manitou

As I am experiencing it, the I Am is something that is realized rather than learned in a linear fashion. All the books and study were necessary - at least they were in my case. It was by seeing the common metaphysics that exist at the core of all traditions. IMO, anything that doesn't reach the I Am, the realized knowledge of who we really are, is a path that stops prematurely. The I Am consciousness is indescribable. It snuck up gradually, didn't really enter all at once. Once I realized who I was, it was overwhelming. I felt connection with all life. When in the consciousness, it's almost as though there is an emission, a radiation of light that extends out, who knows how far. But learning to live with it is something that I will be doing for the rest of my life. It is ours to wear, to have (after all, we are it) and to be the conduit for the I Am in this world, extending it outward always. And once that I Am point is reached, it is an indication that ego is transcended while in consciousness. 'While in consciousness' is the challenge hitherto. How often during the day do I remember Who I am? More and more often, it seems. My personal view is that it's not something that's easy to wear. Often it runs cross-current to what people are doing. And it's in this mindset, the I AM, that incredible things can be done and performed. Just be careful not to take internal credit for what has happened - that reinforces the ego and works against us. When in consciousness, 'Not-Doing' is always the preferable answer - just letting nature run its course. But there is also a current of agape love that extends to everything and everyone. The awakened one will know intuitively which way to go. Great topic, Apech!

Another answer might be to thank them for everything they've done before you off 'em. The other alternative is to be like the man in India who goes around without clothing and sweeps the path ahead of him so he doesn't step on any living thing. Where to land along the spectrum? The choice is ours to make...once we realize who we actually Are.

I've already tried. It just made things worse. Previously they were silent....

my roommate just told me that his gas is getting so bad that he's going to start dragging a wooden chair behind him

Far Side

What in god's name is she holding, off there to the side? (I'm assuming those aren't your fingernails!) What an interesting juxtaposition. And the other book - is it Why Men Love Bitches?

Post-Covid, of course. My little vision is to find a peaceful spot that maybe rents out cabins, and that we could have a retreat for maybe 3 days. That there wouldn't be any particular focus of the retreat, but we can do group meditations on the spot, or whatever. We've known each other soul to soul for years, and I can't tell you how wonderful it would be to meet other Bums in person. And people could bring their musical instruments if they want, we can have fun with each other's talents. At the very least, share photos of artwork on our phones. And it shouldn't be too awfully far from a good restaurant, but on the other hand a nice remote and peaceful feeling. I know, I'm not asking for much. Electricity would be nice. Same with flushing toilets. A central location might be the most desirable as far as everyone's convenience. But I would have a willingness to fly anywhere. We may have plenty of time visualize the dream retreat, for our purposes. (Whatever we decide those will be) So if anybody knows of a suitable location for this type of seminar, please contribute to this thread. It would be sort of fun to create a parallel universe while the rest of the planet implodes on itself.

I agree fully. But have you ever tried to explain your symptoms to an MD?

pinking shears

Que chingazo!

Her strength and inner clarity can be felt through the pages. She, better than just about anybody I've read, can really put into words to the merger of all paths. Her work takes you right in to the I Am consciousness. There's another magic little book that can do that as well. It's called The Impersonal Life, and it was written by Anonymous. (This was later determined to be a monk named Joseph Benner, but I like to buy according to the author's wishes). It sort of assumes that a seeker has done the inner work - and books like that find people just when they're ready for them. From the very first sentence, it is a journey into the great I Am. And then it just becomes a question of permeation at its own pace.

Absolutamundo!

The "going beyond", the "non-activity" are the means for us to attain mental freedom. In truth we have nothing to do, it is a question of "undoing", of clearing the ground of our mind, of making it, as much as possible, clean, void. The Void is, here, for us always a synonym of liberation. (The Secret Oral Teachings in Tibetan Buddhist Sects (Alexandra David-Neel) Very last page, very last paragraph.)

cautious

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

The dog had no teeth.

fertilizer

Can't wait to get to that part! I did get the Secret Oral Teachings - I've just read a few pages. Yes, Steve - like you said before - her words carry such punch. I would think that she was initially underestimated by many in her travels in India and Tibet. That must have been fun to watch. That whole group of metaphysicians who sat in the middle of the mystical hub where all paths meet again. It's the Dao returning to itself. The action of the Dao is reversion (Yutang). (I just had a bowl of hay and I'm pretty sure my sativa-laden brain has this figured out once and for all.). A self-realized metaphysical person will find their way to that hub and are capable of communicating with the metaphysical aspect of any spiritual path. The most important thing is for us to know, as many minutes as we can during the day - who we really are. And that the same Are inside me is the same Are that's inside you. that's why arguments are so silly - like one tentacle of an octopus fighting with the tentacle next to him. And yes, that was gender specific.

well, in my case it's apparently a combination of both - Nice to have another codger on the site

I think I had this very test two days ago. The one I had was used as a measure in the Castaneda world. On the cover of one of his books is a woman wearing a shawl, facing away from the viewer, heading toward an adobe house. Between her and the house is this humongous brown dog. A mean dog. It is a test to see if she can pass the dog without fear. So two days ago I was walking my pooches, and I leaned over kind of sideways to pick up a pile of poop. As I was leaning over, I heard all this commotion, and a huge brown dog (looked like exactly the same dog as in the book) jumped out of a car and came racing over to my pups. The dog was growling, snarling, really aggressive - some sort of bulldog mix, I think. He charged over and went at one of my dogs. He was biting her, the people whose car the dog jumped out of were trying to catch him. In fact, both of the older people fell onto the street trying to catch their dog. Mrs. Kanooch slipped her leash and was running away, this dog right on her heels. But it was my reaction that was really strange. I didn't panic - I didn't do anything but continue to pick up this big pile of poop. I didn't even look at the dogs or react in any way. Something inside me said 'Don't let this distract you'. I had the distinct impression that this was some sort of shamanic test. I think I might have passed it, I felt no fear at all. The woman, who I helped pick up off the ground, said 'Don't worry. My dog has no teeth'. By that time, the whole affair was over. Mrs. Kanooch was fine, although being nearly gummed to death. And the fact that the dog had no teeth throws a whole different light on it. There was never any real danger.

I've been here since 2008. At that time my POV was predominately shamanic, as my husband and I were deeply into Castaneda. But what I've found here on TDB's is that there are many paths represented here, but they all seem to end up at the I Am consciousness (known by other words in other traditions). It seems to be a fusion of the metaphysics from all the traditions, which end up in a place that we can all recognize. I think it's not too difficult to reach into each other traditions and recognize the dynamic that we may call something else - but in essence is the same thing. I have noticed that the egregore has heightened over the years. Maybe it's just my own development, seeing through my own particular eyes. But it seems to me that some of the Bums now are soaring. I think that our discussions, although coming from different origins, are exceptional because of the different directions they come from. I see them all meeting in metaphysics. I see that we have all brought each other up over the years. We have awakened each other - or at least, you have awakened me. And what I know today is that we are all the I Am. And I do think about you all during the day. I'm not a highly social person either - and maybe that's why us hermits treasure this place. But many times I have realized something - maybe on a walk, or shopping - and my first thought will be 'I need to tell the Bums about this'. As to hoping TDB's doesn't degenerate into something else? I think as long as there are mature ones who are solid in their understandings, it will always serve as an anchor. Other things may come and go, but the base will be there.

Aaaargh.....

Wombat?

wizard

Just like the Fool in a tarot deck. I just don't understand why it's being done by a cat. I'm just learning the tarot. Your mention of ego being depantsed gives me a whole new angle on interpreting these things. Thank you, Mr. 'not-this, not-that'.