Gabriel Antonio

@Truth Seekah EXACTLY! People give way too much attention to the minute detail. Life is pretty much a joke, so why do we keep on taking everything so seriously? @Afonso Yeap! It is all an energy game. Words don't matter that much. People like you more when you're truthful.

Background Pretty attractive guy, but always insecure inside. Nobody could see how nervous I was feeling, but I was. And, let me tell, my mind would always race whenever I was interacting with anyone who was outside of my comfort zone. In other words, I could only be me with myself and my mom. Haha, ain’t that ridiculous? How I Did It - Most Important Insights Exposure therapy. Sorry to break it to you, but the only way out is through the continual exposure to social situations. If you are able to bear the uncomfotable feeling that arises, you will gradually become stronger. You don’t need to force yourself to talk. What I am saying is: Talk Bullshit People don’t really care about the minute detail. They care only about the energy behind what you are saying. Words aren’t that necessary. When you allow yourself to talk in whatever way you want, BAM! You instantenously demonstrates relaxation. People will like you when you start ALLOWING Do you overanalyze a conversation? NO! Cut that shit! It is all about the flow. Don’t criticize yourself so much, just take it lightly. Seriously, get comfortable with talking about things that you never heard before. You will be amazed! Just listening to people is NOT enough You need to start VOICING YOUR THOUGHTS WITHOUT FILTERS. Ok? So you got to train the follwoing speak, act the first way that comes your mind. This is called spontaneity. It is amazing when you have it Energetic Boundaries So, here’s the thing: DO NOT allow people to “throw up” shit in you. Seriously, guys, I used to do that. So whenever I am interacting with someone that is being disrespectul, rude, clingy; I make sure to SET LIMITS. Ok? Because many people are energy vampires. Where do you think the idea of “vampire” com from? So… make sure to say: “Hey! My time to speak.” Voice Your Needs Are you the type of person who always say “I am fine” to the question “How are you?”. BULLSHIT! Some days we are simply tired. So, start practicing being more sincere: “I feel like shit”, or “Well, it’s not one of my best days, but it’s okay!” Do Not Pretend That’s the thing people do. They don’t understand shit of what they’re listening, but they don’t interrupt. Dude, debates are formal shit! DO NOT LET PEOPLE BULLDOG THE CONVERSATION. If something like that happens, make up an excuse and exist the closest door. Practice Yoga or Weightlifting (Release Emotions...) Your problem is very likely physical. If you do not feel good in your body, you will feel terrible in social situations. That’s it. By correcting only your breathing, you will release a lot of emotional baggages you have been carrying. So…. Take a deep breath IN. . … . . .. . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. AND OUT *all the way through... Socialization is extremely easy. If you allow yourself to let go. If you can’t do that, practice some relaxation breathing exercises. And BOOM! You are back to normal. I want to program this into your subconscious mind: the more natural you are, the better. If you are forcing, breathe deeply. Your breath will correct everything that you try so hard to correct. Haha. It is that simple. Comfort Zone Challenges NLP did not work for me. Hyponisis triggered in me the insight that “Oh… I can actually step out of my comfort zone.” But, after the first session, I didn’t feel this effect again. So, I quit hyponis also. However, comfort zone challenges are the fastest way to become more confident. It is down-right exposure. But it fucking works. Please, you do not need to do anything “wild”. For example, some comfort zone challenges are: 1- Enrolling in skateboarding classes 2- Learning a new language with a native-speaker. 3- Travel (It can be around the city) 4- Make a random comment to a cashier 5- Start making fun at people. You know, very silly jokes. (For example, there is a girl who always wears black, and then I told her yesterday that because she wasn’t wearing black, something would happen. Obviously, in a relaxed manner.) So, you see? Small dosages but REMEMBER: BE FUCKING CONSISTENT TO GOING TO SOCIAL THINGS. Stay more in social events. Go to your local church or yoga studio. Talk to your neighbor. BE PRESENT in a conversation. If you are in your mind, BAM! Get out. It is sorta meditiation. If you are stuck in your mind, BAM! But, above all: Be Authentic. - Do whatever you want, and don’t apologize for how you feel, act, or say. In essence, be more “selfish”, “cocky”. I warn you: people will criticize the hell outta you. Your world will start to collapse when people start disliking you, but then you notice that: “Huh, they have forgotten about what happened.” Trust me: people forgive much more than you think. It’s okay to lie. It’s okay to manipulate. t’s okay to have negative thoughts. It’s okay to judge people It’s okay to gossip It’s okay to be negative Seriously, try them out. They have terrible aftereffects are nasty. On the other hand, you will quickly see how good being truthful is. However, you will notice something: if you are present, you cannot judge. Because there is not enough space! If you are present, your whole being is in the thing you’re doing. If you are not totally there, then you will miss the opportunity of gaining true insights and instead engage in mental masturbation. And, in a way, people will like you more because then they will have the opportunity of being themselves also. Remember: socialization has a lot to do with being light. Follow-up Questions Do you take everything personally? Do you take everything seriously? Can you allow yourself to gossip? I don’t know about you, but I would feel very guilty to do that. I used to NEVER gossip, but I admit that very rarely I do out of my unconsciousness. And it feels dirty. Yuck! You did not came here to be perfect, you came here to real Just speak your mind and follow your breath. Well, these are some tips. But, please, if you know you suffer from Social Anxiety, remember that Experience is King. In other words, you have to be okay with making mistakes. Just don’t break the flow, you know? That’s how to have a good conversation. You are inwards but at the same time you are sharing. All we can do is sharing. You live in a different universe than I do. We need your uniqueness. People are not trustworthy. One day they hate you; the other they LOVE you. It is ridiculous. So, if someone insults you, understand that they are simply telling you "I am in so much pain!" In a way, we’re kind the same (but just different) The trick is to be half-inwards and half-outwards. <o>

@Ry4n Hahaha, no! But I bet that must be great. What has been helping A LOT is some deep breathing exercises. People with social anxiety just don't know how much of the problem is stored in their bodies. As soon as you free up that blocked energy, BAM! You feel relaxed once again. And when you feel relaxed, people start to love you. And when people start to love you, you rediscover the meaning of life. SHARING!!! IT IS NO USE HAVING A TREASURE DEEP-DOWN IN THE OCEAN. SPEAK UP! THE WORLD NEEDS TO HEAR YOUR VOICE! Again, people, stop being so passive and actually do something. That's the way to break free from your mind. Move your body. Shake it. BREATHE!

Dude, I feel for you. I can sense how serious of how a situation you're in. Remember: Every being that has a lot of light also has a lot of shadow. So, in a way, you can use this suffering you've been carrying as a way to summon your inner phoenix. Leo has already made a video about a similar topic: Abusive Relationships. Compassion is not always fruity, sometimes it means cutting ties completely. You are being mentally and physically abused. This is a dysfunction and has to stop. You haven't mentioned how old you are, but have you considered moving to a Buddhist monastery? Seek some sort of help. You can even do it in smaller doses. For example, have you ever taken yoga classes? You need to find a community. You probably has a lot of emotional BS stored in your body. So, yoga not only will help you release tons of emotional baggage; it will also help you find a sangha, a community of friends. I feel very sorry for all that you have been through. You might have scars that won't heal in this lifetime. Another thing to think about for the future: psychedelics (done with RESPONSIBILITY). They can help you extricate yourself from this huge quagmire of shit you're in. I wish I could give you a more direct solution, but I simply don't have one. You have gotta start your own healing journey. Psychologists are psychiatrists are not needed. The trick is: become your own psychologist. Breathing exercises are the bomb, and you can learn them in yoga. Wish you all the best!

@Wormon Blatburm YES! Get out of those forums. When I was 17, my hair was shedding. So I started to search about that in forums. WORST IDEA EVER! Hahaha! The people there were filled with depression. The thing is, don't take your social anxiety too seriously. Just be with it. Don't place too much attention. When I was trying very hard to beat it, I would get virtually ZERO results. However, when I started to practice yoga and tune in to my body, BAM! I naturally started to become more social. As you said, social anxiety comes from a desperate ego, an ego that wants to maintain a perfect self-image, which is a complete waste of time. Be criticized. "There are three way to avoid criticism: say nothing, do nothing, and be nothing." Aristocle

This is how an Ayahuasca trip look like:

great! body awareness has a lot to do with feeling emotions again. when I started doing, I realized that I couldn't feel my stomach area. But with consistent practice, I am now able to feel into this area. As a consequence, I have been feeling a lot of emotions which I had forgotten I had. I do very short sessions. I do some breathing exercises (the one you interrupt the flow of air in one nostril); then I do the body scan for about 2 minutes. Meditation has a lot to do with quality. It does not have to be slow. (But it is better if it is)

I think it can be a huge distraction. It is like staying in the beginner's level of a foreign language. Focusing on the breath is NOT meditation itself. Grammar is NOT the foreign language. Awareness of breath is a concentration exercise. Concentration is like the lid of a pan. It accelerates the process, but it is worthless by itself. There's more to do, to discover. Have you ever thought of the flux of your blood? Now, imagine if you could really contemplate that. Really feel in. It can be as real as a flowing river. This is the development of the mindfulness muscle. The breath is a tool. There are many other tools! I agree: the breath is the number 1. But it is okay to use other ways to go to Rome.

You can be aware of your breath regardless of any external stimuli. It is actually a good thing for practicing concentration. Have you ever done body scans? It is like this: you go from head to toe, and you scan your WHOLE body as if it were an antivirus. If there is any uncomfortable sensation, don't place so much attention on it. Recognize that it is unpleasant but keep scanning your body. If, on the other hand, you're clinging to a certain sensation, you also drop that. In a way, you become "indifferent" (a better word is equanomous) to all sensations you have. YES! HAHAHA! Good luck with that! Focusing on the breath is really stage 1 of meditation. Do you realize you have your whole body to explore? The only thing you need is a little bit of concentration and BAM! You build momentum.

I don't know if I understood correctly. Let me see if I got it: your mom could be in her last days, and you're still thinking to go and see her??? Dude, that woman gave you life. Let FUCKING GO!

@Heart of Space HAhahaha! Dude, it is just like the sound of a thorn: BAM! Wake up! Don't you see that the pursuit of enlightenment is kinda pointless, because you already are it. That's why we created thorns so people can finally become AWARE of Reality. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Guys, please do not use meditation as a way to escape our nasty world. There is no such thing as "toxic" people; you just haven't found the way to their heart. Living like a Yoopie becomes kinda enjoyable. And most importantly, being able to be a channel of healing. I am being serious: You begin to see people healing right in front of your eyes. It is a magical experience. Hahaha, anyway, folks... What enabled me to have this consciousness was overcoming shyness. You just don't see how much ego there is in social anxiety. It is like 1000000000000000x inferior ego. How do you cure it? By being more cocky. I feel so free after I have overcome this disorder. Seriously. LIberation....

What I Learned From Doing Nothing Four Hours a Day for Four Months Hello, all! Well, hello, Myself. This is purely selfish. I am only sharing with you my personal opinion -- which can be 100% different from yours. My truth is not your truth. My the Truth remains the same. BACKGROUND First of all, let me introduce myself: It is October 2016, I was going through the worst year of my life hands down. Never had I felt so clogged, out of balance, and prone to addictions. I was taking an antidepressant, which was causing me to crave food like I never did before. It was really sad. I felt a worthless piece of shit, watching TV for 8 hours a day, not leaving my room, throwing all my youth away. One day, I found a little bit of Marry Jane in my sister’s room. BAM! I wanted to try that shit, even though I had had a so-called psychotic episode a year ago. I was feeling extremly nervous because I feared all my highly psychotic thoughts and emotions would come back. I decided to mediate for 30 minutes, and, BAM! I lit my pipe in a sacred, filled with respect manner, and INSIGHTS started popping in my head. The first one: Whatever you are going through, it is okay. It was so okay to feel like a piece of junk. It was okay to gain to much way and really destroying my vehicle. It was okay that I felt completely out of balance, out of love, out of proactivity. I was dead inside. So the first thing that popped into my mind was: we have got to get back to meditation. I had recently learned of the ¨Do Nothing” technique, which I felt in love right the first time I saw Leo’s video title. It made totally sense. “I don’t need to calm anything. My mind will automatically clean itself no MATTER WHAT pops. The worse piece of garbage, the lowest quality thoughts.” In a way, all thoughts are the best thoughts you can have. Ain’t that crazy? Well, anyway, four hours a day sounded like a good idea. Not only would I not meditate for four fucking hours, I would also completely give up on taking that stupid antidepressant (sorry, I got emotional here). The thing is, my simply rejected that piece of garbage. I am sorry, but it is. It makes so feel like you are a fucking worthless person. Why? Antidepressants can put into a deep state of comfort zone. Your lowest tendencies show up. But, anyway, they might be needed for some people. What I did was completely reckless. I could have entered a deep state of sadness. However, I was tired of that shit. I was tired for that fatigue. I knew that I was perfectly fine. I knew it! I knew it! However, after an awakening experience in 2015, in which my ego COMPLETELY dissolved, my ego came back with TOTAL, BRUTE, EXTREME force. I could not function in society anymore. All the things I had worked really hard to overcome came back with an incredible intensity. I became highly socially anxious (I had already overcome that), I had pain through various parts of my body (I had been practicing yoga and was getting into some advanced levels), and I began to like to be treat like a baby (I had been living in a foreign country and was doing incredibly well at my academics and work). So, this is the background. Starting the Practice How Was My Routine I woke up at 4:30 AM almost daily effortlessly. I felt as if all the energy that I accumulated during the year was being purged. I felt a deep sense of vitality. I began to treat my body with respect once again. And a better word is resilience. Trust me, your body is much more resistant, stronger than you currently believe. Then, I took a cold shower (100% cold, no excuses). Second, I went downstairs to the kitchen and sucked a whole lemon and drank two cups of water (with mud filtration). Third, I went to my backyard and climbed some stairs to a very spiritual place we have here in my house. In essence, I felt like a zen monk. Now, you might thinking, “This guy is insane! He is torturing himself! What a jackass. Where is the divine feminine?” But, the thing, I loved that routine. Every time I practiced something against my mind’s will, I felt a deep sense of strength. Of spiritual strength. This was beyond anything I externally. It is an inner drive. You are developing your will-force muscle. But, again, I did that with immense joy. It was not easy, but it felt so fucking refreshing! I felt like a surfist who wakes up really early to enjoy the arising of the day. And WORK HARD. After this little routine, my meditation routine started. 60 minutes. BAM! Easy. Then, I would often jog for 40 minutes and go nature. Then, for the rest of the day, I would be in “free mode” as long as I pulled off the 4 hours. I experienced with all sorts of times of meditation: 1 minute to 120 minutes. The goal was: 4 hours daily. Was it Worth It? Yes, otherwise I wouldn’t be here today. My practice was highly neurotic, but it fucking worked. Below I will share some insights with you. I want to thank in particular to three friends I have here on this forum. Dragullar, Quantum (JKG), and iago. They were my sangha for those months. INSIGHTS Impermanence Obviously, when you sit down to meditate for 1 hour, you clearly see the impermanence nature of the mind, body, and emotions. Even life, you know. You are just sitting there, thinking whatever you want to think, and you begin to see how life is unfolding without your participation. Now, you can be a catalyst for the awakening on the planet. But, really, the world and even yourself will awaken some point or the other. Everything is in Balance You think your life shouldn’t be the way it is? You think you the world shouldn’t have this chaos? You think you shouldn’t have strong negative emotions? (especially F. alse E. vidence A. ppearing R eal) Haha, it is all there for a reason. Your mind is nothing but the coolest form the divine has found to express itself as your own individuality. So, why do you fight so much with your thoughts? Have you ever sat down to just sit for 40 minutes and allow your mind to go crazy? The thing is, You Do NOT Need Other People Now, let me explain where I am coming from: Yes, friends can assist you in your healing journey, but it IS possible to be happy in complete isolation. BUT, let me tell you… LIFE FEELS AMAZING WITH OTHER PEOPLE. First you gotta heal yourself. Then you can share the gifts of your innocence with the world. Did you know that you are the God of at least your body? “You do not exist.” You, as an entity, is a complete fabrication of your mind, just like the Christian God is a fabrication of the human mind. However, there is still a light within all being that is capable to set intentions. This light is called awareness. All you have is this very breath. Just like a river, you will be a completely different person after a this very breath. For some reason, you think there is a continuation, but really there isn’t. When you are truly present, you forget that you exist, you forget that the world around exist. You simply become a source of divine inspiration. It is amazing! DO NOT LET ANYBODY TELL WHAT TO DO As you can imagine from a 4 month solo retreat, while still interacting with others (to a minimal, of course), I had some weird-ass urges. I was involved heavily with radical honesty and shadow work, so I did some EXTREME comfort zone challenges. I am not going to mention here, but it was the HARDEST THING I have ever done in my life. I exposed myself completely. I told EVERY SINGLE TINY SECRET I have ever had to my mother. I died that day. Why Did You Stop? So I stayed with this hardcore discipline for 5 months until I took a very special psychedelic, which opened myself to Love. I already knew the Truth. Now, I wanted to explore the feminine, the Mother Kuanin, the Virgin Mary. These are all synonyms. This hardcore practice seemed unnecessary after I found out my life purpose. Seriously, when I found out my life purpose, everything fell into place. Even though I utterly love spirituality and the monastic life, my true calling is for the world, for the Sangha, for the One in All. I admit that I treated myself with very harsh self-discipline; however, I now have many inner skills. SKILLS Extreme endurance (physical, emotional, and mental) Deep patience Extremely strong will-power muscle Equanimity. Spatial intelligence increased What about the ugly side? I experienced almost everything that Leo mentioned in the video “The Shadow Side of Meditation”. I felt the most extreme emotions ranging from full-blown rage to full-blown ecstasy. As I advance in my practice, I am beginning to experience the more “crazy-ass” symptoms. For example, visiting other astral realms (in a way that feels as real as it is now). But, now, I have a solid foundation. A SANGHA. I am only able to face so much crazy shit BECAUSE I have a protection. I would have freaked out by this moment had I been completely by myself. So, yes, in a way, you are the only one here. But at the same time, you can get insane. I am being serious about that. Eckhart Tolle was an exception. Most of us NEED social support. Sorry to break to you, but the path is MUCH MORE smoother with a community of friends. REAL friends. Ok? Not virtual… But, if you feel an authentic urge to isolate yourself, do it! I did that for 4 months. I barely spoke. I was 100% focused on self-development work. How Do You Feel Now? I feel amazing, strong, and youthful. I have accepted the fact that I am a natural spiritual seeker. I always gravitate back to the Divine. Right now, I have a dream life. My work is aligned to be life purpose. I am becoming financially independent. I have amazing relationships. I am taking yoga and meditation classes. And I am also lifting weight (which I have always wanted to do). The thing is, I feel healthy. The retreat was very important to my healing journey (to cut through a lot of bullshit), but I would say that the main trigger to waking up was the psychedelic experience. I feel optimal health. In a way, it is just a matter of accepting that you have no control over it all. This way, you rest. And when you rest, you let Supreme Infinity work itself through you. It is as simple as that. Now that I have experienced the source, everything’s put into perspective. You go like, “HOLY SHIT! OBVIOUSLY! THAT’S SO FUCKING OBVIOUS!” It is so clear, but we forget. YOU ARE THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR HEALING JOURNEY - Take care of your body. Move it, shake it. Breathe deeply from your abdomen. Take cold showers daily. - Nobody really matters. Remember, “an opinion is just a figment of someone else’s imagination.” - As you Awake, you might feel uncomfortable sensations. Get used to feeling uncomfortable sensations. Treat them the same way you treat positive sensations. - Develop your own individuality. - Step out of your comfort zone in small doses is ideal. That’s it, people. That’s what I felt like writing for now. It is so weird because I don’t feel like “I” wrote this text, it feels like someone is writing for me. I love you. Hehe. This is how divinity communicates with itself, I suppose. BAM!!!

@aurum i am slowly integrating the insights. It is a challenge to be in this crazy-ass world, but I have chosen to participate in it. My greatest healing has co.e from simply extracting myaelf from people-pleasing mentality, which really is a killer to authenticity. In a way this retreat was kinda pointless, but I guess I had to go through it to just relax. Right now, I must meditate for about 20 minutes or so, when I feel like it. I do not have a rule. It sounds pointless to force myself to be physocally still for so long, if I am already peaceful. Why not try to bring that calmness to others? Being present in meditation IS NOT easy. You see, there are many ways to become present in this very moment, but you gotta choose your weapons, equip yourself, because the Ego is trickier than you think. Sometimes what we call ego is actually a wounded inner child. People, life is passing. It is time to be youself. Or do you wantto be completely forgotten in the myriad of Samsara? It is time to break the pattern. Thank you for posting! Very nice input.

Guys, feel free to ask any questions. I thought of some: - Did you get enlightened? Definitely no. My monkey-mind got extremely crazy up to a point that I was literally risking my life. I got so in such with my solar plexus chakra (which is responsible for "will-power") that I simply I understood the power I have within me. (Which is absolutely infinite). Do you understand this? It's fucking infinite! Think of quantic physics. It is like a mirror, spreading infinitely outward and inward. We are part of this vortex. If having this insight means "getting" enlightened, so, yes I got. But only AFTER psychedelics. But really, don't take this enlightenment has some woo-woo concept. Enlightenment is the fundamental basis of Reality. What really helped cut through the ego was the down-right exposure. It was so freakin' intense, dude! I confronted my biggest fear EVER. You wouldn't believe if I told you. Anyway... I suppose I had a rude awakening experience. And this Alert state varies throughout the day. It is really cool. Sometimes I think I lost it, but then... BAM! Here it is again. - How did your family react? It was so fucking hard. I was acting like a 5-year-old. I was SUPER rebel. And I was very rude also. I live with my sister, grandma, and sister. Dude, meditation is a woo-woo thing in Brazil, and they even made fun of me. It was really hard to put up with other people during that time. Not just my family, but, really, almost everybody. I dived so deep internally and I got so acquainted with how the mind works that at some point all that big fucking structure COLLAPSED. Haha. It is a daily challenge to keep my individuality as a spiritual seeker and don't get lost in the concrete jungle, if you know what I mean. Hihi. - What tips do you have? Well, my meditation sessions were kinda sloppy. Hehe. But it kinda felt good to just sit there and do nothing. Just think, think, fantasize. And really engage in all that mental masturbation. But at some point I saw how I was becoming highly unpresent when I was doing meditation. I don't know, it was as if I couldn't relax, you know? Well, I was really having a DEEP spiritual purging. > Be aware of Spiritual Purging They're real. If you do the do-nothing, your mind will come up with all sorts of fantasies. It is really crazy how it is possible to actually let go of all control. And just let the mind think the most HORRIFIC things. This includes having sex with an alien, the taste of shit, and ways to kill yourself. I am being serious here. This is not funny. It can be terrifying, if you have a weak mind. So... > Strengthen your Mind You probably have a very sloppy mind. You are always in your comfort zone. Well, that's how the mind is designed. Haha, crazy, huh? We do not need our survival instincts on, so really 99% of your fears simply do not make any logical sense. It is absurd. Utter Absurd. That's what the mind is an Utter Absurd. Haha > Be more Playful Dude, you can get enlightened today, but really why do you look so hard? (I am telling this to myself). Even if I allegedly get this final A-ha, this total samadhi. So what? I will be dead very soon, and what I will take away from this life are moments of true sincerity and sharing. "Repeat after me: Life is a shit if you take it seriously. Fuck positivity. Fuck other people. Fuck society. Amem." Praise the Lord!!! Oh Hallelujah! Let's go Gospel! Hahahaha Cheers from São Paulo <o>

Hehe, you are all on the right path. Psychedelics save you TONS of time and energy. Psychedelics = ACCELERATOR They can help catalyze the "I am the awareness" portal that you guys have mentioned. ------- Btw - My meditation has been SO SMOOTH after I took some trips. NOW, I understand what meditation truly is.

@Nahm enlightenment is freeing yourself from notions It is extremely simple. It is here.

Clap... Clap... Clap... __________________________ The moment you remember that it was all a programming, you being to wake up... It has nothing to do with winning the lottery. It is simply remembering... Maybe you should try more basic self-development. There is A LOT to learn from the very classic self-development. This includes praticing sports regularly, having a life purpose, and living for the world. Why? Enlightenement has nothing to do with supernatural phenomena. In fact, enlightement is present right here in this moment. Maybe you just don't see it. Maybe a deep breath can help you. Check this out. This video cuts through a lot of bullshit. "No matter where you are, there you are." John Kabbat Zin

@Martin123 I know, right? Hahahah! It's fucking impossible to escape the matrix. It's fucking infinite! Here's the gif version guys:

Great replies, guys! Being Worthy in my personal journey, I have learned to appreciate making progress. I used to blame myself (believe it or not) that I wasn't worthy of improving my life, having decent emotions, and feeling good. This is a classic inferior ego structure. Be a Baby I like the idea of becoming like a baby again. Babies are simply in awe with reality. They cannot even fathom the awesomeness of the physical world, let alone the virtual world. Dude, this machine is amazing! Any person in the world who has access to internet (which is growing A LOT) can read this thread right here. It is quite awesome. Anyway, practice gratitude. Once you start doing it, not only will you feel more and more great in your body; you will naturally want to thank for more and more things. Joy will become abundant in your body. Correct Breathing By practicing correct breathing, you simply stop giving a fuck about the emotional bullshit you have been carrying, and you start living truly from the heart. I mean it literally. You expand your chest-area through your breathing. You can also expand you belly, ribs, and chest. If it feels uncomfortable, good. This is a sign you are in terrible shape. You stop thinking. It is quite remarkable to have this experience. The mind becomes so quiet that you can contemplate existence the way you did as a little child. And the coolest thing is you do not have to stop moving your body. You can never stop your body. Even if you think you are perfectly still, there are still micromovements. So, why on Earth would anyone think that you have to refrain from moving your body. Start serving your body. And, you know what? The body loves deep breaths that you pull from your abdomen. And with every exhale, you release all the accumulated, clogged, shitty energy. The breath is the quickest way to feel fulfillment. The flow of energy within the body naturally brings about a deep sense of satisfaction. Maybe satisfaction is what you are looking for. Happiness has more to do with contentment. And the crazy thing is that you can be content even if you are freezing on a cold, winter's day (like it is in Brazil right at this moment). Simplicity We are all every addicted to stimulation. We have become extremely passive. However, we have to start fabricating energy. And, trust me, you are surrounded by the Absolute Infinity energy. It is in the air. Notice if the ego resists this truth. You simply are not going to feel good in your body (which is what you really crave) with a sloppy posture. Sorry, that ain't gonna happen. It is natural to tighten the breath somewhat when you are in your day-to-day life. But as soon as you start practicing pranayamas (which means "breathing exercises"), you naturally start to breathe deeply when you completely immersed in the matrix (we all have phases of forgetfullness). Subconscious Mind I hope you see that progress can be fun. But it can also make you miserable. Progress alone will not fulfill you. Fulfillment often comes in a multi-factorial way. However, I am pretty confident to say that correct breathing is basically all you need. Your life will naturally be taken care. By whom? Your subconscious mind, which is a whole universe working for you. Can you realize that you are literally the God of your body? This is the beginning of your liberation. As soon as you learn to give direct orders to this legion of infinite hard-workers (a.k.a. the subconscious mind), you will regain sovereignty over the possible chaos that is taking place in your body and mind. Be Mindful of Fake Zazen People, do not use zazen as a way to justify your lack of action. If you have been clearly procrastinating taking the leap of faith and actually doing something that will really boost your life, do that. Zazen can be misused. If you seek meditation or any spritual practice to avoid facing the ugly complications of your life, swallow right now the bitter pill that this is an illusion that will only create suffering. At the same time, the practice of meditation is so forgiving that it is okay even if you try to run away from things. The practice will help you become strong again and face whatever it is your higher self is pulling you to do. Some examples of things you might be procrastinating - Doing your first VIpassana retreat - Practicing (or learning) yoga - Taking your first psychedelic trip - Taking college seriously - Giving 100% of your self to your life purpose - Learn to have amazing sex - Develop mental, physical, and spiritual skills - Learn a new language - Move from a toxic place (if you are under a serious case of abuse, just fucking leave. YOU WILL FIND HELP.) * "Be bold, and might forces will help you" * Remember, reading, philosophizing, or theorizing without action is a complete waste of time. This forum has hidden gems. But what is the use of a treasure that is deep-down in the sea? ZERO! Enlightenment is real. Nothing is more real than the Truth of Enlightenment. It is present right in the present fucking moment. You might not see it, but it desperately wanting to enter you. And, again, the quickest way to achieve higher states of consciousness is through correct breathing. I kindly ask to your subconscious mind to give yoga a chance. Take a free trial class. If you are in this forum, if you are reading this enormous text; you are a seeker. And it would extremely selfish of my part to not share how much yoga has helped me, namely breathing exercises. But, again, it is a multi-factorial process. But, trust me, fix one thing, and, BAM!, the rest will follow. Btw - Yes, you will feel like you are Jesus, Buddha, Mohammad, a Unicorn, or whoever. But it fucking starts with your body. I hope your subconscious mind has integrated the truth the Buddha taught 2500 fucking years ago. Dude, do you see that? We have already figured out how to break free from the small sense of self. It is just a matter of time for the whole world to join us. This is exactly what John Lennon was talking about in Imagine. "You might say I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one. I hope someday you join us, and the world will live as one." John Lennon (it is real)

VID-20170820-WA0051.mp4VID-20170820-WA0051.mp4

I feel very balanced. I have seen the importance of breathing correctly. I want to keep this journal for as long as I can (btw - don't leave us, @JKG). I wanna read it years from now. And, let's face it, I often lose my personal things, so I will keep it public so that I have it recorded. Only thing is, not sharing TOO much. But, really, I doubt I will ever meet someone here in real life. And, even if I do, I don't care. - Keep flowing - Participate, be engaged - When in doubt, breathe deeply. \<o>/

I have taken ayahuasca many times, but today I did something different: I went to the ceremony with my mom. It was a huge comfort zone challenge. And let me tell you: it was HARD. A lot of old conditioning popped up while we were under the effects, and I simply let it be. I didn’t fight the thoughts. I just kept moving my body and not care so much about thoughts. I feel a HUGE shift coming. I was talking to her, and I felt LOVE for her in a way that I haven't felt since I was a kid. !!! INSIGHTS !!! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY WAY YOU CAN I have always loved to just watch things, but it became clear the importance of PARTICIPATING in shit, even if I suck-ass. I felt like how the world needs me in a way. My inner light. SHARING I have had some AMAZING enlightenment experiences; however, it really doesn’t do it much if it is something that won’t affect my life. So, I am proactively sharing my ideas with other people. “Happiness never decreases by being shared.” Dalai Lama WORK There is so much pleasure in working when you feel physically healthy. Most people do not have this joy. They simply do things because they have to. No…. NO NEED TO FORCE Do whatever feels authentically good in your body. SET EXTREMELY LOW EXPECTATIONS I don’t ask for anything during the trip. I just let it be. And you know what? Sometimes it is boring. Life is boring sometimes. But if you’re able to stay with that boredom, you’ll be rewarded afterwards. (Delayed gratification). You will feel so amazing that you don't even need anything else NEGATIVE VISUALIZATION Sometimes I get afraid of visualizing negative things due to a fear that it will materialize. Actually, visualizing that, for example, people will hate your work helps you build mental strength. HALF-ASSING My favorite actualized video is the one about laziness. Dude, if you just start half-assing stuff, you will build momentum. KEEP THE RHYTHM It is much more important to keep the rhythm than it is to get all the right notes. It is ok to miss a note, but you got to keep the rhythm. It is as simples as that. Keep the flow… Well, this is it. I got a lot of practical insights, which I love it. I don’t even care about enlightenment. During the trip, I was like, “Dude, it’s just this. Why do I need more than what I have in the present moment?” ORIGINALITY Are you being original? Chances are, you’re on auto-pilot. Slowly changing your behaviors help you regain your individuality -- the thing that makes you unique. By embodying your own persona, you will have tons of creativity. You will no longer care about what others are doing; you are focused on yourself. GIVING COMMANDS TO YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND Are you setting intentions? I have been doing an awesome affirmation that talks about the divine order. I repeat it everyday, and the results have been quite impressive. I have been taking LOADS of action, yes, but those affirmations help me start off “positive” actions in small doses. This way, I build momentum. JUST SHOW UP This is all to the shy people out there: just by you showing up, it is good enough. Sure, you can step out of your comfort zone in SMALL doses, but remember: just drag your ass to the social situation you are avoiding. And congratulate yourself simply because you went. You could have had shitty results, but YOU WENT. FIX YOUR BREATH, FIX YOUR LIFE I don’t know about you, but I used feel very very bad. And what I have noticed is that a lot of bullshit is dissolving under my eyes just by the fact that I am breathing properly. I have the luck of having a friend who has been to many Osho retreats. This way, I learn a lot of techniques from my friend. It is really important to have someone to assist you because you can easily screw up yoga, pranayamas (breathing exercises). ANNOYANCES CAN TRIGGER HIGHER-CONSCIOUSNESS As I am writing this, my sister and her bf are watching GOT. I have become more resistant to external sounds. A lot of people say, “Oh, I can’t meditate because I got a pain” or maybe “My neighbor is super noisy. I can’t concentrate.” Or… “I hate this person’s behavior. It is affecting my energy.’ All of the above are complete bullshit. It is easier to focus and stay alert when you are going through distress. So, use any “toxicity” around you or within you as a catalyst for being mindful. Do not run away from what you deem as “low consciousness behaviors/people”. All of these can be used as a contrast, a counter-example. I find it easier to be present when there is discomfort. There is probably more to talk about, but I think it is enough. But, if I could boil down everything is this: fix your breath. Educate yourself to expand your breath. ...Breath

Thank you for sharing. I like the way he really opens up his chest. Very inspirational! ?

Aloha! \o/ I never write here first in the day. Right now, it is 7 AM, and I am about to get ready for my day. In one of my ayahuasca trips, I realized how I am throwing my life away. Well, in a way, 99% of us are. On the other hand, I also recognize how much I have improved over the last months. I feel a genuine growth, which will accompany me to the rest of my life. Things that I have seen cannot be unseen. I simply saw the deepest truth of reality, and that gave me a big existential relief. Another thing I have been working on is correct breathing. Bringing the navel into the spine whenever I exhale. It is fucking difficult to remember all the time to do that, but it fucking works. I have been cleaning all my system with breathing techniques. Breathing is really an art. Sometimes all you gotta do is relax your belly, and everything will fall into place. Finally, I have been practicing Vipassana. It is amazing! I have finally remembered how I should truly meditate. It is just like yoga. If you are sleepy, that means you should force yourself a little bit more. It is supposed to be uncomfortable. It is the same process as waking up. Aside from Vipassana, I have been practicing some Osho breathing techniques. They are amazing at healing yourself emotionally, physically, and mentally -- BEFORE meditation. This way, you can cut through a lot of emotional bullshit before you meditate. Otherwise, most of your meditation will be shit. Right now, I am about to take a cold shower; meditate; then go to Yoga. Wish you all success and, most importantly, true happiness. May you feel good in your body, because you can’t imagine how good it can get. As long as you commit to cleaning yourself up. Aloha! \o/