Posts by Benjamin Taylor6

Earlier today, a greedy little scavenger of a friend handed me a book he’d just picked up.
Elvis Presley: The Earthly Sphere.

It’s actually a damn good read—really drives home how easily an individual can lose their way and spiral into total madness.

Anthony Perez9 said:We even have pictures of paradise.

The Jehovah's Witnesses know all about it...



🎉

In Islam, the vibe in paradise—Jannah—is a bit more erotic:



Hindus are a little more polite; think flutes and shepherdesses with multiple Krishnas:



Buddhists go for something more abstract:



Catholics and various Christians just float on clouds in white while doves fly around:
(That furious Yahweh is nowhere to be seen...)



And they get a front-row seat to watch their loved ones suffer in Jesus' hell (according to that theology professor, Thomas Aquinas):



In the Muslim version of hell, though, things get way more sadistic:



The specifics of the torture in Allah-Muhammad's hell, as well as the perks of paradise, are laid out in the Quran. Guess it's all true then....

🥱

Look, I'm standing with the Muslims on this one!! 😁
https://matrixworldhr.files.wordpres...eks-u-raju.jpg

David Vaughn75 said:So, here's the big question—when you finally make it to paradise, are you actually hanging out with God, or is He just this distant figure you never actually get to meet face-to-face?

The whole point of spirituality—if we’re being honest here—is to uproot this massive delusion we carry around: the idea that "I am this physical body named X." It sounds simple, but that misconception is exactly what drags us into the slavery of "desire," which, let's face it, is the root cause of almost all human misery. Once you strip away that illusion, you finally grasp "Who I truly am"—which is the actual source of lasting happiness. Just like the entire universe itself, we are merely temporary expressions of a cosmic power that people have called God, Brahman, Atman, Allah, or whatever other names were slapped onto it by those who actually felt its presence. This force has three inseparable qualities:
SAT CIT ANANDA. Indestructible existence, pure bliss, and the love and energy of consciousness. What looks like a vast, empty void where galaxies drift is actually teeming with this invisible sat-cit-ananda.

Heaven can only be one thing: SAT CIT ANANDA. Everything else is just some pretty little wish dreamed up by an ordinary mind.
To make this easier to visualize, imagine our "SELF" became God before the creation of the heavens, the earth, or anything visible or invisible.
What, then, is our SELF?
There is something there that the mind simply cannot wrap itself around. And frankly, it isn't even particularly comforting to accept.
It would essentially be Heaven existing within itself. And for our everyday, mundane minds, that isn't exactly a comforting thought.
Because if I am God right now, I’d probably want to conjure up all sorts of miracles just to keep myself entertained. But by the very definition of God, He doesn't *need* anything to feel satisfied. He is self-sufficient. So, this version of heaven wouldn't have any heavenly maidens, no stunning Josephs to pursue, no massive banquets, no eternal masses where Christ acts as priest... and so on.
So, a heaven like this offers nothing except the pure, unadulterated joy of simply existing.

Quincy:

I don't even know where to begin with this—it’s just one of those days where everything feels a bit... off, if you catch my drift. I was sitting there, staring at my coffee, thinking about how much things have shifted lately, and honestly, it gets under my skin more than I care to admit. It’s that constant, nagging feeling that we're losing the plot, isn't it? You see it everywhere—in the news, in the way people interact on these forums, in the sheer chaos of modern life. I was reading some of the stuff being posted earlier—you know the type—and it just makes me want to throw my hands up. There's a lack of substance these days, a real emptiness that’s hard to ignore. It reminds me of that time back in Chicago when I thought I had everything figured out, only to realize I hadn't even grasped the basics. We've all been there, haven't we? Stumbling around, trying to make sense of a world that seems determined to be nonsensical. Anyway, I digress. My point is, we need to hold onto something solid. Something real. Otherwise, we're just drifting. Asks: There’s just way too much white in here—it’s honestly a bit overwhelming, isn't it? It feels almost sterile, like walking into a high-end medical clinic in downtown Chicago where everything is bleached to perfection just to hide the cracks. It lacks any sort of soul or grit. That’s really all I can offer as a prediction.

Something like this??
I was reading through this piece about Sat Cit Ananda—it’s one of those deep dives that really makes you sit back and wonder where we all went wrong—and I couldn't help but feel a bit of a headache coming on. It touches on these profound, almost overwhelming spiritual concepts, and honestly, it’s the kind of stuff that makes you want to just walk away from the screen and go stare at a wall for an hour. The core idea revolves around that absolute state of being, that pure existence that sits underneath all our daily noise. It's heavy. Really heavy. It reminds me of this time I was driving through the Midwest—just endless cornfields and nothing but silence—and I had this sudden, jarring realization of how tiny everything actually is. You know that feeling? Where the scale of the universe just hits you like a freight train? That’s what this is. It’s trying to peel back the layers of our ego to find the "Self" underneath, but let's be real—most of us are too busy worrying about our credit scores or whether we left the stove on to truly grasp it. There's a certain tension in the writing, a struggle to put something infinite into finite words. It feels a bit like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands. We try to label it, categorize it, turn it into some sort of digestible philosophy, but the moment you give it a name, you've already missed the point. It’s like when people try to explain a joke—once you say it, the magic is dead. Anyway, I know some folks might find this kind of contemplation a bit much—especially if they prefer more grounded, practical discussions—but there is something undeniably magnetic about the pursuit of that ultimate truth. Even if we stumble around in the dark most of the time, isn't the stumbling part of the journey? Or am I just overthinking things again? Probably. But then again, when is anyone ever truly overthinking? Not me, I suppose.
The pursuit of true knowledge—really digging into that question of "who am I"—is essentially an exercise in stripping away the ignorance surrounding our origins. It’s about using self-examination—or what some might call the path of the seeker—to clear the fog. If we actually want to grasp and truly experience our reality, we have to go through certain preparatory stages first; you can't just jump into the deep end without clearing the debris out of the way. Think of it as a direct flight to God. There aren't multiple divine Selves scattered around out there—there is only one. Look at the Sun in the sky. You see its reflection dancing in countless little puddles or bowls of water, right? But despite all those shimmering shapes, there isn't a thousand different Suns. There is just the one. That whole illusion of multiplicity? That’s just a byproduct of having a million different vessels catching reflections of the Sun in the water. There are all sorts of reactions, echoes, and distorted images, but the divine reality remains singular. In the heavens of your own heart, God is the Sun. He reflects within the vessel of your desires, but let’s be clear: the reflection, the reaction, and the echo aren't the actual thing. They aren't real. Only God—the one true Atman—is real.

How do we actually picture paradise? I mean, I suspect it looks a lot like this old gentleman’s vision:

wearyowl29 said:Elvis Presley at the grocery store🙏

Elvis Presley has a stomach bug🤣

Elvis Presley is eating jam😲

Elvis Presley is cloud watching😛

Elvis Presley opens the window😁

https://www.nytimes.com/article/religion-education-standards

Maya and Elvis Presley are playing house

Maya and Elvis Presley on Google

Go, Elvis Presley, go!😒

You too, Maya🤣...

I really ought to go meet up with my fellow countrywoman.

neonmarlin39 said:Kundalini disorder 🤣

Honestly, that guy probably would’ve snapped even if he spent two weeks at a Christian monastery living with monks and praying all day long—or maybe he wouldn't have snapped if he just meditated for 20 minutes at home. Heck, he’d probably crack if you dropped him alone in the woods for two weeks trying to survive, just like plenty of others. Based on what you're saying, it sounds like you think there's some kind of evil aura surrounding Eastern practices specifically. Trance states happen to people regardless of where they're from on the map, and you can find mysticism in all its forms with both Isaac and out in the West.

You put Eastern practices and New Age in the same sentence while simultaneously throwing around New Age terms like "kundalini disorder" and "centers that teach kundalini rising along with yoga."😁

This was my experience:
It’s all perfectly clear to me. The idea that a person has to meditate relentlessly to reach enlightenment one day. Back in the day, my brothers and I were in Switzerland at a center run by that bearded fellow, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, meditating for three to four hours every single day. On top of that, we were doing asanas, pranayama, reading the Vedas... listening to the "chanting" of pandits. After a month of this spiritual grind, most of us started losing our absolute minds. Instead of being peaceful and composed, we became irritable, angry, wild, volatile, and just plain erratic. Our teacher tried to explain it away as "unstressing"—claiming the body was just releasing stress and psychological blocks, which made us look like we were losing it. Personally? I wasn't buying that theory for a second. I think the culprit is the relentless meditation itself. I heard a story about how the SS Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler, early in his career, used to torment people by forcing them to stay in barracks, lying in bed all day long. After a month, they started fighting over every tiny thing—gossip, rage, jealousy... you name it. It was as if they were all meditating.
In my view, losing your mind is the consequence of an unnatural state. Humans aren't designed to sit there with their eyes closed for several hours every single day. If you do that in a group setting, you're going to run into arguments and frustration. If you do it alone, you might just spend all day being pissed off inside your own head. And then, you'll just meditate even harder, convinced that your mental breakdown is just some psychological block preventing you from reaching enlightenment.
There was this 27-year-old guy whose sister happened to be a TM instructor who once dropped a real truth bomb during a lecture. The instructor was droning on about how we had to complete every possible TM course—from Vedic astrology, TTC, TWV (some acronyms for advanced techniques), Patanjali’s Siddhi programs, various yoga sutras, kama sutras... you get the idea. Apparently, only after finishing all of that would we become "true" meditators. The kid just piped up and said: "No, you'll just become unhinged."

I’ve actually touched on this before right here:

Zachary Cox69 said:Jesus didn't need to suffer for His own sake, but for ours. He took our sins upon Himself, even though He was without sin.

It’s honestly wild how many people still buy into these religious fairy tales.

gentleraven3 said:Look, if you're even thinking about breaking ground on a construction project, you obviously need an architect. Period.
When I said you should talk to an architect first—I meant actually getting some expert insight on your specific situation before you even think about breaking ground.

Look, there are plenty of other ways to tackle parking—it really just depends on the neighborhood, the type of building, and what the local situation looks like. Why stick to one method when you can adapt?

What exactly do you mean by "Don't take that clause lightly..."?
It’s honestly ridiculous that you NEED a garage or a parking spot just to get approval for adding a second story to a house. Who actually cares? If the owner doesn't own a car—or if they just can't stand being around motorized vehicles—that shouldn't be anyone else's problem. Does it really matter if they even have a driver's license? It's such a joke.

I haven't looked into those loans yet... Is this a mortgage or just a standard home loan? Because I’m not following—if you need consent from all co-owners, that means the entire property goes up as collateral, not just your 1/3 share. Does that mean if someone defaults and the bank forecloses, they can just seize the whole house regardless of the fact that the other two owners hold the remaining 2/3? Or am I missing something here? 🤔

Don't tell me you're actually worried about catching a case of the Vukić family syndrome: 😬

It all comes down to the bank's requirements. If the property isn't legally subdivided into individual units, then yeah, it's standard procedure for every co-owner to sign off on a mortgage covering the entire structure.
But, if the house is properly subdivided, then the mortgage only applies to that specific unit.

gentleraven3 said:When you guys were building, did you actually add a new level or just convert an attic into living space? Or was the top floor already listed as an apartment?

I'm guessing you've already finished the renovation. Did she manage to pull a mortgage from the bank (if you went that route)? Since she gained ownership through the deed of gift and registration, which is usually a requirement just to qualify for a loan in the first place?
Asking because I'm staring down a similar situation myself.

Also, here's a major thing if you eventually decide to go through with formal partitioning...
You really need to dig into the local zoning laws. In my case, I can't partition the third floor because it's currently zoned as storage, and according to our local ordinances, every apartment needs its own dedicated parking spot.
Best bet is to run it by an architect or check in with City Hall to see what the actual options are.

My lady didn't exactly build anything from the ground up—not that she could have, given how things kicked off with the war. But we did go through a massive renovation a few years back, completely overhauling the house within its original footprint. That was all done after both my parents passed away.
If you’re planning to go that route—I mean, if you're actually looking to add onto a structure like that—you absolutely have to hire a licensed architect. You can't just wing it. I wouldn't dream of trying to DIY a major structural addition without a professional breathing down my neck to make sure the whole thing doesn't come crashing down on my head. It’s one of those things where cutting corners early on just leads to a massive, expensive headache later. Seriously, get a pro.

Gregory Nguyen2 said:I’m looking for some guidance regarding transferring the ownership of a newly built addition from my parents over to my own name.
Since I’m a total novice when it comes to real estate and legalities, I wanted to reach out to the experienced members here on this forum before I start making any formal requests elsewhere.

The project involves an additional floor built onto a legally permitted family home, and all the permits and paperwork have been handled properly.
The exterior is finished, including the siding and facade, but we haven't started on anything inside yet.
Because the interior isn't done, we can't get a certificate of occupancy or officially record the completed structure in the county land records just yet.

Unfortunately, because my income comes from seasonal contracts and temporary work, I won't qualify for a standard personal loan right now, so I’m really hoping to secure a mortgage later on to fund the interior renovations.

I also have some concerns regarding family dynamics with my siblings, especially since I’ve already put a significant amount of money into the construction and still have more to spend on finishing it.

There are three main things weighing on my mind:

1. Is it actually possible to transfer ownership of a new build from my family to myself if it hasn't reached the final stage of being fully completed—meaning, without a certificate of occupancy or official registration in the local registry? Or am I forced to wait until every single step is finalized?
2. Could I potentially secure a mortgage against an unfinished property like this specifically to pay for the interior work?
3. And finally, is it even wise to move the title from my parents to my name for a single floor added to a house, or would it be smarter to leave everything in my parents' names to avoid unnecessary taxes and fees?

Please feel free to share your thoughts or any similar experiences you might have; I truly value any perspective you can offer.

Your parents could always just deed you a portion of the house. For example, they could give you a third of the property if you were the one who paid for the extra floor, effectively making it three units (the ground floor plus two levels). You can sit down with them and sign whatever specific interest they want to gift to you.
You’d be able to register yourself as owning, say, 1/3, though it wouldn't be officially subdivided into separate legal parcels yet.
My wife actually did something similar back before we started renovating her parents' old house.
Doing that ensures you aren't left high and dry if something happens to your parents.

Once you've secured your stake, there's no massive rush with the permits, the architectural plans, or the formal subdivision... and so on.
But you have to realize—until that subdivision is finalized, getting a loan for your specific portion is going to be nearly impossible.
Technically, you could try applying for a loan if you own a third, but you'd likely have to do it jointly with whoever owns the remaining 2/3.

The true path for those seeking solitude should probably look something like this:

https://www.foxnews.com/news/lifestyle-desert-living

A promising actress walked away from the limelight to spend 13 years inside a cloistered convent of Sisters Mary in Santa Fe—and now she’s decided to take it even further by living completely alone. Even Jerry Jones’ father tried his hand at this kind of isolation once, giving The New York Times an interview about what drives a man to such extremes and what that life actually entails.
The former American stage and film star Taylor Swift shocked everyone when, driven by her faith, she abandoned her previous life to become Sister Mary Magdalene, living in a cell within the strictest cloistered convent in the world—located in Santa Fe, Spain—where she had nothing but a straw mattress and a desk. Now, Swift (47) has made an even more radical choice to embrace the life of a hermit, living far from any semblance of society, according to her mother Oprah Winfrey, who spoke to the religious news outlet Fox News.

Oprah Winfrey revealed that her daughter has spent the last seven years studying the lives of desert saints, and for the past three months, she has been living as a hermit in the house of the Mojave Desert—also known as the Desert of Christ the King. Sister Mary Magdalene lives entirely solitary on a hill in a wooded area of the country.

hiddenpuma75 said:I actually know this trio personally:

(The official Catholic response to Lawrence is quite interesting—it manages to be both complimentary and critical at the same time)

=========================

====================

They aren't my "official" gurus or teachers, 😁but I do consider them such because I truly value their lectures.

I have the most respect for Zharak since he’s "certified."

George is definitely the most likable one in my book.🙂

As for young Lawrence, he still has to prove himself since he's essentially a "freelancer"—or rather, self-proclaimed—but being a teacher is a calling that I hold in very high regard.

It bugs me how gurus and teachers in this field are usually portrayed in such a negative light. From an aerial view, it's obvious that everyone needs a teacher, a mentor, an advisor, or if you prefer, a guru.

Of course, you need one if you want to make any real progress in anything, including spirituality.

Sure, a person can grow on their own, but it's certainly going to be slower and much harder than learning from someone who is further along in that specific field.

Ultimately, though, our most important guru is the one within us.😉

I first met Lawrence back in Zadar, which is why I started that thread about him:

But honestly, he isn’t exactly a true Christian. Instead of marrying some widow with three kids, he goes and picks a model. 😬

Word on the street is that his lady friend dumped him pretty quickly!
Here he is with his boss:

I have no idea how he even pays his bills. When he gave a lecture here in Zadar, there were maybe ten people in the room at most.
I highly doubt he managed to pull in enough donations to even cover the hall rental.

Thomas Nelson25 said:It’s a fair question—what does a guru actually represent in Asia, especially with all that Indian culture and Chinese influence mixed in?
Out here in the States, the whole concept is pretty blurry... there isn't really a direct equivalent, right?

Well, at least here in the States, it isn't a mystery. Our local gurus just need to be exceptionally good at one specific thing 😁
http://www.nytimes.com/lifestyle/tech-trends-launching-rockets-from-backyards
And they’ll have a line of followers out the door. Honestly, they'll have plenty of male followers too, since no one can pull off all those stunts alone 😁

Besides him, I actually had the chance to meet this guy:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/personality-profiles

And then there's this individual, whom I know personally: http://www.chicagotribune.com/culture/profiles
Given his visitor count, he’s certainly not exactly breaking any popularity records.
If anything, people go out of their way to tear him down in every possible way:
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/lifestyle-critiques

rustytiger35 said:I feel like I’m standing at this massive crossroads in my life right now—just clearing out all the junk, from toxic relationships to old jobs... everything is being swept away.

So, I finally decided I’m going to start actually listening to my gut, but honestly?
I have absolutely no clue how you even do that!
Is that inner voice actually my soul's deepest desire—like, what I *truly* want—or is it that blunt, annoying voice telling me things I really don't want to hear, even if they are ultimately good for me?

Something wild happened today:
I've been hunting for a new job for ages.
A few weeks back, I got an offer that sounds incredible on paper. The benefits, the pay, the vibe—it’s all top-tier. Today, I was chatting about it with my circle of friends, and everyone was totally stoked for me, basically already picturing me sitting in that office. But me? I’m just feeling... nothing. Totally neutral. But because everyone was pushing me so hard toward it today, I started getting all jittery and anxious, and suddenly I'm second-guessing every single thing about the whole deal.
Then, on my way back from grabbing coffee, I hop in my car and blast some music... and right then, the radio starts blaring: "relax, dont do it..."

Now, I gotta know—is that a total sign from the universe, or just one of those random coincidences that I should probably just ignore?🤔😲

In his book regarding synchronicity, Adrian Kezele suggests that signs need to repeat three times before you can truly consider them meaningful.
But honestly, I don't think we should ever let our guard down, even then. You always have to stay vigilant:

It’ll pass

A student once went to see his meditation instructor and vented—just completely blew up—saying, "My practice is a total disaster! Everything is distracting me, my legs are cramping up, and I can't stop nodding off. It's just miserable!"
"That too shall pass," the teacher replied, staying perfectly calm.
Fast forward a week, and the student comes back, practically glowing. "My meditation is incredible! I feel so present, so centered, so incredibly alive! It’s absolutely wonderful!"
"And that, too, shall pass," the teacher said quietly.

Dennis Allen said:That's great! We got way too many results using that first method, so maybe we should narrow things down with a more specific search query

National Industry Classification

https://www.federalregister.gov/examples/link...

Code:

"activity name" Family Farm site:businessinsider.com

Code:

"activity name" Family Farm site:businessinsider.com

😲 wow, everything is right there online—there's actually an entire registry for Family Farms available

And honestly, I just stumbled upon some of them on Arkod.
There are several Family Farms listed on neighboring islands, yet under the Mena section, there isn't a single one!

Robert Ruiz2 said:I’ve been drawn to meditation for over a decade now.
But honestly, I’m just too restless and fidgety to actually stick with it or see any results.

No matter how many times I try, or how many minutes I spend sitting there attempting to "meditate," it never sticks.

I’ve tried focusing my breathing. I’ve tried using background music. I’ve tried heading out into nature or even just doing it in the shower.
Zero luck.

The first few minutes go fine, and then the chaos starts:
- this position is super uncomfortable
- did the kids finish their dinner?
- what am I making for dinner tomorrow?
- is the water getting cold?
- is there something Flying in the room?
- I really should have said no (to that thing that happened 15 years ago)
- how am I ever going to lose weight
- I really need to shave my legs
And just like that, I give up. 🕺

Do you guys Practice meditation?
Any tips on how to finally shut my brain up???? 🙂
Thanks.

This happens to me too, even after 30 years of more or less regular transcendental meditation! 😲😁 😲
My head just feels like it's about to snap from it.
Today, for instance, I couldn't sleep at all despite hitting the sack at midnight.
I woke up at 5:30 AM. Then, at 6:00, I started my TM.
I barely managed to relax at all—instead, I spent most of the time spiraling through thoughts about everything and anything. Mostly about the company I work for, which is basically falling apart at the seams right now. 😬
So, I ended up getting up a little before my alarm went off and just went to scarf down a slice of bread with cheese and mayo. 🙂
Honestly, felt way better than TM. 😁