Survey: What are your expectations from spirituality?

[WeCome1]

Spirituality (consciousness work, mysticism, psychonautics, "this work", whatever you prefer to call it) is a huge long-term investment and, in most cases, a life-long commitment. And, like with other projects of similar proportions, it is always a good idea to have proper, adequate and realistic expectations. If your financial aspirations amount to "GETTING RICH" or "BEING WEALTHY" - it is difficult both for you to know when you have arrived or if you are even moving in the right direction, and for others to help you in any meaningful way, should you ever ask them for help. But it becomes infinitely more manageable once you have at least some rough vision like "I want to have a lifestyle which includes X,Y and Z financed by a career/business in the field of ABC and a portfolio of investments in DEF"; even the vision of only "lifestyle XYZ" by itself is a giant step in the right direction. Obviously, expectations like "being more spiritual", "awaken as deeply as possible" and "explore myself as God/consciousness" present a similar issue.

So, I propose a survey:

If you consider yourself new to spirituality: What do you hope to get from it? How do you envision your "spiritual lifestyle" endgame?

If you already have some significant experience: How did your expectations about spirituality evolve from beginning to where you are today? Were there some expectations that were totally off? How do you envision your "spiritual lifestyle" endgame at this point?

Proposed rules/guidelines for this thread:

1) Try being specific and avoid using ambiguous clichés, buzzwords and one-liners like "Truth with the capital T" or "being a Sage" without explaining exactly what they mean to you personally. What problems will be solved? How do you expect to feel? What kinds of questions will be answered? How will all of that affect your lifestyle, behavior? What kind of consciousness work will you continue doing?

2) Let's keep this thread as a collection of data to reflect on, and a "safe space" to express your own vision without being judged. A separate thread can be made for discussion, critique and opinions, if need be. If it is obvious to you that someone "will never awaken this way" - please discuss this elsewhere. But let's allow clarifying questions like "what did you mean by X?" and "can you elaborate on Y?"

I've seen a thread like this work miracles on two separate occasions. It can unearth truckloads of inadequate expectations and really save you years. Never mind being a great source material for Leo's future content *wink*. Let's see how it fares here.

Edited June 8, 2023 by WeCome1

[Someone here]

Good thread ? 

Spirituality to me is the direct investigation of truth and fleshing it out from falsehood.  That's what All the methods aim at . Especially meditation. I meditate because my thoughts obscure the clarity of there being nothing but the present moment. Whereas thought might suggest that there was a yesterday or there will be a tomorrow. But when you clean your mind of all thoughts .the truth is what's left .

I'm not awake .or enlightened. But I'm conscious of pretty amazing stuff. We can talk about them if you like .

[Carl-Richard]

2 hours ago, WeCome1 said:

If you already have some significant experience: How did your expectations about spirituality evolve from beginning to where you are today? Were there some expectations that were totally off? How do you envision your "spiritual lifestyle" endgame at this point?

I used to think I wanted enlightenment and that it would be cool and awesome, but in reality, from the perspective of the ego that thinks it wants enlightenment, it's terrifying and insane. The price for transcending your mind is nothing short of losing your mind. The price for transcending your life is nothing short of losing your life. My current "spiritual lifestyle" is trying to get to that point of being able to accept all that, to where the ego sees no alternative. The result will be the end of suffering, and merely existing in a selfless, timeless, doingless, knowingless state. Every time I've approached that state, it feels like I'm approaching a black hole. I have no idea what is truly on the other side, but from what I can feel when it's tugging on my body, and from feeling like time and space is collapsing, and from what I can imagine when I stare down the endless dark abyss, it's absolutely divine.

Edited June 8, 2023 by Carl-Richard