Shadow work / self reflection in relation to Krishnamurti’s understanding the self

[DrewNows]

Is it necessary to figure out/understand why we behave a particular way by going back into our “past” (using memory, our story, timeline) to understand/heal trauma and our shadow aspects? 

I could see it helpful for those with severe mental/mood disorders. 

J Krishnamurti invites his audience to learn through observation w/out evaluation of thought and emotion in relation to self, seeing the false division and total movement of thought/psychological time. This meditative alertness separate from thought, he calls total attention and  is the integration in itself of the different illusive aspects of mind, allowing for boundless freedom. 

 

Edit: I suppose there’s a level of humility necessary to embody such a groundless form of being  

 

“To be free of all authority, of your own and that of another, is to die to everything of yesterday, so that your mind is always fresh, always young, innocent, full of vigour and passion. It is only in that state that one learns and observes. And for this, a great deal of awareness is required, actual awareness of what is going on inside yourself, without correcting it or telling it what it should or should not be, because the moment you correct it you have established another authority, a censor.”

Quote from Jiddu Krishnamurti’s book, freedom from the known

 

 

Edited May 20, 2019 by DrewNows

[tsuki]

4 hours ago, DrewNows said:

Is it necessary to figure out/understand why we behave a particular way by going back into our “past” (using memory, our story, timeline) to understand/heal trauma and our shadow aspects? 

In my experience, it is helpful to intimately know the thought-stories about my past. Distilling them down to insights, to root causes, makes them repetitive, mundane. They loose their grip on attention and simply let you deal with the underlying problem instead of blaming or retaliating.

There is no need to bother other people when you know that you can take care of your own needs, so I think it fits into shadow work to some degree.

[mandyjw]

You know how people always say that their life flashes before their eyes when they think they might die? In the process of "dying" to self, you life will flash before your eyes. You can't honor past lives, or no beginning no end if you don't go back and recognize and thank all the teachers of your past who you thought were just fucking your life up. All the time they were really manifestations of God there to awaken you. if you can't go back and make peace with God in all the ways he raised you/loved you and abused you to make you the perfect you that you are today, then you can never love and embody your true self.

Because it was you the whole time. 

Sometimes when your house is really messy and someone is coming over, it's a good idea to shove everything in the closet and under the bed. But inevitably later on if you want to be comfortable in your own home, you'll have to sort all that stuff out and put it in its proper place. 

[Truth Addict]

@DrewNows

Consider Maslow's hierarchy..

Sometimes even very simple deficiencies, if not brought into awareness, can cause serious problems.

The basic needs of our biological selves are very important, they control the ego-mind to a very high degree.

If you feel thirsty, go drink.

If you feel hungry, go eat.

If you feel horny, go fuck, jerk off, semi-jerk off, whatever.

If you feel tired, go rest.

If you feel sleepy, go sleep.

Although that might seem very simple and basic, but never underestimate the power of fulfilling the basics.

The ego-mind feels threatened when not fulfilled, therefore causes unconscious chaos on its way to get what it wants.

Give the ego-mind what it wants, and get your freedom in exchange 

Of course, it's not always optimal, but make sure you don't trigger the ego, cuz it's a fucking beast!

It's hard to tame a hungry beast.

[mandyjw]

@Truth Addict I highly suspect that being forced to fast has given you a kind of spiritual maturity that you do not yet fully appreciate about yourself. 

[Truth Addict]

@mandyjw ❤️

Thank you Mandy ?

It's easy to learn and grow when you have such a great, and lovely teacher 

[DrewNows]

Thanks all ?

@tsuki interesting. Yes not to deny whatever arises in thought. Sort of reminds me of exploring a belief and in a sense it is the same thing 

@mandyjw I don’t think so Mandy. That’s just going too far ?? And no, you like my messy house or get out! (Sarcasm)  

@Truth Addict Totally sounds like the ideal strategy necessary for integration. If and when I do trigger the beast I’ll do my best to feed it some awareness 

@Marinador yes to what? Humility? 

[mandyjw]

@DrewNows I only let the people I love see my messy house.  I guess that should include everyone.

 

[DrewNows]

@mandyjw uh oh there’s that “should” statement ?

it’s interesting I’ve always liked to question why we do certain things and it seems there’s a process of understanding as Tsuki said in your journal

sefish-selfless-SELFish 

[Matt8800]

@DrewNows Shadows can develop by denying, repressing or not accepting the reality of past pains. 

1. Acknowledge the complete truth of the pain. Let yourself feel the emotions. When this happens, you can identify the source of the shadows.

2. Accept the reality of the past. This includes forgiveness.

3. Once you acknowledge and accept, you can finally let go.

4. The shadow's influence will be gone.

Edited May 20, 2019 by Matt8800

[Forestluv]

@DrewNows I’ve been exploring reconditioning my mind/brain/body and think you raise a really good point. It is really tempting for the person to defer to what it views as authority as well as get immersed into thought stories. For example, a person may be trying to figure out their anxiety and get rid if it. Geneticists may say there is a genetic component, psychologists may point to environmental inputs, buddhists may point to attachment and identification, nondualists may point to a form of transcendence. They may all say “this is what your anxiety is and what you need to do”. It’s tempting for the person to get immersed into that. All of that information and perspectives can be helpful, yet what I’m finding is that there is much much more. . .

The deepest insights for me arise while observing the dynamics of the mind and body play out in real time. One is like an absolutely clear crystal observing the appearances within the crystal. There is observation of the anxiety appear. The bodily sensations, the mental thoughts, the linking of past memories and future thoughts. The continuation if previous experience. The desire to move from one place to another. Observing how the mind and body is conditioned, yet without creating new thought stories that the mind identifies with. 

In this clear place of observing/being I’m finding it possible to “massage” out mind conditioning/block/framework- similiar to massaging out a tense muscle. Yet I’ve also found that in a state that transcends the personality and can clearly view mind-body dynamics - the concerns that are very important to the person (such as relieving my anxiety), might not be so important anymore. 

In terms of reconditioning the mind, I’m finding a “trans-personal” space that views the mind-body from “above”, yet not to the point of “trans-human”, where the awareness to healing one’s own mind-body dissolves and awareness is expanded toward healing all of humanity. That’s a great space too, yet one still “returns” to one’s own conditioned mind-body and realizes there is still reconditioning work to be done at that level. 

[DrewNows]

22 minutes ago, Matt8800 said:

@DrewNows Shadows can develop by denying, repressing or not accepting the reality of past pains. 

1. Acknowledge the complete truth of the pain. Let yourself feel the emotions. When this happens, you can identify the source of the shadows.

2. Accept the reality of the past. This includes forgiveness.

3. Once you acknowledge and accept, you can finally let go.

4. The shadow's influence will be gone.

Great understanding of shadow work, appreciate this 

@Serotoninluv wow what a powerful deep multi perspective on exploring the human condition and the inevitable mind fucks 

i really appreciate this clear articulation and expansiveness 

will enjoy reflecting on all these great perspectives and insights ??