The White Belt

@Joseph Maynor OMG. Just reading that, I am inspired, haha. I might have to do the same with Shakespeare. Stratford-upon-Avon isn't far from me at all.

Obviously nothing beats observing the self, yourself. But there are other ways to study ego externally that can be helpful; I'd like to propose that reading shakespeare is a good way to study the ego. Not only do you have some wonderfully written, high-conscious literature with a beautiful use of language, you also have a lot of big egos, a lot of self-sabotaging behavior, examples of power getting out of control, backwards rationalization and so on and so forth. King Lear, Hamlet, The Winter's Tale; these are all good plays to see how the ego is the devil in action. All the main characters in these plays are neurotic to the VERY BONE. Also this constitutes as high-conscious entertainment IMO. If you are interested, i'd recommend buying the plays with modern English translations by the side of the Shakespearean text. You can contribute your less-known or unconventional ways that you like to study the ego...

@Toby Sweet! Dispite it's popularity, I haven't read it! I like Leontes, in The winter's tale. He basically indirectly kills his whole family, just via his ego.

I won't lie. I had to stop the video 40 minutes in because I didn't understand it. but that's okay. I'm not even close to Leo's stage of development. Not remotely. Not even close to many members of this forum. I'm still in awe about the quality and excellence of the video though. Fantastic. And it excites to me know that maybe one day I WILL be able to fathom what's being spoken about here. For now there are many other videos I need to watch. ???

I just wanted to create a post thanking Mr. Leo Gura, and extending that thanks to this forum community. I've been meditating a few years now, but today I hit one year without skipping a day. It's a big accomplishment for me, as every long-term endeavour I went on in the past was always trashed by the ego pretty early on. Leo stressed the importance of not skipping days, and the forum members helped to keep me afloat and constantly inspired. Here's a blog post briefly detailing my meditation experience and the benefits I've experienced that I plan to deepen; https://writtenmaktub.wordpress.com/2017/12/02/i-just-meditated-every-single-day-for-a-year-was-it-worth-my-time/ Also this year i've been doing pretty well with my Life Purpose, which is acting. I've been scanning for ways to make it as high conscious as possible. It's still one i'm figuring out. I've attached a picture of me on stage in the theatre. I plan to keep going; keep raising my consciousness, deepen my insights into the nature of no-self, and I have plans for various retreats and life-purpose related activities. Leo is the one who made this all possible for me, you all help to sustain it. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

You know it's gonna' be good when even Leo can't wait to tell us about it.

This really made me laugh out loud man.

And is hell; experience as experienced as the separate self? Is this what religion is pointing to?

Yes

@Nahm Hahahahaha. Poor misunderstood Jesus. You tried bro.

I just challenged the notion in myself that the devil is bad. It just is. So-called religious people only think in black and white which is why they see the devil as the worst, most evil entity there is. If the devil is in fact the ego, then we can say yes, the ego is tricky, frustrating, confused, and takes us round in circles, but not the absolute opposite to all that is good.

Yikes! I suspected so. What did I do?! Forgive me father, for I have sinned Well, even though I have suspected so, and you agree, I won't be too hasty. It is still to be further realised, if it is true. Thanks @Joseph Maynor

...Because the average person doesn't know their Arse from their Elbow.

@Shanmugam Congratulations!

@Leo Gura Hehe. Silly. But he did have knowledge of Hinduism. Living in the spiritual capital of the world, and he did study with various teachers and ascetics. So stick that up your sarcasm!

I don't feel mindful until thought intervenes. Eg. Thoughts like 'you're not eating mindfully', 'as you are walking you may as well put attention on the balls of your feet' and the strangest one is - 'Be mindful of your thoughts' How can this be so? How can I be aware without mentally remembering to be aware? Thanks.

@Nahm Thanks (sorry)

@Leo Gura I just wonder how one could become interested in nonduality without access to the Internet, books or teachers? It seems a birth right to self inquire but simultaneously if you have no options other than to listen to other people's dogma then how can it be done? Is it possible I wonder?

@Leo Gura Not all science though right? You do mean in a general sense? David Bohm springs to mind.

@MM1988 Very well observed. I feel the same way. One book and I'm thinking it through thoroughly and applying the concepts until the next book comes along. Perhaps we should take the main lessons from each book, write them down, and make a plan of how to incorporate them, considering the information we already have. A good way to do this would be to utilize the use of a COMMONPLACE BOOK that Leo has spoke on. I'm planning on creating one fairly soon.

Fair enough!

@Leo Gura - your answer sounds reactive. Please try not to project fame or celebrity onto what I'm asking here. Act like I'm asking you who your favourite Renaissance painter is. Do you have a favourite actor without the baggage of fame etc? Or maybe you could answer with a favourite acting performance that you've seen that particularly impressed you with its exhibition of excellence?

Truth is truth. My truth is my truth, yours is yours. Alan's is Alan's and Leo's is Leo's. Don't ask any authority to validate your truth. I suspect many teachers are going to lie to you just to see if you are naive enough to submit beliefs based on what they have told you merely on credit. Even Leo, when he says he spills the beans and doesn't withhold information, could be BSing you til you realise that there is no authority on YOUR truth.

My subtle addiction is my smart phone. When I am watching a film I am thinking about what is going on with my phone. I am thinking about Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp. I like the feeling when I get a 'Like' on something, I get a little hit of serotonin. I am on my phone too much, I can replace the time with more mindfulness. How can I break out of the chains of my subtle addiction?

@Leo Gura does your gf have a self-actualisation themed YT channel?