UnbornTao

There're no means to enlightenment because it isn't the result of a process. That doesn't mean that it occurs just by wishful thinking, or that hard work isn't useful or essential in most cases. As a matter of fact, consistent contemplation and a state of not-knowing are your best tools. Enlightenment experiences are always sudden. Where else but now?

Why? That focus will mislead people. The goal should be facilitating, not hyping the content.

Mu

What is is already the case. What changes is your consciousness in the matter. Ignorant happiness vs conscious perception. In the latter, you see reality as it already is and has always been. So why be afraid? God is Unborn, so can't die.

How does one join ~~or align with~~ the feeling-attention in another?

One way to develop integrity: Keep your word. You don't have to give it but whenever you do, do what you said you were going to do. Either that or don't say it in the first place. By saying it, it is also meant through your actions (arriving on time, etc.) and internal dialogue, by talking to yourself. Start with something ridiculously small, something you would be ashamed not to do. Meditating for 10 seconds, for example. With time, done consistently, your self-trust will slowly build up, increasing your integrity. There will come a time when your integrity is such that your word will be powerful. At that point, you'll reflect whether to commit to something or not; you realize that if you give your word, it will fucking get done. So, better be cautious what you give your word to.

Linux is probably my favorite desktop OS. First of all, it's exciting and fun to learn. It's so incredibly flexible that for some it may be paralyzing to use sometimes. macOS goes second due to its consistency, beauty and efficiency (mostly hardware-related anyway). Looks like a polished, stable Linux for the average user. Windows is my last option in this list because it isn't as secure and private as Linux and macOS, which are Unix-like. Aesthetically, it's a decades-old jungle made out of several design languages put together over the years. A modern OS with such UI inconsistency is frankly depressing. Granted, it's much more versatile, open and customizable than macOS. Windows multitasking is light-years ahead of Apple's system, too. Lastly, it is obviously more prevalent. It can be found on dirt cheap PCs while Macs are ~~notoriously~~ fucking expensive.

Investigate your own arrogance, especially the subtle forms, the ones you hide from others and especially from yourself! And the arrogance that you show openly and are proud of! As an example, can you find arrogance in boredom?

Changing your relationship towards teachers and mentors - trust is useful but take care not to turn it into idealization and blind faith. The role of teachers is to guide and facilitate, not to do the work for you. Sounds obvious but many relate to another in that way without being aware. Put your ass on the line and keep it there.

What are each of these: Having insights and breakthroughs Becoming aware Achieving dramatic states Becoming conscious What are the differences between them?

What allows you to "stand on your own feet"? What's the experience like? How can it be generated? What's the opposite? Being unwilling to be held accountable by your actions? Avoiding the inherent loneliness that that would imply? Needing something or someone other than you to feel validated in thinking or acting a certain way?

Thanks for answering. It still smells weird to me, though. But hey, you know you. Enjoy.

If the person is committed, no matter her genetics, she will get it done. That's the point of commitment. Just more work will likely be required.

Some do it for entire years, so maybe try doing it for longer periods. Also, channel that energy into something constructive/creative like exercise and art. Reading, writing, cooking, exercise, watching TV, meditating, contemplating and doing nothing. Look up dopamine detox.

With a journal. In your mind it's like a pingpong ball that gets stuck and goes nowhere. Expression forces you to keep your contemplations clear and honest. How valid and real a thought is may become evident just by writing it down, making it easier to move on and process it. Ideally, talking out loud is probably the most effective, even if just to yourself.

As a teenager, Ramana was a normal kid. He didn't meditate and was clueless about spirituality. Then, in a matter of minutes, he had a complete, abiding awakening out of the blue. Now you attribute that awakening to special powers, providence, predestined karma or some such. It is uncommon. But that doesn't mean he had special genetics. Isn't your nature and mine the same, so to speak? Then what is "special" about you except the the degree to which you're conscious of the truth?

Validating your claim would go first. What is mind? What is self? What is consciousness? What is the nature or substance of you? What are you made out of, so to speak? What is another? What is life?

Be skeptical, especially if the explanation (chi) comes from a belief system, which it does. Ask him what he's doing. What happens in his experience that presumably allows him to do those things? I can't boil eggs with chi, I use fire.

What about Ramana? Surely not having any (intellectual) knowledge of the possibility of enlightenment would be a huge impediment to realizing it, and yet it happened for him. As far as we know, he was just a normal kid. Then he got profoundly enlightened, and now we attribute him special genetics or powers.

This is similar to saying that skinny individuals are that way exclusively due to genetics. Genetics play an important role, I hear tell, but being fit/healthy mostly relates to lifestyle factors that you can change. Habits then get compounded over decades to create the apparent end result. You're looking for an excuse to load off your responsibility in the matter. "Buddha was born that way." Horseshit. Gotama threw himself into transcending suffering like very few humans have done before, that we know of. It wasn't about his genetics but about being really serious. So I don't think that "having special qualities" is true in this field. The work isn't done without your participation and commitment. That's ultimately what brings results, not genetics, environment or logistics.

Chatting is convenient. It is prevalent. Contemplate instead. Once you have an insight or breakthrough, share it. Before that happens, want to know the truth. Avoid sharing, as best you can, preconceptions, assumptions, extrapolations, opinions, etc. Just be curious.

Emotions come and go, you don't. The relative can't affect the absolute. Consciousness ~~of your true nature~~ can't be touched by anything you experience.

"Spectacular, grandiose, huge" are ~~relative~~ distinctions. What process?

I don't know how they're using the term but literally the first question relates to emotions, which are irrelevant when it comes to enlightenment. There's no way or methodology to verify enlightenment except by becoming conscious yourself. Perhaps another realized human can sense it on another.

Knowing what consciousness is vs exploring altered states: Is that what you're talking about? Seems to me like it is.