Trond

Necessary for what? The answer is no, regardless, but what do you mean with necessary?

Meditate to meditate. Simple is always better in this line of work.

What I think you mean is that you look at people as all the same and the only thing to make them apart are minor personality details, preferences/opinions etc? Because you are developed you are able to consciously see this. You see through the illusion easier, that is one of the reasons a lot of your conversations will "feel the same", because in a way they are. You interacting with you. Just another Ego version. If this is what you are referring to, I do understand you. Feel the exact same thing, more and more. Mostly I handle it by not talking to people, haha, but that is just me. When I do talk to people, its fine, because Ego handles it. The necessary mask is put on and I just let the conversation go. As I don't hold any strong opinions anymore and cling less to beliefs(at least try to) I just let it flow as the way it goes. Walk away or end it if the other part gets to defensive or resistant. In a nice way of course. I simply don't have that much of a reason to "get my voice heard" anymore. Let me know if I interpreted your situation correct

Quite the same feeling when you are in a deep meditative state. Time slows down, and even feels like it doesn't move at all at times. Mind knows time, "turn it off" and time is seen through.

Maybe not common, but very accurate. You do realise that what you're doing is "killing yourself"? All fear is essentially fear of no-self. The process only leads to the realisations that you're nothing. So, its quite obvious that you'll feel intense fear. That's what you are, that's what the Ego is. Fear of dying because if it does it doesn't exist anymore. It's just resistance to what is. You need to kinda get used to it if you want to get through it, otherwise your just feeding the Ego and its energy to hold on to illusion.

The death of you and the birth of nothing.

@FirstglimpseOMG Completely agree. It's just music. Heavy metal is heavy metal. Why someone has distaste towards it is just preference. It's really ridiculous to think its detrimental to spiritual growth or anything like that. Personally I listen to and enjoy everything from classical to heavy metal, there's a time and place for everything. It's just tones, a frequency. Don't make a mess out of it. Since so many people are sharing songs here. Here's my pick. Personal favourite lately (just listen to the lyrics) Somehow, I made it through The darkest moments of the night Ive been blind, but then I saw the truth What kills me, makes me come alive Dem lyrics mon.

There are no sacred symbols. Theres just symbols. You could find divinity and truth in an ugly shaped potato. Everything comes down to perception and amount of emotional attachment to it. Less is more

@Gavalanche Do what you love, sure. Why not? There's really no reason to not do that to better someone else's lives. Suffering is there. Suffering is everywhere. Most importantly your own. At the end of the day you only have yourself to worry about. It mind sound grim and selfish, but its the truth. Depending on where your mind is in this spiritual development you will interpret this differently. But again, why shouldn't you do what you love? Just think about it for yourself. You'd just put yourself in a worse position. Putting on the mask of being an altruistic person won't make you an altruistic person. Its all the same mask, the mask of the ego. Sure, I see your dilemma, if paying guitar is something you love. How can that help the poor on the other side of the world. Well, what if you cultivated your guitar talent so much that you got a big audience, say on YouTube for example. You got so famous you were able to do with your money whatever you wanted. Then, you could help the poor if you still wanted to.

They are maybe getting suppressed or changed into another set of beliefs that you might not see immediately. Only way to get rid of them completely is to destroy all of your emotional attachments.

Enlightenment

@Callum A Agree. Most people laugh at you for having this realisation, but it's just the way it is.

Sheldon Cooper

@Redak I can see the benefits of weed for some use, but when you've reached a certain point in your journey of actualising, it kinda becomes useless. At least in my experience. Depends where you are in the process, I guess. If you're really serious about peeling of the layers of shit, you need to take the route of mushrooms etc. if at all you want to incorporate drugs. Weed will be like stalling, and you'll see it once your awareness is "high" enough.

It will pass. As everything else, it is just an experience. A state. They all come and go. Try to take with you the underlying insight of it all or the "point" of the experience. I don't really think it's damaging to the mind, I mean, it' just the nervous system releasing energy as far as I know.

@RossE Exactly. It's so funny because all we ever have is direct experience. We trust it all the time, but when it comes to the "big questions" we must rely on theory. Simply because of fear of the real deal. The theory keeps us in our nicely defined bubble of comfort.

@John Flores Yes, I agree And yeah, it's a little frustrating to see this limited view in people when you have seen through it yourself.

Yeah, but it's because of that we can realise the true nature of things Our limited view makes the unlimited experience divine

@RossE Nice read. Planning on starting with shrooms in the near future myself

I feel this connectedness as well. With people on the path, animals turning around looking straight at me and babies. It's cool I guess, it feels a bit strange in a way, but more so I just smile, feels like looking at myself lol. Gotten used to it. Also the thing with watching Leos videos and other teachers, as well as when I read about non duality, I often "fall" into this intense aware presence. Feels quite similar to being sucked into this silent void you can get in meditations. And everything just feels perfect. Even staring at my hand for no reason. Don't think this has anything to do with your previous drug use(although who knows), but I for one haven't even tried any psychedelics yet. Been on this for 1 year now.

Try to get a sense of what you're looking for in a relationship or what you've had before. Are you looking for someone to rely on, someone to "make you whole", did you find you had to change who you are in your relationships for them to like you? Thing is, a partner should be there to love you for exactly who you are without trying to change you into how they want you to be, behave, look etc. This will lead to the downfall of almost all relationships, and then depression or loneliness can follow. Because of the fact that you were being challenged in the relationship, often in subtly ways that are overlooked in the early phase with the first love you feel. As this diminishes you might start to see these things and conflicts arise. You say you feel you're being needy. Is this needy towards having someone to be there for you or needy to ask this question in this forum? As to your meditation, try to see that you ARE whole right now, just by being you. You don't need anyone else to be happy with who you are. When you come to know this, then you'll be a lot happier in a relationship because it will be more the way I mentioned in the start. So, I'm not saying this to make you NOT have relationships(because you can be happy alone), just because you need to see that first. Accept yourself fully, all your flaws and all your good sides. And maybe not "seek" to hard for a relationship, that might often lead to the wrong ones. Yeah, if you're already in a quite lonely place, as you say, it's won't make it better to stay at home. But that will fade away once you're able to accept yourself. I guess putting yourself out there is a way to do it as well. Just like putting yourself in social situations if you're having anxiety problems, will slowly make them disappear. Kinda the straightforward approach. Your fear going out probably comes from being let down in previous relationships, so you need to let the past be the past. I'm not a relationship expert or a dating advice guy or anything like that. Just thought I should try and help however I can. As to what specifically you can do with meditation to help with this, I can't tell you. You just have to keep at it and "dig through" it yourself. Anyway, I hope that you got something from this. I've never been in a relationship myself, but I haven't really had a desire for that either. I prefer solitude and my own company. Not to say I don't like being with friends or socialise, it's just the way I am and I accept that. More so after I started this spiritual work. So, again, hope this helps somewhat

Why does it feel so good to be authentic? I've always been the one that was different in my group of friends, but when I started this spiritual journey I started feel a lot more happy with myself. With just being the way I am. Used to have a hard time telling people "no" if I was asked to join them for drinks or the club, when I really didn't want to. But now it's like I just follow the instant feeling that comes after someone asks that, or anything else for that matter. And it just feels great to answer "no", because I don't want to do what they ask. It's like telling the truth when you've been holding in a lie for a time. It's that relief, like a burden has been lifted off your shoulders. This goes for every situation. Not just to "no", but also when I really want something. It just feels so good to say "yes" when I do want to do whatever I'm being asked. Is this because I'm simply telling the truth? I'm being true to who I am? And am I still lying to myself, but not aware of it? Anyone have similar experiences and want to share some insights and thoughts here? Would love to hear what you think PS: And yes, I know "I" don't really exist. Just curious other what you think of this in relation to Enlightenment/Truth/Ego.

Anyone familiar with Jed McKenna's method of self-inquiry, Spiritual Autolysis? Where you write down what you know until you know instead of doing it in your head. I feel that it can be of use and it can definitely be as frustrating when you simply can't write anything.

Yes, completely agree with you! Maybe it came across like I'm saying "no" most of the time, and maybe I am, but that doesn't really bother me. Because when I do feel that I want to go out with friends, be with them, help them etc. I really do and that feels great. It was more that I wanted to get across. That in every situation it just feels great to be able to answer truthfully. Thanks for you answer

I did that often a few years ago. I actually felt that it was more pleasurable, but I don't think its wise. You should release for the energetic balance in you body IMO.