Samuel Garcia

Thanks Orange. We have to be patient here and I will set a aside a good hour to feel these values.

@Lorcan That was the first self help book I read just over a year ago (as a 17 year old) when I stumbled upon Actualized.org and Leo recommended it. I thought it was quite boring too. Then I re-read it two weeks ago and found it quite profound. I realized why people liked it so much. I'm sure if you cultivate a desire to personal growth, you will see that self-help books are really appealing. One key to Mastery is surrender. Surrender to the emptiness you feel when you read a book.

Are religious scriptures or those becoming or are spiritually enlightened 'allowed' to lie? In Islam Muhammad was a man who didn't know how to read or write and God miraculously give him the ability to read when he first met angel Gabriel as the first verses of the Quran were revealed. Supposedly if Muhammad wrote the Quran, he would have known how to read and write unless there is some deeper meaning in this.

@Leo Gura How did you come to the conclusion Islam is based upon spiritual enlightenment? Where did you get your information from? Knowing reality may make the Quran or any other religious scripture more understandable in the scope of spiritual enlightenment, but surely this is a confirmation bias?

But scholars of the Quran who have studied the history and written extensively on the Quran and they don't say Islam is based upon spiritual enlightenment -- and they dedicate their lives to interpreting the Quran. Why believe in what you are claiming? Seeing religion thorough the scope of enlightenment perhaps is a confirmation bias. And what about how the universe was created? How did humans get where they are today? Are you saying that there is no ultimate conscious being. How can something come out of nothing? In your 'All of Religion Explained in One Video' you said you have to experience Nothingness. But isn't that experience something in itself?

On the personal development blueprint there is concept of shadow work -- removing traumatic blocks from early life. I feel like there is a lot of baggage for me personally from the past that I just want to let go of but I just don't know how. The letting go of the past video only gets you so far.

Got finals coming up in a few weeks so I'm preparing for them. I just wonder is it worth going university. Some advice I have got is go to university only if your career requires it or needs a state license such as studying Medicine, Engineering, Law etc. I don't intend to do any of those though. I applied for developmental economics because I thought I could make a real difference to the world with this but I have kind of lost passion this year. What I really got fed up with is the work during this final year of high school. I feel like the things I learnt were not useful in life and I don't want to spend the next 3 or 4 years doing work which feels a little useless to my life. The cost for university and accommodation is putting me off too a little. In the UK it is about £9000 (about $13000) for each year and a few grand extra for accommodation. The government give loan to cover the £9000 but I would rather not have to be in debt since I feel I might lose motivation during the year. Any advice? Would the life purpose course be useful as I haven't purchased it? Thanks

@jes Thanks a lot. I find that dedicating life to university is a little off putting. The universities say you should spend up to 6 to 8 hours a day studying your course but I just don't like getting tied down doing work which I would have little passion for. It is a little risky I think if I go. In the UK you kind of have to choose one and stick with it. I'm not sure how it works in other countries. One major thing which is making me want to go to university is the fact you meet a lot of people. I think this is actually the main factor for me to go to university since I have struggled to find friends which I can establish a deep connection with. A lot of people say there are so many different people you meet at university and the friends you meet there become your life long friends. I just imagine establishing deep connections which last decades -- it really pushes me to go. But we must remember in the end we go to university to get a degree.

@Kenya Why? Did you go to university?

Surely you can find a quite place like the library or school to go to work. Depending on your learning style, you could just go out in nature and read and recalling what you learnt by talking to yourself. You'll find a way... Good luck anyway. I have exams coming up so let's do our best.

I often feel a little lazy going out when I need to do something. When I need to go do some shopping or go somewhere far from where I live like the bank I feel it difficult to do so. I have just finished high school and want to get a job but feel lazy to do so. Any advice? Have you gone through this sluggish stage in life? Any video links would be helpful or books to read.

I always wander too much during work and it is holding me back as I lose lots of productivity. I have trying to do the original mediation of thinking nothing that Leo posted. But I still keep wondering unconsciously so much for about 20 mins for the 25 mins mediation. How can I stop daydreaming so much? I have been meditating for a few months.

@zer0 Put intense focus on waking up early. Yep have an annoying alarm clock on the other side of the room. This week get someone to wake you up!

@ChimpBrain Philosopher's notes. I know you said Youtube but check out the Brian Johnson's website (Philosopher Notes) and subscribe for $10 a month if you can, Then check out the master classes -- they are just awesome. He distills the hundreds of books he has read into 45-90 minutes videos that you could listen too. Then I would advice using the workbook he provides to journal your action. A different angle to personal development that I haven't found elsewhere. Highly recommend.

Do mediation in the morning. Make it habit until it becomes automatic. You have great control at the beginning of your day and at the very end.

Talk with someone who will want to help you; who will be your cheerleader if you don't have enough self-control. Find out why you do so. Log your thoughts. Just be mindful of what comes to your mind to eventually take action on your habit. Check out the book 'The Marshmellow Test' by Walter Mischel. Helped me with self control but you might need go a lot further. Make 100% commitment (not 99%) to change now.