist. That is one irrefutable knowledge right there. And if you can know what that "you" really is. That is actually a doorway to realize what free will really is btw.

It's an argument yet to be refuted.

The existence has to be the result of someone's will for if nobody has willed it, it wouldn't exist. That will is not seperate from you, hence you have free will. Or in other words, there is nothing that is not a result of free will.

To see through all the layers of self-grasping and false identity sufficient awareness is needed. That's what practices are supposed to bring about. Without that awareness transcendce is just intellectual.

Bravo, bravo. Where did you do the retreat, if I may ask? I'm interested aswell.

Haha, that's some iron steel skeptism you got then 👍

The video I linked would have destroyed your skepticism.

He (your friend) was trying to let you know about his presence. This video explains it

Okay, I'll believe you.

I doubt the first quote is actually from Rumi. It has a super lame energy behind it. The second one I quote feels much more Rumi-like.

"Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?". Rumi

All of us ❤️

@Spiritual Warfare if earth was truly hell, you wouldn't be such an awesome human being.

Strong

To Ascend into glory.

Here he's making that distinction, using self as being and ego as self. Self "rose"; it is extrinsic to being--and perhaps paradoxically not different in nature, but this is beside the specific point we are dealing with now. The way I see it is that there is only one Self. The expression of the Self can be pure and unobstructed (in which case it feels like a downpouring of Love) Or the expression of the Self can be distorted because of defilmemts in the body-mind conditioning due to false perception and false identity. Because of these defilement, when the pure light of the Self enters the body-mind system, the Light gets distorted into fear and self-grasping. The fear and self-grasping creates like a capsule where the pure flow of energy gets trapped. This captured capsule of energy is the entity in itself that usually goes by the name ego, with its own set of conditioning, fears, beliefs, values etc. As a practicioner begins to release self-grasping, false identity and limiting beliefs, the trapped energy begins to release itself and become restored in its original form (love and wholeness). If the entire ego capsule is released, there is an experience of being united with Everything and Everywhere and a sense of great Love. And a realization that all this love is the expression of the Self and you are That. You can also realize that all this love is dancing inside an infinite void. And that these are the two sides of the same coin. Sound and Silence. The Self in motion and the Self in potential. It's all One Self in the end.

Enlightenment is a sort of metaphysical castration of your balls (pride, arrogance, ego) in a way. So it's easier for women because they don't have them. At the same time you need to have balls to dare to climb the highest peaks. To be willing to drop everything for something otherworldly. And women struggle with that more I believe It's all about balls in the end.

The funny thing about life is, even if you're the president of the world, your mother still remains an authority over you on some level somehow.

Reminds me of my mother. I never disagree with her either lol. If there's anyone I would lose an argument against it's her

If you were to eliminate the vagueness and fuzzyness over what this fundamental thing is, It would become a master guru level answer. But I enjoyed what you wrote. It sounded like something I would say, hehe. Nice

It's the most perfect thing I ever read Nah, if I was to add something. I would rise the question why is it that the belief is so hard to shake off? Like I can intellectually understand that the ego is illusiory yet the belief that I'm the body is still ruling me and manifestation in my behavior and my psychology. So why the belief is so difficult to go beyond. If that question got answered, then the answer would have more depth and would add a layer of clarity of what the ego really is imo. But overall it was a good definition.

I find my own reaction interesting to observe. It feels to me like I would probably agree with you no matter what you say

This description of ego is not wrong but it's very superficial and lacks a lot of depth to it.