Sunmaster

You're quite right. The difference between that info (I'm thinking Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and similar) and the bible for example, is the level of practical engagement. The Yoga Sutras (a collection of Sanskrit teachings on the theory and practice of yoga) encourage people to practice and experience/validate the information by themselves. By doing that, the knowledge presented in the teachings is always kept alive throughout time and validated on a personal level, again and again. What the Christian religion does through the use of the bible (I'm generalizing of course) on the other hand, is "this is the truth, you better believe it, or else". There is very little focus on practical application. And for that reason, such teachings are easy pray of distortions and corruption. In a nutshell: If 100 people learn the info through direct experience and they can all validate it to some degree, it is extremely unlikely that person 101 can willy-nilly put his own spin on that info. If 100 people learn the info on an intellectual level alone (belief), than you will have 100 different interpretations of that info and none of them will know for sure, because they don't have any direct experience of it. Amen to that.

That's exactly it.

Good question, but it should be open to everybody, not just the religious/spiritual ones. This thread is the only thread I actively follow and the only forum I visit. I stopped following the news many years ago, and I think it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The daily bombardment of negative news is very bad for our mental state, in my opinion. It does absolutely nothing to improve our lives. I think it's very important to be conscious or aware of the information my mind receives and I try to practice something like an ecology of the mind...or "a clean house" if you will. Stop negative drama from entering and at the same time keeping the house clean and in order by practicing meditation. Meditation, for me, doesn't just help me to clean the house, but it also helps me to discover new rooms and floors I didn't know existed before. I consider myself a pretty good listener and that often attracts people who need to unload their drama on others. It's not easy to be compassionate on one hand and safeguard my own sanity on the other. That's basically how I cope with negativity in daily life.

Fair enough. Strange though, I got the completely opposite vibe from him. Disclaimer: I don't know much about him (so, not promoting his ideas per se), but I watched that video and felt he was being sincere.

That's funny, because pretty much all of my friends here are atheists and they all celebrate Christmas. I'm the only one who doesn't. Go figure....

Maybe you'll find this interesting.... Some very outlandish ideas, but ideas worth entertaining, even if only for a short time.

The Celestine books were some of the first "spiritual" books I've read after that shift in perception I mentioned. I even bought the workbook because I'm practical minded. They were the right books/ideas for me at that time, because they were a soft introduction to the world within. I skimmed the video you posted and from what I heard, the things he said made sense to me.

You're already hooked. You just don't know it yet. Resistance is futile!

Wow...guru...authority figure.... If you don't stop my ego will inflate to dangerous proportions. ???? Seriously though, the mumbo jumbo comment was meant to be in general. You're not the first to use that term, nor will you be the last. "from my life experience, challenging an authority figure is never a pleasant experience" This is true in every field. If I talked to an engineer and challenged him about his knowledge of construction, I would find it very hard to convince him that a (real) bridge can be build using toothpicks. He might teach me the fundamentals of engineering and I could then learn how to build a proper bridge. To do that I would have to dismiss old ideas and adopt new ones. The feeling of unpleasantness comes from a resistance to change. Not that I want you to change of course. God forbid. We all change at our own pace, but change is inevitable. Resisting it just makes our lives miserable. So, what games DO you like to play?

Be careful, people might think you're part of some cult! ????

I had the same exact thought a few days ago. My mother in law is at the hospital and in pretty bad shape. My wife is doing what she can to help her and the rest of the family out. So I was thinking about my own mortality and death. I thought that I too could die any time. I have no regrets and I'm not afraid of dying. The only thing that would hold me back are my wife who needs my support now more than ever, and my parents who are old and will need me soon as well.

That's true. Validation of any such source is a subjective process and we have to do it by ourselves. At a certain point though, you have to learn to trust your inner voice. You can't wait until something or someone validates reality for you, or you will soon find yourself on your deathbed wondering why you wasted all that time. I've spent the last 25 years studying all kinds of sources, separating the weed from the chaff (from my point of view) and trying to find a common denominator. A common ground that is free of cultural distortions, empty rituals and oppressing dogma. I think I found it. It sounds right and true for me and that's all that matters. Some may agree, others don't....such is life. No problem.

Excellent. Still, there are fools who outright dismiss the wisdom handed down for 1000s of years and call it mumbo jumbo. The irony....

Probably, and it's still as irrelevant as the first time.

I agree with the first part of your post.

Yes, I'm aware of the true meaning of guru. If you meant it that way, I could be flattered on some level but it's obviously an undeserved title. But that's not the way you used that term when you talked about Tippaporn and me, is it? Be honest. You used it in a derogatory way, accusing us quite bluntly of manipulating others for some kind of nefarious motive. So yeah, you can try to sugarcoat it now and apologize, but how long will it last until the next outlandish accusation? Anyway, I just find it funny and I don't take it personally. So no hard feelings. Let's move on.

No, you don't. Not even a small part of it. Sure you can, if you can present your thoughts without the emotional whirlwind you usually attach to them. Cheers. Good luck to you too.

That seems to be your pattern. First you throw around outrageous accusations, then you regret them and apologise. Reminds me of a friend of mine. He used to drink a lot and get into these terrible scenes of jealousy with his girlfriend. The jealousy was unfounded and he always ended up regretting his behavior until they finally separated.

I would have many things to say, but I will try to keep it short. 1. Been on this forum for the past 4-5 years, almost exclusively writing on this thread. I'll let those posts speak for me. 2. Since the beginning, and those who have been here for a while know this, I have always highlighted that we don't need a religion, guru or other intermediary to explore our inner world. 3. I also said several times that I write here mainly for my own benefit. It's a good way to explore my beliefs, confront them with others, and discuss them in a relaxed and civilized manner. We are discussing ideas. Some ideas may seem more outlandish than others, but whether or not they are valid, is up to each of us to determine. Nobody forces anyone to change your belief system. Personally, I like to keep a certain degree of curiosity and flexibility towards the ideas presented, even if I don't agree with them. But that's just how I am. 4. If these ideas upset others, then the logical thing to do is not to read the posts and engage in the discussion. A great example of free will. 5. Finally, the fact that I'm being accused of such a high level of deception (or self deception in case I really have a guru delusion and I'm not aware of it) is both very funny and sad. I'm sorry you guys feel that way, but ultimately it's not my problem. BTW, the Sunmaster Adoration Day is every Friday 8pm. Membership is 5.000baht. No refunds. All welcome. ????

Well, I could use some as well, while you're at it. ????

What you're saying is "...a lot of it I just don't get and for that reason I declare it to be BS." However, the honest thing to say would be "a lot of it I just don't get and I don't believe in it." Can you see the difference?

You're a funny one. First you call the content of my posts mumbo jumbo without even reading them, then you call me a cult leader, and now you would like to take it all back and honour me with a reply whenever "you see fit" to reply. Fascinating.

Sorry, but I'm confused. Is the cult leader supposed to be Tippaporn or I? Just want to know what to put in my curriculum. "Cult leader" would be quite cool actually. Life goal: world domination. And a private harem, of course. ???????????? Honestly, this is one of the funniest things postet in a while here. Cheers for that. Even funnier is the fact that you announced you'll stop posting, so you positively confirmed my point. ????????????

Instead of reposting an old post, I will try to explain it as I live it today. About 25 years ago I experienced a kind of "shift in perception", a very strong one. This shift , although a short lived one, allowed me to understand the world and myself in ways I had never experienced before. There was such clarity, that there was no denying the fact that we are all so much more than we think we are. That the journey always leads up to the head, but ends at the heart. It taught me to trust what comes from the inside, because that is my true voice. And this is true for me, but I know it's the same for you and everybody else.