How do I trust that I’m not crazy for believing in enlightenment?

[WaterfallMachine]

I’ve been following Leo for about a year, but I’ve left this forum for a long time so I can focus on developing myself than reaching out to people here. I’m back, and well, I’ve gotten so many changes in my life I haven’t before. It’s just that while it’s gotten a lot better, I still struggle with thinking I’m crazy.

I’ve read so many of Leo’s recommended books, and it still blows my mind. So many paradigms and worldviews have changed, and I feel isolated for it. I’ll still continue with working hard on the practices, but I’d like some help in being able to believe myself — direct observation has taught me otherwise, but the world still thinks differently. It’s disorienting.

What can I do? How can I believe I’m sane?

[Arkandeus]

the desire to enlighten is bigger then the ego's fear of being crazy

be crazy, let the ego breakdown

every cell, every tree, every human being, every animal, every rock

they all reflect enlightenment, the truth

Edited May 11, 2018 by Arkandeus

[Prabhaker]

9 minutes ago, WaterfallMachine said:

How can I believe I’m sane?

A sane person is well adjusted in society. A sane person lives according to society. 

Buddha followed different masters for many years leaving his wealth. Had he any reason to trust that there is something called enlightenment? This was his madness. Believing in enlightenment is believing in a fantasy. 

[who chit]

Are you taking or adopting abstract ideas,concepts and/or the experiences of others to be empirically true?  There's really no belief,concept,idea etc, more true than another. The one who believes in Sasquatch and/or conspiracy theories is no different than the one who believes in multi dimensional time traveling aliens and/or, of all things,"flat earth",loll. Always use your discrimination and make belief or non belief a choice. Just because the majority may accept/deny something as being true/untrue doesn't mean you have to also.

I've experienced "metaphysical" happenings, and always caution to never hold them as being ultimately true or real. The imagination of the mind can conjure up all kinds of delusion/illusion. The strength of ones belief in it determines it's reality.
 

Quote

the world still thinks differently

The sanity of the world can always be called into question,loll.. One of the great aspects of  b.s. free inner/spiritual work, is it's ability to improve one's clarity of perception or "seeing things clearly". The more clarity in perception one gets,the more apparent the (in)sanity of this world becomes. It's no wonder why a lot of realized beings choose to live a more secluded life.

Edited May 11, 2018 by who chit

[WaterfallMachine]

@Arkandeus Hmmm. I’ll try to do that. @Prabhaker What do you mean by enlightenment as a fantasy? I know there’s really no such thing in the literal sense, but I have to use some kind of metaphor or language as an oversimpliication to communicate it.

@who chit Hmm. The first sentences you said about belief being the same helped. Though I’ve been told that the world can be wrong for years, and and I’ve been telling that to myself for months. I know it thereotically. Just trying to make my emotions accept it on a practical level is hard. Any advice?

 

Edited May 11, 2018 by WaterfallMachine

[tsuki]

1 hour ago, WaterfallMachine said:

How can I believe I’m sane?

Sanity is a social construct that measures two things:

1. your ability to express your experience to everyday people
2. everyday people's ability to relate to your experience

There is no way for you to trust that you are sane, as that requires input from others.
You can work on your ability to communicate your experience, so that your questionable sanity becomes normal.

Edited May 11, 2018 by tsuki

[WaterfallMachine]

@tsuki It’s helpful for you to define it that way. Though the issue is not that I can’t explain it well or at least the best I can possible — it’s more of an emotional fear of rejection that’s preventing me from trying to explain in the first place. Though explaining my ideas on this forum to receive feedback does help. Is that what you mean? 

I’m not sure if these ideas can ever become normal, at least in my lifetime. It only seems that it can be normal only in certain outsider groups. So I’m not sure what you mean.

I guess if I take a look at it now, I can’t really receive full feedback about my sanity. Since there’s no way to fully communicate the Truth, I have to validate myself on another basis. But I don’t know what that is.

Edited May 11, 2018 by WaterfallMachine

[tsuki]

3 hours ago, WaterfallMachine said:

it’s more of an emotional fear of rejection that’s preventing me from trying to explain in the first place.

Try doing it in the opposite way.
Given your understanding of yourself, try to explain to yourself why ordinary people are that way.
If this explanation says that they are better/worse than you - you have the root cause of your fear of rejection.

You have to find an explanation that does not rank you in any way.
That any differences come with both pros and cons that balance each other evenly.
This is when you will be able to speak to other people about your experience freely.

If you feel better than them, you will seek rejection in their reactions.
 

Edited May 11, 2018 by tsuki

[Prabhaker]

34 minutes ago, WaterfallMachine said:

What do you mean by enlightenment as a fantasy?

It is an uncomfortable arduous pilgrimage to some unknown destination. One never knows whether one will be able to make it or not. It is gambling. To remain non-meditative is easy in a way. You have not to do anything about it, you are already non-meditative.

[Gabriel Antonio]

I think you need a real-life friend who you trust and who you can be vulnerable with.

Good friends make me feel healthy. That's more important than any spiritual accomplishment.

A good place to meet friendly and supportive people is at your local yoga studio.

[Saumaya]

@WaterfallMachine As far as enlightenment is concerned, believing in enlightenment is missing the point. Believing in enlightenment is just like  believing in any other thing. The whole reason the quest for enlightenment starts is because one realises that there beliefs are not the Absolute Truth. 

As far as Absolute Truth is concerned, it does not require your belief. It just is.

[Arkandeus]

10 hours ago, WaterfallMachine said:

@tsuki It’s helpful for you to define it that way. Though the issue is not that I can’t explain it well or at least the best I can possible — it’s more of an emotional fear of rejection that’s preventing me from trying to explain in the first place. Though explaining my ideas on this forum to receive feedback does help. Is that what you mean? 

I’m not sure if these ideas can ever become normal, at least in my lifetime. It only seems that it can be normal only in certain outsider groups. So I’m not sure what you mean.

I guess if I take a look at it now, I can’t really receive full feedback about my sanity. Since there’s no way to fully communicate the Truth, I have to validate myself on another basis. But I don’t know what that is.

you will receive feedback for your sanity

we are talking about unity consciousness,the universe supports you, the universe knows what you're doing

connected consciousness on the level of every atom, you will know, that feeling the truth as solid as you walk on concrete

infinite intelligence, you are learning lessons of infinite intelligence which will have you walk through your fears, 

every blade of grass every human being, your friends and family, you will see enlightenment in all

the only ego we see is our own

[robdl]

12 hours ago, Prabhaker said:

A sane person is well adjusted in society. A sane person lives according to society. 

 

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." - Jiddu Krishnamurti

[Viking]

@WaterfallMachine dont believe in enlightenment, believe in discovering the truth, by whatever means. all perspectives are false.