UnbornTao

What comes to mind right now is having degraded my ability to focus deeply and consistently for hours on self-chosen tasks without external incentive. An ability I naturally had, and cultivated, as a kid. Now I just have to develop it once again.

Oops, how could I forget to share:

I came across this unlisted video while doing some research. It is a sharp observation. (And notice that, at the same time, they still largely fell into the trap they were cautioning against) This can be an extremely subtle and insidious dynamic - in many different domains. Do you think this video, and the very need and impulse to believe, doesn't currently apply to you?

You enjoy it, so that's what matters. People here find different uses for their journals, with "emptying out" being one of the big benefits. It can be used to empower learning, sensitivity, accountability, etc. - as your assessment shows. On the other hand, why are you asking for validation? That's WRONG!!!

When were you going to open an OnlyFans again?

Can find a ton on https://tuxmate.com/. Olauncher for Android.

The principle still applies.

Meh. You can always speak and behave consistently with the ideals of what others commonly hold as "higher consciousness." This doesn't necessarily mean that it is true and real and based on genuine consciousness. It just means that you like what you are told, and that your images of awakening and similar are validated. Adopting behaviors that don't come naturally in order to appear more conscious than one actually is - that is pretending.

I think you are comparing apples and oranges. The point of "becoming conscious" in this context is that you are in touch with the nature of something beyond any possible state or condition you might be in. Whether you have cancer, are bored or angry, you are "conscious" of the subject matter, and circumstances shouldn't alter that fact if it is a solid apprehension. By "consciousness", it seems to me that people generally refer to their experience and the ability of their minds to make sense of it - cognition, in other words. When we inspect our own experiential understanding very soberly, we observe that we are quite sloppy in our distinctions among each of these, which suggests we may not know what we are really talking about. We can't even make an honest assessment in the first place, as we're likely to still be operating intellectually or "philosophically", failing to see what is in front of us - in our experience. It might be that when sick, our "bodily" and mental attention is more fully focused on the present moment, although I don't call this "becoming more conscious" but rather being mindful, sensitive, paying attention. That said, whatever increases one's sensibility in that domain of experience is certainly a welcome change.

Hmm, reasonable questions. So: Who's angry? Why would you be angry? What are you angry about? Something to look into.

There's a discussion going on in this thread about anger: Also, fuck you. -- That said, why do you get angry? How do you see people and situations such that the end result is one of feeling angry? (Not that anger is good or bad, mind you.) Also, besides suppressing it or enacting it, can you feel it without acting it out? Obviously it seems convincing to us that, especially with our more volatile emotions, others or "the world" are at fault, and we're just simply reacting - as victims to the stimulus. This might not be entirely true, even though we may strongly believe this is the case.

Our problem is how we're holding our conception of these things, and not knowing that (or when) they are conceptions. State comes and goes. "State of consciousness," from the way you talk, is what I'd call state of mind, cognition, experience. This is rather essential to the discussion, as it strikes at the heart of the matter. You may well think that Ramana getting drunk, following a certain breathing pattern, taking some drug, being knocked "unconscious" (etc., etc.) would either "increase" or "decrease" his "consciousness." It's generally assumed that awakening is some sort of experience or state - a grandiose feeling, a state of bliss and peace, a shift in our awareness, a form of knowledge, a new perception of some kind. I follow your logic, and it sounds reasonable, but it is based on flawed assumptions. As I postulated, maybe not even dying made a difference for Maharshi in this context. On his deathbed, while his followers mourned his coming passing, he said something like: Where do you think I'm going? So what are we talking about? How can that realization be an experience or state? It is not possible to "find" or "cause" awakening in your experience, which is the place you'll look - and at the same time it is also possible, but this possibility is not logical or known. No practice or action does it as it is not a conditioned experience. Experience is all we have and know - all we are aware of. The actions you take are activities to engage in while "waiting" to make a leap. And what causes the leap? Mu? Perhaps not the best question. If you see someone promising enlightenment, or a "path" to awakening, I'd be wary of them - especially if they guarantee it. Most likely they're selling what people want - a pleasing, hopeful story - and as so-called spiritual people, we're no strangers to such things. I recommend you look for the other threads on this topic. Be one of the first here to actually put them to use.

@Miguel1 Our farts smell so much better. Spiritual farts.

I mean, obviously.

Is it, though? Seems to me like the anger is meant to manage the pain. Left alone, the hurt is just that - pain, and does not by itself imply or necessitate anger. That is, the pain comes first, the manipulation of anger, second. Feeling like a victim might occur at any point and throughout the process, yet it does not seem to be a requirement here (although we usually regard the anger to be caused by something else other than ourselves, so on a tacit 'victimization' feeling we agree.)

Solid advice - which doesn't necessarily mean that anger is "right" either; it's an emotion. A question to look at is: What is it? It's a pretty fundamental emotion. Hurt, in one form or another, underlies it.

Should have said that sooner.

Shit, not bad

Haha, good one. You got me pegged!

The self-reinforcing nature of belief is incredibly strong. Amen! *obligatory disclaimer to "test it out" for yourself.

Ask: What is an effect? What is a practice? And what is awakening if not an effect, perception, experience, insight, change of state, good idea, or feeling?

"Get enlightened, make no mistakes."

"My name is X, and I am an egoholic." Or self-holic. @TruthFreedom Good luck on your efforts; they will be worth it on so many levels.

Pretty unpretentious, down-to-earth, sobering. No place for (as much) fantasy.