Matt8800

@Guru Fat Bastard If you are in a true "no-mind" state, there is zero thinking. Just awareness of being aware of the present moment.

@LoveandPurpose As someone that used to be depressed, I can tell you that it is impossible to be totally present and be depressed. Its the stories about the past and future that are depressing. I doubt you are starving and homeless in the present moment. I would recommend the power of now by eckhart tolle.

You could just as easily ask what is the point of God or why "it" came into existence.

No, suffering is fuel for evolution. Use the fuel wisely.

@theking00 I believe it is. I have some vague memories of a past life. "You" wont be reincarnated in the way you probably think you exist but your attachments and aversions will. Dissolve them in this lifetime, get the job done and move on to the next realm.

I started researching esoteric traditions that work a lot with energy about a year ago. These include Qigong, Taoism, Tantra and the Occult. The reason why that I started pursuing this is because I feel that a sole emphasis on dissolving the ego and just being is an incomplete spiritual path. I believe that we must also evolve for eternity. To be and to evolve is a spiritual paradox that should be reconciled as we progress. Many seekers would say that once the ego is dissolved, there is nothing left to evolve. I think this is a misunderstanding. Yoga talks of the Atman that remains and the Occult talks about the True Self. Once someone reaches enlightenment and the ego is gone, there is still something left that continues to be refined. That is the eternally evolving True Self. After spending literally hundreds of hours researching different sources, I stumbled on a book that does a great job of explaining how to make the transition from a physical being to a powerful spiritual being that operates through a human animal body. The book is called The Magnum Opus A Step by Step Guide by John Kreiter. Magnum Opus is a term that the Occult uses to refer to the path to enlightenment. In the book, it will cover how to concentrate the mind in a powerful way to do energy work and real magick. It also gives powerful techniques to draw in negative energy from the environment and turn it into positive chi energy along with how to build it up in your energy storage area (the Taoists call it the Tan Tien). It also explains how to use occult techniques to turn energetic injuries from this life and past lives into positive energy. The book explains how to build the subtle bodies. Once someone energizes and purifies the subtle bodies, telepathy, astral projection, premonition, etc start naturally happening. I have experienced these abilities myself (I do not want to discuss them however). Most of these are techniques that gurus that have siddhis use but dont usually tell their followers. These techniques can give someone all the abilities of any guru and then some if one chooses. If you seek to build siddhis, I would strongly encourage you to ask yourself what your motivation is. If you go this direction, it is very important that the ego stays dissolved. Psychic abilities and ego do not mix well and can cause problems. The best reason is simply for spiritual evolution and to help others in their path.

@tom rAy That is astral projection. You should research it a bit. You can do some interesting things with it. People think its just imagination until they see things and know things they couldnt possibly see otherwise. Visualization is key in how you do energy work, magick, various occult techniques, etc. A foundational principle in the occult is that it starts with visualizing but can turn into something real. Once someone understands this principle and how to use it, a lot of options open up. Even as science confirms, consciousness creates reality. Just more so than most people realize.

There is a fine line between what you are doing and astral projection. I did an astral projection about 2 weeks ago. I projected myself into my fiances bedroom and whispered in her ear. She told me the next day she felt me in her room and told me exactly what I whispered. Its definitely legit. If you are interested in developing clairvoyant abilities, I suspect you would do well. If you do work on them, make sure you purify yourself of attachments and aversions with meditation as you develop it or it can lead to issues.

@bazera I would suggest mushrooms over lsd. Shorter trip, which is good when just experimenting. Just let go.

@Aakash No, its not completable. The evolution of the Atman goes on for eternity. Western mysticism would claim that after our attachments and aversions are dissolved in the physical realm, there are more realms to transcend, ad infinitum. I suspect that merging with the One is like repeatedly dividing distance in two. Individuated subjectivity will get closer and closer to the One for infinity without ever quite getting there. The possibilities are interesting though

Whatever people choose is what was supposed to happen. You can accept reality without resistance or you can resist. Ideology is resistance, aversions and attachments. Ideology is not your friend. Either way, go or stay.

To repeat what you are saying, you are having a strong aversion because a website on the internet isnt to your liking. Im assume you know what the Yoga Sutras, Upanishads and Gita have to say about attachments and aversions. This is all you and your non-acceptance of how reality IS. You are projecting your own impurities.

@Anton_Pierre Sounds like some powerful attachments and aversions to me. Maybe a tinge of mania. Sounds like this forum isnt a good fit for you. I wish you well.

@Anton_Pierre I would suggest studying the occult. I believe learning how to be is just one side of the paradox. The other side is to evolve. Yoga is very powerful in teaching one to be but there is little focus on evolution. The reason why is that evolution involves increasing power. People many times equate increasing power with increasing the power of the ego. This is sometimes true but it doesnt have to be. The occult is extremely effective in acquiring spiritual power but I would caution anyone to balance it with what Yoga teaches. If not, it simply reinforces the ego in unhealthy ways. surrender/will being/evolving love/power Those are the paradoxes that we must reconcile as we progress.

@Pouya Yes, I started experiencing exactly that a couple years ago and has increased with intensity; especially if I focus on the present moment. I have read online that this is a "third eye opening". Whether thats true or not, I dont know. Regardless, it is something very real.

Im not seeking anything.

@winterknight More thoughts and concepts.........and more thoughts and concepts. When it is all stripped away, there is only direct experience of the flowing present moment. Interpretations and intellectualization is the product of an ape brain.

No, you are correct. When someone's "truth" contradicts your direct experience, they obviously dont know what they are talking about.

Very different than my experience. Sounds like psychedelics arent a part of your path. They are very much a part of my path and have gotten a ton of benefit, as many others have. I would caution you against the assumption that everyone's path should look identical. That is just an assumption.

There is a modern misconception that real yoga involves body postures as a way to help achieve enlightenment. If you read the sacred Yoga texts such as the Yoga Sutras of Patangali, The Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads, you will find nothing on body postures. Yoga focused on meditation and breathing as ways to transcend the self. The body postures were fairly recent inventions. They were initially invented by the yogis as a way of keeping their bodies strong so that they can sit in meditation for long lengths of time without pain. Most of the postures were taken from Swedish and British calisthenics. People might be able to meditate WHILE holding postures but it is the meditation itself, not the posture, that leads to awakening. Some of the modern yogis emphasize postures but that is divergent from the original wisdom of yoga. I suppose if you look long enough, you can find a "guru" that will say just about anything to build the belief the guru has something special that other gurus dont. The ancient enlightened sages and mystics were shown great wisdom and knowledge but they showed no interest in body postures. They didnt care about "lineages" or guru ass-kissing either. Those are all distractions. We should all be good students of people that are further along but groveling like a worm to another human being is not recognizing the divinity in oneself.

Thats right....just let everything go. Concentrate the mind and dissolve all attachments and aversions.

thoughts and concepts...thoughts and concepts... The only thing that is real is the present moment as it flows. Everything else is just thoughts and concepts.

They say that assholes and opinions are similar in that everyone has one

Yes, that can be a problem for a lot of people. Nothing happens until you concentrate the mind. One method is to focus on a dot or candle very intensely. Eventually, your ego will dissolve. Its easier with psychedelics but can still be done without. Once your ego is dissolved through concentration, your inner guru/spirit guide can show up more easily. If any ego, attachments or aversions are coloring your awareness, you probably wont make contact. Also, there are occult techniques that can increase your chance of making contact. Gurus are well aware of these techniques but most wont tell you. If they did, you wouldnt need them and they know that

If someone is an adult, they need to decide for themselves. You are welcome to make the path as long and difficult as possible