awake

Maybe he's not attracted to you. Most guys wanna fuck the shit out of girls they are attracted to.

And yes, I mean that as the bomb it sounds like. You're fairly attractive, but some people just weren't made for eachother, and feel "stuck" in relationships because of small amounts of feelings, or fear of not having someone after breaking up.

Or, maybe he's got too much mind activity or stress.

His mental state is not normal, so look for things in his everday life that aren't normal either.

Thanks, good welcome, and I'm not any the wiser in my ignorance of if you've used it for someone else or not

No offence but why do these neo-advaitans call themselves by pseudo-indian names ?

Its NLP. This one wants to attract potheads.

I went today to a nearby Buddhist Meditation Center, and saw him walking near the path I was taking to get there. I was already late, so did not stop to talk to him, but it seems he does "live" nearby.

I look foreward to seeing him again.

OVER 9000!!!

More seriously, I have no idea of my potential, so to vote any option in your poll would be wrong.

What's helped me the most, of the options, is mind training, namely, Richard Bandler's DHE 2000, also, simple acceptance of thoughts a la Eckhart Tolle and Genpo Roshi

Thank you all for your replies so far.

something interesting to note is that this energy seems to come up for me especially when I am reminded of it.

I was at a Maha Vihana buddhist meditation center today and asked the question, when experiencing an opening of energy in a chakra - for example the root chakra (where I am feeling this energy) is it better to concentrate your attention on that energy, or do something else with your attention? The monk said, admittedly, that is tibettan buddhism, which is another branch, different from theirs, that deals with chakras, but that I should,yes, put my attention on the energy, and perhaps read further on tibettan buddhism.

That being said, I was in a state of distress, because I was under the impression that awakening was "fast and ruthless" and can "tear people apart and put them back together again" based on JJ's website. I can see now that perhaps this is not the case, so I am a bit less alarmed, more calm, and willing to listen to reason. I will re-read all the posts and recognize that further learning on the subject is probably a good idea.

I do wish, however, to take advantage of this opening while it has come, as I have had many different sorts in the past that I denied or ignored, and I regretted that. Though I am starting to see now that it is fine that I missed them, I would not like to do that with this, if possible.

Your recommendation for walks seems to me as a method to dispell this energy, is this true? Is it in opposition - so to physical speak as far as the forces of energy are concerned, not as a dualistic paradox in religious philosophy - to the opening energy, or is it something that is neutral to it, or will aid in it?

Thank you.

Thank you neidan practitioner.

I do not have much time for this post, so sorry that I cannot say all that i want. I will as much as possible, in as succinct a way I can.

I went to the meditation center, its called "Maha Vihara" I think it's also quite interesting today is the birthday of the Buddha, they are celebrating it there. I am thinking of going.

JJ if I seem distressed it may be because I am very anxious due to the stern warning I've received about the heavy concequences of doing this the wrong way.

neidan, What do you mean by 'experimenting', meditating? THat's all I've been doing. Beathe in and out through abdomen, expanding/contracting the stomach, and continuing to lose identication with thoughts. I have not beens itting though, I find it uncomfortable. I have been laying down. I have fall asleep enough times

Also, you say I should not visualize my energy going up my spine, but that I should vidualize it going back down? I think by the logic of the first suggestion, the second does not make much sense.

On that same note, you say that I should do that if I feel the energy there still, is it not supposed to be active? Currently it is strongest at the base of my spine, sometimes I feel it up and down my spine.

Now I think I will go to that celebration. Thank you.

Thank you all so far.

You have suggested a lot of reading. I do not have time for this.

I feel energy coming in through my root chakra. At the base of my spine, like where girls have dimples on their asses (thats the only metaphor I can tell you for it). It is moving around, sometimes in two spots (where the two dimples are) in circular motions, and sometimes just a bit above that, sometimes going more up in the spine, with only 1 source, and sometimes both at once.

The energy is a neutral one, My head is fariyl silent, and I am getting better at that. However, the thoughts that do come up, are fearful ones, and ones of negative concequences. All these scare tactics and "dont do this dont do that or you will get really fucked up" do not work well for me.

I need to know what to do. The energy is here. Breathing exercises or not, though I am inhaling and exhaling through my stomach, with my eyes closed/sometimes open. my thoughts are naturally on "go away" mode - as in, I am noticing the stillness between them, and not being so identified with them - and this is not something I really wish to remove my progress on. I have not read your books JJ, I don't have the money to buy them. Now I feel like I don't have the time. If this happening, I need to know asap, if I've unleashed a detrimental energy, or a good one. I cannot ell myself.

As for my breath, it is very silent. I noticed earlier today once or twice the breath coming into my abdomen, making a circular round, then coming back up. I have drawn a diagram in notepad to explain what it felt like, in my wind pipe, and today in my stomach. the blue line symbolizes the wind pipe experience (i can still feel that when I concentrate on my breath.) the red line symbolizes the stomach experience. Ihave never had the two together, it s one or the other.. What I drew was a human chest/abdomen/pelvic cavity, and windpipe.

I cannot always feel my breath, but I can always feel the energy there. Its only like two thing I've ever experienced before.

When I was high, I got ths feeling of the same neutrality in my chest. The next morning, stillthere. However, I was unsure of how good it was, so I made it go awya. After that, I got a feeling that replaced it that was bad, like I had jsut lost somethng. But I don't know if that bad feeling was the after effects of tht feeling being there in the first place, or if it was telling me to get that feeeling back in my chest.

Another time, I was laying down, and I heard the words "Let the universe in through your chest cavity" come from nowhere. Then I felt like a great powerul neutrality come in like a cone shape descending from the top into my chest, then I started to think and get worried like I am now with this root chakra energy, and it went away.

I think it is also important I note, JJ, I am 17. Tomorrow I will go to a nearby Maha Vihana (i think thats the name of it, i will quickly go bike down there afte I write this to get the real name) buddhist temple, to talk to the monks there. But I really hope that you can get to thispost and advise me, and ideally, if I could have some live dialogue with you, JJ. I feel this thing is unraveling in me, but I do not know what to do with it, and have no personal guide to turn to.

Here is the image to which i referred earlier:

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/83/kundalni.png

Thank you.

edit: i have another post below the one below mind quickly responding to that, and some more information.

Last night I felt the energy in various places. To the left of my spine in the middle, and some places, the energy was a distraction (annoyance). Then, it seemed to pool at the bottom of my spine, and stayed there for a while.

I figure, there is nothing left I can do now. The energy is there. I will not do anymore visualizations, but try and feel the energy when it does arise.

The thing is, I did some work with Richard Bandler's DHE 2000, where he teeaches how to call states up. So I am able to call this energy up when I want to, should I be doing that?

Its like goldisheavy said, just a general feeling, but once I've had it, especially soon after, I can call it back. Should I be doing so, working on actually making good states, or just releasing, letting what happens happen and watch it pass by?

I am referring to the meditation written about here: http://www.goldenflowermeditation.com/

More specifically, this is the page: http://www.goldenflowermeditation.com/the_method.html

I had been quieting my mind for a while before discovering this. The meditation author says to wait about 100 days before you detect the movement of breath. I did it in 2, but not into my stomach, etc, as he says, just in my windpipe. Maybe my prior work with my mind explains this. Anyway, I "reversed it" like said in the method,and could feel that it was so. Not much (maybe about 2 hours cumulatively in ~1 week) of my time since then has been spent doing this exercise.

However, right now, I am feeling a feeling that goes up and down my spine, from my root chakra, to about 3/4 up my back. It doesn't go higher than that. When it reaches 3/4, like clockwork my mind speeds up.

I am worried, because he says NOT to do imagination work, etc, it can cause the "seminal fluid" (lets not get into a debate of if thats what it really is) to "go up the wrong channels" and cause debilitating effects. I found some hemi-sync product that said breathe in, out, then clench your pubic muscles (try and isolate them) and imagine your kunalini energy go up your spine or something to that effect. I did the visualizations a few times.

The feeling is not "good" i would call it neutral, and the spine is a very tender area, so I want to be sure before proceeding. I did also take drugs during this time and while I do (weed) I am able to feel more so I experience feeling my feelings, etc.

Could this having visualized have a negative impact on me? Also, why do you think it only stops at 3/4 of the way?

I had a test today. I spent most of the time studying for it. Actually I spent most of the time trying to get my mind to concentrate on the material.

End up being able to take the test monday, I take tht opportunity as I was not 100% prepares. I stop having something for my mind to focus on, it starts going wild in random thought, and thats it.

The entire time I was studying, it was going to stillness, the entire time I don't have something to do, it becomes active. Seems like its sabotaging to my desires, regardless of what they are.

Its a really logical mind, is there any way to trick it with some conundrum into changing its paradigm? It happened on the bus ride home that I made some conscious generalizations that didn't really work much, I think.

I just am hard pressed to control this thing. From what I have read, the fact that something in me is acting up like this seems to point to that thing inside me, once enjoying its control, is now fighting for its control against awareness. I noticed the ego is content irrelevant - only purpose matters to it.

But recently this purpose has become self-defeating (by self I mean "my" intentions, that must be done, as I still have physical worldly responsibilities) - and it is like so regardless of the perspective on which it resides.

So, I would like to know, is there anything I can do to help with this particular stage of awareness development? Or, should I simply go back to my normal method of trying to breathe with my diaphragm (GFM) and silence my thoughts by becoming aware of them, and how things make me feel, without additional commentary?

Thanks

Awake,

What do you do when the karma is too strong for the positive thinking approach?

 

Your pal,

Yoda

I believe the answer is "Accept"

I think his method is the "positive thinking" or perhaps "positive not thinking"

I think you should further your own practice before gathering others under your leadership, fiscal or otherwise, because you will attract people with similar degrees of cultivation, or perhaps less, as most masters would not join a community of such that has a low level of conscious awareness to teach them.

Why, is your life so bad alone? Can you not function in the societal world anymore?

Why do yo want to join/make a commune? I remember when I was lost I wanted to make/join various forums seeking answers or some sort of external factor to help me along my way, (forums were my conditioning, comunes are yours perhaps) and then I realized that, no, this is not the way. It is something that can be perfectly cultivated by one's self, and most of this "desire for change" is last-result ego mind control stuff to occupy your time.

Just this moment, mate.

This makes something sound like a bad thing.. He is depressed, and etc?

Ahh!

 

My favourite.

 

This is Ch. 20 of Jia Fu Fengs translation. This book, beautifully illustrated with pictures by his wife Jane English was the first Daoist book I ever read, years ago. This is by far the simplest, most straight forward translation I have read so far. What it lacks in accuracy it makes up in direct understanding:

 

Twenty

Give up learning, and put an end to your troubles.

 

Is there a difference between yes and no?

Is there a difference between good and evil?

Must I fear what others fear? What nonsense!

 

Other people are contented, enjoying the sacrificial feast of the ox.

In spring some go to the park, and climb the terrace,

But I alone am drifting, not knowing where I am.

Like a newborn babe before it learns to smile,

I am alone, without a place to go.

 

Others have more than they need, but I alone have nothing.

I am a fool. Oh, yes! I am confused.

Others are clear and bright,

But I alone am dim and weak.

 

Others are sharp and clever,

But I alone am dull and stupid.

 

Oh, I drift like the waves of the sea,

Without direction, like the restless wind.

 

Everyone else is busy,

But I alone am aimless and depressed.

 

I am different.

I am nourished by the great mother.

 

Entire book:

 

http://www.iging.com/laotse/index.htm

 

h

He should try with http://www.i-doser.com/

"What you resist persists"

"Anti Swine Flu."

No thanks, but good luck.

A lot of us are here to control our minds - remove the thought that is classified as "incessant" in that it comes without our willing it so, and thereby achieve enlightenment - no suffering that comes with identification with forms - or at least so I have heard.

Anyway, it occurred to me that you can never think about the present moment. It is true you are always thinking in the present moment, like you are living, doing everything else, and etc throughout the universe. But as soon as you go to think about the present moment, it is no longer the present moment you are thinking about. It is that past moment "encapsulated" in thought, reflected on in the present moment.

I think this interesting logical view is a good pointer that said way is a way to become more present, but also an indicator (as are many renowned figures who testify and whose lives were/are testaments to the fact) that there is a place for ego still once ego has been removed as the controlling force.

Enjoy

sorry its early and i cba to find what you're talking about. here is the whole chapter20 from taoteching.org:

What is the difference between assent and denial?

What is the difference between beautiful and ugly?

What is the difference between fearsome and afraid?

 

The people are merry as if at a magnificent party

Or playing in the park at springtime,

But I am tranquil and wandering,

Like a newborn before it learns to smile,

Alone, with no true home.

 

The people have enough and to spare,

Where I have nothing,

And my heart is foolish,

Muddled and cloudy.

 

The people are bright and certain,

Where I am dim and confused;

The people are clever and wise,

Where I am dull and ignorant;

Aimless as a wave drifting over the sea,

Attached to nothing.

 

The people are busy with purpose,

Where I am impractical and rough;

I do not share the peoples' cares

But I am fed at nature's breast.

hope this helps!

I don't know if thats what he was doing, that is an interesting perspective on it though. Him reacting to me was definitely helping me notice my thoughts. Especially if they were in such an environment (I suppose in relation to the stillness I am trying to cultivate) so as to create that kind of reaction in him consistantly.

Non-Duality:

Is not and is. Observed through awareness without thought. It is only not and so at the same time, because it is from which that all things manifest, but they are all it as well.

It is a perception. We do not know if it is true. We can only trust that it is. Comes from stillness of mind.

I didn't meet one of literal thetaobums.com members. However, I was fascinated at a bus stop yesterday.

I had just finished smoking (have since stopped, though I don't know how long that will last) and was trying to quiet my mind.

This homeless man came from across the street, came into the shelter, and said something about the weather to me. I think I nodded.

I became very afraid of him, because he looked quite "nothing to lose-esque" with his tattered pants, shirt, 5-inch-long white beard, and very dirty feet, as well as the fact that he was moving quite erratically. I thought of him as "a crazy homeless guy."

I continued with him there, trying to still my mind. Then I began to notice something very strange and very fascinating. He would only make one of these movements when a thought came into my mind.

It may have been a coincidence, but within half a second of any thought that came to my mind, he would move, sometimes they would be accompanied by a brief sound, though incomprehensible. Otherwise, he would be still. I noticed, the more a thought stream began to erupt, rather than just a single thought, the more he would string together movements, and the more erratic they would become.

I quickly noticed this, and it helped me I think a lot in realizing the stillness between thoughts. At first, he would just make random twitches, then, his movements changed to kicking the air behind him. Later on, during the last part of our encounter, he would turn 360 degrees around fully in a circle every time I had a thought.

I remember one particular time when I was beginning to identify with a particularly heavy thought, he made a very loud sound, and his whole body twitched.

I had seen this man before, on the bus, as he did get on when he left my presence (very notably was still spinning, while walking, and waiting beside the bus behind the others to get on it), and when I had seen him, he had his fingers on either of his temples in an outstretched way (think Mr. Burns' "excellent" hands, but outstretched more as if holding a large ball). Anyway, he did the same thing when he got on this bus, and I noticed he had no money to pay the driver with, he just let him on.

Each time I've seen him, after he left, I wanted to ask him "What do you know?" I'm pretty sure the answer would've been something like "Shhhh." but the thought of asking him only occurred to me after he left.

Now, I am just 17 years old. What does this say about the nature of our thoughts, when he could sense mine?

I come here for advice, OP, not a full-blown method. Perhaps you are looking for what you cannot find here: your opinion.

It is up to you to find what is best for you, and judge the quality of the advice you're given.

That being said, I think it was unwise of you to attempt to ostracize yourself from the community and shut doors.

But it is not your fault, definitely a strong ego reaction. Do not worry though, we are compassionate, and will welcome you back, knowing you never left.

But in short, re "Reasons for why enlightenment (as we define it) either is or isn't an experience.", the reason why it cannot be an experience, according to David Carse, is that an experience requires an experiencer, and that awakening involves the imaginary experiencer being permanently replaced by the understanding that there isn't and never was such a creature. And understanding, in that context, does not mean understanding as we understand it ( ), but is simply the closest available word.

 

And anything further will be paradoxical riddles, because there's simply no alternative. As he repeatedly says "Does exist, cannot be expressed."

Perhaps this is a misunderstanding of terms, but I disagree with this man's stance.

You still have awareness of enlightenment - it is the fundamental "you" that is dissolved in enlightenment as an identified role, but the underlying awareness that allows recognition of that role is constantly there and thus makes it, as well as every moment that comes into any awareness field, an experience.

I would change it to "Does exist, of which everything is an expression."

A lot of teachers become too identified with being not identified in their teachings, thereby making the concept of disidentification a hindrance, for example, like the quotation from this man David Carse, and more popular teachers like Eckhart Tolle, are constantly "disclaiming" their descriptions with "but of course nothing is dual in that mindstate" which, should always (but unfortunately is not) be postfixed with "however, it is the world in which we function that necessitates duality for that functioning." Otherwise, you would eat dirt. Piss on the floor. Duality exists, even for those enlightened beings, however, this "disclaimer" should only be used,in my opinion, when addressing the state itself, not offering the transformative steps to getting there.

As for state vs stage, it is a good distinction to make that there will (hopefully) always be further to go, but even states change. In face "state" refers to the current awareness of being at any moment, which, for human consciousness, is a must to have at any said moment. Thus it is a state, and a stage. Remember that most successful paradoxes, when referring to the state of enlightenment, do not deny. That is not the state of enlightenment in its pure expression. Of course, overly clever ones may use negation to create an awareness shift or mind block, but I am not aware of any such examples now.

when looking for advice ____________________________

make sure your teacher has what you're looking for

when giving advice ____________________________

be compassionate and true to yourself, and do not give it unless you can from experience

when in a fight____________________________

stop and go away if they continue to abuse you in any way

when fighting more than one person ___________________________

stop and go away if they continue to abuse you in any way

when choosing a teacher ________________________________

make sure you understand what they expect from you, and they have what you're looking for

if you meet someone and fall in love ____________________________

dont get attached to it

when you have nothing to do _________________________

enjoy stillness

when you feel life is testing you ________________________

thank it for the lessons

when you have to do something that you are afraid of _______________________

be open to the feeling of accomplishment and give it your all

when people don;t agree with the way you live ________________________

consider their advice, and let them be