How can I stay aware and enlightened in a busy culture and society

[Someone here]

Ramana Maharshi was a homeless nobody who died from cancer and he didn't complain a single bit .

Be grateful that you live in the technology era where you can connect with other spiritually interested people. 

Enlightenment is your nature. Not something you do or maintain.  That's all "leo-ism" 

[Dodo]

59 minutes ago, Javfly33 said:

I was being kinda of funny of course because in this forum they love the word God.

I wouldnt say God is small or Big, because those are physical qualities. I would say God is Nothing. But this Nothing exists, this Nothing can control and own a body and a mind.

When this Nothing is activated in a certain way, there is a certain intelligence that can consciously handle the body and mind. When is not that much activated, this inteligence is sleep and the body and mind goes into compulsive, repetitive mode, the same as an animal.

Thats why i said to the OP, is doesn't have anything to do with their social character. The social character can stay and you can enjoy the benefits it provides. As long as clearly you are that is just a costume you are wearing.

Ok, but I still do not agree. The control thing is supposedly a mere illusion, aka, the illusion of free will.

What you described up to the Control part is Awareness. Control is the mind, being something controlling the body, for me, is not an accurate description of whats going on. Dont get me wrong, control is great and practical, but awareness Notices, it doesnt control. If Control happens, awareness notices this, its not awareness controlling form, its awareness knowing both the form and th sense of control and activity.

 Just like in the cliche dream analogy. In a dream you are not some invisible entity that controls the character, you are the awareness that knows the dream. Within the dream when you are that dream character, it feels like you are controlling it and nothing else in the dream (ignoring lucid dreaming here).. Same for waking. The awareness is the only verifiable real thing in both dreams and waking. However if there even is anything other than that can be up to discussion.

How can we claim we control this bodymind if you are  Not even aware of half the processes that happen within the body at any moment?

 

 

Edited December 6, 2023 by Dodo

[Javfly33]

4 minutes ago, Dodo said:

Ok, but I still do not agree. The control thing is supposedly a mere illusion, aka, the illusion of free will.

What you described up to the Control part is Awareness. Control is the mind, being something controlling the body, for me, is not an accurate description of whats going on. Dont get me wrong, control is great and practical, but awareness Notices, it doesnt control. If Control happens, awareness notices this, its not awareness controlling form, its awareness knowing both the form and th sense of control and activity.

 Just like in the cliche dream analogy. In a dream you are not some invisible entity that controls the character, you are the awareness that knows the dream. Same for waking.

How can we claim we control this bodymind if you are  Not even aware of half the processes that happen within the body at any moment?

 

 

I get where your coming from. But open your mind (ironically lol) that there is another level of "panel of control" beyond the mind.

Of course, the control im talking about is not mental control. Is not control via thoughts. Is Direct control via Consciousness/You.

You have to realize the mere action of you moving your legs that is already intelligence. Notice how you dont "think" moving your legs. You just do It. That's a rudimentary form of intelligence and Will.

7 minutes ago, Dodo said:

Just like in the cliche dream analogy. In a dream you are not some invisible entity that controls the character, you are the awareness that knows the dream. Same for waking.

So you are aware of stuff. That cool but that is not activation of Consciousness.

 

[Twentyfirst]

Don't think of sedentary life and busy life as two different things. It's just life. Have you ever noticed that your life goes back n forth from sedentary to busy? Thats because you can't separate the two 

[Dodo]

1 hour ago, Javfly33 said:

I get where your coming from. But open your mind (ironically lol) that there is another level of "panel of control" beyond the mind.

Of course, the control im talking about is not mental control. Is not control via thoughts. Is Direct control via Consciousness/You.

You have to realize the mere action of you moving your legs that is already intelligence. Notice how you dont "think" moving your legs. You just do It. That's a rudimentary form of intelligence and Will.

So you are aware of stuff. That cool but that is not activation of Consciousness.

 

I do in fact realise its intelligence to even perform the "simplest" of moves and actions. You would have to spend decades to program a robot to do these simple thins and even then it doesnt have sponenaity, just coded to specifically do something that looks intelligent  but is just 0s and 1s telling it what to do at any moment  

 

Look maybe you found some control panel above the mind and making that space more conscious, but that space is not the awareness itself, it is also within your awareness. Awareness eats all and can not be seen. Im sure you know that, im not teaching you here, just conversing what i know so far.

 

[Javfly33]

2 minutes ago, Dodo said:

. Im sure you know that, im not teaching you here, just conversing what i know so far.

 

Yeah me neither, im also in exploratory Mode, just sharing how i suspect things work.

2 minutes ago, Dodo said:

  

ook maybe you found some control panel above the mind and making that space more conscious, but that space is not the awareness itself, it is also within your awareness. 

Well, is a certain dimension that is not the mind. 

 

[inFlow]

@Javfly33 2 hours hatha yoga + 35-60minutes Kriya.
 

I know this problem, people are too busy with "stuff" in order to go deep in this work. It's only done if you really want it. I don't force people in doing this, but if you wanna be serious about it then dedicate time to it.

[Dodo]

15 minutes ago, Javfly33 said:

Yeah me neither, im also in exploratory Mode, just sharing how i suspect things work.

Well, is a certain dimension that is not the mind. 

 

Ok but certain dimension implies 2, i thought the best approximation of truth with words is not 2 ? How can there be controller and controlled, arent the two one and the same being?

 

Basically if i find myself identifying with certain controller, i would apply the self inquiry question "who is aware of that controller" and the root of that identification will begin to die out because im not watering it. I actually think if you identify as any type of controller, thats the ego separating itself from the Oneness as being that other thing controlling other things, if you get what i mean.

Edited December 6, 2023 by Dodo

[freddyteisen]

14 hours ago, Dodo said:

Dan Millman vibes, right?

@freddyteisen check out the book/movie the peaceful warrior. It's about a gymnast and spirituality 🤸‍♂️ 

 

Maybe you find answers you need in there.

Trailer: 

And here's the full movie: 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y5w3_7j65Kc

 

 

Thanks for the answers Dodo - will find time to watch it

[freddyteisen]

14 hours ago, cetus said:

@freddyteisen Stick with it and it will all integrate over time. You're young and off to a great start. Some may not discover what you have until their 30's 40's or even later. Cudos to you!

Yes, thanks! Sometimes I can forget it for long periods, because my ego feel it’s waste of time and unnecessary.
How do I integrate it over time, and remind myself that I’m actually not this story of a young man, I’m not my body or thoughts. I’m just a bubble of consciousness right now letting some fingers write on a keyboard to produce symbols. 
How do u keep reminding yourself of the fact that you’re not your thoughts, but awareness.?

[freddyteisen]

7 hours ago, gettoefl said:

you are all that on the level of form and from all appearances it sounds like you have a most enviable human existence

you are spirit as well as form and this work is about balancing those because what is certain about form is one day you have it next you don't

thus it is good to explore your true nature not just enjoy your seeming nature

things like meditation, studying/researching spirituality, purification, contemplation, lifestyle discipline etc. are all helpful

basically it is about knowing who you are so you don't need to be a slave to what the world is telling you

it is doing what is best for you and not simply making the world happy

wishing you well, you seem a lovely man, and hope you will knuckle down to what we are all telling you

Thanks. Good perspective - to see it as a balance between the spirit/awareness and form. I’m working on not neglecting the spirituality practice, so I can integrate that more and do that while I am doing other everyday modern world stuff.

[freddyteisen]

6 hours ago, An young being said:

You don't have to erase your ego, you just have to let your thoughts not intrude your experiences. Practicing mindfulness is the key, and you can integrate it into your everyday life, meaning you can be mindful all throughout the day. Don't make even that as a goal, instead practice mindfulness for a set time everyday, slowly increasing it every week. Habit is the key for mindfulness, don't try to be mindful the very next day all throughout the day, since time is on your side. Everyone advices to be mindful, but nobody creates that simple habit . ( Including me, I am eating while typing this, ha ha!). 

Combine mindfulness along with loving kindness and gratitude meditations, remember that trying to be selfless is as important as trying to know the truth. Both complement each other in weird ways. Enhance your definition of success and purpose with creating a positive effect towards society. It tremendously rewards you in terms of happiness. It can be either active or passive and needn't be something huge.  It's not about erasing your ego, it's about expanding it as much as possible, and being compassionate and grateful helps those goals.

Stop consuming all the intellectual content all over the internet that tells you that you don't exist, you are the only one who exist, you don't have any free will, you don't have any purpose,blah blah blah..., without the experience itself that lead to all these interpretations. Use them to increase your interest towards Spirituality rather than using them to come to conclusions. 

Before venturing into any deep meditative or psychedelic practices ( although I don't personally recommend psychedelics at this stage) and interpreting any spiritual experiences, make your mind as open as possible, which expands your ego even further. The more you expand your ego, the lighter and less sensitive it becomes, and the easier it becomes for you to handle the insights from the experience. Sitting alone and enquiring what beliefs and biases let to the words you spoke, the thoughts you created and the actions you have taken is one way of developing open mindedness. You should be open minded enough to realise that all the logical interpretations you and others make out of the spiritual experiences may not be the ultimate truth, for its your logical mind interpreting the so called truth in various ways. Just enjoy the insights and experiences in a way that doesn't negatively affect your every day experiences. Instead, allow them to enhance those experiences.

 

Really appreciate that answer. Mindfulness, open mindedness and being more loving.

the loving part I’ve been implementing recently after listening to Leo’s how to practice love. (even though they don’t know I’m doing  this work, because it would freak them out if they listened to Leo.)

And I think people close to me can feel that, because I’m more loving towards everything.

[freddyteisen]

5 hours ago, inFlow said:

@freddyteisen I dont wanna force you, but I would highly recommend you to practice yoga daily. Physical+Kriya. There is no way mental masturbation will stick with you in day-to-day things. But you will have to sacrifice something in order to do your sadhana, it takes a lot of time. up to 3~hours daily. But once you break through it's effortless non-duality. People always want a fast way to being awake, but I have to tell you there is nothing but hard work to this. Of course with time you will spend less and less time in yoga+kriya, but initially you will have to spend A LOT of time and effort.

The thing with yoga is that you need to align your inner energies and break blocks in your body. All of the karma and traumas are locked in your physical body and it's in the way for God to live through "you".

Interesting. Yea 3 hours is a lot, but that’s what this stuff takes. Do you have some yoga resources? Like videos to follow

[NoN-RaTiOnAL]

the real question is not how to detach from all your stories but are you sick and tired of living them?
detachment is a natural outcome of you becoming tired of this nonsense called life. 
are you truly tired of doing all of that? or are you just afraid? 
if your afraid than learn to deal and outgrow those fears to truly become tired of living life.

[Javfly33]

3 hours ago, Dodo said:

Basically if i find myself identifying with certain controller, i would apply the self inquiry question "who is aware of that controller" and the root of that identification will begin to die out because im not watering it. I actually think if you identify as any type of controller, thats the ego separating itself from the Oneness as being that other thing controlling other things, if you get what i mean.

Who said you have to identify with the controller?

I just said, there is a controller, and you can use It.

In the same way your car has all sorts of buttons. You can press them, to make the car do stuff. But that doesn't mean you are the buttons.

2 hours ago, Dodo said:

Ok but certain dimension implies 2, i thought the best approximation of truth with words is not 2 ? How can there be controller and controlled, arent the two one and the same being?

 

Well, i Guess the experience of individuality has those dual aspects. 

 

3 hours ago, inFlow said:

@Javfly33 2 hours hatha yoga + 35-60minutes Kriya.
 

I know this problem, people are too busy with "stuff" in order to go deep in this work. It's only done if you really want it. I don't force people in doing this, but if you wanna be serious about it then dedicate time to it.

Is just that most people dont have so much time! 

[Dodo]

3 hours ago, Javfly33 said:

Yeah me neither, im also in exploratory Mode, just sharing how i suspect things work.

Well, is a certain dimension that is not the mind. 

 

 

Look at this Anna synchronicity, she's doing self inquiry as we speak live  

[cetus]

2 hours ago, freddyteisen said:

How do u keep reminding yourself of the fact that you’re not your thoughts, but awareness.?

I Just turned 67 and I started this journey when I was about the same age as you. And as life goes, I started working a steady job, got married, two children came shortly after. You get the idea. Life happens. And even though life took center stage over enlightenment I never forgot my first taste of awakening. It may have been overshadowed at times by life's events, but it was always very close. And even to this day it's a bit of a struggle not to be swept away by certain life events as they pop up. I'll tell you one thing that has recently happened that has upped my level of consciousness 10 fold 24/7.  I have recently been diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition. So, I have become almost hyper-conscious no matter what is happening in the external world. So, my suggestion is very simple. Appreciate each moment like it's your last. And every time you find that you have slipped into an unconscious state bring yourself back to awareness being at the forefront just as you are doing now. A mantra meditation is often used to bring the attention back to a point of focus. When one catches themself wandering from their point of focus, they gently bring themself back to awareness. And one can learn to expand that practice to living life as if it were one long mantra meditation.

[inFlow]

@freddyteisen I do, but it's in my native language. From the most basic 1 hour sessions to advanced 2 hours. Maybe with time, in the comming year, I will release my own how-to videos exclusively to this forum for hard-core people. But I still have to do some work for myself in order to teach it to others, especially video formats because it need a lot of info because doing improper yoga can actually do harm for the psyche.

[freddyteisen]

2 hours ago, cetus said:

I Just turned 67 and I started this journey when I was about the same age as you. And as life goes, I started working a steady job, got married, two children came shortly after. You get the idea. Life happens. And even though life took center stage over enlightenment I never forgot my first taste of awakening. It may have been overshadowed at times by life's events, but it was always very close. And even to this day it's a bit of a struggle not to be swept away by certain life events as they pop up. I'll tell you one thing that has recently happened that has upped my level of consciousness 10 fold 24/7.  I have recently been diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition. So, I have become almost hyper-conscious no matter what is happening in the external world. So, my suggestion is very simple. Appreciate each moment like it's your last. And every time you find that you have slipped into an unconscious state bring yourself back to awareness being at the forefront just as you are doing now. A mantra meditation is often used to bring the attention back to a point of focus. When one catches themself wandering from their point of focus, they gently bring themself back to awareness. And one can learn to expand that practice to living life as if it were one long mantra meditation.

Tank you cetus. That’s a good way of living as a constant practice of mantra meditation, whatever moment you’re in life be aware. Like now as I type this I feel ‘my’ fingers and ‘my’ breathing. Or today I was in a car driving and I was very amazed by every movement and colors of traffic, something that normally is boring or annoying is incredible. How everything is running smoothly. Being aware of more beautiful details.