ejr1069

Well, I can't for sure say that I am a shaman. I simpluy know that there is a great deal of spiritual energy flowing through me that caused me to get massively sick upon it's onset. And ever since then I have been slowly recovering, becoming more kind, loving, compassionate and open minded. And have been continuosluy working on being less judgemntntal. Acts of service? I do a lot in my neighborhood, especiall;y with youth, but I am learning that it is not good to talk about this. I have done so in the past and people feel like I am bragging. They also feel like I am too "preachy" when they ask for advice and I give it. Some of my pains I believe are from being so visible in the commumnity. When you put yourself out there, you open yourself up to criticism.

Yes, I frequently feel unfairly criticized while at the same time not getting any recognition for the good things I do. It just gets old. Every so often it would be nice to get a pat on the back or to not feel ostracized by society. I am guessing it is because I am doing osmethign wrong.

I am on the verge of lucid dreaming. The other night I dreamed that I was dreaming. My understanding is that this dream signifies the beginning of my subconscious becoming aware of itself. Now, despite not having lucid dreams yet, I have reeceived some very deep and significant messages in my dreams.

I have a few thoughts for you to consider. Feel free to implement any of these into your daily routine and thought processes if they resonate with you. 1. Recognize that the things we dislike in others are often the same things we dislike in ourselves. Try to see yourself in others or to see others as a reflection of some aspect of you. This will enable you to practice compassion. 2. When you find yourself judging someone, ask yourself: what if that person was my son or daughter. How would I respond differently? 3. Recognize that what you do to others you do to self as we are all connected by the light within us. So when you are hating on your neighbor, you are also hating yourself. 4. Keep your eye on the prize. Most people that I encounter are seeking things such as happiness, community, love, enlightenment, etc. When you find yourself hating or judging another, ask yourself if that thought is helping you to attain any of those goals. Then, once you realize that these thoughts are actually prohibiting you from attaining your goals, just like you do in meditation, dismiss that thought. PS: Acknowledging that you have a problem is half the battle. Once you bring an internal problem into your awareness, the solution is often just around the corner.

The video didn't ask for money. But when you follow the video to the website and look around, you see: "The Venus Project is asking for donations to develop a feature length major motion picture focused on life within a resource-based economy. It will depict living in clean, sustainable cities and will show how we get from here to there, while answering many of the typical questions people pose. It will be an awakening to many as it portrays, in detail, a global civilization which secures, protects, and encourages a much more humane world for all people. Please visit our Donations page if you are able to contribute anything toward making this happen. Also, if you know anyone in the movie industry who may identify with this direction, please introduce them to The Venus Project and get in touch with us." Honestly, I don't know much about this group or their mission. It just leaves me with a bad initial impression. Sometimes the best action is no action. I will take a "wait and see" approach on this one.

No offense intended, but I think that video is just plain awful. It makes broad, sweeping generalizations. It uses fear to motivate. The video essentially looks like a recruiting and fund raising tool for a cult. I can see how the whole "global society" concept would loosely fit into the topics of this forum. But the whole presentation of the video just left me with a really negative vibe.

I don't know how to link a video. So here is a link to a song that I think you will enjoy. EDIT: Thanks to a tip from below from steve f, I now know how to paste a video into a message. Thank you! If you don't wish to click on the link in this post, see my post below with the video inserted. This song and this presentation of it touch me deeply.

I couldn't believe this when I read it. A new disease has been "created" by Dr. Steve Bratman. He calls it Orthorexia. It's basically my diet and a diet similar to most spiritual people I know. I'm guessing that it's the diet that many in this forum consume. Check it out: http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/new-eating-disorders-are-they-real Anything to sell more drugs I guess. Now that a new condition has been labeled, possibly the drug companies can develop a drug to sell to treat it.

I labeled it a "spiritual diet", because most of the spiritual people I know are either vegan or vegetarian and avoid processed foods. Something about "raising your vibration".

What the doctor is calling an addiction I would simply call an insistance to eat foods that are healthful. Our country is poisoning itself with the unnatural diet we eat. This is clearly evidenced by the obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease rates (conditions that can all be stopped and even reversed by eating a whole foods, plant based diet). For someone to insist that what they put in their body is natural, good for their health, or not linked to a degenerative disease is just smart. Now, if their insistance on eating only these foods were to negatively impact health in some way, that's when I would label it a disease (for example, if they were stressing out over it or if they were not getting adeqaute nutrients). PS...I am presently reading "The China Study" which was a massive research project on health and nutrition. The findings were quite eye opening and the research very interesting.

As I continue to explore different spiritual paths on my journey, it seems clear to me that certain groups tend to stay away from and or possibly even judge certain other groups. For example, the people in my life that I associate with shamanism tend to refer to tantric practioners as sex addicts. That seems awfully judgmental. A person in my Tibetan Buddhist group told me that shamans were freaks that use feathers, stones, superstitions and charms. That comment also seemed awfully judgmental. Of course, these people were speaking only for themselves and not for everyone that follows their same spiritual path. But it does make me wonder if these two groups tend to dislike each other. If they do dislike each other, why? Don't all paths lead to the same place?

Excellent suggestion. I have practiced with some Bob Buddhists for a short period. The practice was great, very energetic. But the group was cold. I didn't feel the love and heart centeredness that one normally feels from Shamans. But yes, Bonpo is Tibets oldest tradition and is recognized by the Dalai Lama as part of Tibetan Buddhism. Bonpo has a shamanic path as well as a tantric path.

I gravitate towards Eastern practices. Tarot cards, psychic readings, witchcraft, etc just have no appeal to me. Not judging. Just not interested.

I do not know who Mouni Sadou is. How do you know that his methods work? What if after months and months of practice you have "progressed" to the point where you are simply better at doing his exercises? Is that a real measure of spiritual development?

IMHO, there is no measure of progress in meditation. You just do it. When you try to measure, you have now created an expectation which takes you out of the moment. It's not like running or lifting weights. In fact, it's kind of the total opposite. It's not doing, it's not thinking, it's not judging, it's not comparing, it's not measuring, it is simply observing.

This topic has come at me recently from several different sources, so I figured that it was something I was meant to look into. Have any of you been to any places that seem to have a higher amount of spiritual energy? Energy that you can simply feel deep within? I have not encountered such a place to my knowledge, but I have read about Sedona, Mount Shasta, Mount Fuji. Other references have pointed to places such as the pyramids or stonehenge (but these are not naturally occurring, so I would classify them as a slightly different type of energetic anomoly). Curious to know if you all think that there is something truly special about these spots.

The speaker in the video sounds like he believes what he is saying which leads me to think he is insane or scizophrenic/paranoid delusional. I believe that aliens and extradimensional beings might be real. But why assume that they are not benevolent? I must believe that if extradimesnional beings wanted to wipe out the earth, they would have already done so.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Otis, on 24 April 2011 - 04:26 AM, said: I don't want to coddle other people's egos, nor do I want mine coddled. I'm not interested in trying to reinforce anyone's delusions, nor do I want mine reinforced. I want to cut away everything that is not necessary, and spend my practice in the essential. I look around the Bums, and see a great group of intelligent, wise, experienced and kind fellow travelers. Can this be our mutual dojo for practicing making sense? Can we keep each other honest, not by being mean or superior or dismissive, but by being fearlessly clear? Can we assist in each other's growth, without falling into either extreme of being against - or just trying to please - each other? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Fearlessly clear" sounds a lot like insenstive to me. Kind of like the "bull in the China shop" approach. I don't know if that is what the OP was trying to relay, but that is what I take from it. I agree that we all need to keep each other honest. We should not be afraid to speak our truths. We should all be truthful and a s factual as possible in our commincations. But delivery is everything. With a little thought, kindness, and compassion, even the worst of news can be delivered in a way that it will be well received.

I'm not a seer nor do I subscribe to the "things happen in 3's theory". But after reading your story, it appears that you are still waiting on the result of the biopsy, correct? Just pray that the biopsy result is not the 3rd thing you are looking for. In the interim, I would put your husband on a vegetarian diet as a precautionary measure. Go to your library and pick up a copy of a book entitled "The China Study".

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony...Ghandi

For me, pain is brought about to induce change. Remove your hand from the stove as it buirns you. Change the way you view your relationship if it is causing you pain or walk away from it. Pain is meant to be uncomfortable in my opinion in order to get you to do something differently. It is a blessing and a curse. A blessing because we often need the pain in order to make the right changes in our actions and lives. But a curse because it is so unpleasant.

Are you asking what each individual can do to be more compassionate in their daily lives or how to keep the posts in this forum more compassionate? I have a few initial thoughts on this. 1. I like dragons suggestion of metta 2. I don't wish to control other board members, but I can certainly work on myself and trying to keep in my awareness compassion as I post. 3. Possibly a board OP could post a MUST READ sticky about compassion? Something along the lines of: "Please think before you post. Would you say the content of your post to your best friend? Your mother? Your child? If not, possibly you should consider rephrasing or not posting that thought". Maybe the board ops have already posted a similar thought and people have simply failed to read? 4. Does the forum have an "ignore poster" feature that prevents you from seeing posts from people on your ignore list? I have seen that feature "keep the peace" on a couple of sites. I personally like the free exchange and dialogue on this site. I tend to dislike forums that are heavily moderated. So stressing personal accountability for each forum member to post compassionately would be my answer. It starts with you and me. If we set the example, others will follow suit. Kindness usually wins over meanness. If I return a mean act from another with a kind act consistantly, the person that is acting mean will eventually recognize me as a kind person and stop. Be the change you wish to see brother... PS...I really like your thought of compassion. Thank you for posting.

Connecting to your inner child...I have been trying to do this for the better p;art of a year now.

Many traditions recognize special energy during the full moon. Do any of you have any special meditations you do on that day/night? If so, feel free to share and make sure to provide detailed instructions. Thanks!