Sunmaster

I understand that you can't comment on my experienceitsef. That's not what I was asking about. I also understand that there are no distinct divisions between the outer self and the inner self and the Self, and that the whole system is interdependent, where energy flows both ways. So, if I am getting this right, you are saying it is the outer ego (the personality) alone who creates either consciously or unconsciously the reality it finds itself in. The inner self is not responsible for the outer self's creations. This is where I have trouble.... My outer self had no way of consciously knowing about the Kundalini energy and logically, couldn't therefore have created it. The inner self, not being restricted and being aware of a far larger portion of reality, undoubtedly knows what the Kundalini is all about. It's an energy coiled up at the base of the spine, which once released, rises up through the spine and ultimately erupts from the crown chakra. It is a rare occurrence, but at the same time perfectly natural. The outer ego can try to set the right conditions for it, but ultimately can't force this energy to erupt. It has a mind of its own, so to speak. If we now try to use this information and interpret it through the Seth teachings, I would say that the experience was not created by the outer ego who had zero previous knowledge or experience of it, but by something "higher up", which allowed it to happen. This "something" we can call the entity, the source of the inner self. Or we can call it "grace". Calling it Grace doesn't make it something external to us. In reality, nothing is truly external. It does however imply that a decision was made somewhere up the line, of which the outer ego/personality experienced the consequences. Or maybe there was no decision at all.... maybe it was simply the right time, like when a flower blossoms. It just happened because the conditions were right. Both of these theories still make more sense to me than the idea that the limited outer self created the experience. I agree with you in the sense that the outer self set the conditions for it (time....place...mindset), but not the rising of Kundalini itself. "Our more expansive inner self does not create for us." It (the entity/inner self) does create us (the personality) though, along with all the potential situations we then choose to experience. Correct? I've added a little sketch of the inner/outer worlds, according to how I interpret the Seth material. How do you see it?

Well put. I agree.

Potato potAto

You are jumping to conclusions and making connections that way off. I'm not an expert in Seth teachings like Tippaporn, but from what I read, Seth never promoted the use of any drugs. To compare Snoop to Seth is like comparing Ophra to Buddha.

A question for you then @Tippaporn. Without any prior knowledge of the kundalini energy, neither practical nor theoretical, without ever having heard or read of it, without any expectations as to what should happen,....how could I have created it with my thoughts? When you say "we create our reality", who or what is the "we" you are referring to? The outer ego (the personality we identify with) or the inner ego (that aspect of the wider self that is an intermediary between the ultimate Self and the outer ego)?

I'm not saying it is wrong. I have used them for fun too when I was younger, but in my post I was thinking more of the spiritual applications. Let's not forget that these psychedelic substances (psilocybin, peyote, San Pedro cactus, ayahuasca, Amanita Muscaria and others) are sacraments, used since the dawn of time in shamanic rituals to connect with the spirit world (which in other words is our inner world). The mindset and the setting (place/environment) are crucial here. The set and setting hypothesis basically holds that the effects of psychedelic drugs are dependent first and foremost upon set (personality, preparation, expectation, and intention of the person having the experience) and setting (the physical, social, and cultural environment in which the experience takes place). The chances to have a bad trip are greatly reduced, but even then there is no absolute guarantee. It's not only up to us and our thinking and our beliefs. These sacraments open us to dimensions which go beyond thinking, beyond rational concepts. Shamans and teachers say it is ultimately up to Spirit, or the Grace of God, or the Grace of Kundalini whether there will be a deep and meaningful connection or not. I believe that too.

Different drugs have different effects on consciousness. I prefer psychedelics and endorse the use for therapeutic use and for self discovery. That implies a respectful and responsible use, meaning that the way you use them is not just for fun, to watch the wallpaper morphing or to feel cool at a party. Even with psychedelics there are big differences. Some are super potent, others are more mellow. Some last for 15 hours, others for 15 minutes. One thing they have in common though, is that you don't get dependent on them. They are not like heroin where you can't wait to get the next fix. And yes, they do have the ability to open portals to your inner world that are normally closed. They swing those portals wide open, letting your consciousness connect to aspects that can be wonderful and eye-opening. But if you are not prepared to such a massive influx, it can also be very frightening. Meditation does the same thing, but much slower, so that it is much easier to understand and integrate those changes. Also, the insights gained through meditation become permanent, while those gained through psychedelics are often temporary...or better...the insights are huge but it takes longer to integrate them.

White and light brown.

I'm not saying that I would abolish all police. It is certainly necessary. However, it is also true that there is a lot of abuse of power going on, coupled with very poor training, the increasing militarization and overall tribal thinking of the whole organisation that has made the police force something very different from the "protect and serve" they ought to follow. And if the good cops don't speak up against the bad cops (which they rarelyndo), who can control the controlers?

How do you even come up with statements like this? ????

Yes, you are the voice of reason. I agree. I come from a place that is very similar to your wonderful pictures and you have no idea how much I miss hiking alone through the forests, whenever I feel like it. This contact with wild nature is something I never really felt here in Thailand. I need to create it with Tippaporn's technique.

It's a big topic, but ultimately I think that nobody has the right to tell another person whether they can or can not ingest something to alterate their consciousness, as long as they don't harm others. People ingest coffee, tea, sugar to modify their consciousness. A lot of people ingest media propaganda, which changes their consciousness as well, and we all know how fast that can degenerate (see post 9/11 frenzy with consequent illegitimate war based on lies). So it's laughable that a government would penalize someone for smoking a joint, where the worst that can happen is having a laugh with friends and getting the munchies. The same goes for euthanasia. I don't accept that a government can have the right to decide how I should die. Religious institutions should not interfere in these issues, but sadly do. For these and other reasons, I will always distrust and resist so-called "authorities". They are a bunch of unconscious robots voted in by masses of unconscious robots. The police are even worse: unconscious, tyrannical and power-tripping robots.

Thailand.... I used to live in London for 5 years, doing a poorly paid job and just came out of a very difficult and abusive relationship. I was ready for a drastic change. A friend called me from Thailand where he recently moved to with his girlfriend to teach English. He helped me to find a teaching job and a place to stay. It was just perfect and everything seemed so easy and smooth. I packed my stuff and shipped it to my hometown in Italy. After just a month I was on a flight to Bkk. All I had was a backpack and little money. My plan was to stay here for a year and then go back to start work as a sound therapist. Wife.... A month after that I met my future wife however, and I've been here ever since (17 years). I did my best as a teacher and was quite good actually, but it wasn't my vocation. I couldn't see a future in it and that made me anxious. Fortunately, without much conscious thought or planning and with near zero investment, I started a small business doing what I was really passionate about: motorcycles. After just a few years, I was able to leave the teaching job and do it full time. Best decision ever. I got married when money was tight. Our wedding was small to save money, but that didn't matter to us. We were happy and in love. Now we are doing much better financially. We are able to return to Europe once a year for 2 months and we like to travel around Europe 2-3 weeks on my trusted old Moto Guzzi. Well, tbh I like it more than my wife does, but such is life. ???? One thing I used to tell my students, was to imagine their lives as a book they are in the process of writing. At the end of your life, would you enjoy reading a book that is filled with stories about doubt, fear, laziness, playing it safe, boredom?....Or would you prefer reading stories of success, bravery, discovery, risk and fun? We are creating those stories as we go along and we have the choice to make the book interesting and exciting, or not. I know which one I would choose. Is this bold enough? PS: Over 2000 posts but I'm still a Newbie. The story of my life...

Yes, this makes sense to me. Not sure how that would help you with a job or lover though. ???? Why would you reject the idea that everything in existence is a product of an interaction between two polarities? Do you think that conflicts with Seth's teachings? Maybe you remember what I said about my experience with the kundalini energy. I always used this metaphor: Normal, day-to-day consciousness is like walking in total darkness, with only the help of a small candle to light up the path before you. The light is just enough to illuminate a few steps in front of you. The experience of the Kundalini, or in other words, the expanded consciousness, was like a light switch was turned on. The light of a million suns illuminated everything and showed me a 360deg landscape as far as they eye could see. To use the puzzle analogy, it was like I was shown what the final puzzle looks like once finished. Even though it was a temporary thing, it still made it a lot easier afterwards to choose the right pieces and made it easier to put them together correctly. It also allowed me to understand difficult philosophical and spiritual concepts that would have been too cryptic for me before. Shortly after I remember discovering the amazing books of Ken Wilber, who tried to formulate a theory of everything. I was completely fascinated and wanted to share my discovery with my friends. They all returned the books after a couple of days. Not one of them could follow what Wilber was saying. This may all sound very self aggrandizing, but it's the truth. I can't tell it differently. The practical way to use Seth's teachings you mention is a very good one. I used and still use it as well. ????

Where is my drink?!? ????

Great analogy. The only difference is that when we usually start an actual puzzle, we are given a complete picture to follow, which makes it a lot easier and faster. In real life, we are given the pieces, but very rarely are we allowed to see what it should look like once finished. Furthermore, we don't get all the pieces at once. Most of the times, new pieces will only materialize once a section has been completed first.

That's what I mean when I say that imparting knowledge from the "top down" doesn't really work. A teacher (or just someone who has more knowledge about a specific subject) has to identify the level of the student (or anyone who doesn't have that specific knowledge yet) and guide him from that level onwards, feeding him bites that he can actually swallow. What good will it do to teach quantum entanglement to a first year university student? @Tippaporn A while back I asked you to give some practical examples of the Seth teachings. Things we can use right now to make our lives better. Things that won't leave us dazed and confused. ???? Got any succulent bites?

Duality....all that which comes from the non-dual, everything you can sense with your outer and inner senses. On one hand the non-dual is beyond the dual, but at the same time it is the very ground from which the dual arises. The symbol of the TAO depicts exactly that. The duality is movement, change, opposites, no end, no beginning, the cosmic dance. Both form a circle, which represents non-duality. Maybe Seth meant that purpose can be found in the world of being (creation/becoming/transformation/action/duality), and that it can not be found in "not being" (non-duality). If that's the case, I guess I agree with him. ???? Exactly....everything has a purpose. Everything you can name, imagine or dream of has a purpose. But what about what is beyond that? That which has no form, no time, no space, that which is beyond all comprehension. This is what I'm referring to when I say no purpose. We like to assume that our system (our world/the material) has a purpose, but then we automatically deduce that a bigger system which includes our smaller system, must also have purpose. This is debatable however. What I'm saying is: purpose is a product of duality and the never ending action of the yin/yang. The Tao incorporates the yin/yang, but is itself immovable and has no purpose. Yes, this idea is possible. But then it's the students interpretation that is faulty, not the teaching. Besides, the same happens in most other religions. Isn't this what I said? A goal with an end = time; progression = change/action = duality towards a nothingness = non-duality Yes, I agree. When you speak about growth, you speak about duality....the yin and the yang. To the TAO, speaking of growth is meaningless. The TAO simply IS.

Yes, of course I meant it this way. Are you trying to give me a hard time today? ????

When I say "There is no purpose behind it all." I refer to the highest perspective I'm able to imagine. That non-dual Ground of all Being which is pure being-ness. My intuition tells me there is no purpose there, just IS-ness. Once that non-dual Being-ness splits into duality, everything else is created, including purpose. That's why I added that the ultimate lack of purpose in non-duality doesn't preclude that we can give our lives meaning and purpose. As I see it, the purpose of our existence is to "know thyself", gather all necessary pieces of the puzzle, choose the path with a heart, return to the Source.....only to realize that there was no purpose to start with. Like many masters told us, we strive to become enlightened, we meditate, we read books, we do this and that, but at the moment of enlightenment the masters realize the absurdity of it all. We are already that which we are seeking. There is nothing we can do to make it happen. It's a paradox and it's still blurry in my mind, but like I said...my intuition is telling me this and I think I'm unto something.

It sounds scary, but the more I think about it, the more I believe there is no purpose behind it all. This doesn't mean that we can't give our lives a meaning, though. I agree with you on the part that we are not meant to know. We don't come into this life knowing who we are. We forget, and there is a reason this happens. But again, this doesn't mean that we can't know or at least strive to know.

Something that is not bound by time is neither old nor young. It always was and will always be, because it just IS.

Yes, Stephen Fry mainly attacks organized religion. I, like you, can understand where he comes from. The problem is that a lot of people take that to mean that there is no validity in any subjective spiritual experience, which is something completely different from religious dogma. It is just thrown in in the same bag. The cave diving is just an analogy, but as flawed as it seems, there are still many similarities that work well in explaining the attitude of some towards spiritual issues. You say experiences vary and are as diverse as there are observers. This is true in a way. It is also true that those diverse experiences (of the inner world) follow certain paths and organize themselves in certain structures or frameworks. That's why it is possible to speak of a Yogic Path or teacher-student relationship in the first place. The experiences one accumulates when practicing meditation are not random and chaotic, but show challenges and turning points that are common to all practitioners. This is where the teacher comes in and is able to advise the student. Without this framework, there would be no teaching, no learning. It would just be pure randomness and all we could do is hope for the best.

Do you remember the Thai kids trapped in the cave? There was an English cave diver who had decades of experience in diving in enclosed spaces. He knew what he was talking about when he gave his opinion on the danger of the expedition. He had the knowledge and the willingness to explain the situations to those who didn't have his knowledge and experience. Then comes Mr Musk, who knows absolutely nothing about cave diving, but who thinks he has the right answers to the problem at hand. When the cave diver pointed out that Musk's solution was completely useless, Musk proceeded to call him a pedo. As you probably know, this is a true story, but it is also a great analogy of the behaviour of a lot of people when it comes to religion, spirituality and states of consciousness. How often has Stephen Fry been taken as an authority figure to discredit religion and spirituality? How often has Richard Dawkins been hailed as the voice of reason regarding spirituality? Both of them are just like Musk, in that they don't know the first thing about exploring consciousness. Yet, people will listen to them, thinking they must know since they are famous intellectuals. But when someone points out that not all opinions are equal (based on direct experiences and knowledge gained thereof), they are quickly labeled as "superior", "know-it-all", "guru", "arrogant" and so on and so forth. Should the cave diver have acted differently? Should he have sucked up to Musk and tell him how brilliant his idea was? Maybe stroke his ego a little? Does experience and knowledge of a given subject not count for anything anymore? Are all opinions equal and equally valuable? Another fallacy is the argument that since nobody can know about "God" or provide proof of a "higher realm", therefore all opinions are equal. It's interesting that this argument only comes from those who have never even tried to practice meditation or introspection. Because those who actually do practice, know that "knowing thyself is knowing God". So, this is what it all comes down to. The naysayers claim that no-one has the capability to know God by knowing themselves. After all, if they can't do it, it must mean that nobody else can.....right? And how dare those arrogant wackos say that they can? They must be out of their minds! They must be smoking some good sh!t! They must be naïve, delusional individuals. That being said, I think that those people who do have more experience and knowledge must also try to be patient and compassionate with those who don't. If you have a rebellious teenage son (or daughter) who thinks he knows everything better, you as the parent will not try to ridicule and belittle him. You, as the older, wiser, more experienced person, will do your best to direct your son, and you do that out of love for him. This is the responsibility we as believers and practitioners have towards those who are still unconscious. Not an easy task for sure, but it's an ideal we have to live up to if we take the path seriously and if we want to be taken seriously.