Aragorn (28th March 2018), Dreamtimer (28th March 2018), Dumpster Diver (28th March 2018), Elen (28th March 2018), Emil El Zapato (15th April 2018), GraceKB (15th April 2018), Kathy (16th April 2018), palooka's revenge (28th March 2018), pointessa (28th March 2018), tarka the duck (15th April 2018), Wind (28th March 2018)
Aianawa (17th April 2018), Aragorn (29th March 2018), Dreamtimer (28th March 2018), Dumpster Diver (28th March 2018), Elen (28th March 2018), Emil El Zapato (15th April 2018), GraceKB (15th April 2018), Kathy (16th April 2018), pointessa (28th March 2018), tarka the duck (15th April 2018), Wind (28th March 2018)
Different pathways will lead to the same destination.
Aianawa (17th April 2018), Aragorn (29th March 2018), Dreamtimer (28th March 2018), Dumpster Diver (28th March 2018), Elen (28th March 2018), Emil El Zapato (15th April 2018), GraceKB (15th April 2018), Kathy (16th April 2018), palooka's revenge (28th March 2018), pointessa (28th March 2018), tarka the duck (15th April 2018)
I submit the mind (spirit polarity) is heavily influenced by feelings (will polarity). What it doesn't understand yet is that the Will is reflective of the mind.
Oh, were the will and the mind truly free. Mankind has come a long way in terms of freeing/evolving the Spirit (mind expressing as thought). Sadly, we can't say the same for the Will (expressing as feelings).
If I can come to oneness within myself then I can begin to see, feel, and experience my place in the oneness of the ONE on a regular basis. In order to do that I highly suspect both halves of the recipe need to be in play in a state of loving acceptance of each for the other...
Aianawa (17th April 2018), Aragorn (29th March 2018), Dreamtimer (28th March 2018), Dumpster Diver (28th March 2018), Elen (28th March 2018), Emil El Zapato (15th April 2018), Kathy (16th April 2018), pointessa (28th March 2018), tarka the duck (15th April 2018), Wind (28th March 2018)
All I know is that this peace can never be found intellectually, it can be only felt within the heart. The mind is a tool which can be used for searching and analyzing, for that purpose it's good enough. Once the tool has served it's function, it can be discarded. Most of us are not ready to let go of the tool, not just yet. It's the hardest thing to do... You would have to give up the idea of yourself! But that's what it is, only an idea. A story of a person and every story has it's tragedies and joys.
It is very rare for even momentarily to attain such profound states of peacelfuness without being intoxicated, let alone to have a permanent state of peace. Yet it is possible and within everyone's reach. It's there waiting for those who are ready and willing to do the inner work. A great part of it is also the gift of grace and there lies processes which are still unknown and mysterious to the minds of men.
Last edited by Wind, 28th March 2018 at 13:08.
Aianawa (17th April 2018), Aragorn (29th March 2018), Dreamtimer (28th March 2018), Dumpster Diver (28th March 2018), Elen (29th March 2018), Emil El Zapato (15th April 2018), enjoy being (15th April 2018), GraceKB (15th April 2018), Kathy (16th April 2018), palooka's revenge (28th March 2018), pointessa (28th March 2018), tarka the duck (15th April 2018)
I have experienced three episodes of dramatic change of consciousness. The first one, which was the longest and most profound happened at 22 years old. Up until that time I had been self medicating feelings of anxiety and depression with alcohol and sometimes other drugs. I had given that up and immersed myself in a job where for the first time I was really focusing on caring for others. The change in consciousness was profound and I had no idea whatsoever what was happening except that there was a wonderful clarity and purity about everything. I was happy and peaceful. It really was a blissful state that stayed with me for months, only to dissipate slowly over time, yet I was always changed by it.
The second event happened when I was practicing a mindfulness meditation in the evening before bed. I had a strange feeling of something shifting in my head. A literal feeling and then there was a profound calmness and clarity of mind. This time I was able to acknowledge that the calmness was happening because there was no internal chatter. So this time I knew that for some reason the ego had dropped out of the picture. I went to sleep and the next day observed that there was still not chatter. I took my dogs for the same walk I take them on every day but this time I really saw the beauty. I was no longer "lost in thought". The peace and well being was profound and lasted for several days before I began to notice the judgements and internal dialogue slowly creeping in. This experience cemented in me the realization that I am not the egoic structure that banters on incessantly in my head. The ego has never again held the power that it had in the past.
The third event happened while contemplating an excerpt from Eckhart Tolle. I experienced the dropping feeling and again, no egoic banter and the feeling of peace. After the return of the ego, there has been a greater awareness each time it creates mental disturbance. I can turn it off immediately by entering the present moment. Sometimes it will return immediately, insistent on picking the drama back up, and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes I allow the ego to continue, and choose to be lost in its drama, although I am finding that less and less rewarding. I have observed that I am particularly drawn to internal drama that allows me to take a martyr or self righteous stance....go figure.
I believe each of these experiences is a process of integrating the consciousness that lies behind the busy chatter and judgement that creates havok for self and the world we live in . There is truly a observer of pure consciousness within each of us, covered up and muddied by this other self that seeks for itself. The way in which it can be dissipated into nothingness, merely by moving into the present moment shows me that it is smoke and mirrors. We spend most of our lives serving smoke and mirrors and the funny, ironic part is that it will never be satisfied.
I don't see much hope for mankind unless it can collectively transcend the egoic self. Is that our goal here? I know that it can happen. It can happen all at once or it can be a slow integration process.
Aianawa (17th April 2018), Aragorn (29th March 2018), Chester (3rd August 2019), Dreamtimer (28th March 2018), Dumpster Diver (28th March 2018), Elen (29th March 2018), Emil El Zapato (15th April 2018), enjoy being (15th April 2018), GraceKB (15th April 2018), Kathy (16th April 2018), palooka's revenge (28th March 2018), tarka the duck (15th April 2018), Wind (28th March 2018)
Aianawa (17th April 2018), Aragorn (15th April 2018), Dreamtimer (15th April 2018), Elen (15th April 2018), Emil El Zapato (15th April 2018), GraceKB (15th April 2018), Kathy (16th April 2018), palooka's revenge (15th April 2018), tarka the duck (15th April 2018), Wind (15th April 2018)