Leo, what is Addiction?

[Spiral Wizard]

It feels as though we are pulled by addiction. But this is a misperception/deception & trick of our mind. It it less true that anything is pulling. It is more true that we are consciously or subconsciously distracting/pushing ourselves outward, away from something within.

We are addicted because it shields us from feeling the weight of our own unprocessed subconscious material. But there are ways to step out of this unconscious hypnosis:

Practical steps: 

• Do NOT focus on changing your behavior. FOCUS ON THE SENSATIONS THAT MAKE UP THE URGE. Notice the impulse. See how if you pause for a moment and look within, it's actually uncomfortable. Stay with that. Then continue with the behaviors and stay as conscious as possible, allow everything. This will keep your awareness present which slowly makes it fade away instead of going into unconscious addiction which keeps it running. 
• Patience: Initially, it may just be boredom, numbness, nothing, but see, why not stay with that? Why can't you just simply be (free from all urges to move & free to be, making ever move in pure consciousness)? When we sit with that tension or nothing/boredom, eventually emotions will reveal themselves and through that we rediscover ourselves. 
• Again: Recognize ALL sensations that makeup you and your resistance. Then, and only then, all transforms & heals itself.

Edited March 2 by Spiral Wizard

[Ishanga]

Addiction is just needing something (non essential) that is outside of You to fulfill some sort of need within You...

Most Addiction as we know it today, alcohol, drugs, smoking, sex/gambling, etc, is to either numb You from pain, or seeking a hit of pleasure or dopamine and such.  The essential nature here is that Your low in Awareness or Consciousness, in that You seek outside stimuli to produce an experience within You, when in all Possibility You can do if Yourself naturally, with no need for a outside stimuli, so the higher in Consciousness/Awareness You are the more this comes into play in Your life.  Do I like a self starting car or a crank wheel or push start car, You choose, right now in life ppl are choosing the push or crank starting car as a metaphor..

The Cure for Addiction is just to get to a base level of Consciousness, where Your Peaceful of Your Own Nature, no matter what is going on around You, then You have Clarity of Vision, can see Reality as it Is, not as You think or want it to be which is imaginary or maya at play...

Edited March 2 by Ishanga

[Leo Gura]

2 hours ago, Nemra said:

@Leo Gura, respectfully, isn't it hypocritical to advocate for a sober life while holding a pro-psychedelic stance for spiritual and other purposes?

Nope

[AION]

Having in addiction is like being in chains like a black man back in the day, 

but the chains are in your own mind and what is being chained is your soul for eternal condemnation. 

Our biggest addictions are not in prima materia but in our mind to certain paradigms. In fact addictions to material things and sex are mind stuff too. One has to be a spiritual warrior to even comprehend these basic stuff. Most people don't even understand so they are not even aware they are in a spiritual fight. What we do in this life echoes in eternity.

Edited March 2 by AION

[Ishanga]

25 minutes ago, AION said:

Having in addiction is like being in chains like a black man back in the day, 

but the chains are in your own mind and what is being chained is your soul for eternal condemnation. 

Our biggest addictions are not in prima materia but in our mind to certain paradigms. In fact addictions to material things and sex are mind stuff too. One has to be a spiritual warrior to even comprehend these basic stuff. Most people don't even understand so they are not even aware they are in a spiritual fight. What we do in this life echoes in eternity.

It is not necessarily all Mind, unless I am not understanding what You mean by "Mind".   Its Karma, and Unconsciousness of this Karma.

Karma means Action, and the previous Actions You have taken have lead You up to where You are Now, how You are Experiencing Life and the consequences of all of that.. Action is in 4 areas, Body, Mind, Emotion and Energy, how conscious are You of all the actions taking place in all of these areas all of the time? Most of Us, most ppl are less than 1% Aware of all the actions taking place in these areas, hence Unconsciousness exists for the most part in ppl's lives, they are living by Accident, not via Purpose or Clarity, so therefore Suffering (Addiction is a form of Suffering) is the result...

Edited March 2 by Ishanga

[AION]

7 minutes ago, Ishanga said:

It is not necessarily all Mind, unless I am not understanding what You mean by "Mind".   Its Karma, and Unconsciousness of this Karma.

Karma means Action, and the previous Actions You have taken have lead You up to where You are Now, how You are Experiencing Life and the consequences of all of that.. Action is in 4 areas, Body, Mind, Emotion and Energy, how conscious are You of all the actions taking place in all of these areas all of the time? Most of Us, most ppl are less than 1% Aware of all the actions taking place in these areas, hence Unconsciousness exists for the most part in ppl's lives, they are living by Accident, not via Purpose or Clarity, so therefore Suffering (Addiction is a form of Suffering) is the result...

I agree

Being unconscious is like being in chains..

It is very comfortable to be in such a derp state which is what addiction is. We have to wake up to the unconsciousness.. Some people will never but some who suffered enough will have no choice than to wake up..

I compare awakening of consciousness to the blossoming of a flower. It is amazingly beautiful.

Edited March 2 by AION

[AION]

People say we can awaken without suffering, but I don't think this is possible.

I observed very smart people suffering endlessly. Awakening of consciousness has nothing to do with how smart of stupid you are..

It has to do with ability to maintain an open heart instead of closing your heart. Addiction is numbing of the pain aka numbing of your heart. And only people who have the bravery of a lion can make this leap.

[Santiago Ram]

Not everything I´ve learnt about addiction is BS.

I've seen these two things help:

1. Amends
2. Social service

 

Edited March 2 by Santiago Ram

[Santiago Ram]

@Leo Gura pointed out two main things:
1. Awareness of suffering (conscioussness to see the need for a Sober Life)
2. Trauma healing.

What resources do you guys have on these?

Edited March 2 by Santiago Ram

[Ishanga]

3 hours ago, AION said:

I agree

Being unconscious is like being in chains..

It is very comfortable to be in such a derp state which is what addiction is. We have to wake up to the unconsciousness.. Some people will never but some who suffered enough will have no choice than to wake up..

I compare awakening of consciousness to the blossoming of a flower. It is amazingly beautiful.

Yes Exactly, and where do Flowers come from? Dirt, Soil, Water, Sunlight, and Care! Nothing of where it comes from resembles the Beauty of a Flower Blossoming!!

[Ishanga]

3 hours ago, AION said:

People say we can awaken without suffering, but I don't think this is possible.

I observed very smart people suffering endlessly. Awakening of consciousness has nothing to do with how smart of stupid you are..

It has to do with ability to maintain an open heart instead of closing your heart. Addiction is numbing of the pain aka numbing of your heart. And only people who have the bravery of a lion can make this leap.

I was just talking about this with some colleagues from work Yesterday.. One can learn thru Pain and/or Suffering, most in the world are doing it this way, this is due to Unconsciousness, living by Accident, well once in awhile You win the lottery by accident or luck and life transforms.. The problem with the Pain/Suffering route is that it is dangerous, ppl get caught up in the suffering and can't get out of it, and fall into traps like Addiction and such things, its too risky, only a small % get more Potentials in life this way!

The Path of Bliss is living on Purpose, via Clarity and Consciousness. Its the safer Path, and is possible for everyone.. All Suffering is due to Unconsciousness, everything we can do Unconsciously can be done Consciously, this is the Path of Bliss, and its simple..

First Establish Your BEING, this is You are in Experience of the Reality as it Is, not via Beliefs, Wants, Needs, Survival Instincts and Accumulations (gathering experiences, joy, excitement, achievements, success, etc via outside situations and stimuli), then go out and DO (perform Actions in the World) and HAVE (receive rewards, compensation, buy stuff and such),, Most are doing it backwards, first DOING then HAVING OR HAVING THEN DOING, never getting to the BEING part which is why they suffer!!

So one has to be Peaceful of their own nature before they can go for things like Spiritual Enlightenment or Higher Consciousness realizations imo!!!

Edited March 2 by Ishanga

[Santiago Ram]

@Breakingthewall Yup.

Quote

Addiction is trying to fill your inner void with something, when what you should do to fill it is give it to the world, and then realize that it's not a void, it's full.

Service

[gettoefl]

Everyone is a pleasure hunter - we are all addicts. The addict’s thought is: This world isn’t good enough as it stands; I need more, man, woman. The greater the pain, the more supplements needed to make the world bearable. We all pop them.

Healing is when pain no longer runs the show - when one wakes up one day and feels I am satisfied. To be free of pain is what makes one free of the past’s hold. This is step one.

You will still have pain in the future of course as long as you regard yourself a body and thus you are not in a position to go from pain free to step two - peace full. This is called spirituality. Pain free, past free, is the pre-requisite. If in pain re the past you are too sick and cannot focus on the work. To now attempt spirituality will make it one more addiction. Have to be comfortable (present) and satisfied (past) to undertake this journey. Ditch the pills for just today and affirm, now is perfect. Just a mustard seed of faith brings the whole cavalry of heaven to the rescue.

Edited March 3 by gettoefl

[Verg0]

Addiction is a calling for Love. 

[eTorro]

On 3/1/2025 at 10:20 PM, Leo Gura said:

Ultimately there needs to be a recognition, down to your bones, that sober life is the only way.

 

Is coffee dangerous?

What are your thoughts on coffee@Leo Gura?

Should I cut it off? 

[Yimpa]