eputkonen

I was simply temporary adopting Joseph Maynor's logic to show that it was incorrect. Could you not see what was being pointed to by the end of my message..."As it is unknown...and un-experienced...by your logic it would not exist or not be reality. The limits of "your reality" is your direct experience, but that is not reality." The message was for Joseph Maynor to understand - using the words and logic of his own posted question...I did not write it for you. And if you truly wanted to understand, you could ask questions...but instead you assumed, judged, and defended/attacked (regarding what was asked/said)...this is not the behavior one someone that cares to learn what is being said.

Yes. Have you not felt love deep within your heart? Love seems to naturally reside at the "heart center". How the number and locations were determined...I don't know. I don't care that much about chakras to worry about these questions. Yes, I have some memories of past lives. Reincarnation happens. But so what? One night you dream you are an adventurer like India Jones, the next night you dream you are a race car driver with wife and family...each night you reincarnate (so to speak) into another dream-life...but looking into these dream-lives will not help you realize you are dreaming (and become a lucid dreamer). The past has passed...let it go.

For me, I heard about self-realization when I read Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda (the first spiritual book I read). Not long after, I read a little Buddhism and heard about enlightenment and the end of suffering. But self-realization and enlightenment were terms with little to no meaning for me...with definitions that seemed to vary depending on who was talking...and so I never really sought it. Instead, I spent 13 years in generic spiritual seeking...chakras, past lives, kabbalah, mysticism, magick, etc. I also read the Bible, the Quaran, the Bhagavad Gita, and hundreds of books of various spiritual topics. I never suffered much...so I never sought a way out of suffering. I just wanted to know the Truth. That was all.

My point was it exists whether you are consciously aware of it or not (it is a part of "your reality" or not). You mistook what I said based on your own beliefs and assumptions.

You are illusory too. You are not what you think you are. How does your pituitary gland exist...as it is not a part of your reality either? Have you ever seen it or felt it? The problem is you think your reality is real...but your reality is not reality. Even much of your own mind is unknown to you...hence the subconscious that is spoken about in psychology. As it is unknown...and un-experienced...by your logic it would not exist or not be reality. The limits of "your reality" is your direct experience, but that is not reality. That is just consciousness that is tied to a specific body/mind and perspective. That is the illusion of "me".

The whole of the Noble Eight-fold Path in Buddhism is within the first - samyak-dṛuṣṭi / sammā-diṭṭhi. This is often translated as "Right View", but "sam" is akin to "sum"...and so complete or whole are also adequate translations. With Right View, there is Right Thought/Intent. With Right View, there is Right Speech. With Right View, there is Right action...and so on. When I am suggesting "do nothing...just be present and look" - this is the secret to "Right View". The right way of viewing the world. The complete or whole way of viewing the world. This is discovered by just being present and looking. At times, questioning what you are viewing...to see through the illusions of the mind. One of the greatest documents of Yoga is the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Right at the beginning it says, "Now Yoga is explained. Yoga is the cessation of the revolutions of the mind. Then the Seer abides in Itself." Yoga is just ways to quiet the mind and abide in the Self. Tat tvam asi. They use various methods to attempt this. Surrender and devotion - as in Bhakti yoga - could work for some...but few are able to let everything go (even themselves). As for me, "quieting the mind and abiding in the Self" is what I have been saying. Be present (which means cessation of the revolutions of the mind) and just look (to realize the Self). Once the Self is realized, then abiding in the Self is not difficult. I would not call either useless. However, pitfalls and obstacles exist as both Yoga and Buddhism have adopted many beliefs and practices...and have adopted the idea of progress (fairly widely). Spirituality became something to inflate the ego. They often focus too much on doing things instead of looking at who they think the doer is. Unfortunately, I have seen Yoga and Buddhism become another distraction for some practitioners...but throughout history there have been those freed by the teachings as well. Adyashanti woke up through following Zen (as I recall). You asked, "so, since you are enlightened, give us a practical solution to enlightenment"...and so I gave the best answer I could based on my experience (while trying to minimize current pitfalls I see). I point in a different way (than Buddha or Patanjali)...and because it is different it may help others. I see that most people are very busy doing things to wake up and have been doing things for many years...so I suggest to stop doing things and just see/be aware. I only woke up after I ceased doing anything for a couple minutes. I had given up the spiritual search a year or so prior, but my mind was still busy and noisy. I was still doing things. Then after becoming truly present for the first time...thought stopped...and in that silence of mind I woke up. There is power and potentiality in doing nothing. The ego does not want to do nothing. It wants to do something.

You are mistaken if you think hearing such a teaching is enough to instantly enlighten. It is not about hearing. The root obstacle is the "I" that you think you are. On the foundation of the illusion of ego, all other obstacles are built. You can try to remove all these other derived obstacles, but you will never reach the root. In not reaching the root, there is no end to new obstacles arising. You can spend your whole life removing obstacles...and never question the foundation on which it is all built...and remain in ignorance and delusion till death of this body/mind. Doing nothing means just being present and seeing/aware...which both happen of their own accord when we do nothing at all. It is helpful to everyone to say don't do anything...just be present and look at the "I". The delusion is to believe we have to do many things just to get to the point where we can do nothing. That is how we convince ourselves to keep doing things...which only strengthens the illusion of "I". When you are without thought (like you say you have been), out of curiosity wonder who you are...but then don't do anything. Even if it is a minute...when there is no thought...who are you? What is the feeling, experience, identification, etc.?

"so you are just suggesting being present and self-inquiry... To put it in one line, just be present and ask 'Who am I'?...right?" I am suggesting doing nothing...in the deepest sense. Perhaps with a curiosity about who you really are. This may turn into self-inquiry. Which may help to clear some of the misidentifications, but I caution against self-inquiry becoming another practice and doing to gain something. Self-inquiry is not required...but may help. If self-inquiry happens, that is fine...but doing nothing is better. Self-inquiry can become a mental exercise...and thinking and thought is counterproductive to realizing what is here and now. "Do you think this covers everything, addresses all the problems a seeker faces?" Do nothing...with an attitude of curiosity about who you really are...just see and be aware of what is. Then come back with a specific question. I don't know what problems seekers may face...and not all people have the same problems. There is nothing else I can generically say or recommend - anything more would have to be tailored for the specific seeker. I might point at something else to just look at...to understand with observation...but I would not suggest any new practice. "Obviously, people don't get enlightened just by hearing this." Yes, obviously...you have to see for yourself who you are. I could tell you, but you probably won't believe me...or worse, you would believe me. "In reality it takes many years to realize the truth for almost all people except some rare exceptions like Ramana Mahirishi." It does not take many years...that is a belief that gives the ego an excuse to continue in power. We don't realize the truth because we don't want to see it...as long as you avert your eyes or refuse to recognize what you see...then you can continue believing what is false. The truth dispels darkness instantly. The truth is always here and now...but instead you are thinking about enlightenment in terms of years in the future. And so you don't see what is now. It takes as long as it takes to realize the truth...it takes longer when you are distracting yourself and are not present. "Even though there is no path, everyone has to start by assuming there is a path... Is that not right?" Not at all. Assuming there is a path is part of the problem. Paths take you somewhere else and it takes time to get there. What path could you take to here? How long will it take to get to now? Paths are part of the distractions. Paths say 'I can't be at the destination until'...and so it is a way to delay. "what is the difference between self-realization and enlightenment?" No difference...just as my last answer said - "Enlightenment is not a process...it is realization...Self-realization."

There is no path...there are no steps. How long does it take - that is a question assuming a path and steps. It assumes a process and progress. Enlightenment is not a process...it is realization...Self-realization. A realization regarding who/what you really are and seeing through the misidentification and illusions of the mind (especially those that create division). You have either seen or you have not seen...there is no such thing as partial seeing. Enlightened can be described as seeing through the illusion of ego. Therefore, you can not willfully do anything to become enlightened. What can the ego do to see through itself? Any willful action (which is ego) only reinforces the apparent reality of the illusion. This is why some have called enlightenment a grace...it happens to you. The realization is sudden and complete...an "aha moment" and reframes everything (or perhaps deframing is a better word). An old Zen saying is - when the bottom of the bucket drops out, all the water goes with it. So when enlightenment happens - you clearly see through the "I" that you have taken to be who you are. With this, suffering based on the "I" goes with it. If you don't clearly see and so there is doubt...the "I" remains believed and suffering continues. Seeing (i.e. sensing) is not a willed action. As long as we are conscious, we hear what is around us...we see what is in front of us...etc. You could call it awareness...I just say seeing. Seeing can be gently led; like your breath - can be led, but happens of itself when not led. If you wanted to truly see an orange, you would just hold it and look at it. The longer you looked, the more you would learn. Seeing brings understanding. Science knows this...they observe...that is how you come to know. We don't know who we are. And so we could just look at ourselves. You could just look at the "I". What is it? Is it really who you are? What is the source of the "I"? Just by looking you may understand what you are not...just look at the "I" and also look for the source. Understanding what you are not may make it easier to realize what you are. Also a help, is just being present (that is - not taking away from the experience of now by thinking about the past or future). If you were just sitting and being present, this would be called meditation. Periods of "just sitting" is of value. But do not get stuck with only being present when you are sitting. Do not sit with ego and pride at how long you sit and expecting to gain something...again you are creating your own obstacle. Always be present. We do not wake up partly because we are lost in thought. Enlightenment can only be realized here and now...any thought distracts from seeing what is here and now. If you are 100% devoted to the experience of this moment...you still could not be aware of everything because there is just too much data for our senses and brain to handle. But if we are 100% devoted to the experience of this moment, there is no room left for thought. Thought would cease. Thoughts are only about the past and future. Thought is never about now, when the mind tries it is already thinking about the past or trying to anticipate the future. Thought is never about the now...experience is about the now. When you are totally present, thought ceases...and in that silence of mind...then ask yourself but once - "who am I" or "what am I"...and then don't think about it or make any efforts to answer the question. Just send out the question...and in silence just be. If you are lucky, you will gain nothing...but lose much. In the end, be present and look at oneself is all I can recommend. Neither is really a doing. Thought is a doing...and so not being present is a doing. If we did nothing, we could automatically be present. Also, we can't help but to be aware...to see...and so just look at yourself out of curiosity. Don't you wonder who you really are?

Yes. Woke up in 2005. So my reply was my own experience.

When you are dreaming at night...you see a whole world of other beings and people...but are there really "other people"? All the characters in the dream and in fact the whole of the dream came from one mind. Other dream characters appear to be conscious and think, but you are only aware of the one dream character you are playing...although you are really all of it. There has only been the one mind the whole time.

Reality continues on whether you are thinking or not. Thought actually is the only screen between you and reality. If you ceased thinking for a bit, you would see what is as it is. You motivation to do things may decrease, but it is only the ego that needs motivation to do things. You can still do things simply for the enjoyment of it.

Yes, there is sitting, lying, standing, and walking meditations. You can really do anything while meditating...physical posture or activity does not matter.

You just experience the world as it is. The illusions of the mind simply drop away (with enlightenment). So you recognize the illusions of the mind you were taking for reality...and then you see the world as it is. This is far more ordinary than it sounds. Enlightenment is more about realization...a eureka moment in which prior you believed the illusions of the mind and after you don't because you see they are illusions. Afterwards, the world is still experienced...but without the illusions of the mind (the blinders and colored lenses we are accustomed with).

Dino, I woke up in 2005. You can realize who/what you really are as well. It is not a matter of reading a lot, going to seminars, taking psychedelics, meditating a lot, time spent on spiritual paths, or even talent. It is about being still, being silent, being present...and really looking at who we think/feel we are. I don't care about beliefs or theoretical ideas...what do you really feel you are...and is it true. Look deeply at the "I". What is the origin and source of the "I"? Look at the illusions of the mind and question their reality (of course, right now you are taking those illusions for reality...so I am asking you to question reality). Be still and know (through just seeing).

I like what Eckhart Tolle said in one of his seminars - this is not a personal development seminar, it is a personal diminishment seminar. Self help and personal development may make you more expert in living within or manipulating the illusion, but enlightenment is seeing through the illusion itself.

Realize/see that suffering is mentally self-created. We do it to ourselves...but we don't know it - otherwise we would not do it. For example, worry is one of the ways we make ourselves suffer. The Tibetan Buddhists have an interesting saying - if a problem can be solved there is no use worrying about it. If it can't be solved, worrying will do no good. Now, if you were to delve into worry...and you clearly saw the futility of worry, the harm it causes, and its total lack of positive benefits...then you would not worry. You would understand there is no point - no gain, only suffering - and so you would not put yourself through that. Instead, you would do what you could to solve the issue and if nothing could be done you would accept it (hopefully the situation changes so that something can be done later). As I write this, I guess it does involved accepting uncertainty and the lack of control. All suffering is like this. We create it ourselves in our minds. Suffering is any hurt beyond the pain perceived by the nerves of the body. Suffering is a translation of the work dukkha in Buddhism, and the term could also mean discontent or dissatisfaction. We are never satisfied...because of the mental illusions we are believing. We believe them because of ignorance (being uninvestigated and unseen). This was the whole focus of the Four Noble Truths of Gautama (the Buddha). Dukkha exists. Dukkha can cease. It can cease because it has no reality outside of our own imaginations.

By pain, I think you might mean suffering. Either way, if there is no suffering and no pain, by your statement and logic the ego would cease to exist. Actually, the ego continues to exist even without suffering or pain (based on my direct experience)...so I would have to disagree with your statement. Suffering does strengthen the ego quite a bit though, but there is a bit more to the ego than just suffering and pain.

Meditation is not concentration...so the idea is not to focus your attention, which is concentration. Meditation is not contemplation...so the idea is not to think about stuff, which is contemplation. Meditation is practicing present awareness. In Zen Buddhism, their seated meditation is called zazen...aka 'just sitting'. They are just sitting...nothing else. Just fully present and aware of what is as it is. Not adding anything to it, not subtracting anything from it. There are walking and moving meditations...that is practicing present awareness in motion. Really, anything can be a meditation. Mowing the lawn, for example. Of course, if you are truly present - 100% devoted to the experience of now - there really is no room for thought. Thought is only about the past and future, never about now. So when you are successfully meditating...there is no thought.

With this logic, you would not be most of your own body. You are not aware of what the adrenal or pituitary glands are doing right now. You are not aware of what cells in the body are dying and being replaced by new cells. You are not likely aware of your shins right now...well maybe now that I brought your attention to it. You are not likely aware of the inside of your nose nor the inside of your ears. You are not aware of your ear drums. I can go on like this...but I won't. My point is...not being aware does not mean separation or not being it. Most of our awareness only comes from the senses on and around the head...which is why so many people think they are in there somewhere (in the center of all the senses). Hearing, sight, smell, and even taste are all in the region of the head. Then we have the skin covering the rest of our bodies that provide sensations. But the skin sensations take a back seat to the major senses on the head - most people focus more on visual and auditory. Do you feel your liver? Are you aware of your brain? Right now...are you aware of all the organs of the body? So by your own logic, because you are not aware of everything in your body...you are not your body. This is a false conclusion because you don't have to be aware of it for it to still be a part of you. Conscious awareness is not required. In fact it would get in the way...how does a centipede control its hundred legs...it doesn't think about it. If you were consciously aware of everything inside your body and had to consciously control it...you wouldn't manage to get out of bed. Most functions of the body happen unconsciously...but let us say superconsciously instead...giving it a plus instead of a minus. Superconsciously, you are beating your own heart, you are digesting foods that you eat, etc. Now breathing is interesting in that you can consciously be aware of your breath...you can consciously control your breath, but most of the time you are not consciously controlling your breath and you may not even be aware of your breath. And yet it happens. You don't have to be aware of breathing in order to breath. And so do you breath or don't you? Alan Watts once said, "If you find out that it's you who circulates your blood, you will at the same moment find out that you are shining the sun."

You can meditate while lying down. There danger of falling asleep is increased, but as long as you don't fall asleep...you will be fine. Meditation is not solely a seated practice. In Buddhism, they talk about the four dignities of man - standing, walking, sitting or lying down. And so while there is sitting meditation..there is also standing meditation, walking meditation, and lying meditation. Really, you can meditate in any position and doing any activity. So best wishes...hope you feel better...and just meditate lying down. (sometimes with eyes close, open, or partially closed.)

There are subconscious (unconscious) thoughts as well...that are part of consciousness. Haven't you met someone and immediately liked or disliked them, but didn't know why? I mean consciously know why. In psychology, the subconscious is a big part of our consciousness. Consciousness is the entirety, but conscious and subconscious are parts. Superconscious is potentially another part (depending on the terms you want to use). If you look at it and investigate, you will see you are conscious of very little...but that does not mean it is outside of consciousness.

I have no thoughts or opinions about either.

One does not need a theoretical background at all. When I woke up, it was unlike anything I had ever read or studied before. (I had never read or studied about awakening/enlightenment or nonduality prior to waking up and realizing nonduality directly). So there was no theoretical background for me and yet it happened. I do not blog to provide a theoretical background. I just like talking about the subject. And there happens to be many who like reading about the subject. There are many questions and I answer them so I can talk about it. Also, there are misunderstandings and ongoing myths that I like pointing out. I know that for every question answered multiple more questions will arise...and I know that the thinking mind (of the questioner) will never get it. Enlightenment can not be figured out. Enlightenment does not come from acquiring the right knowledge. In fact, the accumulated knowledge may become an obstacle to enlightenment...because if that knowledge is wrong or misunderstood, you could wake up and then deny it because it does not conform the the prior knowledge you gained. And so this allows the ego to stay in power (this isn't it...so I need to do more)...instead of simply seeing through the ego and recognizing it for the mirage it is. The concepts won't liberate...they are just more chains. So when I am asked, how to wake up...I recommend to just be still, be quiet, be present...cease thinking and be 100% devoted to the experience of the moment. Then perhaps ask yourself but once, "who am I?" Then don't make any efforts to answer it, don't think, don't refer to past or future. Just be still, be silent, be present. Or variations...like what I posted to Afonso.

Joy and play has been my answer. However, play is something done without a purpose, only done for its own sake. Having fun to have fun. Joy for the sake of joy. I think we are same the same thing in different ways.