SOUL

What are thoughts? Sensations in the mind by way of the brain's activity. So when we stub our toe or if our stomach aches in hunger that sensation doesn't actually happen in the toe or stomach, it happens in the mind. When we see or smell or hear, it doesn't happen in the eyes, nose or ears, it happens in the mind. Imagery, memory, emotions, inner dialog, sense of self, ideology and the product of the senses all happen in the mind. Yes, the rest of the body interacts with our environment, it has stimulus responses, biological processes and chemical reactions that contribute to what eventually results in sensations in the mind that culminates in us being aware of it. So what are thoughts? Sensations in the mind. No thoughts? Hmmmmm....... carrot..... stick....

"Enlightenment" is a carrot in the mind that people put on the end of their spiritual stick. Cease self suffering by using that stick for walking the awakened path and just eat the carrot.

It's really just using any moment to clear the mind. Standing on line somewhere? Clear the mind. In the shower or pooping? Clear the mind. Waiting at a traffic light? Clear the mind. In the elevator? Clear the mind. Walking the dog? Clear the mind. Instead of letting the mind ramble off with monkey chatter anytime it's not focusing on a task I use any moment to 'meditate' by clearing the mind. Eventually the mind spontaneously goes to it anytime it's not focusing. Even repetitive tasks that we often are doing unconsciously can serve as an opportunity to use the conscious mind to meditate. This will expand our ability to integrate meditation into life seamlessly and will be continuous, not intermittent.

It doesn't need to be framed as either good or bad for something to have meaning, just having significance is enough. It's virtually impossible for something to be completely devoid of any meaning unless it is absolutely insignificant to us. Being aware of something as being significant without attaching to it is a subtle distinction observed in awakening. Pain is part of life but suffering can be defined as an ongoing pain including physical, mental and emotional. We don't have to self sustain pain within our mind so that it is self suffering, though. Sustaining joy can be the way of our present being and any pain that comes in life doesn't have to interrupt it, that's similar to what you suggest, joy even if there is pain. The pain may have meaning/significance to us such as our body is in need of some healing or we have lost a loved one. We can feel that pain because pain is part of life but the suffering comes when we attach to that pain, we identify with that pain. The ego may even perpetuate that 'pain' long after the actual pain is past so causes self suffering. The ego/self may feel a pain having it's meaning taken away and not replaced with other meaning, even if it's the significance of accepting meaninglessness. The ego/self will try to instigate inner 'suffering' for us without meaning or until we find a new meaning for it to attach identity. Meaning isn't a good or bad thing in itself but it does have significance to us because that's what it is, it's a natural survival mechanism. Although, not allowing any meaning or significance we are aware of to form attachment can be a very nuanced dance of being aware. We need to eat food to survive but it is the ego/self that gets identity from what kind of food it attaches to as the 'right' food to eat. We have meaning/significance to survive but it is the ego/self that gets identity from what kind of meaning/significance it attaches to as the 'right' meaning. Meaning isn't an absolute, it's a relative so our temporal mind uses it to enrich the experience like it uses nutrition to enrich the body. Yet people try to make meaning an absolute by attaching an ultimate significance of truth to it. This is why some get very attached to their beliefs because belief is just a conceptual meaning/significance they attach a capital 'T' truth to. Does this bring clarity?

Interesting how you create meaningful choice in meaningless meaninglessness. You may suggest that you don't but if you didn't there wouldn't be you finding the meaninglessness meaningless significant and any option to reject or embrace it. If it works to cease suffering in your experience then that is all that matters.

Only two? Are you sure?

@CreamCat I didn't mean to trigger you, my apologies.

You say "you" but you mean "I" because you have no idea what I or anyone else experiences when they shift away from "the old ways". For my own experience, when I shifted away from those old ways I felt relief and freedom from expectations that weren't mine but foisted on me by others and I didn't really want anyway. So this actually motivates me to continue to transform my perspective away from them, this is very meaningful for me, I am excited by it and look presently to it. I will caution you though about just replacing the old ways that feed egocentric appeasing with new ways that are still egocentric appeasing. If it still feeds the ego/self identity in using practices and exercises, even spiritual ones, it sets up the same issues associated with the ego/self that can stir up suffering and distress from dogmatic conditioning. By finding meaning and motivation in just being present we can be fulfilled and at peace without any need for specific conditions in life, we can be so in any conditions. Then as we add all the other things in life it's being added to us fulfilled in just being, not dependent on those other things. If our joy, fulfillment and peace isn't dependent on them, it cannot be disrupted by them You are welcome to do anything you wish, I'm just trying to offer some insight from my years of doing inner work, but we are all different and have different preferences. Peace.

Through the natural process of identity the self/ego anchors it's perceptional orientation around what we typically encounter in every day life. There is nothing inherently 'wrong' or 'bad' about this but our subconscious is trying to set up a 'stable' base in an 'unstable' landscape so this can be problematic. When we awaken this can cause a significant amount of disillusionment because we are seeing the illusory nature of the world and it's appearances. Since the self/ego is losing it's moorings to ground itself in what it previously has known there will be a host of unpleasant sensations in an attempt to motivate us to reattach to them. These tribulations we are put through by the self/ego are just faux stimulus even though it may feel and appear very real, we aren't in real distress but it's a challenge to recognize it while going through it. It's an 'ego backlash' as someone put it here and will typically continue in us until the self/ego gets it's identity stabilized again. I would suggest to place attention on and increase awareness of the present moment and of just being present. The world of circumstance, which includes much of our inner life is a shifting environment and the most unchanging thing we can find in it is just 'being' in the 'present moment', so 'being present' can stabilize our perceptual experience. Just 'being present' for the self/ego is too much of a unfamiliar and uncomfortable minimalist experience for it so may still react negatively but the longer we stay being aware in the present moment the less intense the ego backlash will be. Eventually the self/ego will orient it's identity in being present which has it's own challenges of managing the 'spiritual ego'. Getting to the point that self/ego is comfortable in being present and ceases the negative reaction to it will bring a sense of harmony and peace in our experience of conscious life. Very few actually get there instead preferring to focus on spiritual practices and exercises which can become a distraction from being present and a fixation of self/ego. Not sure if this was any help but take what is useful.

A meditative state has been so seamlessly woven into my mind that I don't have to set aside time in the way most people approach it. I do still set aside time for it but I am always cultivating the clarity in my mind even if it's for a minute or few every moment I am not actively focusing on something. About three decades ago I began this exercise of 'walking meditation' and now I reflexively shift into the meditative mind state spontaneously. I even find myself in it while I am actively focusing on something else, I am meditatively observing my 'self' focusing on a task in every day life. This way the mindfulness is a natural state for my consciousness to continually be in and not something I have to try to be in.

People typically think of spirituality as a supernatural experience but I don't view it that way. I view it as a natural experience that is comprised of the individual but undivided physical, emotional and mental aspects of our being. The 'mystical' impression we get from this subjective experience is in the meaning, inspiration and connection we derive from it. There doesn't need to be anything 'extra' natural about it for it to be a 'spiritual' experience, it's a natural expression of conscious being. Just something to keep in mind as you journey on your way to what I hope will be a joyous, fulfilling and peaceful path of being. But convince you? Nah, aint my place to do such a thing.

All language is 'semantics' and all words can be drivel but especially the words of whiners because they have no beneficial value.

Soft pages that can be used for toilet paper.

@CreamCat You very well may be intellectually cucked by Leo, there are many who are. Not just by Leo but by other speakers, teachers, posters, commentators, media, politicians, religions, governments and on and on. It's not about accepting a bit of information or a certain perspective on something. We all accept something that didn't originate from our direct experience or was brought to our attention by others. It becomes 'cucking' when someone accepts another's world view or mental paradigm so that everything that one encounters it is filtered through that meta perspective and confirmation bias. It could be that something someone points out has some commonality to what our experience is and we can gain some insight into by having been exposed to the ideas of others. Although, it is genuinely experienced when it is part of a process in which we reflect upon it, examining and questioning the experience so that any potential insight is realized for us. It's not a matter of finding a specific commonality and then adopting the whole paradigm of another based off that. It's not studying another's opinion, story or recounting of their experience so that it is a methodical world view of dogmatic beliefs. There isn't a universal way to view experience so remembering and regurgitating the exacting details of others can be more of a stumbling block than insight. People even get cucked by their own ego and/or self so that they are convinced their own perception is the 'truth', 'right', 100% accurate or factual. We all possess erroneous perceptions and to believe that we don't have any is delusional, hence the reason we reflect and examine our experience. Just something to consider.

So many beliefs....so very many conceptually complicated beliefs....

Apparently you weren't in any "loop of conception" that I am describing because you misunderstand what I've said. I'm describing that awareness is the IS of our consciousness and perceive from that IS of awareness in viewing the rest of our consciousness from that IS of awareness. Other expressions of our consciousness, like the self, ego and all the contents that fill consciousness like sensations, thoughts, concepts and the like are perceived by awareness. I was speaking primarily on consciousness but this awakening of awareness can be experienced exponentially in perception. I didn't say anything about "knowing" I'm coming from "absolute seeing", those are your words and idea you are trying to inject into this and put on me. You could take a moment to contemplate what I said by awareness being the IS of our consciousness and not what you thought I said and maybe will clarify it. Again I will reiterate that to communicate any of this I need to conceptualize it in language and undoubtedly some clarify is lost in the process. This is from my direct experience of it but your own experience may differ, there is no 'right' or 'wrong' in our experience of being, there just is. Also, meditate on why you project any fear on the notion of hearing something differing because there is a reason why you brought that into it so......

@CreamCat Nope, it isn't default or automatic, you are just being intellectually cucked by someone that misrepresents research to fit his narrative. Fear of the unknown/unique/different isn't universally default or automatic. There are many people who are interested and intrigued by it so investigate without fear. In fact, it is those unafraid people who are the leaders in thought and action who have forged innovation and progress. If anything, those are the mythical 'alphas' he suggests exist at the top of his mythical 'pyramid'. The fearful get manipulated by others who are equally fearful of those who aren't fearful so brutalize and coerce compliance through mob rule. This isn't a 'pyramid' hierarchy, that is collectivist oppression which is a blatant distortion of the protective instinct that provided security of the tribe. More popular doesn't make something more right, good or true but it is another example of his misappropriating our social nature to live in groups to support his 'socially enforced' collectivist beliefs. Which exposes his contradictory ideology, on one hand he rails against 'groups' when it comes to individuals wanting equal rights but on the other hand he whines about the norms, which are a collective construct, being challenged by individuals wanting equal rights. He exploits the naivete and ignorance of his followers using their fear to profit himself. Then they faithfully behave like the fearful mob anytime the sacred myths are questioned filling forums and comments defending it with their ego fear. Exploitation isn't a default of competition and a pyramid power structure isn't a default of hierarchy, although people who want to exploit and dominate over others will say it is. Those that believe it are as I suggested earlier, intellectually cucked. So, that's why there are homeless guys who have a girlfriend and incels with all the societal trappings who can't get laid. There isn't a pyramid unless you believe there is and submit yourself to it's mythic structure....that is 'meaning'. He sure is a charismatic fellow who uses a bit of truth to appear credible but it is distorted, twisted and spun into a fabricated grand narrative that is not much more than a myth. If only he was simply being a motivational speaker with his regurgitated self help tropes but he's trying to spread his mythical belief paradigm as 'truth' and those that are fearful of the unknown are eager to climb on the lap of the mythic sky daddy that both soothes and stokes their fears.

What is belief? Believing is accepting that something is true or real. We consciously and subconsciously believe many things, in fact it's impossible to not ever believe anything at all. What are thoughts? Thoughts are sensations of many varieties, physical, mental and emotional that arise in our mind. We consciously and subconsciously have many thoughts. It's impossible to not ever have thoughts at all. So why are some thoughts and beliefs more 'sticky' than others? We can easily reject some thoughts and beliefs but others seem like they are super glued to our psyche. Identity with them is what creates the attachment that is so sticky. How is it any different with attachment to a negative perspective of thoughts and beliefs? If one is to cease attachment to thoughts and beliefs then the attachment to the negative ones about them must cease as well.

I didn't watch the video and don't intend to but being a 'wage slave' is a mindset, even the wealthiest people in the world can be a 'wage slave' because it's all in the mind. Although, the world system we are living in has been devised to create the 'wage slave' mentality.

Something always coexisted with nothing, in now, they were so absolute in their existence that only when the manifest 'bloomed' was there a distinction to be perceived in awareness.

@Serotoninluv I guess once perceptual awareness was realized the notion of non-duality ceased to exist because. ......it doesn't.

I'm not offering a concept, awareness perception, or perceiving from awareness isn't a concept, it is the IS of our consciousness experience. Yes, for me to communicate it I have to conceptualize it in language in my mind but I'm not offering the concept, it's pointing to the IS of awareness perception. From that perceptual IS of awareness the mind's concept of duality does not exist. So there is no this or that, X or Y, left or right, right or wrong, truth or illusion... none of it exists in awareness perception. It's not duality resolved into non-duality. A sunset and sunrise IS the same event, not opposite ones. The dualism mindset perceives in binary conceptual paradigms, even the concept of resolving duality into nonduality or the concept of dissolving concepts is conceptually binary to it. It's perceiving what IS without the mind's conceptual duality instead of using the mind to dissolve the mind's conceptual paradigm. It's awareness of what IS through pre-conceptualization perspective, so to speak.

If you have no 'horse' why did you quote me and challenge me to 'race'? We could just run around willy nilly in the field enjoying the grass, I'm down with it. You don't have to fit everything into your concept of nonduality..... jussayin'.

I'm highlighting that perception from awareness is observation without thought, without concepts and without opposites. So don't get attached to what I wrote.

Misperception is an incorrect perception. Your comparison is an example of your mind mistakenly perceiving dualism because you suggest a dual only option premise, it's either one or the other and ask which is the misperception, one or the other. The very dual option premise itself is a misperception. Non-duality as a reaction to the mind's misperception of duality is both an implied endorsement of duality and setting another premise of duality. So just as duality is a misperception, the reaction to it with non-duality is a misperception as well. Perceiving from awareness without the impressions of the mind and it's misperceptions is not creating another concept, non-duality, to negate those misperceptions of the mind, it's observing in clarity. Perceiving from awareness will leave impressions in the mind that is entirely without the perception of dualism but isn't a reaction to dualism. Did that clarify it?