My Spiritual Practices

[Buck Edwards]

This. 

 

Edited October 1 by Buck Edwards

[Buck Edwards]

Engaging in acts of kindness and compassion holds great importance in the quest for enlightenment in my opinion. 

 

Why? Kindness fosters connectedness. Connection with Others. Acts of kindness and compassion foster a sense of connection and empathy with others. By extending kindness and compassion, we recognize the inherent worth and interconnectedness of all beings. This sense of connection can deepen our spiritual understanding and promote a sense of unity. You need that fabric of connectedness. I have seen great changes in my life since my compassion practice, especially loving kindness meditation. Any opportunity in this regard should not be wasted. In fact I would feel guilty if I did that. Anything that births itself from kindness will never be lost in vain. Kindness is a virtue, a gift that keeps giving. You'll never see it until it actually does. 

 

Kindness and compassion are considered virtues in many spiritual traditions. Cultivate virtues. Engaging in these acts helps cultivate qualities such as empathy, generosity, forgiveness, and love. These virtues are seen as essential for personal growth, spiritual development, and living a meaningful life. Bind them to yourself. See every act as an opportunity. 

 

Suffering exists due to a dualistic nature. Nothing is really separate. Alleviating Suffering. Suffering of some form will always exist though.compassion is often motivated by a desire to alleviate the suffering of others. By showing kindness and compassion, we contribute to creating a more compassionate and caring world. This can bring comfort, healing, and support to those in need, and it can also enhance our own sense of purpose and fulfillment. Why bother to alleviate suffering right? Welll... When you reduce the burden of suffering you stop the cycle of suffering. Again this is a principle of vompassion. Spirituality without compassion is like a car without fuel. You can't really go anywhere with it. It wouldn't make sense long term. In its absence, everything is egoic. 

We have an inherent self centeredness anyway. Practicing Non-Attachment is ideal.Engaging in acts of kindness and compassion can help us develop a sense of detachment from our own desires, ego, and self-centeredness. It shifts our focus from personal gain to the well-being of others. By letting go of self-centeredness, we open ourselves up to a deeper spiritual experience and a greater sense of interconnectedness. This also fosters our inherent non duak nature. 

[Buck Edwards]

I felt shy and sexually deeply repressed when I joined this forum in March 2023. I felt awkward almost scared to enter a male dominated forum like this. I remember having a formidable presence. How could a shy girl like me exist on here? It was merely impossible in my mind. I decided to take up a male username of Buck Edwards and somehow survive on this forum as a man and pretend to be a man. I thought this would be a safer Idea. I wouldn't get much attention or lousy messages from men leering at me. Neither would I have to constantly defend my position as a woman. It felt freeing. It felt I could do this. I did well and thrived for over a year. It felt non threatening. Over time I got tired of role playing as a man and it didn't suit me. I was fed up. I couldn't keep up the facade anymore. I just love being a woman and wouldn't want otherwise. My deepest feelings couldn't have been expressed role playing as a man. So I gave up. My husband was by my side. I felt hopeful and confident. That day I stopped that facade and came to my normal self. Yes it was an identity crisis I was battling with.. It was hard on me. I had my insecurities as a woman. I felt like I would get a torrent of messages from men. I have felt shy all my life. Even boarding a bus full of men frightens me. I can feel awkward around men. It's just how I feel and have been raised. I mostly grew up around females. My dad was the only male member in my family. My dad was a sturdy figure for me. Finally in July I felt liberated. My male pseudo name I adopted for this forum is stuck and that's alright. My real name is Reena. I finally feel confident enough to use my real name on this forum. 

[Buck Edwards]

I'm slowly discovering new positive affirmations. 

One is "I woke up feeling refreshed."

          

                        

The next affirmation is - I'm free. 

 

                         

The other affirmations - 

 

I love my husband. 

 

I'm attracted to my husband. 

 

I'm in love with my husband. 

 

I feel hot for my husband. 

 

 

                            

The next affirmation is - 

 

I feel free on this forum. I have a powerful grip now. I feel more confident and comfortable now. 

 

                            

Move away from negativity and move towards confidence. 

 

                          

 

I'll keep my anxieties at bay. 

                         

Journaling is an effective technique for dealing with trauma. Much of my life has been dealing with trauma. 

                        

A prayer for upgrading my knowledge database. 

                         

 

                       

 

                      

                 

      

 

 

 

 

Edited October 1 by Buck Edwards

[Buck Edwards]

 

 

 

                       

 

Spirituality has been making an interesting comeback in recent years, or perhaps an entrée into the mainstream, with a new generation of young gurus and “spirit junkies” making it hip to be spiritual. Many of the lessons draw from religious tradition, yogic philosophy and meditation, and the idea of a greater, or universal, consciousness. One concept that’s been central, now and in some traditions over the millennia, is the idea of getting out of our own way, or giving up control to some higher power/consciousness/energy, whatever that may be. In other words, being “in the flow.”

 

 

Edited October 1 by Buck Edwards

[Buck Edwards]

On 14/09/2024 at 8:25 PM, Buck Edwards said:

Spirituality has been making an interesting comeback in recent years, or perhaps an entrée into the mainstream, with a new generation of young gurus and “spirit junkies” making it hip to be spiritual. Many of the lessons draw from religious tradition, yogic philosophy and meditation, and the idea of a greater, or universal, consciousness. One concept that’s been central, now and in some traditions over the millennia, is the idea of getting out of our own way, or giving up control to some higher power/consciousness/energy, whatever that may be. In other words, being “in the flow.”

                      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 14/09/2024 at 8:47 PM, Buck Edwards said:

But what’s really fascinating about this idea is that it’s not actually specific to spirituality: many people talk of feeling, under the right conditions, like they’re in the flow, as if something greater has taken over and they’re simply letting it happen. Writers, artists, musicians, designers, athletes, and many others have experienced this state of flow, or being in the zone.

 

 

 

 

On 14/09/2024 at 9:02 PM, Buck Edwards said:

The simplest metaphor is that it’s like driving a car with one foot on the break and one on the gas. ” In the analogy, the gas is our brains’ the natural function, and the brake is self-referential processing. If you take foot off the break, the brain functions more effortlessly. Our brain is like ‘thank god, you got out of the way.’ And that’s when we get into the flow.

 

 

 

 

 

[Buck Edwards]

On 14/09/2024 at 9:30 PM, Buck Edwards said:

Meditation quiets the areas of the brain that are the equivalent to the “brakes”—the default mode network (DMN)—which helps us get into a flow state very quickly. To get out of our own way, and even out of more significant states, like depression, you have to utilize other methods besides your usual mode of thinking. What got us into this mess can’t get us out. Here’s the paradox: You’re the problem. You can’t solve the problem with the same consciousness that created it. Saying to yourself, ‘I’m going to make myself one with the universe’ is a futile task. It’s just like someone telling you to relax. It doesn’t work. We naturally let go, when we see how painful our usual process is.

 

 

On 14/09/2024 at 9:41 PM, Buck Edwards said:

 

This is such a beautiful home. 

 

On 14/09/2024 at 9:49 PM, Buck Edwards said:

There's a place for this “the universe prompt,”  ya know —the idea of consciously giving in to something bigger. Every religious tradition that I’ve seen has something like this, just with different words. It’s letting go of the small self, so grace of god can flow through us. ‘Advaita vedanta’ [from the Upanishads]..... in Catholicism, it’s emptying so god can flow. The universe prompt is helpful. “where I realize I don’t need to do anything. That can be part of the work, but it’s not all of it."As to whether flow is our natural state, or the product of being in tune with something greater. “Does something (like the universe or God) need to be creating something that is our natural propensity? In other words, what makes water flow downhill (instead of uphill)? Our brain has evolved for efficiency. ‘Flow’ is likely a manifestation of the brain working in optimal conditions.So it may be that spirituality is a kind of psychological tool we use just to get ourselves into our natural state. Perhaps quantum physics or other disciplines will offer other revelations in the coming years, but till then, we have to look to our current ways of understanding—psychology and neuroscience. Which may really be all we need. But for some, part of the beauty may be that it is still a mystery, and we can’t quite explain it just yet.

 

[Buck Edwards]

So this is how I really am. 

I'm not someone who can simply consume behaviors and watch everyone from a distance. Either I'm close to you emotionally or I'm not. My experiences in life shaped me into becoming an emotionally vulnerable and tender person. 

I am that person who cries in the bathroom but shows up next day to class with a hoodie and sweatshirt on and doesn't say much and carries on quietly, literally carrying a thunderstorm inside. One scratch on my surface and you will see glass inside. Yes I'm made of glass. I break and when I break, hell breaks loose, and I shatter to pieces. I'm an HSP, acronym for highly sensitive person. 

I have a spatial brain disorder which means I need ample space when I read things and I can't cobble words together or else I end up with spasmodic panic attacks. Therefore you will find my writing with lots of space left out here and there and a lot of irregularities in the way I format text, suddenly leaving large spaces in between or writing too little or too much. This is done because my brain likes it that way and finds it less anxiety provoking. 

I'm very emotionally chaotic and fragile so if I end up fighting with my boyfriend, I won't get sleep that night, so my best option is to simply sit silent even if I feel like protesting, which gives an unfair advantage to the other party and they begin to dominate my weaknesses.. 

I'm more prone to abuse than others because of my brain disorders and my lack of ability to "not suck it up." 

I was born premature, at the 8th month and severely underweight and malnourished to the point that I was placed under intensive care during my first few days and then my parents were informed of my delicate health.. 

When I walk I stumble a lot, lose balance too often and end up getting into many accidents which again has a lot to do with development delays in the womb. 

Yet I always tried to be the best kid in class, worked hard to get an A in every subject for a consecutive 10 years in school. I got many awards and honors in school and I was an A student.. 

I never did smoking, drinking, drugs or any of that shit ever. 

I tried to sleep off my trauma. 

                              

I want to use the visualization technique for my trauma. 

                              

Having a cold shower. 

                            

 

Maybe spirituality is an essence. Something that we perpetually live in. Maybe it's like resonance. When do we say someone is deeply spiritual. I don't know. I'm yet to figure out. And I want to keep learning. 

                             

I always wanted to live a deeply spiritual life and one day I'll succeed in doing that. I know this deep in my heart. 

 

 

 

Edited October 1 by Buck Edwards

[Buck Edwards]

2 spiritual practices 

Chanting 

A universal prayer 

In traditional yog, the initial stages of yam, niyam, and asan purify the body and mind, removing toxins and harmful habits. Only after this purification process is one deemed ready for pranayam, the practice of controlled breathing, which channels the vital energy, pran and enhances spiritual growth. Attempting pranayam without first achieving this purification could have adverse effects. Therefore, in classical yog, it is important to progress step-by-step through these limbs to prepare for higher spiritual practices.

Love love love this thread -

 

 

Edited October 1 by Buck Edwards

[Buck Edwards]

 

 

[Buck Edwards]

Spiritual principles. 

[Buck Edwards]

I think one of my roadblocks in spirituality was that I would lose interest in material living if I turned rigorously towards spirituality. It's something I contemplated on and it still haunts me. Survival and spirituality unfortunately do not mix very well. There are opportunity costs. 

[Buck Edwards]

This is precious time and I want to focus on a tree. A spiritual tree. Beautiful!!!!! Priceless!!!! 

[Buck Edwards]

I'll do this. 

 

[Buck Edwards]

 

      

 

Higher Level of Consciousness: Benefits

✓A bulletproof sense of inner peace.

✓True happiness, no matter the circumstances in your life.

✓Feeling "at one" with everyone & everything.

✓Operating from your deep & powerful subconscious mind.

✓Unconditional love for all living beings.

✓Finding your true self and your true path.

✓A worry, stress, & anxiety free natural existence.

✓Thoroughly enjoying the present moment & your own thoughts (i.e. not needing a screen to occupy the mind).

✓A very fulfilled, meaningful life.

✓Deep healing of mind, body, and spirit.

✓A permanent higher shift in consciousness & understanding.

✓Having the ability & capacity to fundamentally "change the world." 

 

  

 

Edited October 2 by Buck Edwards

[Buck Edwards]

 

 

Are You Awakening & Ascending? Signs & Symptoms

✓Letting go of once tightly held beliefs and views.

✓Zoning out for extended periods of time, feeling "spaced" out.

✓Sensitivity to negative people and events, especially the news.

✓Feelings of "tingling" electrical-like energy running through parts of the body.

✓Having more meaningful dreams, being able to decipher dreamstate imagery and messages.

✓Becoming aware of and seeing the meaning behind "synchronicities", the seemingly unrelated events & signs we see & experience (but mostly ignore).

✓Wishing to break away from blind conformity, outdated institutions, unnecessary customs, & the overall status quo.

✓Unexplained changes in appetite & eating habits and / or weight loss. May sometimes look younger.

✓Wishing to spend more time in nature.

✓Spontaneous healing of long held ailments.

✓Changes in what you read, do with your spare time, or the content you consume (including reducing screen-time).

✓Greater awareness of yourself and the outside world.

✓A greater sense of inner peace and interconnectedness, with intermittent periods of emotional upheaval.

 

 

Edited October 2 by Buck Edwards

[Buck Edwards]

This is not a test, it's perfectly natural and normal to experience just a few of these signs and symptoms. Not every stage must be "passed" for a true spiritual awakening, we are all different.

However, once you have dramatically raised your vibration and unleashed your divine level of consciousness, once this whole process is in the books — your life will be 100% revolutionized, with countless benefits seen on all fronts.

 

 

 

 

Edited October 2 by Buck Edwards

[Buck Edwards]

Celebrimbor has something to say to the haters of RoP:

[Buck Edwards]

I think one of the simplest spiritual practice is to be polite and graceful in your approach. Just say kind words. Begin with kindness. Cultivate compassion. 

 

[Buck Edwards]

My Spiritual principle. This resonates with me. 

 

To live content with small means. 

To seek elegance rather than luxury 

And refinement rather than fashion 

To be worthy not respectable 

And wealthy not rich 

To study hard, think quietly, talk gently 

Act frankly, to listen to stars, birds and babes

And sages with an open heart, to bear all cheerfully 

Do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never. 

In a word to let the spiritual

Unbidden and unconscious

Grow up through the common 

This is to be my symphony