I am enlightened. Sincere seekers: ask me anything

[Annoynymous]

@winterknight i often find myself in a position when i ask too many questions to myself of which i dont have answers. In my mind i try to answer those but in the end most often those answers arent satisfying to me. It feels like paradox and i discover myself as confused. What do u have say on this matter? 

[winterknight]

1 minute ago, Serotoninluv said:

@winterknight For some seekers, can low doses of psychoactive substances be used as a tool to bridge the gap between an egoic mindstate and the "I AM"?

I don't know. I've taken some high doses of psychedelics and they can cause cosmic trips, but I don't think they are either necessary or enough on the spiritual path. But they might be motivational for some people.

My belief is that any dependence on an external substance will have to be given up, one way or the other, eventually.

5 minutes ago, Annoynymous said:

@winterknight do you feel irritated while answering so many question? I can feel unease in myself while asking you because it feels like i am asking a lot of questions tirelessly. In fact, i imazing myself as a child who asks stupid questions to adults! Although to me the questions are important....

Ha, it's my karma, because I also asked a lot of questions at the beginning of my search.

[winterknight]

6 minutes ago, Annoynymous said:

@winterknight i often find myself in a position when i ask too many questions to myself of which i dont have answers. In my mind i try to answer those but in the end most often those answers arent satisfying to me. It feels like paradox and i discover myself as confused. What do u have say on this matter? 

That's why you have to ask who is the "I"? Is it really the one asking questions and getting confused? Or is there a permanent peace and stillness running through all that?

[Salvijus]

@winterknight what would you recommend for someone who can't fall asleep in the night? 

[winterknight]

12 minutes ago, Salvijus said:

@winterknight what would you recommend for someone who can't fall asleep in the night? 

I'm not an expert. But there are a lot of common suggestions. Exercise during the day, no caffeine in afternoon/evening, don't work, watch tv, or use computers/phone in bed, don't use computers/phone within 1 hour of bedtime, drink warm milk before bed, have a "sleep ritual" (you do exactly the same thing every night before you fall asleep), take vitamin D  supplements if you are short, etc. 

If you're having serious problems go see a doctor, and if you can, a sleep specialist.

Edited November 15, 2018 by winterknight

[Outer]

47 minutes ago, winterknight said:

the body-mind is just an appearance, an illusion, within the Self

Why does the body-mind change with awakening if  it's just an illusion within the Self? How come any body-mind can write of anything related to Awakening? Why are there measurements in body-mind to gauge progress of Awakening like peaceful mind, calmness, steadiness of concentration and inquiry? Might there not be a relationship with the body-mind and the Self beyond just one being an appearance or illusion within the Self?

[Evelyn]

@winterknight I know this was asked before in various forms, but I am still confused about something. When I do the self inquiry I focus really hard on this I but then after a while my mind just sort of gives up since I have nothing to really focus on. Then the focus automatically shifts to the sensations of my body or the room, there is just an awareness of what is going on at the moment and I relax. Should I continue going back to focusing on the I or just be aware of what is going on.

Also I still have thoughts going on most of the time, I try to ignore but I fell it's like a broken TV, going on and on, sucking me in from time to time. What should I do about it?  Was it the same for you?  

Thank you a lot. This topic is amazing .

Edited November 15, 2018 by Evelyn

[Manjushri]

@winterknight Dear winterknight, thank you very much for all the replies. This thread is a gem. 

I have more questions :

I don't do self inquiry, but I meditate 45mins of shamatha-vipassana daily. I feel tangible progress, but can meditating alone bring awakening? What are the pros/cons od medit vs self inquiry? 

Also. I tried therapy, but my therapist seemed pretty unconscious, not on the spiritual path. Told me some good insights but still. How would you structure therapy? His idea was basically to have no structure, and just told me to speak about anything on my mind. How do you 'progress' this way? I think psychoanalysis should go a different way! 

[Mu_]

1 hour ago, Outer said:

Why does the body-mind change with awakening if  it's just an illusion within the Self? How come any body-mind can write of anything related to Awakening? Why are there measurements in body-mind to gauge progress of Awakening like peaceful mind, calmness, steadiness of concentration and inquiry? Might there not be a relationship with the body-mind and the Self beyond just one being an appearance or illusion within the Self?

the mind-body is effected by its environment.  Often what happens when awakening happens or progress towards awakening (although this is a illusion of sorts) what your pointing to as the mind-body is effected since awaking up is the same as environmental change, like moving from a violent ghetto to a more tranquil suburb in america.  Psychological effects are going to natural happen, since "environmental" triggers/threats have disappeared.  So awakening to Self is from a mind-body standpoint a moving to a new location.  You see, generally environment is interpreted by mind-body as you use it in a "I'm here", and theres an internal environment to me and an external one called outside (tree's, birds, humans, etc).  Awakening turns this on its head and distinctions are blurred, stripped and one can see ultimately there is no outer/inner (along with this awakening there is generally new truths and understanding that strip away psychological suffering as well, generally cultivated through spiritual practice/inquiry). 

All these factors are a radical moving to a new environment from the Mind-Body stand point.  This new environment has new qualities or "new residents" called bliss, expansiveness, calm, thrill, freedom, ease, love, joy.  The Mind-Body (personality) then in this apparent new environment are often effected as a result.

Edited November 15, 2018 by Mu_

[who chit]

2 hours ago, winterknight said:

14 start reading. read the Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Vasistha, the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. start educating yourself

All good reads.  I highly recommend Ashtavakra Gita also.
Hell of a thread @winterknight ,thanks for being here.

Here's one good translation,there are many, of the Ashtavakra 
http://yogananda.com.au/upa/Ashtavakra_gita/Ashtavakra_Gita01.html#top
 

Edited November 15, 2018 by who chit

[who chit]

2 hours ago, winterknight said:

14 start reading. read the Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Vasistha, the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. start educating yourself

I would like to add though,Ashtavakra Gita and those above would be pretty heavy for new seekers,especially Patanjali's Sutras. A good litmus test for reading them is if there is a struggling hard to figure out what is being conveyed,it means you don't understand and it will just cause more confusion. If you read a passage once and it hits straight to the heart as undeniably,inarguably true, then that one is a seed that will bear fruit. Keep it. Meditate on it.
These books all convey Truth,but the unripe mind or one who lacks right discernment, will collect what is simple and distort the hell out of it. They're not written for the mind or intellect,they're speaking to that one,that is not the mind.

Your nature is pure awareness. You are flowing in all things, And all things are flowing in you.
But beware The narrowness of the mind! (1.16) - Ashtavakra Gita.

Edited November 15, 2018 by who chit

[EvilAngel]

winterknight: what is the source of anger? Can one be enlightened and still experience strong feelings of anger? I am triggered very easily sometimes and it is uncontrollable. I honestly started thinking I was enlightened, and then, bam! one phone call to my Dad and I feel like smashing my head off a wall! 

[Preetom]

@winterknight

Another question related trying to do self inquiry all day.

Is it helpful to ask alternative questions like, 

1) Where is I, the speaker while talking

2) Where is I, the listener while listening to a lecture

3) Where is I, the doer while an activity 

so on..... I mean engaging in action and subtly looking for the 'subject'.

Or is it better to stick to only 2-3 minimum amount of questions?

 

[winterknight]

5 hours ago, Outer said:

Why does the body-mind change with awakening if  it's just an illusion within the Self? How come any body-mind can write of anything related to Awakening? Why are there measurements in body-mind to gauge progress of Awakening like peaceful mind, calmness, steadiness of concentration and inquiry? Might there not be a relationship with the body-mind and the Self beyond just one being an appearance or illusion within the Self?

No, there is no such relationship, but it's impossible to understand why until you have recognized yourself. All the so-called changes are illusion, and even the idea of a body-mind writing about the illusion is illusion. 

But look, it really doesn't much matter. This is what happens when you talk about what cannot really be talked about. For the seeker's purposes, they can consider the body-mind something that they don't have to draw conclusions about -- they can investigate the "I" and then later figure out for themselves what they want to call the relationship.

5 hours ago, Evelyn said:

@winterknight I know this was asked before in various forms, but I am still confused about something. When I do the self inquiry I focus really hard on this I but then after a while my mind just sort of gives up since I have nothing to really focus on. Then the focus automatically shifts to the sensations of my body or the room, there is just an awareness of what is going on at the moment and I relax. Should I continue going back to focusing on the I or just be aware of what is going on.

Also I still have thoughts going on most of the time, I try to ignore but I fell it's like a broken TV, going on and on, sucking me in from time to time. What should I do about it?  Was it the same for you?  

Thank you a lot. This topic is amazing .

If you are in a relaxed, peaceful awareness of things you can just let it be. The next time you feel dissatisfied or irritated in any way, immediately ask "who is it that is dissatisfied?"

When you notice any of the "broken TV" thoughts, if they bother you, use that to inquire into the I again.

5 hours ago, Gligorije said:

@winterknight Dear winterknight, thank you very much for all the replies. This thread is a gem. 

I have more questions :

I don't do self inquiry, but I meditate 45mins of shamatha-vipassana daily. I feel tangible progress, but can meditating alone bring awakening? What are the pros/cons od medit vs self inquiry? 

Also. I tried therapy, but my therapist seemed pretty unconscious, not on the spiritual path. Told me some good insights but still. How would you structure therapy? His idea was basically to have no structure, and just told me to speak about anything on my mind. How do you 'progress' this way? I think psychoanalysis should go a different way! 

Meditation can be useful preparation if makes your mind peaceful, but someday you will want to know "Who is doing this meditation and why?" That is when you can inquire into the I.

Therapists don't need to be on the spiritual path to help you. You are working with them on your emotional problems, and that will help you spiritually. And external structure is not needed -- you will bring the structure by what you talk about. There will be progress. That is absolutely how good psychoanalytic/psychodynamic therapy works. But bring your concerns up to the therapist. 

4 hours ago, who chit said:

All good reads.  I highly recommend Ashtavakra Gita also.
Hell of a thread @winterknight ,thanks for being here.

Here's one good translation,there are many, of the Ashtavakra 
http://yogananda.com.au/upa/Ashtavakra_gita/Ashtavakra_Gita01.html#top
 

Yes, Ashtavakra Gita is excellent

4 hours ago, EvilAngel said:

winterknight: what is the source of anger? Can one be enlightened and still experience strong feelings of anger? I am triggered very easily sometimes and it is uncontrollable. I honestly started thinking I was enlightened, and then, bam! one phone call to my Dad and I feel like smashing my head off a wall! 

Hah! Yes parents can trigger us.

The source of anger is a certain set of beliefs you have about how people "should" treat you in comparison to how they actually do. And this of course depends on identification with the body-mind. An enlightened person does not identify with the body-mind, so while it may seem from the outside that they get angry, on the inside they are not.

Yes, anger is difficult to control. Best things for it are a) therapy, b) self-inquiry (who is the "I" who feels so bad?) c) writing/art/drawing to express how you feel in detail, d) taking action and actually clearly communicating your feelings to your dad in as calm a way as you can.

1 hour ago, Preetom said:

@winterknight

Another question related trying to do self inquiry all day.

Is it helpful to ask alternative questions like, 

1) Where is I, the speaker while talking

2) Where is I, the listener while listening to a lecture

3) Where is I, the doer while an activity 

so on..... I mean engaging in action and subtly looking for the 'subject'.

Or is it better to stick to only 2-3 minimum amount of questions?

 

No, you can ask those questions if they work for you. In whatever activity you are doing, the point is -- however you ask it -- to try to orient yourself towards the I. You will know you've found it when the mind is at peace.

Edited November 16, 2018 by winterknight

[StephenK]

@winterknight What fundamentally drives us towards Enlightenment? Is the desire for happiness? Is it the desire for truth? 

[winterknight]

7 minutes ago, StephenK said:

@winterknight What fundamentally drives us towards Enlightenment? Is the desire for happiness? Is it the desire for truth? 

If you really want to know the answer, to this question, then you have to ask "who is driven towards enlightenment?" And that will take you down the rabbit hole...

But if you only want an intellectual answer, then it really varies. One Hindu answer is  that the soul lives many lifetimes, explores all of creation, sees how empty it is, and craves some permanent satisfaction.

So yes, the desire for permanent happiness, for undeniable truth.

[SoonHei]

@winterknight

I ask you this from the point of view of TRUTH

 

When it is said, past present future all exist in the absolute simultaneously

How is that so?

I understand that the "whole of existence" is generated each moment by the SELF.

 

But is this an understanding in the illusion which breaks down at the TRUTH level?

 

That since there is only NOW

What appeared to happen yesterday is now gone and won't be there again ? Thus no past/future. Only now.

So again, NOW is only now.

Not all of past/present/future together just there... 

?

[Ar_Senses]

@winterknight

Hey there! You've said that working with psychology is 90% of work. Before I had some bias about psychoanalysis, I thought that Gestalt or Transpesonal psychology has more progressive theories and practices, I've went Gestalt psychotherapist for about a year. What do you think about Gestalt school? Is it beneficial or I'll better find for myslef a psychoanalyst?

If so, how can I find the right one? I've always thouth that psychoanalysis is very long and has a little potential for the potent growth.

Also I had a problems in my relationship - we often fight with my GF and don't hear each other. We thinking about pair psychotherapy, what your thoughts on it? What the most effective way to solve relationship problems? Also she and I had a story of bad relationship.

Edited November 16, 2018 by Ar_Senses

[Annoynymous]

@winterknight what do you think of rationality and logical thinking? What are the positive side and limitation of of rationality and logical thinking?

[DecemberFlower]

@winterknight What is subconscious mind? Is there a point of no return in this enlightement path?

Edited November 16, 2018 by DecemberFlower