RickyFitts

You can repeat it in your head or out loud, either approach is fine - it's up to you, do whichever feels most natural for you I hadn't considered the option of listening to someone else repeat the mantra instead - might be worth a try if you can find such a video, I say just experiment with it and go with what feels best for you personally.

@Natasha

Not for the first time, Gianna, you've hit on something very important. Funnily enough, I started a thread on another forum a few years back with the exact title of this one (it was about my own struggles with receiving love, feeling unworthy, etc.) - it's probably the single issue I've struggled with the most. This is something I noticed in myself when I was starting to awaken about nine years back, I realised that I ached for connection at the same time that I was utterly terrified of it. It's just as you say, I sensed that it would be the death of me in some way and I was just too scared to let myself die, I feared annihilation; I think I'm reaching a point now where it's just too exhausting and demoralising to keep resisting, it's just no way live. How did that make you feel, out of interest? Upset, rejected, frustrated, or did you just accept that he simply wasn't able to receive love?

@MuadDib Wow, some very cool covers! I'm also a huge fan of this version by Kutsal Kaan Bilgin. Speaking of their 'In Rainbows' album, this one runs 'Weird Fishes' a very close second for my money:

I don't really resonate with his teachings (which says more about me than it does about him, I'm sure), but I like him anyway, he's a very charismatic, attractive guy.

I'm quite a tall guy (6 foot 1) so my girlfriends have all been quite a bit shorter than me. Might feel a bit weird to date a woman who was about my height, though heck, if Mandy Moore or Maria Sharapova came knocking I probably wouldn't knock them back It's not something I attach a whole lot of importance to though, sexy, beautiful women come in all shapes and sizes

You're welcome

@Tim R Excellent post, beautifully articulated!

Brilliant!

Christ, there's a head-fuck right there

That was about as subtle as a sledgehammer Still almost went over my head, I was sat there thinking, 'What the fuck has using bladderwrack - bladderwhat? - got to do with wanting a woman with a good personality?'

@Gianna Completely agree I've come to think that music is one of humanity's greatest achievements, the way it can speak to your soul just blows me away. Wow, that's beautiful

I think that's largely because we humans tend to be so lost in our thoughts, we're very mind-centred beings - and that concentrates focus in the head (more specifically in the third eye area, or at least that's how I experience it). I know that for me personally, a big part of my spiritual growth has involved shifting attention into my body, and particularly into my heart; intellectually wrestling with the concept of non-duality didn't really cut it for me, it just caused frustration in the end. Realisation happens on all levels, not just on the level of mind.

I know, I always find it so heart-breaking when people can't see how wonderful they are, it makes me wish they could see themselves through my eyes...

I know, it's so true - I remember Adyashanti saying that the person you'll have the hardest time accepting is you, yourself, and I think he was so right about that (I've certainly found it to be true in my own case, at least). @Terell Kirby Excellent post.

Yeah, it's very common - I know I've experienced that too, it can be hugely frustrating and despair-inducing. But your soul craves something more - something with infinitely greater depth and substance - than the familiar old habits that no longer satisfy, whilst at the same time you fear change and the uncertainty that comes with that. This is where you need to be brave enough to let go into the unknown, to let go of the whole world.

Amazing work, @FlyingLotus, thanks so much

This is a key question I think. People often fear negative judgment if they express themselves honestly, they think others will be horrified or repelled (I know I've felt this myself) and that leads them to become uncommunicative and closed off. But other people are often much more understanding and sympathetic than we imagine they'll be.

@Gianna It sure would

Bless you, you're very welcome

Oh dear, poor you I found this article on the subject of oversleeping and headaches that you might find useful.

Not a phase of my life I look back on with much fondness, that's for sure

Exactly! I want to get that on a bumper sticker

Yeah, I get where you're coming from - I've gotten into the habit of putting it on in the background (I've got Radiohead on as I type), I rarely give it my full attention these days. Shame, really, one of my favourite pastimes used to be getting high and listening to music (I used to enjoy the bass guitar particularly, males tend to resonate with those lower frequencies apparently) but I don't really do it these days, I find it a bit of a struggle to really take it in.