Matt8800

Would you say that reading is not the answer? Would you say that meditation is not the answer? Would you say that yoga is not the answer? Psychedelics (I assume that is what you are referring to) is simply a tool, albeit a powerful tool. For me, psychedelics was the answer. Before trying DMT, I knew nothing about non-duality, meditation, buddhism, etc. I tried DMT and understood very profoundly that I was not my body or thoughts, suffering was an illusion caused by thoughts, I needed to live in the present moment, love is the highest value, beauty is all around even if we dont see it and that I needed to start meditating daily. That was three years ago. The next day, I searched youtube to learn how to meditate. I came across one of Leo's videos (how I came to A.org) about how to meditate and Ive meditated every day since without missing a day. I also discovered that Buddhism and Vedanta teach in depth what I discovered in my DMT session. If it wasnt for DMT, I dont know if I would have "gotten" it. I tried reading about Buddhism previously but as a very driven businessman with a huge ego and lots of greed, I didnt understand it in the least. Now I meditate 1-2 hours a day, read another 1-3 hours a day and have awakened other people and am currently mentoring them on their path. Also, Ram Dass started his journey because of LSD. I dont know about "shortcuts" (whatever that is) not existing but you can certainly take a longer and more painful route. Of course, if the drug you are referring to is alcohol, I would agree

Thats an interesting teaching strategy - hide your teaching so well that the student is never taught. Im personally grateful that Im not limited to such watered-down, "hidden" teachings

I cant speak for others but smoking cannabis contributes to my spiritual journey. When it stops being being an asset to my life, Ill stop. Until then, I see no reason to stop. A good tree bears good fruit. Dont let anyone tell you something that contradicts your direct experience.

Im almost 50 now. When I was in my 20s, I took testosterone for 60 days and put on a lot of muscle mass. I kept about 75% of it after I stopped taking it (I kept working out about 30 min 4x week). One of the best health decisions Ive made. If you do something like this, DO NOT abuse it and keep doing it. Educate yourself. It should only be done for health reasons, not vanity.

@Adam MIts easier to attribute truth to the obscure meanings only when the truth is already known. I was raised heavily indoctrinated in Christianity growing up and I can guarantee that there was nobody in my church, or any other church I went to, that had any inkling of non-duality in the least. If its teaching non-duality, it is extremely poorly communicated. If I had written the New Testament, I would have communicated it in a superior way resulting in clearer comprehension. I have written Standard Operating Procedures Manuals for two companies and I made sure there was no confusion about exactly what I meant. That is not meant to be arrogant. Any mediocre writer could have taught the authors of the NT a lot about communicating more clearly. Compared to other ancient texts, like the Upanishads, the "non-dual" teachings of the NT are underwhelming.

@Maccoy I suffered the same way. Psychedelics were the turning point for me. Research psychedelics and depression.

That has been a debate going on for a long time. Buddhist believe there is no individualized self, even though many posit that there is reincarnation. They offer no explanation as to what is being reincarnated. Vedanta believes that the self is not what you think it is but there is an individualized self called the Atman. What happens to the Atman when we die is debated within Vedanta. Even after enlightenment, there is something that continues to be refined. Personally, I believe there is an Atman that continues to evolve after the death of the body.

Discontinue the relationship.

@nadoThe New Testament was written almost 100 years after Jesus was believed to live. Although a lot of people like to say that Jesus was an enlightened, non-dual teacher, there is no evidence of that. In reality, there is no evidence he said anything attributed to him. I think people like to say that Jesus was some kind of great teacher because it makes them feel more tolerant of other people's sacred delusions.

Dont bow to another human. Being humble means to avoid putting yourself above others. It does not mean to put yourself below others.

First, I will state that I was a self made millionaire by my early thirties if that qualifies me to have an opinion. The real estate market is in a bubble right now. Sit on the cash for a few years. If Silver reaches $7 an oz in the next year or so I would definitely buy. Wait for the real estate to crash and then buy when it bottoms out. I wouldnt be surprised if prices were cut in half over the next 5-6 years.

The universe is expanding exponentially. The further out you get, the faster space is moving away from the observer. At a certain point, space is moving away from us faster than the speed of light. We cannot detect anything past that point but that is not to be interpreted as nothing being there. Furthermore, you are talking about four dimensions in this universe. It would be a huge, unsubstantiated assumption to assert that there are only four dimensions and no other universes.

Sure, why not? As I have progressed on my journey, sex has only gotten better and more intense. I dont know why that would suddenly change course.

You're on the right track. Keep going. You will not find the answer as to what awareness is. Just keep ruling it out what it isnt. You will gradually become acquainted with the truth about what you are.

In the universe, "things" have a "nature". For example, stars, black holes, molecules, atoms, photons, sound, etc all behave in certain ways according to their nature. Furthermore, things behave differently as they evolve. Stars behave one way but once they are black holes, they behave another way. Enlightened individuals behave they way they individually behave according to their nature simply because that is the way it is. Why does light travel at its relative velocity? Because that is just the way it is. Nonduality is true. Duality is also true but at a different level. That is the paradox.

When I went through this, I remember walking outside and it suddenly hit me that my feelings of meaninglessness and the associated dread simply didnt matter. Matter to whom and why? When I realized that, I was done with the dark night. Some things to consider: 1. Just because objective meaning doesnt exist, dont underestimate subjective meaning. If subjective meaning doesnt seem that important, you dont understand your true nature (divinity). 2. I determined my subjective highest values were beauty, love and truth. My purpose was to evolve and continue evolving. This gave me a path with direction. There is a great book on Leo's book list called Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha. It does a great job of explaining the dark night and how to move through it. Heres some more good info - https://alohadharma.com/2011/06/12/the-dark-night/

They are different methods. First, strengthen your concentration meditation (Jhana). That will set the foundation for insight meditation (Vipassana). I would recommend a book called Wisdom Wide and Deep. Its a western version of the Vissudhimagga, which is an ancient buddhist text that details all the basic up to the most advanced techniques, when to do them, how to do them and in what order.

No, its pretty much settled. What makes up sub atomic particles? Nothing.

You are achieving exactly what you are supposed to achieve. Once the thoughts stop, you will see a "kasina" appear before your minds eye, which is basically a light, lights, glittering field, etc. When you see that, focus your attention on the kasina without breaking and it will get more intense. From a technical standpoint, that will lead to deeper Jhana absorbtion and you will be able to reach deeper jhanas. Once you have mastered the concentration methods, that will set the foundation for deep insight (vipassana) meditation. You can get more information from a book called Wisdom Wide and Deep, which is basically a westernized version of the Vissudhimagga, which is a large ancient Buddhist text that contains very advanced techniques.

I used to have nightmares. When I fully accepted my own inevitable death, they ended. If you dont fear death, what is there to fear? Once that happened, instead of running from people that were trying to kill me, I remember turning around and brutally cutting them all to pieces with a sword. After that, I never had another nightmare.

Yes, its called mate-guarding. Its common behavior among many species of apes. You are hard-wired for it.

Because the ego sees those truths as a threat. Dissolve the ego and you wont care anymore.

The brain creates thoughts and feelings but what is aware of those thoughts and feelings? Unlike most people that are drawn to spirituality, I was not one of those that naturally felt empathy. There have been times in my life that I have wondered if I was on the spectrum of psychopathy. Feeling empathy is merely an experience created by the brain, as you pointed out. The intention to embody love is different than feeling love. What I found is that if I cultivate the intention to embody love, it seems to help cultivate feelings of love. Brain scans were given to buddhist monks that have been practicing loving-kindness meditation for decades and they found their brains were structured quite differently than non-meditators. The speculation is that the brain restructures itself through neuroplasticity. The True Self is beyond experiences, feelings and thoughts.

If you havent had any mystical experiences and psychedelics are not on your radar, I would suggest deepening your meditation and broadening your skills. That will definitely produce mystical experiences. It sounds like you have already made some great progress but maybe have stalled. Wisdom Wide and Deep is a book that is basically the ancient Buddhist Vissuddhimagga for the Western mind that is complete with the most advanced meditation techniques. Deepen your Jhana (concentration meditation) absorbtions and you will enter new realms. After mastering the Jhanas, it sets the foundation for extremely profound and transformative Vipassana insights. The insights will show you nothingness, emptiness, impermanence, etc. Spend the next decade mastering that book and it will lead to enlightenment. I like studying Buddhism for the techniques and Advaita Vedanta for evolution of the Atman and heart. Without the development of the heart, spiritual development seems dry with something important missing. To me, the evolution of the heart results in bringing love and beauty to others and being an instrument that the universe/Brahman/God can use for their evolution. Untangle your attachments Accept your aversions Surrender Once you have purified yourself to a certain point and surrendered, you will find the universe/God moving through you.

What would the Buddha, or other enlightened people, do if they had a mom that nagged them? The passage into adulthood is not complete if mommy still has that kind of power.