WaterfallMachine

I believe in it not based on some blind belief, but because of it is experience. Over time, I’ve learned to be sensitve in physically feeling the air around certain parts of my bodies to be more or less “energized” in some way. And what my strengths and weaknesses are are consistent around this system. Even before this experience, I found that chakras started explaining some feelings I kept having. Notice how your body aches in very specific places each time when you’re stressed? Well, I noticed my feelings of aching was around my chest and my solar plexus the most. And the chakras here managed to name the most troublesome and least developed parts of my life the most. Weird how that happens.

As I go deeper into all this enlightenment work, sometimes I feel some kind of pride in feeling better than others. Like I feel like I'm special for getting into all this stuff like it was a secret the universe gave only to some people. Someone come here and help me kill my ego. Thanks.

Just wanted to add that I’ve heard of text-to-speech programs that help people who can’t read well to just hear the words. I don’t know about it much and can’t recommend something specfic for you, but maybe try having a look for it?

I remember another member here posted with the same question, but was confused about the more moral side of enlightenment. Enlightenment doesn’t mean you’re a good person — yes, I know that — what I do like to know is what enlightenment might mean about the truth and knowledge you gain. How much can these people know? What kind of things do they understand better? I mean, I know they won’t know everything about life, but it sure does seem to help. I’ve read so much of Leo’s recommended books and looked for some of my own choices, and practiced self inquiry repeatedly as I go through life for a year— but I still sense some attachment left to my ego. Why is enlightenment something that can be deepened? I remember in Leo’s video abour Zen devils that enlightened people can be even more enlightened than they already are. What does that mean? Isn’t enlightenment already the final stage to spirituality? How come there can be more? What makes you advanced enough to be called enlightened? How can Leo tell he’s not enlightened? How can anyone tell they’re not enlightened? Anyone???

If you’re searching for cures, then you’re going the wrong way. You can’t cure it, but you can manage it by seeing it more as a difference than a learning disability. It’s best to manage Dyslexia by realizing its strengths as much as its weaknesses. Why the need to read ? Dyslexic people are slower in reading, but much better in visual learning than the average population. That, or they can at least learn through their auditory sense. Find videos, podcasts, audiobooks, and real life people to learn from. Learn sketchnoting or doodling for notes, so your learning can become more visual. Some dyslexic people even build 3D objects to learn well. Dyslexic people are more creative, better big picture thinkers and more likely to think of out of the box solutions. Use this to your advantage, @lmfao . Oh, and it might be a better idea to ask a dyslexic forum next time. I’m not dyslexic myself, but I know a lot about the neurodiversity spectrum considering I’m in there myself. Anyway, take care.

Eh, it’s not hard to believe. I’ve read and practiced so many of what Leo’s videos say and his books that absurd ideas like this seem ordinary to me now. But thanks, I’ll keep this in mind and try to look for a direct experience of it myself.

It’s nothingness. Not the nothingness of an empty black box. Not the nothingness of deep space. Not the nothingness of being devoid of motivation or emotions. Just nothingness. I seem to get the insights more of how I’m not my personality and history, but the insight of how I’m not even my body somehow takes some time for me. Without this, I can’t seem to get the idea of how I’m one with other people. I’ve gotten instances of it before, but to maintain it is something else. To the others, hmm. . . I’m familiar with much of what you’re saying, but this particular insight I have trouble with.

Can you put into more detail about what you mean by other people here just me modified in a million different ways? I'd like to understand it more. @Saumaya Thanks.

I have dyspraxia — a motor control disability. I’m not wheelchair bound exactly — though it’d be way easier to get around with one — but I’m a lot more clumsy than the average human being. I’m a lot better at strength exercises for health, but my aim in sports is absolutely terrible. When walking, I usually have trouble with balance and have trouble walking in a straight line — I usually prefer leaning on walls or even some friends when moving around. My fine motor skills with writing are less developed, and so my hands tire with handwriting more easily. I take a little embarassingly longer to button up my clothes, and some other basic tasks. Typing is a simpler movement, and so I prefer communicating online. It’s a disability that’s not as noticeable as many others, and so I spent my life just being pressured because I wasn’t “trying hard enough”. It’s embarrassing, and being much worse at P.E (Physical education) class growing up is still a recurring memory. Sigh. Sometimes I daydream about being one of those fit athletes I see on many personal development websites, but I’m always slower on these exercises than others. I’m afraid of being made fun of. Any idea what to do with my ego and confidence here?

Oh boy, all the time. I was like a bully magnet, and it might have contributed to my own mental health issues growing up. @now is forever I've had scenarios like that before where I laughed things off as a kid -- I hope I can relearn it even if I'm heading into adulthood and all soon. I've only been diagnosed recently, so it's normal for me to be a little distressed about it, but hopefully it becomes more "normal" to me soon. I guess I'll eventually get used to it. Thanks.

https://liveanddare.com/benefits-of-meditation/ Here you go.

@Joseph Maynor I’m 17. Why the question? @Atic Well, I’m working on that. I’ve been hanging around the meditation forum often for a reason. @now is forever Sounds like a good idea. I’m not usually full of humor — my outside persona shows it, but for most of the time I’m alone, and when I’m alone, I tend to be much more serious. Maybe I should try finding humor even in my solitude.

I suggest you read the book, The Mind Illuminated, which talks about the stages of enlightenment. Feel free to make a quick google search if you’d like on the book or these stages on their own. It’s important to learn what you need on your level. I don’t suggest many of Leo’s recent videos to newer people here too soon as it’s rather advanced. You don’t try to teach Calculus to a kindergartener trying to learn how to count after all, so of course some people are confused. I suggest master the basics of meditation first. Breath meditation, noting, body meditation, loving kindness meditation, etc. All the classics — the part of self inquiry is that it requires a certain amount of awareness and ability to focus to maintain the view of Truth. If you haven’t already, learning from books rather than Leo’s videos can help a lot. Peter Ralson’s Book of Not Knowing is a good choice if you want to make a lot of progress in the shortest amount of time possible. It involves a lot more introductory ideas to nonduality — while still respecting these ideas in depth by not oversimplifying it.

@Zweistein Hmm, I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks.

Very little religions think of God as apathetic or lacking in power to their needs. This theory, in my opinion, would make much more logical sense. But who knows? Who knows?

I can get why I could tell others may be enlightened. The deeper I go in self inquiry, the more I seem to be getting an intuition about people other that are way too detailed to be just coincidence. What is the final step then? Is it possible for me to know? True. True.

@Etagnwo Okay then. Will keep that in mind. @Ether PS : I'm a lady, but since I'm pretty gay, I'll accept your girlfriend analogy. . That will be a new adultery story to fantasize at night. @Quanty Huh, I am actually becoming a better singer these days. Holy crap, man! I'm becoming enlightened! .

Have you considered that whatever higher beings could be out there, they don't have the same emotional motivations as human beings do? Why assume they're just a more powerful version of a human being? We assume that living creatures look for happiness and avoid pain, but can't there be another goal? What if the goal is to explore new ways of being? That could explain the problem of evil. Why is there evil in this world? Because maybe the goal isn't more happiness, and less suffering. If the goal is simply creation for the sake of creation, then that could explain much of the complexities of this universe.

I didn't say doing good for others will turn out bad. I'm saying too much of doing good for others can turn out bad. Well, aren't I doing something good for others by giving insights to others? Kindness does not always come in the form of charity or well wishes, but can also come from debate and philosophy. And I agree. It feels wonderful.

@Joseph Maynor I see. Thank you.

@Quanty @Etagnwo @Joseph Maynor Thanks for these insights. I'll ponder on them and see for myself. @Ether It's alright. I've been getting a lot better these days now since I'm getting a lot of help. I think I'm feeling some sort of conistent happiness for the first time in years. Best of luck to you.

Alexithymia is a disorder caused by trauma or a genetic difference. It's when a person cannot correctly identify their emotions, and sufferers often find that not being able to identify "negative" emotions cause a lot of baggage in life. The Adverse Childhood Experiences studies show that suppressing these emotions causes diseases and illnesses later in life from not releasing them. This, as well as the inability to change change negative events from their lives by not realizing how they're wrong. I should know. I've been diagnosed with PTSD before and had Alexithymia myself.

Imagine a scenario where she is actually cheating. I come home and find her having sex with another guy. Now is this a false scenario? Better yet, imagine a person putting a gun to your head or your family. Now is a good time to get angry and call the police or use self defense.

Negative emotions don't always mean a lack of calmness. Anger can feel less aggressive and impulsive, but can also feel empowering and brave. Think of how many human rights' movement utilized their anger to stand up for themselves or others -- many without violence. The thing unique about negative emotions is that it's a signal for something externally wrong happening, and that you aren't doing anything about it. So it's much easier to not feel strong anger when you can just casually stand up for yourself.

So to clarify how I understand it : Enlightenment is the interplay of how we gain insight from existential truth to add into the conceptual and practical experience of our everyday lives. We learn things we know in life by understanding how we don't know -- by understanding the absolute nothingness of Truth. Or can enlightenment simply be done for the sake of existential truth itself? Does it even require to? Well, I could see where you're coming from. Enlightenment doesn't create absolute happiness, but it sure does help a lot for that -- you know, once you get pass some of those terrible "Dark Night" stages. Feel free to tell me what you think the truth is so I can check it for myself. I find very little belief in the benefit of absolute happiness though. We need some negative emotions sometimes. With no fear, we'd be doing reckless things and eventually will wind up killing ourselves in some accident. With no anger, we're not willing to stand up for ourselves when someone is purposely harming us. With no sadness, we won't understand how wonderful it means to gain something valuable without feeling something's loss -- no need for reflection on why we've lost something, because we feel no need to gain something valuable back. More frequent happiness is good. Complete happiness? Nah.