Sunmaster

I don't think that it's wrong or negative to speak of a meaningless existence. There are plenty of "spiritual" people (I know at least one) that came to the same conclusion and came to terms with that. Personally, I'm not quite there yet...not even sure I want to go there. However, I can see that there can be more than one interpretation of this idea. One of surrender and acceptance (like my friend) and one of hostility towards life which can lead to chronic depression. I'm not trying to put you in one or the other category. Just trying to understand.

With quality of life, I don't necessarily mean the physical aspect, although that is closely connected to it. I mean, does your way of thinking paint the world in a matte grey color, thus taking away the more vibrant aspects of life? Does it give you discomfort when you're alone with your thoughts? When did you start thinking this way? What interests me is the concept of "meaningless existence". Can you elaborate? I like solitude a lot as well, but I also value being understood by others when I feel the need to share my experiences. Maybe you haven't found someone in the "real world" to share yours, but you're welcome to do so here if you're so inclined. I certainly believe it. In fact, I think about death all the time. Not in a morbid way, but more with an excited anticipation....a bit like when you're a kid and your birthday is coming up soon.

I understand and believe in your good intentions. Nevertheless, it appears there are 2 sides of you at work. Do you feel that the intimate part (the way you think in private) reduces the quality of your life or are you content with the way things are right now? What would happen if you were to show your true self to others?

I'm almost as bad as you. LOL Incidentally, I just had another such experience. Farang husband of my wife's friend....we meet for the first time. I drive on the conversation, asking questions about all sorts of things, trying to find common ground, picking up on answers and trying to dig deeper from there. I'm genuinely interested in other people's experiences. But nothing much coming from the other side, not even one question asked. The final straw was when he took out his phone mid conversation and started answering a business email. That's when my eyes gloss over and I go into a stupor. Needless to say, we won't become friends anytime soon. 55

Do you think it would be possible to find a way, a state of being, where these 2 extremes can be integrated in one authentic personality? From what you describe, it seems as you are putting on a mask of congeniality for the outside world, while there is a deep discrepancy to how you really feel.

Never ending, I agree....but going nowhere, not. We have come a long way, both individually as well as in the tone and scope of the discussions. If you read any one of the first hundred pages, you'll know what I mean. In any case, we are not here to find "the ultimate answer", but use these pages to confront ourselves and others as a way to better understand ourselves and the world. Of course, some still come here to sow drama and discord too, but not so much anymore. Hang around if you like.

Because having a goal, a result projected some time in the future, an expectation of reward for the work we do right now....is all a construct of the mind and is there to satisfy the ego. And feeding the ego is exactly what we want to avoid. "I meditate because I want to be enlightened." => The ego desires being enlightened, and since enlightenment is what emerges once we stop identifying with the ego, it therefore prevents that very thing from happening. So, practice, practice, practice....without the hope for a reward, without the desire to become something else, without a goal.

Spirituality is not about how many books you've read, how many quotes of your favourite teacher you've learned, not even how many amazing experiences you had....it's much simpler and more direct than that. Practice, practice, practice....without a goal, every day.

Yes, this process has started quite a few decades ago. I like to compare the current social development to the development we all go through when we grow up. Up to let's say 13-14 we still heavily rely on our parents and tend to follow their rules, which are designed to help us and keep us save. But then a new phase kicks in and we reject the rules of our parents, because they feel restrictive. We then start to explore the world on our terms. This phase is very important in our development. It's like flexing our muscles, testing boundaries of what is possible and what not, gaining confidence in our own capacities. Of course, we all know that we make a lot of mistakes during this time, but they are all necessary and part of the process. Once we go through this phase, we come out on the other end more mature, more responsible, with a new, more comprehensive worldview and better understanding of who we are, ideally speaking. Right now we are in the same situation as a society. We freed ourselves from the restrictive shackles of the previous generations and explore the world on our terms. Chaos and confusion seem rampant with nothing solid to hold on. Lots of crazy stuff emerges, like you mentioned. In the end it's just a part of the learning process and will eventually take us to a new level of understanding. So, don't lose hope and be patient. It will take time, but I'm optimistic. ????

Perhaps I'm a bit biased, but I do try to be as objective as possible. Religions were formed to give stability and order to societies that were "out of order" and allowed them to make great steps forward in their development. Likewise, on a personal psychological level, many people still need such organizations to bring order in their lives, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, western societies have evolved from that stage and to impose such rigid structures upon them at their current level of development, represents in my view an obstacle. People themselves feel it as an obstacle, hence the rapid decline in membership. Nothing wrong with that either. The problem arises when you strip society of religion altogether and don't replace it with something more mature and adequate. A spiritual science perhaps, or scientific spirituality maybe?

Yes, it's definitely hard to know how to approach this from the outside. Even if you approach this from the inside (experience it yourself), it's hard. The connection is indeed to yourself, and through that to all other beings. The experience itself is no objective proof, but it is all the proof I ever needed. While it won't be enough to qualify as watertight scientific proof, it is in my opinion empirical and anecdotal evidence that should not be discounted. As for special powers, I can't say I have any. Besides, I doubt I would tell you even if I had any. ???? The greatest and long-lasting gifts I received from it was the loss of fear of death and an unconditional trust in a benevolent Source. These 2 alone completely changed my life for the better and I wouldn't trade them for any fancy powers.

Thank you for your post. I only want to point out that the video doesn't describe "the awakening as a psychiatric episode", but pointed out that such an awakening has, on the surface, many similarities to a psychiatric episode. It can be (and almost surely has been) mistaken as a psychiatric episode and unfortunately "treated" with psychopharmaceuticals. This is not to say that we should treat all psy episodes as kundalini awakenings, but neither should all kundalini awakenings be treated as psy episodes.

I think that religion, as it is structured today, is more detrimental than beneficial to people's development. It keeps people separated from their own divinity and potential. It was necessary in the past for many good and valid reasons, but it is now holding humanity back. Lots of people are not satisfied with the answers that the various religions provide and they become disillusioned. They either become atheists or seek a more personal, intimate way to connect to the Divine. There is a clear trend here. Religions are like safety wheels on kid's bicycles. We are now starting to be more independent and confident in our abilities and don't need those wheels anymore. In fact, they prevent us from moving freely and to the fullest of our potential. It's time for us as a species to let them go and become responsible, mature and independent adults. We need to seek a truth that is fuller, truer and is all-inclusive. One that includes science and spirituality, and one that gives each one of us the most effective tools to know ourselves. If this means that some religions will die out and disappear because they couldn't adapt to the current changes, then so be it. Of course, developing societies (Spiral Dynamics stage from Red (Core Values: Egocentric, exploitative, impulsive) to Blue (Core values: Authoritarianism, Holy, meaningful) still need such institutions. They were born out of that stage, but they are not necessary in the more developed stages of Orange (Core Values: Autonomy, materialistic, result-driven) and Green (Core Values: Relativistic, socio-centric, equality.). I'm not saying we should completely get rid of them. We should however, help to remind them of their true purpose so that they can update their teachings accordingly. If they don't, they will sign their own death certificate.

Here is a very good video explaining what Kundalini is and how it works. I'm still hoping for a more scientific explanation from our materialistic friends here, but they have all gone quiet. PS: Dismissing it as a fantasy is not going to make you look smart.

Funny but not accurate. I'm not silencing him. I opt not to listen.

The most sensible thing you've written in a long time. But before you surprise me with yet another resurrection, I will just use the block function and be done with it. Bye

I thought long and hard whether i should dignify your recent posts with a reply. I'm still not sure its the right thing to do, but what the hell...why not. You're saying you don't enjoy being an ahole, but I think you are either lying to us or you're lying to yourself. Why else would one try to put down something he has no will to understand? Reading a few quotes and watch a video for the sole purpose of finding some "dirt" doesn't count as understanding. That's just sad. Besides, it's funny how you picked one vague quote to make your smear campaign, but completely ignored the other excellent 20 that came before that. It's simple. You do that because you feel inadequate and smearing sh!# all over something beautiful makes you feel better about yourself. Is your self-esteem really that low? Is this the best version of yourself you can be? I don't think so. Do you? PS: In case this actually IS the best version of yourself, I think you better talk to yourself from here on out. ????

Italy. Unvaccinated children were not allowed to attend classes. That effectively forced parents to vaccinate them.

They did actually. "Vaccinate your children or we will deny them their education." being only one of their tactics.

Don't take the model too literally. It's just my way to make sense of the time paradox. Other aspects of reality may warrant completely different models. You mean invert the direction of time with time being the slowest at the rim and fastest at the center? I think it depends on the observer. If you are at the center and see the disc rotating around you, the edges will rotate very fast in relation to the center. However, for those living on the edge time will pass much slower compared to the center. The observer at the center who can perceive the disc in its full 360degrees, will be able to see the man's lifetime in its entirety in an instant. That means that time would pass much faster for the observer closest to the center. So, time as experienced by the observer seems to be inversely proportional to the speed of the disc. fast disc speed => observer experiences time slower slow disc speed => observer experiences time faster Infinitely low disc speed (dead center) => observer experiences time infinitely fast, universes created and destroyed in a blink of an eye. Past, present and future only make sense for the observer at the edge, but for the observer at the center, they happen all at the same time. Does that make sense?

Yes, just like exercising your muscles, exercising your inner senses requires practice and dedication. But I think it's much easier than what you think it is. 20-30 minutes in the morning will help greatly, and once you notice the subtle changes, you will want to increase that time spontaneously. The benefits gained far outweigh the effort you put in.

Please do me a favour. Read this sentence again and then give yourself a smack on the head for me. One should be enough, but if you like to keep going, ain't nobody gonna stop you. Ha ha

You never disappoint. ????

I think we are all disconnected. We all have forgotten who we really are. If we are lucky, we may feel a few moments in our lives when we feel really connected. But you can also help that luck by putting in some effort. Do you mean reconnecting by using your body as a vehicle? Like extreme sports? Physical disciplines like swimming, fighting, long distance running...? Yes, they definitely help focusing, clearing the mind and being "in the zone". But even then, when you reach that zone, there will also be a mental aspect and a spiritual aspect. As long as there is an observer and the observed, there is a mental aspect. And the spiritual aspect is always there and here and everywhere and every time. You're trying to quantify knowledge. Knowledge is infinite, so compared to that, I know nothing. What else could I say? Yes, doubt is a strength when it strengthens you and a weakness when it weakens you. So it's good to doubt as long as it serves you. No, I don't think I will say that.

The "I" identity is added much later (around age 2) though, it is not something we were born with. Therefore the identity "I" who is speaking now and writing this can not be the same as before that age.