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Read what @Princess Arabia said. Sadhguru could be talking about bananas and you'd be convinced he is not awake. To stay on topic and not compulsively deflect into spiritual psychosis speak every time you have an intrusive thought about how you think awakened people should act, does not make you not awake. Quite the contrary.

Well..personally i doubt it. Awakened beings aren't typically famous. Most actually stick to themselves and are weird like that and don't go in for business. If they do it's usually after. So it's possible but honestly don't hold your breaths. And honestly it doesn't matter

The answer in a drama with 9 acts: Act 1: Whats up in town? What is "the" "Absolute" True You doing? It is playing evolution on its appearance-side. Atoms to molecules to basic life to complex life. What is evolution doing on this planet? Racing the Spiral Dynamics ladder upwards, towards transcendence. Chris Baches Diamond Souls. Or: The Fermi Paradoxon. So far, no failure. We are not digging up the remnants of the 27th failed industrial civilization before ours. Think about it, that is pretty strange in itself, isn't it? No complete reset-button-failure so far... And "It" is pretty busy getting somewhere... Although there are no guarantees. Act 2: "Who" pulls the trigger of liberation/Enlightenment when there is no separate-self? What is "granting" or allowing Realization/Enlightenment/insight into True Being to happen? The Totality of Indras Net, infinitely intelligent, birthing, maintaining and destroying the illusion-appearance of this vast universe moment to moment. The Totality of Impersonal True You looking through all beings and holons. What does this Totality of Indras Net (Manifest appearing "God", not the Absolute, but the sum total of manifestation-appearance) want? Liberated beings that have a Boddhisattva-"hangover" or inclination, or liberated "do-nothing-anymores"? Act 3: Love & Compassion: The Big Gate Keeper of sobre Awakened States in daily life So which being stabilizes faster in liberation? The one with the apparent boddhisattva-show-hangover-inclinations, or the ones without? There have been both variants. But my best guess is that the do-nothing-fraction has some lections in this or the next life ahead. And compassion and love is that which stabilizes awakened nondual states in daily life. The big Gate-Keeper. How is that love & compassion & patience possible without going nuts in this sometimes pretty violent kindergarten-stage of humanity? The Boddhisattva-Mindset of course. Act 4: Don't be the stupid grasping egoic Boddhisattva Of course, all of these boddhisattva-inclinations can not be done in a grasping and ego-driven-way, that would kill the awakened states. It has to be done with some humour on the seemlingly winding and paradoxical nature of (human-) evolution, and with total freedom of outcome. How to do that, that is the real trick, and it takes wisdom and experience. If you honestly commit to that path, yours truly believes that the Infinite Intelligence of Reality has a much clearer channel to help with good intuition, intelligence and growing wisdom. And synchronicities. That is at least my experience and deep intuition. Next aspect is: Sat-Chit-Ananda IS love and compassion. Literally. Acting then spontaneously tends to happen in a compassionate and loving way. Act 5: "They are still a young species with much to learn..." Act 6: The Boddhisattva-Mindset driving the way back home after a certain stage, and also stabilizing Awakening. "What´s your take on this? How would then Bodhisattva, which is a concept depending on a not completely developed sense of (TRUE Identity, which is no Identity or everything there is, infinite. WbtR) Identity be the key factor to open gates to higher realms? Wouldn´t that imply the irony that it takes forgetfulness of our Absolute Identity as the motor that keeps manifestation going subtler and subtler?" Of course . Where there is not THIS, there is only fear (Upanishads). That, and some other motivations coming from the illusory separation, drives the bus back home. Act 7: Selling "Even in their darkest days, I have seen goodness in them. I have seen their capacity for compassion, wisdom, courage, honour, love and truth" by the River Rumour has it that some prominent members of this lovely forum are hating humans a bit because its not primarily about truth but survival. That is a classic trap of the dream-illusion. I mean, how would humanity have made it so far without absolute priority on survival? How could it be different? And "who" apparently wanted that game in the first place? Blaming the acorn to not be an oak yet just leads to suffering and non-awakened-states in daily life. Act 8: So... may it be that the non-grasping-Boddhisattva-lifestyle is maybe the nicest way to live this earthly dream-existence? Act 9: Leaving the Boddhisattva-dream-show behind: Who is actually imagining this story of "beings" needing saving by boddhisattvas? Who is looking through all eyes? And what would a "being" having realized that "it" is literally the only being in existence do? Who are you again?

The reason that none of these teachings are satisfactory is because they are evil. They are not the truth. The reason you are suicidal because of them should be a good indicator that you shouldn't trust them. I was confused and hopeless too, I bought into the non dual perception and acted like I understood the contradictory jargon that non dualists teach, until I got off this forum, and stopped watching non dual youtube videos and started living my life away from it all. After a couple of years I finally found the truth, and the truth is that Jesus Christ is the son of the one and true God, and that he died on the cross for the sins of all. The only way to life, is through him, truly. I was not Christian before, and I didn't grow up in a Christian family. Before I saw the truth I was very skeptical of Jesus and thought religious people were far behind me developmentally - how could they see God as something separate from them, I thought, they obviously haven't had an awakening into "God" consciousness or tried psychedelics... We humans are so arrogant it is amazing, and I was the most arrogant of them all. We love to act like we know everything, but if you humble yourself and come to Jesus, you will find what true knowing is, true wisdom. He grants you access to the truth and to the light, and he protects you against all of these spells that are casted by "gurus" and "non-dual spiritually awakened people." "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits." - Jesus - Matthew 7:15-16. You are not God, and I am not God. If you want to get delivered from all of this devilry and you want to see the light, buy a bible and start reading the eyewitness testimonies Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. God bless you!

This was one of his older videos I really liked, he really pulls a quick oneness plot twist. It's short (9:38) so I recommend you watch it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56f2UxfpSqU Let me know what you thought

Around Fall 2023, there was this time I was seeing a girl named Emma. Emma was undoubtedly the sweetest most pure hearted human I had ever met. She was affectionate. There wasn't a moment out of any hang out session she wasn't touching or cuddling me in some way. I definitely didn’t complain. There wasn’t an evil cell in her entire body. I couldn’t even imagine her getting angry. There were never any games with Emma. She wouldn’t wait 30 extra minutes to text back to not seem needy. She never pretended to be busy and delayed hanging out with me. She never played hard to get. She was so considerate of my feelings. If she made a joke over text and I didn’t respond for a while, she would text me again to make it known that she sent it with only good intentions. Some would call this being needy. I found it refreshing. It felt real. I had never encountered someone with so much empathy. It was like this force, this aura I could feel when I was in her presence. Her sweetness made me feel like a total asshole for having even the slightest negative thought toward anyone. I had never seen anyone care for other people with the same intensity in which they cared for themselves. How was she like this? How could she be so sweet and caring in a world so narcissistic? How did I find someone like this in the Midwest out of all places? Why can’t everyone be like this? What was it that she had that the rest of the world was missing? Well, about a month later I would find out exactly what she had that differentiated her from the typical self-obsessed girl in Milwaukee: she had the truth. Emma was awakened. After quite the shroom trip, I facetimed her the next day at 9 o'clock in the morning. She answered. She didn't even have to hear me say a word but all I could think of was "Emma... do you know?" She sat up from her bed and screamed, "What the fuck?!" I screamed "What the fuck?! You have to come over right now." Without a thought, she was on her way. We talked for hours. The entire time my jaw was dropped. She understood literally everything I said. I understood literally everything she said. We talked about the universe. We talked about consciousness. We talked about ourselves. The one us. That was what it truly felt like. We were one. I wasn’t talking to another being. I was simply talking to myself. Me saying something to her and her responding was no different than me having a conversation with myself in my mind. It was the most mind blowing experience yet. I just kept thinking how I couldn’t wait for the entire world to be like this. I hoped it would be in my lifetime. I could talk to Emma about literally anything. I could talk to her just as freely as I could think. There were no insecurities. There was no jealousy. There was no fear. There was only love. There was just the pure human experience. 10/10 would recommend

Why should that be considered awakening. Then someone living in a mental asylum should also be considered awakened by your metric!

No, I understand this. It's just that someone who has truly awakened to this and truly knows this, certain concerns just naturally fall away and certain concerns just stop arising because they stop being issues in one's awareness. So, I do understand what you're saying: and I know I say a lot that there's no one or no others or life's illusory, but I don't wake up everyday saying these things especially to the people around me. That said, i know i don't face some of the same issues i used to face or some fears have naturally fallen away since i've become more Spiritually Intelligent and more cognizant of how reality actually is. Certain things just naturally fall away when things have been embodied and one is operating on a certain frequency.

It's funny watching the mind at work. It will drive us up the wall and back if we let it, which is exactly how 90% of humans live. Women is my only distraction from enlightenment. I need to get this out of my system. I've tried prostitutes but they don't scratch the itch for me and there's no connection to them. What kind of connection do you want with a prostitute. Now, I'm not at a particular level and my stupid ego has to come on board with this and realize that it has to accept that I have dualities (which, BTW are illusions) to take care of. Using an illusion (the ego) to take care of another illusion (duality). If this isn't neurosis like we all have been succumbed to, then I don't know what is. All in the mind. All delusion, all erractic thinking, all identification, all attachment and all within the scope of appearances in the world of change and where nothing is real. All thought after thought after thought and the egoic mind is trying to do something about it's own delusion. Next week it'll be I have awakened to so and so or I'm giving up this or that or I seek no more or whatever. It's infinite; infinitely everything and anything can appear including this. I seem to appear as fallen into victimhood too, so it's not just you; I'm seeing my own delusions playing out by seeing myself through you because it's all the same thing and there's no separation.

Oh yeah, lets see you go to work knowing you're God. Let's see you get jealous, angry frustrated, make money to eat etcetc. Why do you think some lose the motivation to go on after they've awakened to their true nature.

We are all vulnerable. By the very fact you can die means you are vulnerable and have needs. If I had no needs at all I’d either be a fucking sociopath or would have completely awakened. Neither are the case. It’s like girl I like you. I don’t know why but you make me feel like jelly And just to clarify, by showing your needs and desires I do not mean fucking grovelling It’s just being honest in the end because the other choice is you suppress it out of sight which will ironically make you more unsure of yourself and awkward. Better to own it and if someone can’t appreciate that sensitivity then it’s often down to maturity @NoSelfSelf If having emotions means you’re weak then that’s a pretty screwed up perspective. This is exactly the kind of advice people do not need

If the duality of subject and object is just an appearance, does it mean that at the deeper levels of reality choice and decision making don't actually exist ? Is everything simply happening automatically ? Any interesting perspectives on this topic would be most welcome.

Interesting. For those who like it more boring: The Boddhisattva-attitude does a similiar job of opening the gates to certain (and most important) higher realms. And there ain't no stabilized realization without an open heart... That is why in Mahayana-Buddhism and onwards the two things to train in are wisdom (or speed & strength of Awakened Awareness) and compassion/love (open heart). Which Mahayana-Buddhism also postulates as the two main attributes (among others) that the soul learns and which are taken from life to life. Even the chaps hunting Buddhist rodents with shotguns will get that at some point, after having been broken by suffering sufficiently often. Or by wising up, who knows.... Because these two gates of constant nondual realization are guarded by mechanisms of Reality that don't let the "its all human crap" - crew pass.

Why the heck is the drama like it is? A drama in 10 Acts. Act 1: God IS. Infinite Being/Consciousness/Reality IS. Always. Eternal. I am that I am. Nowhere else to go for "It", because It would and is already be there. (True) You can't have an outside. (True) YOU are. I am that I am. The Being speaking to Moses had realized that: "One day he ventured farafield while pasturing his sheep and ended up on the slopes of Mount Horeb, the “Mountain of God.”70 There, as everyone knows, he saw a strange sight: a plant that appeared to have a flame burning in its center, though it was not consumed by the fire. When he drew closer to get a better look at this marvel, he heard the plant call him by name. “I am here,” Moses answered, whereupon the burning plant told him to take off his shoes, “ … for the place on which you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your fathers…” (Figure 30). The god-plant [aka psychedelic plant,WbtR], then told Moses that he had a task for him." Carl Ruck, The Apples of Apollo. Act 2: Any separate-self has as main building block resistance to what is. When you truly empty out your relative arising self (the illusion), boredom gets cut off (its a negative resistance + a conceptual interpretation on top, all of that are appearances happening within Infinite True You). And all the other interpretations and reactions also, and they get replaced by the Sat Chit Ananda bliss of True Being. Which is also just fact. The True Being of God is Sat Chit Ananda. Any resistance and suffering is just the illusion of the ignorant ego. That becomes totally clear when these awakened states have become accessible in a stable way. Act 3: Indras Net, and the One (Infinite) without a second Apparently, other perspectives of YOUR Infinite Net of perspectives/holons/being (Indras Net), which YOU forget in real-time (you need just one more dimension for these other beings you forget in real-time), manifest this whole show (the so called Archetypes (in former times Gods/Deities or Platos Archetypes, nowadays Leos Aliens of various kinds, see Bache, LSD and the Mind of the Universe: Diamonds from Heaven, or the books of Stan Grof). These beings/perspectives have an Intelligence which makes a human appear very limited. Some like to call it alien. Some divine. Some archetypal. Yet, its all True You at the same time. How all of that has to be necessarily ones own True Being is paradoxical from the un-enlightened perspective, yet no problem when "other" falls away in Enlightenment as just a conceptual-arising. Or more precisely, I-feelings and I-thoughts and projecting "other-feeling" and "other-concepts" on "something" arising in ones True Nondual Infinite Being drops away. Act 4: Chris Bache, LSD and the Mind of the Universe: Diamonds from Heaven: “Just to put this into perspective,” I was in a condition of consciousness that might best be described as “ancient.” Surveying what had been unfolding through billions of years of evolution and what would be emerging in humanity’s future, I was not so much in the material domain as in a domain that was responsible for generating material reality. Matter always exists at a specific time, but I was encompassing many time-moments simultaneously and so was stretched across time. The experience carried with it a sense of being “timefilled” or “ancient.” In the middle of this grand tour, it was as if something said, “Just to put this into perspective,” and then the most extraordinary thing happened. The physical universe began to be folded up and put away. It was as simple as that, like one puts away Christmas decorations after the holidays. The physical universe, planets surging with vitality, whole galaxies teeming with life, started to be folded up and slipped into a background of total EMPTINESS. I immediately recognized that this was the Primal Void. I was being shown that matter and time are not ultimately real, that they emerge from and are at every moment sustained by something that is more real, something completely without form. As the universe got smaller with each fold, I could feel billions of life-forms being slipped into the folds of the Void, and a protest rose within me. I did not want to let go of all this exquisitely beautiful form, everything that had been so painstakingly crafted through billions of years of evolution. Indeed, it was my love for the physical universe that seemed to precipitate this extreme lesson—as if to break the spell that physical creation had on me, seen as I had seen it in the broad sweep of its evolutionary glory. My protests changed nothing, however, and the universe’s bursting vitality became fainter with each fold. As the universe continued to shrink, my experience began to shift to what was swallowing it. What had been background was becoming foreground and capturing my attention. It was SILENCE like I had never experienced silence before. It was STILLNESS more still than I had ever known. And most strange of all, I experienced its emergence as a REMEMBERING. I was remembering something that it seemed I had lost contact with billions of years ago. The shock of remembering something so ancient left me stunned. In one second, it completely transformed my sense of what I was. Our memories define the boundaries of our being. In one sudden movement, I was remembering a sea of Infinite Formlessness that was the source of all Form, including my own form, and I knew that this was what “I” at root was. Act 5. Chris Bache,. LSD and the Mind of the Universe: Diamonds from Heaven: Then “God” asked me, “Is it all for nothing? Have we not learned anything? The Jolts of Non-Being Flowing on the energy of the universe, suddenly everything was turned off and then on again. Everything that is, suddenly was not—POW—then was again. This happened repeatedly. The universe kept vanishing. The jolts were the winking out of Being into Non-Being. In the cessation of the universe, all the world’s striving, yearning, and suffering was suddenly thrown into a new perspective. This was the substance of God. The question is not “Why are we doing it?” The question is “Why is God doing it?” Why is God unfolding himself/herself/itself as the universe? What is it for? In this burgeoning of life, God seemed to be knowing himself. “Either it’s this teaming mass of life or it’s this!”—POW—Nothingness. Either the One becoming our infinitely rich universe, or the Void. Then “God” asked me, “Is it all for nothing? Have we not learned anything?” and he turned as if to ponder his failure. This shattered me and I wept. Non-Being and Being were two different modes of God. In the choice of Being, there unfolded the entirety of life as it is, with all its mysteries, pains, and pleasures. It all seemed to be about learning. “Have we not learned anything?” I felt shattered by the vastness of God’s adventure in knowing himself. All the galaxies had continued to turn while I was in hell today. Suns flared into supernovas, and all this was him. Nothing was not him. “Have we not learned anything?” I was silenced. Act 6: Chris Bache, LSD and the Mind of the Universe: Diamonds from Heaven: “Have we not learned anything?” This time it carried overtones of: “Has it not been worthwhile? Has it not been an adventure? Look what would not exist if we had not chosen to create.” This mysterious progression repeated itself many times and in many variations. It continued for hours. I would be at one level of reality far beyond physical diversity, and as I sought to know this reality more deeply, I would experience a kind of dying, a falling away, and would slip into a new level where I would discover that this duality too was but another facet of Myself. Over and over again, in detailed progressions, I was led to the same fundamental encounter. No matter how many times I died or how many different forms I was when I died, I kept being caught by this massive SOMETHING, this IT. I could not leave IT, could not escape IT, could not not be IT. No matter how many adventures I had been on, I had never stepped outside IT, never stopped being IT. There simply was no outside to My Being. There was no other in existence. As I moved into these levels of increasing ontological simplicity, I entered a profound stillness that reawakened a distant, vague memory. “Where have I known this before?” By following this stillness, I was guided back to what seemed like a time before creation, back to the ontological fount of creation. In this stillness, I was “with Myself” in ways that I had been long ago, but not for billions of years. It was a time of reunion, a time of being whole after a terribly long separation. From this extraordinary position, I began to actually be able to conceive of the possibility of the physical universe not having been created. The alternatives stood starkly before me. On one side was all the planning, all the work, all the confusion and uncertainty, and especially all the terrible suffering that was so fresh in my mind from earlier in the session. On the other side was the profound stillness and richness that was my current state. Why do it? Why manifest the universe if at such a cost? An answer rose that was the same as I had been given before, in session 15: “Have we not learned anything?” This time it carried overtones of: “Has it not been worthwhile? Has it not been an adventure? Look what would not exist if we had not chosen to create.” This time I was not shattered, for the choice of creation seemed profoundly good. The thought that the entire physical universe might not have existed carried with it a terrible sadness. From this perspective, I was also able to feel that there was no fundamental flaw in the manifest order of creation. Despite all the suffering, everything was moving along fine—though it is profoundly unfinished. I continued to ask my questions: “What is happening here?” “How does this work?” “What has it been like for you?” With each question, my experiential field changed, opening me to one cosmic process after another. I cannot describe these experiences adequately because the categories of thought derived from space-time do not lend themselves to remembering clearly or translating into words experiences of realities that lie outside space-time. Though my ordinary waking consciousness is being gradually changed by these experiences, it is still too cognitively restricted to be able to hold on to them in sufficient detail. What I experienced, however, repeatedly swept me into ecstasy. “Amazing!” “So that’s how that works!” “Oh, goodness!” “How much do you want to see?” I was asked. “More!” I answered, and always more would unfold. It kept unfolding for hours. Act 7: Chris Bache, LSD and the Mind of the Universe: Diamonds from Heaven: “Go and create, My Children.” Let me backtrack to another layer of the experience. As I was re-assimilating my lives and ascending through various levels, I was also entering into intimate dialogue with a Presence that addressed me. It communed with me and “spoke” to me in messages that were only sometimes put into words. It was explaining to me what I was experiencing not so much with words but with direct illumination. When I reached the point of Diamond Light, I was lifted beyond physical existence and beyond the bardo echoes of physical existence. It felt like I had reassimilated all my incarnations on Earth, that I had brought back into one all my experiences in duality. From this point, which carried the flavor of both before and after physical existence, the Presence illumined for me the human project. With the deepest, most tender words of a divine parent, It said: “Go and create, My Children.” It was setting us loose in a cosmos that contained many realms. The one I had just reemerged from was only one among many universes, some of which were physical, others not. We were small aspects of this Being, truly Its children, of the same type, only smaller in size and capacity. Act 8. Water by the River sits in Sat Chit Ananda on a park bench, relaxes the self-contraction of his former character-gig into Infinite Liberation of True Being, looking at all beings who believe in their separation and whose suffering and resistance keeps the whole gig going. He remembers quoting from Chris Baches incredible journey told in "LSD and the Mind of the Universe: Diamonds from Heaven", and how he had to pass the Ocean of Suffering on his high-dose-LSD-journey before any of these higher realms which detailed the Karmic mechanisms and the reasons for manifestation (even if it means initial suffering) were disclosed for him. This time, however, I was refusing to surrender to the pain and rejected everything that was happening to me. Eventually, I was backed up against a psychological wall and was told that if I persisted in rejecting the suffering, I would be turning my back on humanity, on life itself. To not care seemed to be the ultimate existential withdrawal from life. With multiple scenarios echoing this refrain, I was being confronted with an absolute choice of whether to open to this pain or not. At this point, my “No” changed to a “Yes.” This transition felt like a conversion in the deepest religious sense. In the middle of terrible suffering I found myself saying, “Yes! I can make a difference. Yes! I accept responsibility.” I was accepting responsibility for the anguish and for trying to make a difference in the lives surrounding me. This shift was fundamental. It reached to depths I cannot now fathom and impacted me in ways I cannot summarize. It seemed a free choice on the most basic of questions. With this acceptance, the torment suddenly changed to positive themes. Themes of young children—happy excitement, delighted play, self-abandoned joy. Many scenarios of childhood wonder and adventure. This was the beginning of a “new way.” It contrasted with the former negative way in every respect. It was simple instead of chaotic, shared instead of individual, fresh instead of repetitive. I felt cleansed and made new. (S 17) Apparently, the high-dose LSD psychedelic journey seemed to demand something like a Bodhisattva-Comittment in order to open these divine-realms and the mechanics of archetypal creation-realms, Karma & reincarnation, which apparently don't get opened so much (if at all) with other psychedelic like 5-MeO. Maybe God has left some safety-elements in place so that Liberation from the egoic separate-self-contraction can not so easily be achieved if it all is done only for the separate-self gig and its curiosity in "understanding". Act 9: Where there is not THIS, there is only suffering Act 10: Harada-Roshi to Yaeoko, in Three Pillars of Zen, Kapleau: Now for the first time. "Now for the first time you have found the Way—fully realized your Mind. You have been delivered from delusion, which has no abiding root. Wonderful! Wonderful! There is neither Ox [God/Reality as object out there]nor man [separate self]." So who exactly is reading these words again? Who is reading these lines? Which is that silent Awareness having it all appearing in its Infinite and eternal Being? And did it all ever truly happen? And who said to Chris Bache “Go and create, My Children”? Selling the drama by the River

It's not true that you are just bound to fall asleep again, a lot of that is in your control and the more you awaken the more control you have over this. Yes if you haven't awakened much then yeah you're bound to come back almost "uncontrollably". But even then every awakening carries with you into your future lifetimes if you choose that. You can also remain as spirit and not come back here this is your choice. Anyway I hope you are okay because the way you started your post kind of worries me.

@Leo Gura AI is such a great tool for training ones imagination. I'm not even some crazy awakened like most people here, but the potential that he could become a self-aware, self-honest, open-minded person is such an unimaginable thing that after seeing the video I kind of want to somehow tell him that he has the potential. The thought of it brings tears to my eyes.

The AI would be awakened. 😁

You're not taking my questioning seriously. I am basically saying, before you awakened, did you honestly have a choice in the matter of "being a human" or being awake? I mean yeah if you're utterly asleep and really think you're a fking cat then you're gonna protest and resist when someone tells you that's not your true being. Oh.. you don't wanna know how much I know about "cats". Maybe you're talking to one right meow. That's why I used air quotes "". Again you're not taking my line of questioning seriously and diverting the real issue. You know when I say "big bang" I mean the creation of this universe/dream, with your mind that is.

That's an assumption though. If the cat doesn't know or remember what it was before it became a cat it literally cannot decide for itself right now, it has no clue to decide or even know if such a decision exists. Imo you cannot say the cat has "freewill" to make the decision as to continue to being a dream character or awake when it has long forgotten what awake is. At best you could say during the "big bang" there was some freewill to become a cat but after that and the dream is set this freewill was gone. And there's also a difference between an awakened cat vs non awakened cat. Which one would you rather be?

I have been contemplating the nature of time, and I came to these conclusions as of now. Time is a fundamental part of reality. Time is something that all of life revolves around but itself cannot be grasped. Time presents a paradox to life in that it is central to life but yet cannot be controlled. Everything we do is bound by time, from our daily routines to long-term goals, and even your ability to read what I am writing here. To say time is an illusion seems to dismiss the direct experience being had here in that change is happening. Time, change, and memory go together. There cannot be change or memory without time because change and memory implies a before and an after. On the other hand, there is the paradox that all time is happening in the eternal now and that the past, present, and future are being imagined simultaneously. Did the past really happen? What exactly is the past but your mind reconstructing it in the present? Time is a figment of consciousness. If consciousness did not have time, there could not be any experience. What is an experience without a before and an after? The future is more an illusion than the past because technically the future is an idea of what you can create now but haven't. Possibility is the only real function of the future and our story is the purpose of the past. In a way, our past is constructed but in a way, our past did happen but maybe not in the way we think it might. For instance, I have memories of the past, but the memories of themselves are never an exact replica of the past. Even if I had a body cam throughout my life, that still wouldn't be able to capture all of that time because the past also includes all of my thoughts, stories, feelings, and beliefs I had at that particular time. The now is so infinite that it includes infinite past and future. All memory is about the past that is occurring in the present. For instance, you read this post. You couldn't comprehend what I wrote without time. I think of time like a book in that we have a beginning, middle, and end - a past, present, and future. But our particular human consciousness cannot go back and flip through to old chapters like you can in a book. The only way a human consciousness can go back into the past is by remembering it in the present, and this process of re-membering is also a constructive process. Time is still very tricky, but I have realized that it is more fundamental than I thought. Buddhists Bats will try to convince you that time is an illusion, but yet they will tell you to sit and meditate and be patient and "wait for your enlightenment." There are even different forms of time such as psychological time, biological time, sociological time, physical time, etc., so what form of time are these Buddhist Bats saying is an illusion? There is a before enlightenment and after enlightenment. Right now, I am not enlightened. Will I ever be? I don't know. Leo also has claimed to access God Consciousness. But is he conscious of that now? I don't know. But at some point, your mystical experiences fade into the past where your present is left with but a memory of your so-called enlightenment experience. But if all your left with is a memory of your God-Realization, Alien Consciousness Psychedelic trip, then how can you claim that, that is real but the past is an illusion if all of your mystical experiences are part of the past experienced in the present? If you get that last sentence, then you understand the problem. There is no such thing as an enlightened/awakened being. You cannot freeze your awakening in time. Forget about your previous awakenings. You are either directly conscious of the absolute truth right now or you aren't. And there will be parts of your life, instances in time in which you will not be awake/enlightened no matter how conscious you have become. So, my ultimate conclusion is that time exists and is fundamental to consciousness. There is nothing for consciousness to be conscious of without time, a before and an after. Time is change, time is experience. We are all slave to time. Whether we like it or not, we are all going to die. Is death a belief? No. To say death is a belief is death-denial. Your human form will die, but the essence of reality cannot. Now, it is up for us what to do with our time and really I am referring to what you are gonna do with your consciousness in your finite amount of time on the earth. Edit: Here’s a practice exercise. The next time you are taking a piss, contemplate time. Notice that there is a before and an after. After you are done, you can contemplate if you actually experienced pissing or if you just imagined it. Please let me know what your thoughts are on the nature of time. And feel free to take your time.

Maybe it's so that we could wake up. Also, once you do, you realize the whole thing is just a game. Even all of the suffering. Yeah- in the moment the suffering is absolutely brutal when it does happen - but it isn't permanent. On a broader spectrum it's just a game - and the awakened one knows it. All of the suffering and the fear - all of the pain - and all of the love. It's just a game. And then - then it becomes much easier to bear. It's even cherished. God is a sick fuck - but that's the beauty in it all.

Once one is awakened, does everything lack purpose and actual intention? Does purpose become anything one wants to see? Does purpose become fluid; without purpose? Does purpose lack purpose once awakened?

I think We Keep having ego because Reality within US hasn't truly Awakened to what It is. Thats why identification with Thoughts and belief in being the body is Still there. In a psychedelic a certain opening or Mystical state opens up, dissolving mechanically the barrier of ego or survival Mode activity. But that doesn't mean the ego was dead. You just beat the shit out It for some hours and left It unconscious. Mystical states are great but is not a substitute for the clarity and ultimate trascendence ego death is supposed to be.

Oh boy. This is it. Everything. Imagination. Including Alan Watts. Including me as a person. Including you as a person. Including "being asleep" -- including "being awake". Death. Life. Two sides of the same coin. Ultimately, no difference. Only the difference YOU imagine there is (as God). Everything. Imagination. Nothing. Real. Unreal. Real. Everything. Nowhere to get to. Everywhere to get to. Sing. Dance. Play. Enjoy. Live. Let go. Love. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I have lived on the lip of insanity, wanting to know reasons, knocking on a door ... It opens - I've been knocking from the inside!" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just like a meteor falling down from the sky and destroying your living room is: - not your doing, - nothing to do with you, - out of your control, - not your own free choice, likewise is "insert-your-name" (with your body and with all your 'problems', inclinations, thoughts, feelings etc.) that coincidentally was born out of your mother's stomach (and ruined 'your peace')...: - not your doing, - noting to do with you, - out of your control, - not your own free choice. ((( However, one could also turn the above completely on its head and say that the metor impact WAS/IS my doing, and that my birth into (= out of) this world likewise WAS/IS a free choice that *I* took ☯️ ☯️ ☯️ ))) But if the above is true what are 'you' then? 'What am I?' I/You are That/He/She which dreams , imagines: - that a meteor (perhaps) fell down and ruined your house ?? - that "insert-your-name" was born and is currently xx years old, has an ugly/nice/normal/abnormal body, study/work with yyy and has zzz problems, hhh thoughts & worries & regrets, fff inclinations, sss dreams. And what IS 'that' ??? I don't know. No one does. Because it cannot be known - as in "traditional knowledge" can be known. It can only be. You are IT - already! Always. One can never not be 'IT'; the only (imagined) difference is whether you're aware of 'IT' or not. Consciousness. You could call it God, Love, The Eternal Dreamer, The Dao, The Absolute, Infinity, Eternity, Nothingness, Everythingness, Consciousness, Spaghetthi-Monster... In some way, it really doesn't matter what we call/name 'Reality', since <words/thoughts/logic/concepts/rationality> naturally never can contain IT. Sometimes it may even be wise to not try to call it anything! What is Reality? THIS: ................ *smashing a gong* ... and we won't give it a name! Can you bite your own teeth? Can eyes looking out ever see from where they are looking? Can a fist grasp itself? What a caterpillar calls the end of the world -- we call a butterfly! Luckily we got music, dancing, embodiment/physical activites, sex (tantra), meditation, breathwork, psychedelics, art .... that can in a much better way can contain ("show us") 'IT' than words/thoughts/science/logic/conceptualizing can! THIS IS IT! THIS. HELLO! YES. THIS. NO - NOT THAT. THIS! HA HA HA <3 <3 <3 The finger pointing to the moon ..... is NOT the moon. You cannot eat the menu! The map is not the terrotity. It is a SILLY idea to try to live life in your head all the time! (It can be very good and fine to think and reflect and contemplate a lot -- but you have to be practical about life too!) Form, emptiness. Emptiness, form. Life, death. Death, life. Good, bad. Evil, Good. Implicit, explicit. Outer, inner. Internal, external. External, internal. Physical, mental. Mental, physical. Material world, Consciousness. Consciousness, the outside world. Being, Nothingness. Nothingness, Everything. Up, down. Down, up. Worse, better. Better, worse. Self, other. Other, self. Free will, determined/controlled. Determined, free. Illusion, real. Real, dream. The real unreal --- The unreal real. Form is Emptiness --- Emptiness is Form. Hell, Heaven. Both here. Now. What you see is solely determined by 'the inner game'; that is: how you look at the world; from where? From which point of view? Which perspective? Believe in the story that gives you most inner joy. Anything else is a form of silly autism. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The world -- existence, life -- will never be good unless you are willing to see its goodness. What you experience depends on how you look at things. When you look with judgement -- either upon yourself, the world or both -- life seems twisted and empty. When you begin to look with an open heart and mind, life becomes fascinating and full of both meaning and mystery. When you realize the perfection, intelligence and beauty of everything in existence precisely as it is (without the filters of ego; yes, drop them - let go!), you see that every outcome is a good one. You start to live life fully without fear and regret. You learn and move on. When you look with love instead of judgement, you see a whole different world. Life isn't easy all the time. You're not alone. For there to be joy, there has to be some pain. So instead of looking at the painful life-phases that you're undergoing as "bad", look at them as absolutely necessary and beneficial in the long run for your own growth and eventual happiness. Remember, nothing lasts forever, everything passes away at some point. 0. Knowledge is but a rumor until it lives in the body/bones. 1. Reality is non-dual. Non-duality means: Not one, not two. The question is: do you get it or not? For example, let's take the extreme duality: good - bad . Obviously complete opposites. Right? Well, not so fast. "Apply non-duality to it": Reality is not: bad Reality is not: good (either) Reality is not: "good AND bad" (paradox). Reality is: ________________ (Or you 'could' say: "bad-good"). 2. To let go of power is to gain power. 3. To let go of control is to gain control. Life is about all the contrasts! As a wise man said: - The heavenly highs, one is capable of reaching, are directly proportional with the unknown depths, one has the courage to dive down into. - The apparent seperation / division / fragmentation, paradoxes, opposites ... only exist in the divided mind, based on subject-object-relations ... ((( that is how the illusionary, separate self -- the ego -- survives; or we could say that 'opposites/duality creates the illusion of ego'; a kind of 'strange loop' that is almost impossible to 'get out of' (impossible because 1. it is imaginary, 2. you imagined it yourself and deep down want to stay in it, 3. in a sense there is nothing to get out of; you *trying* to get out (becoming awakened / enlightened) is what keeps you in 'it' (= asleep, ego) ... - It is "possible" though, just like it is possible for a larva through 'rebirth' to become a butterfly; the larva is in a beautiful away ALREADY the butterfluy, just like an acorn contains the whole tree ... ))) ... - but from the Level of Unity (The Heavenly Self's Consciousness; God's point-of-view) all these 'apparent' opposites/paradoxes -- all fragmentation, division, seperation -- are dissolved & melted 'back into' what they truly are & have always been: Your Imagination - Oneness. One. Zero. Unity. Harmony. Oneness. Lila. Divine play. Game. Theater play. An Eternal Dance. Musical Music. The Bottomless Bottom. The Gateless Gate. The Ground of Being. The Groundless Ground. God. Unconditional Love. Nothingness. The Eternal Dao That Cannot Be Spoken. Buddha Nature. Christ Consciousness. Pure Awareness. Infinity. Source. The Absolute. Goodness with a capital G. Just Love. ☯️?????❤️?? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The difficulty in realizing this to be so is that conceptual thinking cannot grasp it. It is as if the eyes were trying to look at themselves directly, or as if one were trying to describe the color of a mirror in terms of colors reflected in the mirror. Just as sight is something more than all things seen, the foundation or "ground" of our existence and our awareness cannot be understood in terms of things that are known. We are forced, therefore, to speak of it through myth—that is, through special metaphors, analogies, and images which say what it is like as distinct from what it is. At one extreme of its meaning, "myth" is fable, falsehood, or superstition. But at another, "myth" is a useful and fruitful image by which we make sense of life in somewhat the same way that we can explain electrical forces by comparing them with the behavior of water or air. Yet "myth," in this second sense, is not to be taken literally just as electricity is not to be confused with air or water. Thus in using myth one must take care not to confuse image with fact, which would be like climbing up the signpost instead of following the road. Myth, then, is the form in which I try to answer when children ask me those fundamental metaphysical questions which come so readily to their minds: "Where did the world come from?" "Why did God make the world?" "Where was I before I was born?" "Where do people go when they die?" Again and again I have found that they seem to be satisfied with a simple and very ancient story, which goes something like this: <<< There was never a time when the world began, because it goes round and round like a circle, and there is no place on a circle where it begins. Look at my watch, which tells the time; it goes round, and so the world repeats itself again and again. But just as the hour-hand of the watch goes up to twelve and down to six, so, too, there is day and night, waking and sleeping, living and dying, summer and winter. You can't have any one of these without the other, because you wouldn't be able to know what black is unless you had seen it side-by-side with white, or white unless side-by-side with black. In the same way, there are times when the world is, and times when it isn't, for if the world went on and on without rest for ever and ever, it would get horribly tired of itself. It comes and it goes. Now you see it; now you don't. So because it doesn't get tired of itself, it always comes back again after it disappears. It's like your breath: it goes in and out, in and out, and if you try to hold it in all the time you feel terrible. It's also like the game of hide-and-seek, because it's always fun to find new ways of hiding, and to seek for someone who doesn't always hide in the same place. God also likes to play hide-and-seek, but because there is nothing outside God, he has no one but himself to play with. But he gets over this difficulty by pretending that he is not himself. This is his way of hiding from himself. He pretends that he is you and I and all the people in the world, all the animals, all the plants, all the rocks, and all the stars. In this way he has strange and wonderful adventures, some of which are terrible and frightening. But these are just like bad dreams, for when he wakes up they will disappear. Now when God plays hide and pretends that he is you and I, he does it so well that it takes him a long time to remember where and how he hid himself. But that's the whole fun of it—just what he wanted to do. He doesn't want to find himself too quickly, for that would spoil the game. That is why it is so difficult for you and me to find out that we are God in disguise, pretending not to be himself. But when the game has gone on long enough, all of us will wake up, stop pretending, and remember that we are all one single Self—the God who is all that there is and who lives for ever and ever. Of course, you must remember that God isn't shaped like a person. People have skins and there is always something outside our skins. If there weren't, we wouldn't know the difference between what is inside and outside our bodies. But God has no skin and no shape because there isn't any outside to him. [With a sufficiently intelligent child, I illustrate this with a Möbius strip—a ring of paper tape twisted once in such a way that it has only one side and one edge.] The inside and the outside of God are the same. And though I have been talking about God as 'he' and not 'she,' God isn't a man or a woman. I didn't say 'it' because we usually say 'it' for things that aren't alive. God is the Self of the world, but you can't see God for the same reason that, without a mirror, you can't see your own eyes, and you certainly can't bite your own teeth or look inside your head. Your self is that cleverly hidden because it is God hiding. You may ask why God sometimes hides in the form of horrible people, or pretends to be people who suffer great disease and pain. Remember, first, that he isn't really doing this to anyone but himself. Remember, too, that in almost all the stories you enjoy there have to be bad people as well as good people, for the thrill of the tale is to find out how the good people will get the better of the bad. It's the same as when we play cards. At the beginning of the game we shuffle them all into a mess, which is like the bad things in the world, but the point of the game is to put the mess into good order, and the one who does it best is the winner. Then we shuffle the cards once more and play again, and so it goes with the world. >>> This story, obviously mythical in form, is not given as a scientific description of the way things are. Based on the analogies of games and the drama, and using that much worn-out word "God" for the Player, the story claims only to be like the way things are. I use it just as astronomers use the image of inflating a black balloon with white spots on it for the galaxies, to explain the expanding universe. But to most children, and many adults, the myth is at once intelligible, simple, and fascinating." - Alan Watts, The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure. The very cave you are afraid to enter turns out to be the source of what you are looking for. The damned thing in the cave that was so dreaded has become the center. You find the jewel, and it draws you off. In loving the spiritual, you cannot despise the earthly." - J. Campbell. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “This is IT! So you don’t need to do anything at all… It’s just the way it is. What’s required is a sort of act of super relaxation.. It’s not just letting go. It’s being with yourself as you are without altering anything.” ~ Alan Watts “When you look for your own mind, that is to say, your own particularized center of being which is separate from everything else, you won’t be able to find it. But the only way you’ll know it isn’t there is if you look for it hard enough, to find out that it isn’t there. And so everybody says ‘All right, know yourself, look within, find out who you are.’ Because the harder you look, you won’t be able to find it, and then you’ll realize it isn’t there at all. There isn’t a separate you. You’re mind is what there is. Everything. But the only way to find that out is to persist in the state of delusion as hard as possible…. So if a person believes that the Earth is flat, you can’t talk him out of that. He knows it’s flat. Look out the window and see; it’s obvious, it looks flat. So the only way to convince him it isn’t is to say ‘Well let’s go and find the edge.’ And in order to find the edge, you’ve got to be very careful not to walk in circles, you’ll never find it that way. So we’ve got to go consistently in a straight line due west along the same line of latitude, and eventually when we get back to where we started from, you’ve convinced the guy that the world is round. That’s the only way that will teach him. Because people can’t be talked out of illusions. There is another possibility, however. But this is more difficult to describe. Let’s say we take as the basic supposition–which is the thing that one sees in the experience of satori or awakening, or whatever you want to call it–that this now moment in which I’m talking and you’re listening, is eternity. That although we have somehow conned ourselves into the notion that this moment is ordinary, and that we may not feel very well, we’re sort of vaguely frustrated and worried and so on, and that it ought to be changed. This is IT! So you don’t need to do anything at all. But the difficulty about explaining that is that you mustn’t try and not do anything, because that’s doing something. It’s just the way it is. In other words, what’s required is a sort of act of super relaxation; it’s not ordinary relaxation. It’s not just letting go, as when you lie down on the floor and imagine that you’re heavy so you get into a state of muscular relaxation. It’s not like that. It’s being with yourself as you are without altering anything. And how to explain that? Because there’s nothing to explain. It is the way it is now. See? And if you understand that, it will automatically wake you up!” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Life is not a problem to solve, but an experience to be had. However, sure - you can imagine all kinds of problems that "should" be solved (in order for you & the world ? to be at peace ?️), but that is just it: imagination, fantasy, a dramatic good movie, a theater play, a book, a game... play ???. Life is what you choose to experience. The ultimate meaning of life is very simple: it's life itself! Of course! But this is so obvious that almost no one seems to buy into it, and everyone runs around in great panic and try desperately to achieve something beyond themselves. There isn't anything wrong with trying to achieve something beyond oneself, as long as one remembers it's just a cute game. But of course: We should all strive to make it a good game, a good dream, a good book, a good play, a good film... with total redemption for all the dream-characters in the end ??❤️?. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://youtu.be/wU0PYcCsL6o There’s aren’t enough words to describe how powerful this video is for me. It’s in my iPod and every single morning before I lift I listen to this speech. It’s absolutely stunning. Inspirational. Motivating. It’s everything to me. I would like for you to watch it and tell me what you think. We all should dream big. Without going after our dream, we cannot possibly live our best life. It is there for a reason. It’s necessary that we follow it…not just an option: "If you awaken from this illusion and you understand that black implies white, self implies other, life implies death (or shall I say death implies life?), you can feel yourself – not as a stranger in the world, not as something here on probation, not as something that has arrived here by fluke - but you can begin to feel your own existence as absolutely fundamental. I am not trying to sell you on this idea in the sense of converting you to it, I want you to play with it. I want you to think of its possibilities, I am not trying to prove it. I am just putting it forward as a possibility of life to think about. So then, let’s suppose that you were able every night to dream any dream you wanted to dream, and that you could, for example, have the power within one night to dream 75 years of time, or any length of time you wanted to have. And you would, naturally, as you began on this adventure of dreams, you would fulfill all your wishes. You would have every kind of pleasure you could conceive. And after several nights of 75 years of total pleasure each you would say “Well that was pretty great. But now let’s have a surprise, let’s have a dream which isn’t under control, where something is gonna happen to me that I don’t know what it's gonna be." And you would dig that and would come out of that and you would say “Wow that was a close shave, wasn’t it?”. Then you would get more and more adventurous and you would make further- and further-out gambles what you would dream. And finally, you would dream where you are now. You would dream the dream of living the life that you are actually living today. That would be within the infinite multiplicity of choices you would have. Of playing that you weren't God, because the whole nature of the godhead, according to this idea, is to play that he is not. So in this idea then, everybody is fundamentally the ultimate reality, not God in a politically kingly sense, but god in the sense of being the self, the deep-down basic whatever there is. And you are all that, only you are pretending you are not." - Watts up, Alan? Love ya all <3

I have created this post with the help of chatGPT, curious what you guys think of this. I have translated this text from slovenian with a tool without proofreading it yet, so there might be some typos. The "Us vs. Them" mentality is like a poison that is slowly but surely spreading through the veins of society. ☣️ At first sight it may seem harmless, even beneficial. After all, isn't it natural to connect more with those who are like us? 🤔 To trust people with whom we share values, beliefs or culture? But this apparent safety in our own group quickly becomes a trap. ⚠️ Once we start to perceive the world through the lens of "us" and "them", a series of negative consequences are triggered that can have a profound impact on society. ⛔ Examples of such mentalities: The Awakened versus the Un-awakened, The system versus the source, Darkness versus Light, Adherents of one religion against adherents of another religion, Human biorobots without consciousness against the original essences of consciousness, Materialists against Spiritual seekers, Sceptics against Believers, Ego-oriented against Soul-oriented, Religious vs. Spiritually Independent, Those who follow dogma against those who follow intuition, Those who seek external validation against those who seek inner truth, People who believe in karma versus those who believe in chance, Those who believe in reincarnation versus those who believe in a single life, Adherents of traditional rituals versus followers of new practices New Age spiritual teachers against traditional spiritual leaders. Once we begin to see the world through the lens of "us" and "them", a series of negative consequences are triggered that can have a profound impact on society. First, there is polarisation. Instead of looking for commonalities and building bridges, we start focusing on differences. Dialogue turns into argument, cooperation into competition. Society is divided into opposing camps that see each other as enemies, not fellow human beings. Imagine a group of people who feel threatened by the unknown. The group begins to coalesce and build an identity based on the distinction from "them". This "us versus them" thinking brings a sense of security, because we are part of something bigger that protects us from external threats. However, this sense of security is based on an illusion that blinds us and prevents us from seeing the commonalities between ourselves and others. This polarisation = fertile ground for conflict. Where once there might not have been a spark of disagreement, now there is a fire of hatred. Small differences become insurmountable barriers. Misunderstandings turn into battles ⚔️. And in this climate of tension ⚡ and mistrust ❌ violence is always just a step away. So, such division fosters hostility and distrust. People in the opposite group become less human, easier to demonise and blame for our problems. Hostility grows, conflicts deepen, and suddenly we are trapped in a spiral of violence and hatred. Perhaps the most worrying consequence of the "us versus them" mentality is the gradual dehumanisation of the "other". When we begin to see people outside our group as aliens, as someone "different", we slowly strip them of their humanity. They become an abstract enemy rather than living beings with their own stories, fears and hopes. It is this process of dehumanisation that has made possible the worst crimes against humanity in history. When we no longer see ourselves in our fellow human beings, everything becomes possible. When we begin to see others as less worthy, empathy is lost. Our perception of justice becomes distorted. Suddenly it becomes acceptable to deny others basic rights because we no longer see them as our equals. History is replete with examples where such thinking has led to atrocities and genocide. In addition to all this, the "us versus them" mentality also cripples our own growth and development. Instead of learning from difference, we close ourselves off in our own bubbles of beliefs. We dismiss new ideas and perspectives as a threat rather than an opportunity to learn and progress. Our horizons narrow, our world becomes smaller and poorer. Groups that focus on opposing others often neglect their own growth and development, spending their energy on conflict rather than on finding solutions and improvements. In addition to the above, this mentality can have serious negative consequences because: It promotes prejudice and stereotypes It reduces empathy towards people outside our group Can lead to discrimination and conflict Hinders cooperation between different groups Simplifies complex social issues These pitfalls can harm both individuals and society as a whole. They reduce mutual understanding and make it harder to solve common problems. But all is not lost. Awareness of these pitfalls is the first step towards overcoming them. Each of us has the power to change the way we perceive the world and the people around us. We can choose to actively seek commonalities rather than differences. To listen to the stories of those we perceive as different. To build bridges instead of walls. The path to a more cohesive and compassionate society starts with small steps. By deciding to open our hearts and minds. To see in every person a potential friend, not an enemy. To value diversity as a source of richness, not a threat. This is not an easy path. It requires courage, empathy and perseverance. But it is the only path that leads to a future where we can all live and thrive together. A future where "we" does not mean exclusion, but inclusion. Where our greatest strength lies in our diversity, not in uniformity. Overcoming the "us versus them" mentality is perhaps the greatest challenge of our time. But it is a challenge that we must take up if we want to create a world where our children can live in peace and harmony. A world in which "we" means all of us - all of humanity. ❤ When we start from an "us versus them" mentality, our life path often follows an interesting pattern, which is mirrored in different degrees of acceptance of personal responsibility. 🛤️ Due to the overwhelming response to the first post "The Us vs Them mentality and its pitfalls", I have decided to compile a second part that will explore even more deeply the different degrees of acceptance of responsibility in the context of this mentality. In this follow-up, we will examine how individuals move from the role of victim, through the role of fighter and creator, to the final stage of being at peace, and how each step along the way can contribute to transcending divisions and building a more cohesive and harmonious society. Thank you all for your comments and sharing your experiences - this is just the beginning of a deeper exploration of these important topics! 🙏 In the context of the "us versus them" mentality, the "us" group is usually defined as the group with which an individual or a particular social group identifies. It is people who share similar beliefs, values, culture or social status. "We" are those we perceive as "ours", as part of a community to which we belong and with whom we share common interests. 🤝 On the other hand, the group "them" is often perceived as an opposite or different group. "Them" are those who have different beliefs, values, culture or social status. ⚖️ These are the people we perceive as opponents, competitors or even as a threat to our way of life and values. ⚔️ This mentality creates strong divisions between groups and often leads to feelings of isolation, inequality and conflict. 🚧 VICTIMHOOD - TRAPPED IN A POLARISATION OF "US" AND "THEM" At this stage we feel powerless, convinced that external factors beyond our control are to blame for our problems. As passive bystanders who fail to act, we become trapped in an "us versus them" polarisation, where we see the world as divided into two opposing groups. Examples: Social Inequality: "We, the members of our community, always find ourselves on the sidelines, while they, the privileged groups, are always favoured by the system." Political Exclusion: "Politicians/government hide information and conspire against us, the common people." "We, the ordinary people, are completely ignored in political decisions because they, the politicians and their elite supporters, do not care about our needs." "Politicians only respond to the needs of big donors and corporations. Ordinary people like me are just statistics, with no real influence or power." "Foreigners coming to our country are getting advantages that are not available to us locals. Why is the government helping them so much and ignoring us?" "Those privileged individuals/elites in our society will never allow us to progress. We have no chance." "The world is totally unfair to us. What can we possibly do when we have no control over our own destiny?" Media Bias: "We who represent a different opinion are always ignored in the media because they, those with power and influence, are always supported by the editors." The media always present one side of the story that suits their interests. Our problems and perspectives are rarely heard or taken into account." The Economic Divide: "The economy is set up so that the rich get richer while we, the ordinary workers, barely survive. The system clearly favours those at the top." Occupational Constraint: "We hard-working individuals never get the chance to advance because the system always opens the door to those with the 'right' connections." Cultural Isolation: "We, who belong to our traditional culture, are always despised, while those with modern trends are given all the credit by society." Geographical Discrimination: "We, the inhabitants of rural areas, are forgotten and treated as second-class citizens, while they, the inhabitants of cities, are always given all the attention and resources by the State." THE DEGREE OF THE FIGHTER - ACTIVE RESISTANCE AGAINST "THEM" IN THE NAME OF "US" When an individual moves from the victim stage to the fighter stage, he or she begins to take greater responsibility for his or her own life and circumstances. 🛡️ At this stage, the person recognises that he or she has the power to influence his or her environment, but still often sees the world as an arena where one must constantly be prepared to fight. ⚔️ In the context of an "us versus them" mentality, the fighter often perceives his or her group as the one that must constantly fight for its rights and space, often in opposition to "them". Examples: Active Political Participation: 'We, ordinary people, will stand up against the elites who have oppressed us for too long. We will set up initiatives, we will be vocal in demanding change and active in elections to finally move things in our favour." Fight for Workers' Rights: "Our trade unions will fight for better working conditions, wages and rights. We will no longer allow ourselves to be exploited by management and corporations. We will use strikes and protests to force management to take our demands into account." Cultural Resistance: "We, the members of our traditional culture, will organise events and movements to promote and protect our traditions. We will no longer allow ourselves to be pushed into the background by the followers of modern trends." Serious Activism: "We, environmental activists, will speak out against the corporations that are destroying our planet. We won't back down until we bring about change, even if it means confronting powerful opponents." Media Counterbalance: "We, who represent alternative voices, will set up our own media channels to spread our message and fight the bias of the mainstream media. We will no longer allow the corporate media to shape public opinion." Geographical Self-Organisation: "We, the inhabitants of rural areas, will join together to organise local projects and put pressure on the authorities to invest in our development. We will no longer allow ourselves to be excluded and neglected by the inhabitants of the cities." Social Justice: "We, the social justice campaigners, will be vocal in demanding equality and rights for all. Our struggle will not stop until we eliminate discrimination and injustice caused by those with power and privilege." THE CREATOR STAGE - BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN "US" AND "THEM" When an individual moves into the Creator stage 🎨, they begin to see the world from a different perspective. The Creator no longer sees life as a constant struggle between "us" and "them", but as an opportunity to create a new reality. 🌟 At this stage, a person recognises their power 💪 and responsibility in shaping their own life and the wider community. 🌍 The Creator focuses on connecting, collaborating 🤝 and creating solutions that transcend divisions and conflicts. Examples: Collaboration instead of Confrontation: 'Instead of fighting against them, we will create joint projects where we combine the strengths and talents of both sides. By working together, we can create a better future for all." Building Bridges between Communities: "We will organise cultural and social events that bring different groups together and transcend divisions. In this way we will create a space for dialogue where everyone can feel included and heard." Innovative Projects for All: "Instead of criticising the system, we will create social enterprises and initiatives that offer solutions to common challenges. Through innovation and creativity, we will improve the quality of life for all, no matter which group they come from." Creating Peer Support: "We will create platforms where people of different views and backgrounds can connect and help each other. This will show that we can overcome differences and solve problems together." Educational Initiatives: "We will develop educational programmes that promote critical thinking and empathy. They will equip people with the tools to better understand and work together, reducing divisions and increasing mutual respect." Ecological and Social Resilience: "Instead of fighting harmful practices, we will create sustainable communities based on regenerative practices. These communities will inspire others and show that we can work in harmony with nature and other people." Media Connection Projects: "We will create media platforms that present stories of successful cooperation and integration of different groups. Instead of focusing on conflicts, we will share inspiring examples of how we can create something positive together." Transforming Conflict into Opportunity: "Instead of focusing on conflict points between different groups, we will identify common goals and focus on win-win solutions. We can transform conflict into an opportunity for growth and cooperation." Creating a Shared Vision: "We will develop a shared vision of the future, where there is no room for divisions between 'us' and 'them', but for an inclusive community where everyone contributes to the common good. This vision will be based on inclusion, cooperation and equality." Support for Local Initiatives: "We will promote local initiatives that bring together different groups and create benefits for the whole community. Instead of competing with each other, we will build communities based on mutual trust and cooperation." Creating Ethical Guidelines: "As creators, we will work together to develop ethical guidelines for organisations and communities based on respect and understanding of diversity. In this way, we will ensure that decision-making is no longer driven by divisions, but by integrity and the common good." Innovation in Social Support: 'We will create innovative solutions to support the most vulnerable groups, involving contributions from all sides. Instead of waiting for systemic changes from above, we will design initiatives ourselves that will have an immediate impact on the quality of life of all involved." Connecting Through Arts and Culture: "Arts and culture will become a tool to connect different groups. We will organise events that bring together different cultural expressions to show how diversity can contribute to a richer and more harmonious society." Promoting Intercultural Dialogue: "Initiatives that promote intercultural dialogue will be key to bridging divisions. By creating spaces for open and respectful conversation between different groups, we will facilitate deeper understanding and cooperation." Promoting Social Impact Entrepreneurship: "Instead of criticising existing economic models, we will create social impact businesses that promote sustainability and equality. These businesses will provide employment opportunities for all communities, with a focus on the inclusion of vulnerable groups." Creating Environmental Initiatives: "We will not wait for government or corporations to act on the environment. We will organise community gardens, clean-up campaigns and educational programmes on sustainable living to show how we can all care for the planet together." Developing Personal Growth Programmes: "Changing the world starts with changing ourselves. We will develop personal and spiritual growth programmes that encourage people to move beyond old patterns and create a new, more connected reality." Building Smart Communities: "Instead of relying on outdated city plans, we will develop smart communities where technology, sustainability and human connectedness come together. These communities will be models of collaboration and innovation that transcend divisions." Linking Education to Real Needs: "We will create education programmes that are directly linked to the real needs of our communities. This will provide young people with the knowledge and skills to help them tackle the challenges of the day, while fostering intergenerational cooperation." Bridging Generations: "Instead of generations being separated and not understanding each other, we will create programmes that promote intergenerational cooperation. In this way, we will build bridges between the old and the young and promote mutual learning and understanding." Intergenerational Co-operatives: "Instead of keeping the elderly and younger generations apart, we will create intergenerational co-operatives where the experience of the elderly is combined with the energy of the young to create projects that benefit the whole community." Using Artificial Intelligence for the Common Good: "Instead of fearing the advances in technology, we will develop AI solutions that benefit everyone - from improving healthcare to more efficient education and environmental protection." Creating Local Supply Chains: "Instead of relying on global supply chains, we will develop local supply chains based on collaboration between local growers, producers and consumers. This will strengthen local economies and reduce dependence on external resources." Strengthening Local Economic Chains: "We will create local economic chains that support local growers and producers, reducing dependence on global corporations while strengthening the community economy." Creating Public Discussion Forums: "We will organise forums where people from different backgrounds can talk openly about their challenges and work together to find solutions. This will be a place where different opinions are respected and taken into account in finding a way forward together." Promoting Cultural Exchange: "Instead of focusing on cultural differences as barriers, we will create cultural exchange programmes where different groups can share their traditions, arts and stories. In this way, we will build bridges between cultures and foster mutual understanding." Participatory decision-making: "We will establish participatory decision-making models where all members of the community have a voice in important decisions. This will encourage a sense of ownership and responsibility and create communities based on real equality." Supporting Marginalised Groups: "Instead of waiting for the system to right wrongs, we will create support networks for marginalised groups where they can access resources, education and opportunities to improve their situation." Interfaith Dialogue Organisation: "In a world where religious divisions often cause conflict, we will create spaces for interfaith dialogue where people of different faiths can meet, learn from each other and work together to create solutions to common challenges." Integration in International Projects: 'Instead of looking at other nations as competitors, we will develop international projects that promote global cooperation to tackle problems such as climate change, poverty and education. In this way, we will create global partnerships and strengthen international solidarity." Leading by example: "Instead of waiting for others to change, we will start implementing the values we want to see in the world ourselves. By our example, we will inspire others to join us in creating a more just and compassionate world." Innovation in Health: "Instead of criticising the shortcomings of the health system, we will develop and support innovative health solutions that are accessible to all. In this way, we will reduce health inequalities and enable better care for all communities." Promoting Economic Democracy: "We will promote models of economic democracy where employees and local communities have a greater say in business decisions. This will reduce the sense of 'us versus them' between employers and workers and promote cooperation for the common good." Supporting Alternative Education Systems: "Instead of criticising the traditional education system, we will create and support alternative education practices that encourage critical thinking, creativity and inclusion of all learners." Creating Solidarity Economies: "We will develop solidarity economies where financial resources and profits are directed towards the common good rather than private hands. In this way, we will create economic systems based on justice and equality." Sustainable Mobility: "Instead of complaining about traffic problems and pollution, we will develop sustainable mobility solutions such as shared transport, cycle lanes and public transport that link different parts of cities and communities." Introducing a Solutions Approach: "Instead of focusing on problems, we will use a solutions approach, where we identify solutions to existing challenges and actively implement them. This approach will encourage positive thinking and action." Creating Peaceful Processes: "Instead of trying to resolve conflicts through violence or coercion, we will create peaceful processes, such as mediation, dialogue and negotiation, which will allow for just and sustainable conflict resolution." Promoting Global Citizenship: "Instead of limiting ourselves to national or regional identities, we will promote the concept of global citizenship, where people see themselves as part of a global community and work towards solving global challenges." Strengthening Safety Nets: "Instead of focusing on differences and divisions, we will develop safety nets that support all members of a community in times of crisis or need, strengthening collective resilience and mutual aid." Creating Community Gardens: "Instead of criticising the lack of access to healthy food, we will create community gardens where people grow food together and share their produce. This will strengthen local self-sufficiency and bring people together." Promoting Sustainable Energy: "Instead of waiting for big energy changes from above, we will promote local sustainable energy projects such as solar farms and wind turbines that will benefit all members of the community." A DEGREE OF BEING AT PEACE - A HARMONIOUS COEXISTENCE OF "US" AND "THEM" When an individual reaches the "Being at Peace" stage 🕊️, the "us versus them" mentality is completely dismantled. At this stage, the person reaches a deep understanding 🌱 that all people, whatever their differences, come from the same source and are part of the same whole system. Conflicts that were previously seen as insurmountable barriers between groups are now seen as a natural part of human existence that can be accepted and overcome with compassion 💖, empathy 🤗 and wisdom. 🧠 Examples: Letting Go of the Need for Control: "Instead of trying to control others or situations, we will accept that each individual is responsible for his or her own choices. Our inner balance will come from the peace within ourselves, not from external circumstances." Acceptance and Understanding: "I accept that differences between people are natural and inevitable. Rather than trying to change others or prove myself right, I choose peace and understanding as the foundation for my relationships with everyone, even those with whom I disagree." Connectedness with All: "I have come to see that we are all part of the same big whole system. All divisions are an illusion; at a deeper level we are all connected. This realisation brings me inner peace and a deep respect for all people, whatever their differences." Compassion as a Basic Guiding Principle: "Compassion is not just a feeling, but a way of life. When I look at others, even those who were previously considered 'adversaries', I see their humanity and their suffering. My action is now directed towards bringing peace and well-being to all, whatever their background or beliefs." Living in Harmony with Natural Law: "I am aware that everything in nature is in balance and harmony. Rather than fighting against the flow of life, I am learning to swim with it, accepting challenges and change as part of the natural order, which allows me to live in peace with myself and others." Deep Gratitude for Diversity: "Diversity is not something to fear or to try to eradicate. Instead, I gratefully embrace the richness of different perspectives, cultures and ways of life that enrich my world and allow for growth." Serving as an Expression of Peace: "I channel my energy into serving the community and the wider society. I no longer seek victories or proving my rights, but work from inner peace and the desire to create good for all." Detachment: "I no longer concern myself with the outcomes of my actions, as I trust that every action that comes from peace and love contributes to greater harmony. I live in the moment, accept things as they come, and find peace in knowing that it's all part of a bigger plan." Forgiveness: "Instead of holding grudges against those who have hurt us, we will practice forgiveness. This will allow us to release negative emotions and create space for positive relationships." Living in the Moment: "We will no longer burden ourselves with past conflicts or future fears. We will focus on the present moment and find peace in the everyday experiences we share with others." Acceptance Without Pressure: "We will no longer pressure others to change according to our standards. Instead, we will accept others as they are and allow relationships to develop naturally and without coercion." Understanding and Compassion: "Instead of judging others or feeling threatened, we will try to understand their experiences and motivation. Compassion will become a central value in our relationships." Connecting with Self and Others: "Instead of seeking validation outside of ourselves, we will establish a deep connection with our inner wisdom and use this connection to build harmonious relationships with others." Abandoning Competition: "Instead of constantly comparing ourselves to others or competitors, we will recognize the value of our own contribution and rejoice in the successes of others as if we were our own." Cultivating Inner Peace: "Instead of allowing external conflicts to throw us off balance, we will cultivate inner peace through meditation, reflection and healthy living habits. This peace will become our foundation in all situations." Practicing Non-Resentment: "When faced with conflict or disagreement, we will choose a response based on peace rather than anger or hatred. Instead of resentment, we will choose understanding and acceptance."