Brimstone

Sure, I agree, although isn't existentialism just another ism that by design places limits and boundaries on the ability to recognise what it is for what it is? And are you certain that animals do not have a sense of self? Class structures and pecking orders are inherent throughout nature which points to identity formation being present so how can we claim self awareness or not? In saying all that I imagine your dog Is the perfect spiritual teacher for you

What is a painting without a blank canvas? It isn't recognised or obvious when you look at the painting, despite the fact it is as much a part of the painting, as the painting itself.

Being mindful of being mindful, is being mindful itself. Niceness

Haha, awesome. That gives rise to the question what is it that seperates you and your dog?

Nice what is, painting, what is without the comers, yet never denying them

Kids are pretty onto it, especially before conditioning has fully taken hold. I have had many profound experiences with them. I remember one time holding a friends baby, before I had children of my own, and everyone went inside and I was left outside. The baby then became completely aware and we had this mind conversation about what I do not even remember, other than me asking you know more than we let on don't you, to which he gave me a knowing smile and nodded before looking over at the door and turning back into a baby again just as everyone walked back outside. Its like talking to trees or nature, consciousness is all pervading, and there are no gaps.

If you are following your kids around 24/7 then I would suggest you need to take some time out. You can essentially practise no-mind when 'doing' anything at all, same goes with I Am That etc etc etc. Meditation isn't just limited to sitting down and closing your eyes. For example do you think the Buddhist monk is meditating when he makes a sand mandala? In saying that some meditations are best not practised when driving, lol, unless you want to experience more than just an ego death

@AleksM if your attention is being drawn to this idea you should check out teachings on the middle path

So true @cetus56 , although not surprising given the moment mind notices the canvas it is gone

The insight is your identity@DEV what is your identity though?

Totally @Dodo Add conciousness to emptiness and form and the possibilities are beyond endless

From the mud the lotus blooms

You got it @Joseph Maynor

@sleeperstakes there is nothing wrong with you, and despite appearances and what society tells us anxiety and the inability to communicate effectively can be an amazing gift, as it is a calling towards introspection and looking within. Personally I used to suffer tremendous anxiety to the point where I barely talked for a couple of years in my early to mid 20s (which is pretty much universal in the 1st world although most develop masks to hide it). It was at times horrible and completely and utterly depressing, but it is the base of what led me to search for meaning, and to pursue humility and compassion as the cornerstone in who I see myself as. You will actually find that a lot of people who take up 'spirituality' usual do so as a result of pain and suffering. Have you ever heard of Vipasana? It is a retreat that you go on where you are not aloud to talk, nor make eye contact with the people you are there with. Most people don't last til the end of the retreat as it is just so confronting for them what they are faced with funnily enough, but those who do often exit the experience enriched. In a nutshell though, everything is and will be ok as you are always exactly where you need to be, with life's embrace gracing your every breath.

This isn't Hindu, but this was given to me by someone just before it all dropped away, and after it did it was one of the 'teachings' that continued to resonate quite profoundly as being an accurate reflection after the fact. http://www.fodian.net/world/zzgse.html Probably explains my fixation on naked awareness, lol. As a side thought, there is a theory out there somewhere that Abraham was actually A Brahman, which kind of makes sense when you look at the first chapter of the book of genesis, that points towards the principal that when you eat from the tree of knowledge, the tree of wrong or right, you seperate yourself from your god-state. What else that is interesting is It proclaims that in the beginning there was a word, and the word was god. I wonder what the word is, hehe? As Joseph said The Upanishads are a pretty good place to start if you are talking strictly Hindu.

@iTommy you have had a great realisation. It isn't enlightenment though although, it isn't accurate to say that it is not-enlightenment either. Enlightenment=no-mind, whereby every single concept, including "mind is mind" & "enlightenment=no-mind" comes crashing down. In saying that, within the space of "all is mind, including mind", ask yourself what is mind, and see if you truthfully can get beyond 'your-mind' to expand out within consciousness, until you go beyond it.

@Wes Thoughts you can't be certain that if you shoot yourself you will die. Did you know that when a child is born, and a person dies there is a natural release of the DMT molecule, it just naturally occurs, its like a door opening.

You have got to keep pushing until you break through, but the truth is, to step over to the other side and truly experience awakening, you have to kill the Buddha, with the more you carry the longer it is going to take. Its heartbreaking.

In Truth, it appears as this is not-right, this is not-wrong, it is neither. It is not-neither though also. It is pureness, untouched by both aspects. Thus it isn't entirely accurate to say that nothing is wrong or right as it falls short. That is not to say that it is useful for the mind to acknowledge that. Relative to morality, it is not-morality that is experienced either. It is just a reflection of That which is beyond conditioning and beyond knowing, which bubbles up as humility and unconditional love. It is pureness, although not-that either.

@SuperLuigi just do it, that is the best way to reprogram. If it is someone else making the mess, say hey let's clean up this mess together. Don't worry though we all get angry, although when I ask what can I do to change this situation instead of focusing on what you expect some one else to do, you will be presently surprised in the positive (re)action

@SuperLuigi how's Mario? Your expectations play a roll in your irritability, you expect the bench to be clean, you expect quiet when you are having quiet time. Why not try taking ownership about the things that make you irritable and do instead of react. To me it feels like youare to focused to much on your own needs when you become irritable, and when they are not met you get angry. Stop thinking about yourself first and think about what you can do to change what it is that makes you irritable. For example, if you notice crumbs in the bench, pick up the cloth and wipe them away. If you don't like the sound of plates being put away too loudly, then put the plates away at the same time and talk to your partner. Being conditioned towards certain behaviour is hard to break, but it isn't impossible...

@Marinus no the shadow of our shared existence, which sure, can only be seen as your shadow alone. What is casting the shadow though? That is the crux that basically opens you up to enjoying everything that you do, without hesitation, without question, without judgement It just is

I am as big a dreamer as anyone and could certainly use the money, but why concern yourself with what is not, bring your attention to what is, that all the money in the world doesn't even come close to touching

Yes Take your attention away from the shadow though and look to what it-is that casts it

You already are successful @Psyche_92 Each breath you take is a symphony of achievement. Do not worry about self doubt as it is a tremendous gift that opens you up to question your-self, which is a success-full attitude. Keep questioning, and keep doing what you are doing, you have every reason to be proud of your achievements.