SOUL

I may not have reached the highest state, I have attained what I have and i have no basis for comparison. I use just basic meditative practices, nothing intricate or exotic. The practices aren't the key, it's the actual inner work we do. I don't have many labels for what I experience, I have tried to equate it to some of the words on ideas people use for the different things I hear from them but I don't know if they really do. So pardon me for my vagueness. Any chance you can find, clear and focus the mind on the now in a small meditation moment. It doesn't matter where and it doesn't have to last long. in the shower, standing in line at the store, waiting for a stop light to change even on the toilet. Anytime the mind would normally wander off and churn around on the tedium of life, instead use the moment to meditate. This will bring a heightened illuminated state to normal daily life, as I did this I found that my overall more awakened state stayed with me through more complicated tasks. It also allowed me to meditate deeper and deeper. It is a challenge to focus on the moment while our brain is needed for normal life tasks so this illuminated state fluctuates through the day depending on how much my mind has to focus on a task. Tasks that are well practiced behavior and the subconscious mind can do it so I pretty much run on "auto pilot" so allows for a heightened state to be maintained. Obviously when the task involves the safety of yourself and others like operating dangerous equipment or driving those heightened states can limit the ability to accomplish the task safely so the mind should be attuned to the task. Although I will admit there were some long road trips across vast empty distances that I had some incredible meditative moments....but i wouldn't suggest it.

The reason I intentionally keep my life simple is so I can stay in a more illuminated state of being. When life is complicated and we are rushing around with lots of complicated tasks to complete staying in fully illuminated states is a challenge. Bringing some of the illuminated state with me into typical life routines is what I seek to do.

I don't claim to be "enlightened", I am at peace and live in joy. Through mediation and contemplation I observe and know the nature of existence, even the conditions and state of existence that gave rise to the manifest universe that we are in. So whatever that is, I am. I can say this much, to get to the most illuminated states of consciousness where existence reveals itself, then first be at peace and in joy. Living every day life with a seed of those illuminated sates of consciousness at the core of our awareness will allow someone to function in the world, being fully immersed in those illuminated states of consciousness and attempting to live a typical human existence in this day and age is a challenge.

When drumming at a drum circle I have found a well timed howl kicks up the intensity a notch and can set off e frenzy that creates a literal buzz in the air.

Well, it sounds like you have some powerful inner work happening. Although, I think you may be ready to allow yourself to appreciate the positive input that comes your way, that doesn't mean to build yourself around it or "need it" but it's ok to share in a positive way with others.

I live a very simple life and enjoy it. I intentionally arrange it that way. As soon as it's not working for me I will do what I can to change it to what does. While still enjoying the trip. What are you seeking? That will answer your unasked question

@LRyan People tend to seek out an "evil". They want to place blame, find fault, call it bad and wrong, it's false. not real and use it as a reason why they aren't what they think they aught to be. It's the mind still being gripped by dualism. There will always be a scapegoat found in that mindset that must be defeated for everything to be "good", right, true, real and will be the reason why they can be what they think they aught to be. The problem is there will always another scapegoat that mindset will find. Releasing that mindset is stepping away from the war in ourselves and a step towards inner peace if that's what you seek for your life. Just don't make it another scapegoat in the process....release it without using it's vices to justify it is a challenge. hehe

Is there any living other than now? Maybe it's that you just are intimately aware of it.....now. Embrace it!

When it happens, it will be now and I may still be to experience it.

It seems like you spend quite a bit of time and energy questioning others of their personal methods. Much can be learned from asking questions and critical thinking can be a benefit of skepticism, although, doubt can be a detriment of it.

I prefer the word solitude, alone sounds like wanting to be with others but denied it, solitude sounds more like intentionally being there. Something as simple as a slight shift in a seemingly insignificant way can wind up being a very impacting change.

I had some of the love to hurt myself habits in my youth. Although my upbringing groomed a high angst and anxiety disposition so it was many years before I transformed it significantly. Occasionally I hear echoes of it in my consciousness but that old "signal" is weak and distant so now it serves as a path marker of how far I have come since then.

*********TRIGGER WARNING********** In our pursuit for inner peace we sometimes face difficult realities about ourselves, others and the world around us. Is this growing trigger mindset among the populace have any immediate or long range implications for spirituality, inner work, enlightenment and self awakening? Will spiritual guides, teachers, motivators or any of the other type of self workers who lead the way in speaking out about the sometimes challenging things in life be the target of the trigger happy....er....sad? Does this trigger mindset hinder the individual's potential for inner peace and/or enlightenment in any way? Reading this article I heard echoes of what I go through in attempting to awaken, enlighten and create inner peace as being something these trigger minded are unable to face let alone even know exist somewhere in the universe without a complete meltdown because of it. I don't want this to turn into a debate about the pros and cons in the practice of extreme PC culture, I'm just seeking discussion in a spirituality, inner work and self awakeners perspective and the potential effects and influences on someone seeking that experience. EDIT: That being said I support all lifestyles and peoples, I wish no harm mentally, emotionally, physically or spiritually to anyone! ***If this starts to go off the rails I will ask for it to be locked/deleted so be respectful of others, please. Thank you! Peace!

Another question from someone who is tired of questions..... I don't get this game. hehe

In the way I view it I don't concern myself with what's "true", I find what "works" for me and then stay true to that until it's not working anymore so find what works again, then stay true to that until... rinse... repeat. If it works, use it, if not, find what does, don't get consumed by searching for true or truth. With spirituality and our inner work, true is being loyal. not the right answer and truth isn't an ultimate answer for everyone, it's us living true to our ideals. Seek to be true to our spiritual ideals, seek to live our ideals and that makes it our spiritual truth... that's what being authentic is.

I guess that's better than my offer to inherit a marshmallow peep palace I made from the dumpster scored stale ones. Carry on.....

Considering a name change request to SOUL toaster....hmmmmm.... nah, sounds like a hell.

Attaining enlightenment is like putting a cat into a bag, if you grab the bag with one hand, the cat with the other, you will never get the cat into the bag and it will be painful with the scratches from the cat's resistance. If you leave the bag and the cat alone to their own natural devices the curiosity of the cat will lead it's way into the bag all by itself without any effort. It could be said that with this illustration I have let the cat out of the bag on enlightenment. So the only question you need to ask yourself is how long will you struggle to put the cat in the bag?

You are 15?!?!?!?!?! That is amazing, those are a well thought out group of concepts you have. Keep awake and the enlightening process evolving inside you. The insight you mentioned from the forum creator is some solid advice, use the system to sharpen your skills and be less concerned with the content. It's definitely biased and in many ways distorted but you will be able to change the subject matter in due time. I love your metaphor for it, as wide as an ocean and as deep as a puddle. In many ways that's an apt commentary on most of anything institutionalized. Now to address your other criticism about changing yourself and changing the world. Look at all the incredible innovations and inventions that have come through the history of man and even especially, the last 100 years. People will crow about "changing the world" with this one or that one but has anything really changed? Our smart phones haven't made a smarter world with smarter people, an increase of information hasn't increased the world to be wise or increased the wisdom of people. Our quickening transportation hasn't changed what people are in a hurry to get, it's still selfish and our increased food production hasn't ended hunger but has contributed to widespread obesity. There is an old phrase that has it's proof revealed with each passing day, "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink". You cannot force onto the people of the world something it doesn't want for themselves, just because you want it for them. We can rationalize how can they not want it or they want it but don't know what it is though again, it's not hidden, this is a source of all contemplative expressions in the history of the world and they are still choosing not to drink. I will offer a saying of my own, "When I was young and an idealist I wanted to change the world, in time I became a realist and found peace in not letting the world change me." Do what you are inspired to do but realize that our own inner peace is ultimately the only thing we can ever really possess that can't be taken away so don't let the world convince us to give that away.

I find it interesting that on a forum which the creator of it is such a proponent of the self is an illusion idea would allow positive feedback to be called reputation since it echoes of self identity. Maybe the forum software doesn't permit to change that word to something else but if it can then I would welcome it.

@zazed I know this might not make any sense but I understand a person's message from how they use their words, not which words they use. The enlightening process is mysterious enough.

We need to? That's an impossible task. I can barely understand my own perspective after countless hours of meditation and contemplation but I need to understand the perspective of others from a little discussion? Sure I am open to hearing how others express their ideas and hope to gain an understanding of their perspective but I'm not sure I can even begin to communicate my own if I am trying to translate into their words as I'm doing it......without knowing their definitions... or context.....or symbology.....and if there's more than one I'm speaking with... for all of them at once. If your perspective and the words you use to represent it works for you in achieving what you seek then celebrate that, you are further along the path than so many others even of them that have taken on the journey. I prefer to look past the words and hear the message a person is communicating because as we both have agreed that words can be limiting, like a limiting belief of language. I don't care about the words, I'll throw all of my words out and use any of them, I'll use yours, it doesn't matter. Then the next person comes along and i have to rewrite my dictionary with their words, then again for the next person, then if there's more than one I will have a different dictionary for all of them. I"m not so hung up on my words as if i think there's something "right" about them. Although to give you some insight into my perspective if i can do so, I approach it in a pragmatic manner so I can have a practical framing to do my inner work. I have very little to no "magical" aspects to it which sometimes can be challenging since so many of the ideas and concepts about it are so abstract including consciousness itself. This leads me to be agnostic so to speak about a number popular ideas and concepts within spiritual and self-whatevering communities. I don't really embrace the need to spend too much time parsing words and definitions, that's just my perspective I guess.

Every moment is part of the enlightening process, as cliche as it is, it's not a destination, it's a journey.

Most definitely using words to describe abstract ideas and concepts has it's limitations and challenges. Unfortunately, it appears I haven't done that well in describing the concepts behind the words because those descriptions of what you think are mine on those words aren't what the represent to me. So I'm not sure if more words will be able to clarify my ideas. Although i have to wonder why it is you think that "consciousness can't express itself". Maybe this is just another instance that language falls short in describing the abstract but I would be open to hearing more of an explanation of that. What most teachers equate doesn't matter to me, either, I'm not here trying to emulate anyone else, I share from my own experience and if it differs, so be it. Our body has different methods of expressing the stored experience and how it contextualizes the present moment for our awareness, some of them may fall under the general word of thoughts that happen in the mind but there are many distinct varieties of mental, emotional and physical impulses in how we become aware of them. It may just be beyond words to clarify, though.

A body has different parts that work in their own way to create the whole, so it is with consciousness.