ajasatya

@Bryanbrax Here's a short list: Learn how to make eye contact and how to listen while talking to people Start practicing self-inquiry Clean up your diet (ditch trash food) Quit porn Exercise

@Aakash Good luck on your journey. Have a great Life!

@Anton_Pierre Genuine hunger for Truth is a very intimate thing. Ranting about organizations and saying that you want the Truth is inappropriate. Leaders of organizations/institutions/religions have their goals (as do you). Let them be.

Just silence.

@Cody_Atzori To me, a clear case of bullshitting was when I used to lie to myself as an attempt to feel better in the short-term.

@StarStruck If I were to find out that I had been mistaken about my career path by the age of 80, I'd still be thankful. Just go for it. And remember that you still may change your mind about your career. Just do what you enjoy now and don't attach yourself to it.

@SageModeAustin It sounds amazing. Just plan your way to do some basic stuff like brushing your teeth, take a leak or shit, shower etc. Don't let those small details ruin your experience. Strategize all the way through it.

@Shaun Ok so you're spontaneously creating suffering out of "nowhere"? Doesn't make much sense to me. Try to go meta during meditation. Watch the mental patterns that lead you to suffering. From my POV, one should be able to sit and do nothing without hurting oneself.

@Adam Lockworth This is highly related:

@Toan Try starting with 1 day in your bedroom. Simpler setup = better for starters.

It's even funnier if you imagine that it already happened. @Shaun Atoms collide, stars explode, new galaxies are born, black holes are formed, people die, people are born, a wound is open, a new scar takes form, a river disappears, volcanoes explode, suns turn into dwarfs... It's an infinite dance. What are you up to?

Zen: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1156470 The Man from Earth: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0756683 The Tales of the Princess Kaguya: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2576852 Mr. Nobody: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0485947

@Sadalsuud Great question. Here's another question for you: what's the "I" that says "my body"? Where is it exactly?

@CreamCat My last retreat lasted for 4 days and we spent 10 hours meditating everyday. We also had stretching sessions every night. When the retreat was over, I felt very healthy. When you go to a solo retreat, you don't freeze in time and doesn't move forever. You can also dedicate part of the time to work on your muscles.

I don't care very much about who you are. You cannot delight or infuriate me. It's nothing personal. You just have to be aware of the fact that this forum has a specific goal.

That's a good sign. Spiritual inquiry is no place for beliefs. Don't believe on the "materialist scientists", don't believe in the "like-minded actualizers", don't believe in Buddha, don't believe in Jesus, don't believe in the Bible, don't believe in the Qur'an. What's is left for the mind?

Because God is the nature of everything.

@Christian Jackson We're here to constantly question our beliefs. If you're here to spread your beliefs, you're on the wrong place. There's something very unique, weird, odd and paradoxical that happens if you throw your cultural baggage away and just stay with yourself, asking who you are for long enough. Of course, you have no idea what he means by "I don't exist" and "I am God". Doesn't it trigger any degree of curiosity in you?

@Onecirrus You've found a fantasized belief about enlightenment. Enlightenment does not make the world any better. Enlightenment is knowing what the world is. If you want to make the world a better place, then work on your mental patterns. Find out what is toxic and what is not. Let go of harmful thoughts, words and acts. This is the path of purification, which is different from enlightenment.

@Ampresus Make eye contact and listen carefully.

I went through a surgery that made me unable (prohibited) to get an erection for two months. So it was my initial reason. In the process of learning how to domain my sexual impulses, everything got better. My relationships got better. I could sleep better at night. I felt more energized to live my days. My creativity went off the charts. So, after the two months, I just continued. My perspective on intimate relationships changed completely. My perspective on women changed completely. In the beginning, before surgery, I thought I was being cursed. But in the end, it felt much more like a blessing. I am very thankful for what happened to me until this day.

What you said conflicts with my experience. The quality of my life increased dramatically after quitting porn and masturbation. Not just in the sexual part, but in many other aspects.

@GroovyGuru Do what you feel that will lead you to happiness. Just don't insist on something that's not working. There are some silly errors that you should avoid, like smoking crack, using heroine, having children at an utterly immature state of development etc. But for the most part, making mistakes and having a direct experience of frustration is the best approach to learn and build up wisdom. Go out, take your drinks, chat with girls... do whatever. But always ask yourself "Is this making me really happy?". Don't just indulge in activities unconsciously. Nobody can tell you the limits your middle path. That's your job, and yours only. Also, keep in mind that self-responsibility grows as you age. Now you're turning 21. Good... a new level of responsibility lies ahead of you.

The chain of unhappy people manipulating unhappy people is a little bit longer, more robust and complex than you can handle for now. When you see it, you'll shit bricks.

@themovement You're clearly falling for the fantasy of showcase traps. There is a lot of money involved in making such people look happy and fulfilled, so that you feel eager to consume what they tell you to and live the life they tell you to. This is the same mistake that a lot of women make when aiming for the lifestyle of super famous top models. The thing is... there is A LOT MORE to life than what is shown on mainstream media and culture.