Looking for advice on personal happiness and life purpose

[Someone here]

I've tried a lot of stuff (material stuff)  in order to be happy and as expected I end up craving for more. Because the nature of those things ive tried is transitory. It's like chasing a mirage. So I'm convinced that chasing experience or external conditions Will not result in deep satisfaction (and this goes against what 99% of people are busy doing). It Will result in a temporary satisfaction before the longing resurfacing again. I haven't found a resolve to this issue yet. Except maybe complete monk-mode and abstaining.. Fasting etc... Which doesn't work either. Some people are just not born to be monks. I am one of them . But the dilemma I'm stuck with is that neither indulgence in pleasure nor abstaining and sobriety leads to true Happiness. So then what brings happiness? 

I tried to make a list ..and it included:

• health .
• Life purpose. 
• Awakening. 

But I'm neither in a good health recently because of smoking and eating crap junk food and Soda etc nor do I'm achieving anything related to my life purpose (which Is to become a philosopher )..nor am I awake .

Any advice appreciated ? 

[Jowblob]

Happiness can only be found in distractions in materialistic paradigm. But true unmovable happiness can only be found in infinity and acceptance of yourself.

[Someone here]

6 minutes ago, Jowblob said:

But true unmovable happiness can only be found in infinity and acceptance of yourself.

I don't believe there is such thing as unmovable happiness..because reality is in constant change .everything is fleeting.  Can you point to something that doesn't change in your experience?  Only nothing doesn't change. 

[Osaid]

32 minutes ago, Someone here said:

It's like chasing a mirage.

Yes.

32 minutes ago, Someone here said:

So I'm convinced that chasing experience or external conditions Will not result in deep satisfaction

That's right, because you're chasing something that doesn't exist. If you're chasing something, it has to not exist in your experience first. If it does exist in your experience, there is nothing to chase after.

33 minutes ago, Someone here said:

It Will result in a temporary satisfaction 

Not even that.

If you look closer, the satisfaction happens in the present. You just imagine "I chased after this", but that satisfaction is not coming from you chasing anything.

34 minutes ago, Someone here said:

I haven't found a resolve to this issue yet.

You can't be satisfied by something that doesn't exist.

If you want to chase after something, then do that. That's all you need to do to be satisfied with what you are doing. If you want a pet cat, your desire is NOT to instantly make a cat appear in front of you. Your desire is to get up in your immediate experience, find the keys, drive your car to the pet store, talk to someone, etc. You are always creating RIGHT NOW, even including the desires of things that do not exist right now.

Let's say that you could simply snap your fingers and magically make 100 dollars appear in front of you. Someone stops you from doing this by holding your hand in place. Now, a new satisfactory desire arises, which is to remove the person from your hand. But, the removal of that person is NOT equivalent to having 100 dollars, it is just something that LEADS to the 100 dollars. So, how is this seemingly unrelated experience now "infused" with desire? It's because the only thing to desire is just exactly what you want to do in order to work towards that goal, because that is literally all that can exist in the present moment. When you realize that 100 dollars is created by doing something, that desire for 100 dollars takes a back seat, and instead the DOING replaces that desire, because the doing is all that exists.

The only thing you can desire is what exists right now, so simply just ask yourself: What do I want to do RIGHT NOW? Look at what is currently in your reach. What you can reach right now becomes what you desire.

[LastThursday]

I wrote about it here, take from it what you will:

TLDR: living a happy life is like good art, and you have to tap into your humanity.

Happiness always starts with a choice.

[Someone here]

@LastThursday @Osaid thank you for the advice guys .?

Would you guys mind if I want to hire you (at least one of you) as a life coach? 

I've been following your posts for quite a bit now and I feel like you guys know your shit .

What do you think ?

(And of course I will pay you )

Edited October 2, 2023 by Someone here

[LastThursday]

Sure, PM me and let's discuss further.

[ChrisZoZo]

You’re not serious about happiness you’re serious about keeping yourself in the state of self  suffering delusion. (Personal identity state) become enlightened and even suffering will not be suffered. If you want to get serious, pray to become serious and your prayer will be answered.

Edited October 2, 2023 by ChrisZoZo

[Harsh Bagdia]

On 02/10/2023 at 2:08 AM, Someone here said:

I tried to make a list ..and it included:

• health .
• Life purpose. 
• Awakening. 

But I'm neither in a good health recently because of smoking and eating crap junk food and Soda etc nor do I'm achieving anything related to my life purpose (which Is to become a philosopher )..nor am I awake .

Any advice appreciated ? 

Hello ?

You are on the right track my friend..you just don't recognise fully that you are. 

You are good at philosophy. I appreciate your honesty. 

Let me continue from where you left. 

Let's talk about the the three aspects of happiness you came up with. 

 

1. Health

- Quitting Smoking

You need to quit smoking ASAP. I was once a smoker too.

My reality radically shifted once I quitted smoking. 

I made a video on it.

It will challenge your core beliefs about smoking and it will be difficult to watch. 

 

You will love it though as you are into philosophy. 

 

I dare you to watch it completely. Then you may choose whatever you think is right. 

 

 

Food And Nutrition: 

 

I am not an expert on this matter. 

I am also still experimenting.

I did Satvic Movement's 21 day Ultimate Health challenge and reduced my junk food intake by almost 60% and have included fruits & vegetable juice in my diet. 

They work like magic.

I wish I can live on just fruits and vegetables. 

https://satvicmovement.org/

 

Exercise: 

What you can do if you don't like traditional way of exercising is (what I did for myself),

Club it with something which you love doing. 

For example:

- I do Hatha Yoga as I am into understanding consciousness. So I don't mind doing exercises if it helps elevates my consciousness ?

- I am planning to get a dog for companionship. So while training him I will automatically exercise. 

- I play football and frisbee with my younger brother. 

You can come up with your unique creative solution for exercising your body. 

 

2. Life Purpose

Have you taken Leo's life purpose Course? 

And also, can you share more details about your purpose? 

Becoming a philosopher is a result.

And You already are a philosopher??

You did some good philosophy coming up with these 3 points for happiness. 

Life purpose is not just a result but also what impact you are wanting to create on society. 

What impact will your philosophy have on other lives? 

 

3. Awakening 

It's okay that you are not awake.

Awakening is rare. It is very precious. 

The question is do you want to be awake? 

How badly do you want to be awake? 

What are the top most (most efficient) methods for awakening? 

For me it was a mix of Self Inquiry + Contemplation + Psychedelics + Reading Spiritual Texts + Watching and thinking on Leo's videos (and some others too) + Yoga + sheer intensity of Will 

 

After you have your first awakening experience, it will keep happening and it will happen more frequently. 

Once you get a taste of it, there's no turning back? It is delicious ?

 

I wish you fast and powerful awakening experiences??

 

[Leo Gura]

The mistake is seeking happiness at all.

Rather than seeking happiness, just live the kind of life you find most meaningful and deep, and stop worrying happiness. Happiness will come and go like clouds in the sky.

Spiritual and self-help teachers have sold you a happiness wild goose chase. Just do the things in life that interest you the most, which you are passionate about.

What you're after is not happiness but more like a challenging, meaningful life. A meaningful life is not easy -- it will come with suffering and frustrations. But it will be rewarding.

You need to be very careful with these spiritual fantasies of happiness that you've been sold. They will ruin your life.

Edited October 3, 2023 by Leo Gura

[Yimpa]

If you really desire it, chase happiness until it becomes very clear in your mind that it ain’t sustainable; that it’s making you miserable in the long-term.

I talked to one of the hottest chicks long distance during the pandemic. She was one of the sexiest humans you could possibly imagine. We even had some of the best phone sex ever. It’s as if heaven’s gates opened every time she moaned. I’d control her Bluetooth vibrator all the way from a different place in the world. It was totally better than porn! And she sent me some of the best nudes, it would make your mouth water like an endless waterfall. All of this, free of charge.

So… did all of this fantasy and ecstasy fulfill me? Of course not! Deep inside we were both still miserable as fuck. And, as you can predict, our relationship came and went.

I realized that we were both using each other to avoid working on our own traumas and insecurities. She opened about many dark secrets about her that are honestly too traumatizing to talk about on here, and are of course private matters. I tried to help her, but she refused help from anybody. 

This is a lesson I’m glad I learned early on, rather than later, so as to not make the same mistake again.

Focus on your own life first and stop depending on others to satisfy and complete you.

[EdgeGod900]

@Leo Gura  Doesn't your definiton contradicts Ralston's definition of happiness? He defines it as being happy in the moment and separating happiness from survival. Furthermore, he says that if you're suffering, you are happy suffering. I'm 99.99% sure you're using the generic definition of happiness, but I need that 0.01% to be certain.

Edited October 3, 2023 by EdgeGod900

[Leo Gura]

Ralston's definition of happiness is so broad that it is virtually useless.

He expects you to be "happy" even if you get attacked by a bear.

Okay, good luck with that. Let us know how it goes.

The reality is that none of you will live up to this absurd ideal.

Edited October 3, 2023 by Leo Gura

[Inliytened1]

29 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

Ralston's definition of happiness is so broad that it is virtually useless.

He expects you to be "happy" even if you get attacked by a bear.

Okay, good luck with that. Let us know how it goes.

The reality is that none of you will live up to this absurd ideal.

Why not? Isn't happiness a matter of perspective? If it is, why does it have to do with physical pain?  Yeah - it sounds crazy- but as your health fails- you personally have still found a way to be happy, have you not?

[Harsh Bagdia]

5 minutes ago, Inliytened1 said:

Why not? Isn't happiness a matter of perspective? If it is, why does it have to do with physical pain?  Yeah - it sounds crazy- but as your health fails- you personally have still found a way to be happy, have you not?

Hello ?

May I join this conversation between you and Leo? 

I am assuming Yes, ok? 

Thanks ?

 

 

So Moderator @Inliytened1, 

I feel honored to share my perspective on this matter, thanks for this opportunity. 

 

While your thought is beautiful (that happiness is matter of perspective), 

You are taking survival for granted. 

Don't discount Survival for GOD CONSCIOUSNESS. 

Survival Is Necessary For GOD Consciousness to exist. 

If any of us get eaten by a bear, it would be a dis-service to humanity.

As being part of probably the most conscious community on this planet, we have potential to do wonders for our fellow humans. And animals and plants and "inanimate objects"..

I won't forgive you if you get eaten by a bear even in the name of spirituality. Yes you can call me how much ever non-spiritual as you want. 

And that I am too emotional. And etc etc..my eyes are too watery to write properly. 

I just can't imagine the pain anyone would go through while that attack. 

 

 

Well ok I am good now?

 

 

If you are in God Consciousness Always Then Maybe When A Bear Attacks You, you can dis-imagine it into the existence/get eaten by it and become the bear itself. 

 

No human being has reached that level not even Sadhguru in my understanding and experience...

 

I can't even imagine what radical state of consciousness that would be.

 

Also, why do we need that?

Don't we have other things to engage in and master? 

Personally speaking, I would run my ass off if I see a bear in front of me..

I would run faster than a cheetah..

Because I love my current form just too much..

Yes I am very very selfish.

And every human being is. It is in our genes. 

From my perspective it's a God gift. Fear is good in this sense. 

The Higher Happiness is not to remain happy everytime. 

But become whatever it is necessary in a given moment. 

I remember Leo's words: You will do everything for Survival. 

Survival is deeply deeply intelligent. 

 

About Leo being happy with his health condition; 

It is not that he wants to remain that way.

Humanity's medical system has failed him. 

It is not his fault. It is medical systems fault. 

I wish I could come up with some magical medicinal treatment which heals his health. 

If anyone here belongs to medical field,hey why don't you do some research on it? 

It's our Leo we are talking about here..

 

My point is: 

It's stupidity to expect Leo to be happy with his health condition instead of giving him solutions for his health. 

 

That was all.

 

Thanks for reading?

 

[Inliytened1]

@Harsh Bagdia my friend.  Thank you for joining the dialogue.   You are missing the point.   But I think your intuition is telling you something and you are acting on it.  And that is commendable.   Of course if a bear takes a chunk out of you it is going to hurt like hell.  But i am not talking about that.  I am talking about taking the mind and putting it over the body.  You see, the mind always ruled the body - in fact, it created it.  But now it must be put to the test- by none other than you - Mind.  You are not the body, my friend.   You have simply misidentified.  So now- my point was - yes - while you can feel physical pain, and survival relies on this - you can even transcend pain - and fear.  When you do, you might just find yourself surviving.   Now isn't that the paradox. 

Edited October 3, 2023 by Inliytened1

[Harsh Bagdia]

7 minutes ago, Inliytened1 said:

@Harsh Bagdia my friend.  Thank you for joining the dialogue.   You are missing the point.   But I think your intuition is telling you something and you are acting on it.  And that is commendable.   Of course if a bear takes a chunk out of you it is going to hurt like hell.  But i am not talking about that.  I am talking about taking the mind and putting it over the body.  You see, the mind always ruled the body - in fact, it created it.  But now it must be put to the test- by none other than you - Mind.  You are not the body, my friend.   You have simply misidentified.  So now- my point was - yes - while you can feel physical pain, and survival relies on this - you can even transcend survival - and fear.  When you do, you might just find yourself surviving.   Now isn't that the paradox. 

Yes I get what you are saying. 

Your point is really advanced; like I said that it is beautiful. 

 

I guess you are missing my point. 

I am saying that I won't take such a risk.

It's my choice.

 

I am happy being at a beginner level spirituality ?

And I am asking you also to not take such a risk.

 

Really Don't Do It!!!!!

 

And I am A Three Part Being. 

Body-Mind-Soul complex named Harsh Bagdia. 

My body and my mind takes instructions from Soul. 

Not everytime..Body and mind have their own ways too. And I love it?

 

Soul(me?)says,

Protect The Body because body is an instrument for me to realize myself. And it is as much me as the mind and soul is. 

My body and my mind are divine for me. 

 

I won't sacrifice or instill pain intentionally on my body for any such spiritual experiments even if Leo, my master (who I consider as authority after my self) says me to do it.

 

So good luck to you convincing me to do it???

 

 

In short I am saying that I don't want to transcend survival and fear. 

 

Namaste

 

 

 

[Harsh Bagdia]

32 minutes ago, Inliytened1 said:

@Harsh BagdiaOf course if a bear takes a chunk out of you it is going to hurt like hell.  

I won't allow that bear to take a chunk out of my body even in my thoughts. 

 

I am just not interested in that. 

 

I humbly request you to not use such a statements again not for me, not for yourself and not for anyone else other than other wild animals that bear already eats. 

 

[An young being]

On 02/10/2023 at 2:08 AM, Someone here said:

I've tried a lot of stuff (material stuff)  in order to be happy and as expected I end up craving for more. Because the nature of those things ive tried is transitory. It's like chasing a mirage. So I'm convinced that chasing experience or external conditions Will not result in deep satisfaction (and this goes against what 99% of people are busy doing). It Will result in a temporary satisfaction before the longing resurfacing again. I haven't found a resolve to this issue yet. Except maybe complete monk-mode and abstaining.. Fasting etc... Which doesn't work either. Some people are just not born to be monks. I am one of them . But the dilemma I'm stuck with is that neither indulgence in pleasure nor abstaining and sobriety leads to true Happiness. So then what brings happiness? 

I tried to make a list ..and it included:

• health .
• Life purpose. 
• Awakening. 

But I'm neither in a good health recently because of smoking and eating crap junk food and Soda etc nor do I'm achieving anything related to my life purpose (which Is to become a philosopher )..nor am I awake .

Any advice appreciated ? 

I would say being peaceful is more important than being happy. That doesn't mean happiness is not important. Trying to be always happy is. Here are some things I found that can bring happiness into anyone's life:

Don't overdo anything, including being happy. Mix different activities together instead of overdoing a single activity. Be open minded to new experiences and don't come to conclusions before trying them

1. Loving kindness , compassion and gratefulness meditation 

2. Exercise

3. Sleep

4. Stop comparing yourself to others who are above you. Compare yourself to people below you.

5. Have a pet

6. Enjoy a walk in nature

8. Give what you can towards orphanages, old age homes and poor people 

9. Plan a vacation

10. Be mindful

11. Spend money on experiences ( food, movies, games, vacations) rather than materials ( big house, big car, dress etc. )

12. Limit your desires.Stop chasing desires that are unlimited and have less probability of attaining.

13. Spend more time with family and friends

14. Smile

15. Learn to say no

16. Reduce expectations

17. Accept death

18. Don't consider yourself as special, mingle with community

19. Learn to be humorous

20. Be humble. Don't act like being humble

[Francis777]

3 hours ago, Inliytened1 said:

Why not? Isn't happiness a matter of perspective? If it is, why does it have to do with physical pain?  Yeah - it sounds crazy- but as your health fails- you personally have still found a way to be happy, have you not?

that doesn't mean he's happy about his health situation.