Kloof

@Nahm Truly, I am grateful. I just tried it, it was so powerful! At first I was skeptical that I could extrapolate anything from this experience and come away with something that I do want. But I tried it out, and I feel a lot better. Did you read about this somewhere or did you come up with it on your own? Either way, have you thought about writing a wikihow article on the subject? Before I posted here, I googled what to do and really couldn't find great advice.

You are all so kind. Thank you for your speedy advice! @Truth Addict : I'll give Shamanic Breathing a try, I've heard of it but haven't tried it before. Thank you! @Jonac, Dimitri, Meditationdude: Thank you, it seems there's a consensus that I shouldn't force the images out of my head, but instead, just let them be what they are. You all are awesome. You don't think it'll make the images more vivid and terrifying? I'm afraid that letting the thoughts and images come is going to "solidify it" in my mind. I have no evidence for thinking that, it was just my assumption. What do you think?

Hello friends, I didn't think this qualified as a "serious emotional problem," and thought you consciousness experts could give me some good tips. But let me know if this belongs somewhere else. Yesterday, I witnessed something disturbing. It was no one's fault, I did what I safely could. Logically, I know there's no reason for me to feel guilt or regret. But I can't stop thinking about it. Even though I'm trying to keep my mind away, I keep thinking about how I could have reacted differently, who I can blame, what circumstances out of my control could have led to a better outcome... I tried meditating, focusing on my breath, but the images/sounds kept popping into my mind. Do you have any advice? Can I make these thoughts go away faster with some technique, or do I have to wait it out?

@Nervtine I love your ideas! Thank you! I see many people who don't know how to communicate with their dogs, and I'd love to teach that. Like you said, dogs are communicating with us by what they do, and many dog owners overlook that. I also like the idea of doing a loving kindness workshop with pets. People could bring in their pets, and we could do some dog bonding exercises. So many people damage their relationship with their pets by using inappropriate methods of punishment. But on the other hand, the people who most need that kind of relationship repair with their pets don't seem like the kind of people who would be inclined to come to such a workshop... Anyway, I really appreciate your advice!

Hello friends, In one of Leo’s videos (perhaps it was Spiral Dynamics Important Insights?), he mentioned that if you start a business, you should strive to make your career stage green, or even better, stage yellow or turquoise. I loved that idea, and I’d really like to apply it to my future venture. If you were starting a business as a dog trainer / pet care professional, how would you make your venture more green or yellow? Or if you had a pet, what kind of stage green/yellow/turquoise service would you be interested in? Frankly, I’m not developed enough to cater to stage turquoise individuals, but I’d like to work my way up eventually. I have been brainstorming, but I'd so appreciate other perspectives and ideas!

Can you be in a state of "ego loss" and experience fear at the same time? I've been reading about and trying self-inquiry, and the more I learn about it, the more it reminds me of an experience I had 10 or so years ago in the 10th grade. Back then, I was slowly giving up my Christian beliefs one at the time, and I had recently come to the conclusion that heaven and hell couldn't exist. I remember lying on my bed, and becoming very concerned with the questions, "Do I just stop existing one day? What actually am I? What does it mean that I exist in the first place?" I had no knowledge of self-inquiry at the time, but I remember being unable to pinpoint what I was, and I had an overwhelming "nothingness experience." It was like, for a moment, I lost myself. I can't remember if I was terrified during the moments of nothingness or if the terror came afterwards, but if they weren't simultaneous, they were very close together. In the week that followed, just lying in my bed and thinking, "What is the "I" that will die with my body?" triggered these terrifying "no-self" experiences. I had several before I started to block the thoughts that triggered them, and haven't had one of these experiences since. What was that? It's hard to believe that I could have accidentally had any sort of enlightenment experience as a barely spiritual 10th grader. Experiencing nothingness is different than experiencing enlightenment, right? If you're truly in a state of ego loss, do you have emotions like fear?

Haha, what a kind offer! I hope you're supremely patient, because I am generally a very confused person. I wonder how many questions I can ask before you rescind your offer...

@lmfaoI think you're spot on! I read an article a while ago that hypothesized this. They did a study where they gave participants one of four news articles and then measured how upset participants were by the news. The article said, "[Victim] was attacked with a baseball bat and was found unconscious, with a broken leg, and multiple lacerations." One news article said the victim was an adult human, one was an infant, one was a dog, and one was a puppy. People didn't feel very upset when an adult was attacked, but people felt roughly equal amounts of empathy for puppies, dogs, and infants. The studied concluded, "Only relative to the infant victim did the adult dog receive lower scores of empathy." The study was summarized like this: "Our results indicate a much more complex situation with respect to the age and the species of victims, with age being the more important component. The fact that adult crime victims receive less empathy than do child, puppy, and full-grown dog victims suggest that adult dogs are regarded as dependent and vulnerable, not unlike their younger canine counterparts and kids." Here's the article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/201711/why-people-sometimes-care-more-about-dogs-humans

Do you get a lot out of the dream journal and the stream of consciousness journal? I've heard these things are recommended, but I think meditation is the most recommended practice. You could rotate between these two journals, do just one or the other and change every other day. Of course, don't give up journaling if it's helping you...

Thank you! I'll be honest, I'm having trouble grasping this, but I appreciate that you tried! You're saying that "death" is a dual concept, right? I guess that makes sense. What would a non-dual concept be? I'll write this down and revisit it after inquiring into the "I" feeling more. Also, I found your blog and it's a great resource, thank you! I laughed when you compared Eckhart Tolle to processed cereal; "probably fine." Would you consider your book a good resource for beginners like me?

I'm trying to understand your answers, @winterknight, but they're all riddles to me! Haha I realize I may not be far along enough to understand your answers, but I'd be grateful if you could dumb down your answers for a simpleton like me. I have yet to experience non-duality, but I'm looking forward to it. I'm going to die one day, and I'll never exist as this ego again. From what I understand, my thoughts are created by my mind, but my consciousness exists outside of that. From what I understand, pure consciousness has neither thoughts nor memories. Is that correct? It's hard to fathom that after my body dies, I won't ever experience things again. Or will I? Just as a different ego? I'd love your thoughts on this!

Coursera (https://www.coursera.org/) and EdX (https://www.edx.org/) have tons of free courses! I LOVE these two sites. I really liked The Science of Happiness (https://www.edx.org/course/the-science-of-happiness-0), by Berkeley University. Here are some others I bet you all would like! I haven't taken them all, but they're on my "to-take" list. Paradox and Infinity (https://www.edx.org/course/paradox-infinity-mitx-24-118x-0) The Science of Well-being (https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being) The Conscious Mind - A Philosophical Road Trip (https://www.edx.org/course/the-conscious-mind-a-philosophical-road-trip-0) Buddhism and Modern Psychology (https://www.coursera.org/learn/science-of-meditation) Existential Well-being Counseling: A Person-centered Experiential Approach (https://www.edx.org/course/existential-well-being-counseling-a-person-centered-experiential-approach) Know Thyself - The Value and Limits of Self-Knowledge: The Examined Life (https://www.coursera.org/learn/know-thyself-the-examined-life) Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential (https://www.coursera.org/learn/mindshift) Philosophy and Critical Thinking (https://www.edx.org/course/philosophy-and-critical-thinking-0)

Hm... You really broke up because of lack of desire? She was amazing and you were perfectly happy besides a lack of desire? Here's an idea. There are typically three stages of love: First lust, then attraction, then attachment. Usually lust and attraction last a couple of years, and when attraction wears off, you're left with attachment. This is just one possibility to think about. She was you girlfriend, you were attracted to her (even if not by her physical appearance). Your body released a lot of hormones, like endorphins, oxytocin and vasopressin etc. Then, eventually those hormones wore off. There was nothing wrong with her, but something prevented you from bonding with her. The attachment phase came, but you weren't attached. Why didn't you become attached to her? Was it her appearance? Or was it something deeper? I don't know! Consider reading a couple relationship books, and getting back in the game.

@Jed Vassallo Wow, $300 a month for food and shelter etc? Please teach me your ways! I recently reorganized my life to allow more freedom and the pursuit of enlightenment. I'm not very disciplined yet, but I'm getting there. I work 12 hours a week and make about $1500~$1700 a month. But my expenses are around $500 for rent and utilities (that's my half- I live with my partner), and $200 a month for food and supplies. Jed, what's your secret? Do you have like 3 roommates and farm your own food? (ha, just kidding, sort of, but do tell!)

Hi Leo! I read something a couple weeks ago that changed my perspective on ethics, and was wondering if you could expand on it in one of your videos one day. “Spiritual traditions regard ethical living as an essential foundation. However, their understanding of ethics is very different from conventional views and far more psychologically astute. “Rare are those who understand virtue,” sighed Confucius. Spiritual traditions view ethics not in terms of conventional morality, but rather as an essential discipline for training the mind. Contemplative introspection makes it painfully apparent that unethical behavior - behavior that aims at inflicting harm - both stems from and strengthens unhealthy, destructive motives and emotions such as greed, anger, and jealousy.” -The World of Shamanism by Roger Walsh In all, the author only has a few paragraphs to say on this topic. I considered ethics as a kind of morality, and my struggle to make more ethical decision often came down to, “How guilty will I feel if I eat this chicken sandwich?” Thinking of ethics as a discipline rather than a moral obligation gave me some resolve to try harder. I love you rant against morality video. I would love to hear your perspective on how to live ethically without succumbing to the traps of morality, and why (or if?) living ethically matters. Thanks!