How to be wise

No. We fear the death of our identity.

The truth is hard to swallow.

If I'm permanently enlightened, will I get emotional mastery?

If you get a lot of enlightenment experiences, and then you stop identifying with the body

@Uberverse not having a sense of humour is a sign of neurosis, which is what enlightenment gets rid of.

Hey, Just last week I started to do self-inquiry, specifically the Neti Neti technique. One week on, and already I feel like quitting, because it's too much work. The reason I hate myself for this, is because I tried to start this habit exactly this time last year, and I quit one week after. I would like to know how I can motivate myself to successfully start this habit, and to keep it for the next several years. Any suggestions are appreciated.

@texter there are tons of books on emotional mastery in Leo's book list which will give you far more results than therapy. Check it out!

@kieranperez it sounds to me that you haven't mastered your emotions yet. In most people's cases, this should be set as a top priority. There are many ways to master your emotions and to be happy, and I will share one with you. this website will have all the information you need for this technique. http://thework.com/en

@texter 'she shouldn't commit suicide, is that true?' 'It's in her best interests to not commit suicide, can I really know that?' Contemplate these questions. They will change the way you feel about this situation. Note: I'm not saying that it's in her best interests to commit suicide, but if you contemplate these questions, you will get some amazing insights.

How did some people like Eckhart Tolle and Byron Katie become enlightened instantly when they didn't even know what enlightenment was. Are there any factors which influenced that instant realisation, or is it just a miracle? Is there anything we can do to increase the likelihood of that happening to us.

If you become enlightened, will you have attained all of absolute truth. If not, then why, and what more needs to be done to grasp all of absolute truth.

A year ago, I was convinced that enlightenment will solve all my neurosis, and Leo said that the only way to cure your neurosis is through enlightenment. But now, in the 'practical guide to enlightenment' forum, it says that enlightenment is not emotional mastery. So how will enlightenment help me gain emotional mastery?

There's a vippassna retreat centre in Hertfordshire

Worrying what people think of you is what you are trying to eliminate with self-actualization. It doesn't feel good when you try to hide what you really want to do because of everyone else.

Very interesting. It just goes to show that science as a whole will change dramatically as soon as scientists are aware of spirituality. There is a cliché that emotions defie rationality, and that new research is just one example of this.

When you think that you're the brain, be conscious of the fact that what's actually happening is an image in your head, and a tingly sensation in your body. 'You' are actually the one who is looking at that image and feeling that sensation. So just ask yourself, who is looking at that image, and who is feeling that sensation.

And that's just another thought, and a feeling in your body which you interpret as 'certainty'. Be concious of the fact that all your beliefs that you think are correct is just an image in your head, and a tingly sensation in your body!

I've been there as well. It's just a lack of motivation. What I found helps is to watch documentaries of other extremely enlightened people. Personally, what inspired me the most is the book 'a thousand names for joy' by Byron Katie, where she talks about her life after enlightenment. She describes the unbelievable joy she has with very mundane things, and how she loves every aspect of life, even the things that we would consider 'bad'. When I finished that book, I started enlightenment work straight away, because I wanted to live like that as well. Really recommend it. But the point is, find someone who will inspire you to do the work. I can guarantee you that all successful people where inspired deeply by successful people before them.

I was reading his Wikipedia page, and it said that he fell to the ground and died instantly the moment he finished his speech. His students said that he did some yoga thing where he left his body. Is it actually possible to kill yourself spiritually just by leaving your body?

@Prabhaker @Spiral @Loreena what is mahasamadhi? according to followers, he died by entering a state called mahasamadhi.

no. everyone else can't willingly die just by choosing to leave their bodies! there was no physical cause of death!

Well, there are people who do enlightenment work for 20 years and still don't get enlightened. So there must have been good reasons why they were so lost, and this could be one of them.

What they achieved goes far beyond enlightenment. They achieved sage-hood in one night. Something that will take us at least 20 years.

Eckhart Tolle had a far deeper enlightenment than most people. He clearly has emotional mastery and unconditional love, which most enlightened people don't have. Same with Byron Katie. And probably other people who had instant enlightenments.

I've faced a similar problem. To resolve it, just try concentrating on something else. When you stop focusing on your breathing, it'll become automatic.