Brimstone

@John it is a mistake to think that your life stops completely just because you become 'enlightened'. The only thing that changes is that 'who you think you are' and your attachment to that idea and the outcomes it dictates is diminished until it completely dissolves. In other words, the doing still occurs, the thoughts still arise, the experience of you just does not have me/mine/my at the centre of what is unfolding. An example: What am I going to have for dinner? Dinner will not just magically appear just because you are enlightened, you still have to chase the carrot.

Haha, sorry mate

This sums it up perfectly. Even when mind is thinking about now, it is thinking about now after it happened, it is never in the moment in it's thinking, although it only thinks in the moment. Ask yourself @Samuel Garcia what is happening now? That is where you will find your answer.

lol @Emptystickfigure Who says that the ego exists or doesn't?

Very very cool @phoenix666 , thank you for sharing You have got it, lol

That is beautiful @Serotoninluv, thank you so much for sharing. It is so inspiring when we look back and see the stepping stones that led us to where we are today and even though at times it didn't feel right, it is those times that often make the most sense now. Adyashanti was the one for me, and a couple of people in a forum not dissimilar to this. I always believed in Jah and oneness and only stumbled across non-duality by chance. It resonated deeply and brought a lot of my self enquiries together so it took hold pretty easily. Time appeared to erode it but it has been obviously calling quite loudly the past month or 2, which has brought me back round. Looking back again the stepping stones are perfectly aligned and I can see the relevance and will continue to carry gratitude in my heart as a result. I know what you mean by the oddness of relating, i have been socially anxious and awkward for most of my life. Full realisation changes that though as it opens you up so much, without fear or judgement. If it is to open up again then I will give thanks, if it does not then I will give thanks also, knowing through unknowing that all is perfect as it is, as it will always be. Namaste

@Serotoninluv I just wanted to add that you are clearly very blessed as getting to the level of awareness you are at is so so beautiful and extraordinarily special. In saying that, Truth realisation isn't about comparisons or isn't about a competition to see who can climb the ladder highest, as that is the egos game. Truth realisation is celebrating all aspects as That, it is the removal of the me from the centre absolutely, which is how it is anyway. Much love

I did when you clarified it mate, lol Inflection is impossible to pick up on the internet so didn't see you were joking at first glance.

The imagination is pretty powerful. The different flavours is natural as it manifests itself in many flavours. The flavours are imagination though. IT is completely and utterly flavourless and unable to be experienced by imagination, although it is imagination. As soon as mind recognises it, IT is gone, without going. Yes, this rings true, without being Truthful as the mind is trying to make sense of what it can not, and is still in the game. Getting the concept is that there is nothing to get. Everything dissolves and is cleansed beyond your wildest imagination so you find you have no questions, and see the folly of all your answers. It just is. So very very beautiful. Hope this helps

@Wes Thoughts , if you are feeling it you should just do it, follow what resonates. In saying that mind is misleading you to think that you need to go from here to there to realise what you are looking for, as it doesn't come or go so why is there a need to go anywhere, or do anything. Do you notice the 'here to there' aspect of minds game above? What is that taking you out of? So where do you think you will find what you are looking for? Try asking what will I find there that I will not find here. Look, don't stress or worry about it, just relax into it, as whether you are a seeker or not, if That wants to slap you on your ass and make you see what a blind fool you were it will happen naturally, and without effort. The 'without effort' is the natural occurance of what is happening with every breath, which is what you are doing right now, without effort. Hope this helps

unity - you-and-i-ty

Although language is limited in trying to understand and explain 'enlightenment', language has some pretty interesting pointers that reveal very simple truths that are right before our very eyes. This thread is just for any who feel compelled to share their discoveries...... For example When sperm meets egg, it is said to be their moment of................ conception. Does that mean that I was a concept before I was even born? Here's another what is extraordinary, is extra ordinary, or in other words, more ordinary than ordinary. Extraordinary indeed! And another History is his story. I wonder what sort of world we lived in if the conquered didn't have all of their stories destroyed?

No dramas at all @Nahm , what arose just arose and with that it was gone, although I do find it fascinating the reflection of the 'permanence of the moment' that platforms like this point towards.

@WelcometoReality very cool, makes it much easier to dodge when the light is clear hey, hehe @Blissout what is not mumbo jumbo after one is cleansed by direct experience, revealing what is not direct experience (which is a dangerous realisation without the base of That - oops, there I go again, lol) @AleksM definitely. What is memory a byproduct of though? I am certain you do but do you notice how all 'byproducts' occur within the timeless 'now'? @Dodo niceness, does it concern you how many get hooked though? It either does, or it does not, all is as it should be either way right. @Shanmugam @Nahm you always crack me up mate, lol.

Very very true @Nahm . Back when I was enlightened That showed the effect of what alcohol and other drugs has on you. It was quite fascinating to watch the mind wrap itself around the concept of me and certainly made it very easy to quit. Sadly when desire slowly eroded clear state, I started to drink and smoke again, which is why I am here today. Back at square 1, lol.

That bait sure is tasty to nibble on hey @Joseph Maynor , lol Be careful not to take too big a bi....... Damn it, I am hooked, somebody help me!!!!

Nothing says a lot as Conciousness as me. There it goes again. Like dust.

Don't concern yourself @john5170 , you are exactly where Nature intended you to be. Thoughts come and go, it is the attachment to them that causes conflict. Try and bring attention to where the thoughts come from and where they dissolve to. This may help you to clear the thoughts. Happy hunting

As always, great questioning @Joseph Maynor The premise of your set up is perfect although you stop short by boxing it as just social media. Do we not all wear different masks for different occasions? Even your good friends and family do not know the full you, and what goes on within you. As a side note, what do you think would have a better outcome; How has your life changed? How has your life changed other that you? Namaste

You have got it @egoless . It is very healthy to question everything. 'Enlightenment' is exactly the same as every other religon, it points towards That, don't take any of it is gospel, that is the centre of the problem. My advice is don't listen to people who tell you if you do X,Y,Z and you will know the ultimate Truth. That is a load of nonsense, as there is no one way. Just do what feels right and is natural to you personally. Find what resonates and try and find who you are, what your source is. No one can tell you that, as it is so deeply personal to your life experience. In a sense it is just a matter of surrendering to your self.

Totally. To be perfectly honest I came at it from a similar angle. I wasn't someone who meditated, I didn't have a specific religon, although I favoured Jah as the label I placed on That as reggae music was my thing. Don't sell yourself short on looking within and time, it's a natural occurence. If you have a realisation follow it and use it, implement it in what you are doing. Cracks will appear and it will start to open up. That is already knocking at your door, that is why you question and you are here. Logically speaking, Truth makes perfect sense once realised, being that nothing makes sense and is real. Think about it, nothing makes sense, no thing makes sense, nothingness makes no sense. It is completely logical, and so simple that you do not see how logical it is as you are looking for meaning where there is not. I mean seriously, how can any of this make sense, life feels empty because it is. None of it makes sense at all. Life simply is, pure and simple. That is the heart of every religon, although of course the egoic aspect of consciousness distorts and manipulates so that we miss the simple essence at the core of it all. Religon in it's purest form is simply to know God, the rest is just projections of nonsense. That is the how people of every religon can wake up, whether you care to accept that or not. Don't you see That wants you to know who you really are, that is why religon exists. Consider this, imagine if all religon was clothed in the same garment, how boring would that be, if we all walked around as the same. I personally couldn't think of anything more depressing. That is why I celebrate the diversity of what is, and what appears to be beyond an infinite number of possibilities as to how that manifests. It is freaking magic beyond belief, all from the One Source. What if it is all deception? To be honest I have considered the potential that this is just a mind loop within consciousness, which is a thought that makes sense sure, but you know what, discovery of That, and living and acting with awareness of That as your centre in every breath is such a simple and beautiful way to live. In its purest form a natural expression of love, compassion, humility, peace. It saddens the heart to see how easy that is to reach, while it appears as so far away. Like I said I am not there today but I can here the undeniable call of silence at my door, and I am opening up. I don't need you to follow me or believe me, all I am saying is to find the answer within yourself. I don't have an answer for you, how could I when there is no answer? And whether you believe me or not to be perfectly honest is just noise. No matter how you cut it up, you can not deny that this moment right now is happening, it just is. Nothing makes more sense than that. Hope this makes sense and is helpful in some way

Love the making an ass out of you and me and the quest I am on, lol the present - the gift that just keeps on giving

Something is nothing, just as nothing is something. They are one and the same, there is nothing g that separates them. That is why it is more accurate to say neither not-something nor not-nothing. Who says it doesn't? You are objectifying what can not be objectified. Like the eyes, you can not see them, but they see, they are not objects until you look in the mirror and say they are my eyes, yet they are what is looking at the mirror. Its all very silly really. The question is do you want to get to the heart of the matter and see who you are or not? If you do then you need to leave all your ideas behind and look within. Only in the present will the gift reveal itself. No one can do it for you, it is up to you. Either do it, or do not.

1. Think about it. What is nothing? What can you say about it? What do you see as the space between you and the fire when you look at the fire? That is That, it is inconceivably empty, that which does not change or in more popular terms it is Absolute. 2. Nothingness is just the base, it is inseparable from the other aspects. 'Pure' awareness is just awareness from the perspective of base. 3. Do you see how you seperate something from nothing? They are inseparable, you can not have one without the other, that is the nature of duality and how our minds have been conditioned. Think about it, look at any object. What would that object be if you took the nothingness away that appears to surround it? All is yin and yang, not just yin or yang. Does that make sense? You ask good questions which is important? Ask the same questions within you though, without taking a bunch of ideas as to what you expect the answer to be and see what arises? Don't stop until there are no answers left. I hope the above is helpful in some way.

Ok, lets see what arises in a more practical sense. To try and bring a pointed focus lets just try and focus on each question at a time. I will try and keep my answers short. I used to think I was enlightened, but today I do not. The moment of enlightenment was like nothing else, it was recognition of That. I could tell you a story of why and how that was enlightenment (for example it manifested in the physical realm as witnessed by others) but really it is just a story, and I do not see a point in revisiting it as it created a new identity over time. If you feel as though you need to hear the whole story msg me and I will tell you away from public viewing. I didn't watch the video to be honest, as I was at work when I first saw it so didn't click play. 3D - to me implies 3 aspects. I see the 3 aspects as That (Nothingness - utterly unperceivable) - Conciousness (perceived as thought) - Physical (perceived as senses) The 3 fields are insepperable. Does that make sense? To try and keep it clear can you try and ask short specific questions and I will try and give short and specific answers (knowing that there is no answer that has been realised that is more accurate beyond no answer, at least not to my awareness)