55 posts shown.
Austin Vaughn3 said:How do you ask for forgiveness? Honestly, from the heart, through words...
As for me, I want to know... how do you forgive?
James Lopez11 said:Has anyone here actually reached out to ask for forgiveness? I mean, truly, sincerely? Was it humble, and did the apology actually land when it happened? I’m not sure if this counts as spiritual stuff—this isn't from some self-help book or anything—but I'm in the middle of it right now. I’ve realized how some of my past actions really messed things up for someone else. I can feel the negative energy lingering, but I also feel like if I can find a way to be genuinely sorry deep down, that energy might just heal itself... both in me and in them. What do you guys think about that?
mellownomad30 said:Look, it's not like I'm trying to trash animals. I'm just saying that the more we try to deny the reality of how things work globally, the more we just end up getting better at lying to ourselves. We haven't moved forward an inch; we've just mastered self-delusion.
And regarding that whole "pack solidarity" thing... don't they have hierarchies too? The weak ones bow down to the strong. Where's the equality there? Where's the solidarity?
mellownomad30 said:hey everyone
first off, just a heads up—this is strictly my own take on things. I’m trying to kick off a discussion from a more philosophical angle, even though most people here just tend to shove their personal biases down everyone's throats. honestly, that's fine by me; your bias is basically what builds your whole philosophy anyway.
I haven't actually sat down and read any books by the "real" heavy-hitter philosophers. I skimmed some stuff on "moral relativism"—can't even remember the author because it was pretty twisted and didn't really click with me.
but man, it's wild how most "philosophical" debates just end up being people recycling quotes or rephrasing a handful of guys who've been dead for centuries.
hardly anyone actually pushes the topic further than just applying some stale, pre-packaged versions of ethics or morality.
having lurked on this forum for a few years now, whenever I drop in, it feels less like a community and more like some weird social experiment that I happen to be watching from the sidelines.
the bottom line I've landed on is this: humans are just animals.
let me break that down and get ahead of the inevitable backlash: people are fundamentally selfish. everything is about "me" first.
I tried testing this out with a little mental exercise:
look at my basic needs—what am I actually looking for? food, drink, sex, warmth, affection (fill in the blanks as you see fit)—it's always easier to grab those things if I use other people to get them. so, I start layering on all these manufactured moral and ethical codes...
I try to squeeze out as much benefit for myself as possible while staying within the lines of that "morality," essentially masking my true self.
it sounds blunt, and look, writing isn't exactly my forte, but I'm convinced everyone operates on this exact same frequency. kindness and solidarity? they're just convenient fictions we made up; they aren't baked into our DNA.
everyone wants to be the alpha in the pack because it serves the individual interest. you can see it in action: anyone jumping into an argument with me is just trying to prove they're superior.
I'm sure someone's gonna chime in saying, "No way, I just want to find myself and be a good person." But seriously, think about the actual motives there. Why would you do that? If you show people your "true" face, you're just lowering your status in the pack.
In my book, almost every decision a person makes starts with one question: how is everyone else going to perceive this?
anyway, those are my thoughts. I got there just by observing myself and how I carry myself around others.
maybe take a harder look at your own motives?
Ryan Wilson2 said:
Justin Garcia7;46004205 said:What are some effective ways to channel sexual energy (kundalini) into creative pursuits?
When arousal hits, kundalini kicks in. That energy travels from the base of your spine up toward the brain; fantasies and imagination intensify, which just ramps up the arousal further until that buildup flows back down seeking release.
The idea is to learn how to block that downward flow and redirect the build-up elsewhere, supposedly providing a massive boost for creative work. I suppose that’s just a surface-level summary; I don't really have any deep insight intoRyan Wilson2 said:Kundalini energy has absolutely nothing to do with sexual fantasies.
When you're feeling turned on, forget all about Kundalini and just take matters into your own hands.🤣
The idea of channeling sexual arousal into "creative pursuits" is pure nonsense. If you're horny, deal with it and release the tension; if you actually want to work with Kundalini, then sit down, meditate, chant, and stop thinking about sex.
Perhaps the only energy we truly possess is sexual energy, and it's creative far beyond just where life begins.
Everything depends on where we focus our attention; that's where the energy flows, and that's where creativity finds its opening.
In sex, whether one likes it or not, everything is geared toward conception and parental bonding, and all that creativity starts within the realm of energy.
Sex in the context of kundalini only matters if there's a specific technique involved—redirecting attention via tantra or something similar.
I suspect these techniques aren't for everyone. Preparation and clearing chakras (removing energy blocks) are vital; the goal and intention behind the practice are non-negotiable. Kundalini movement might be a byproduct, and one probably needs to be somewhat "mature" or just completely unprepared for it.
Jacob Sanchez7 said:We’re all already perfect. We shape the reality around us flawlessly, without even trying. It really just comes down to one thing: what are we actually going to do with that perfection? Who do we want to be?
Sandra Morgan2 said:Silence is nothingness—just pure emptiness. How can you possibly accumulate something that’s void? How can you pile up a background when all that exists is the constant, inner chatter of the mind?
Meditation technically breaks down into two distinct stages. First, you have dharana—that initial phase of concentration where you fix your attention on something specific. Think of focusing on your breath, a mantra, a visualization, or even just the flicker of a candle flame or a single point on the wall. Then comes dhyana. That’s when that focus finally stabilizes, creating this profound silence where everything else just drops away. No wandering thoughts, no movement—just total stillness centered entirely on your object of meditation.
Once this state stabilizes, you move into Samadhi. It isn't about fixation, concentration, or even focused attention. It’s not something produced by the mind or the intellect; rather, it's a state where pure awareness simply *is*—whether there are objects present within it or not. While meditation itself is the process of narrowing the stream of thought down to a single object, its ultimate goal is Samadhi, or the expansion of consciousness.
Ramana Maharshi:
Samadhi is that specific state where the mind finally goes quiet, allowing you to experience the pure, unbroken flow of consciousness. That's it. Just that.
Or, if you're looking to dive deeper into Samadhi, here's the scoop: Samadhi is falling. From Pantaleon’s Yoga Sutras.In that state of inner silence, we observe the observer. We become aware. And then, naturally, we consciously recognize them within the mind—our thoughts.
When those internal dialogues kick in, we aren't actually gaining awareness—we're just overanalyzing.
The idea of a "blank mind," or trying to control your thoughts and feelings—it’s all backwards. It's a misunderstanding of how things work. It's nothing more than a clumsy maneuver of light.
We aren't controllers of anything; we’re just freeing our own actions.
By letting go of how we view reality, we finally start engaging with it. Only then do we truly begin to feel.
We can't just slip into that state of inner silence "forever." That internal dialogue? It’s indestructible. But we *can* learn how to sidestep all that mental noise!
That’s self-control right there—the only kind worth having!
I just can't follow you... even if I really tried!
I can only weigh in on that final sentence. Since that internal monologue persists even outside of meditation, it’s always hovering there. Buddha actually provided a technique for this—mindfulness in motion. It's really nothing more than staying fully aware and present in whatever is happening right now (thoughts, objects, sensations, etc.) by treating them simply as phenomena or movements within the field of consciousness.
Sandra Morgan2 said:It all comes down to what your actual goal is.
If you're looking for self-discovery, for instance, the best move is to pick one single technique. Stick with it until the practice feels as effortless and natural as breathing. Think of it like digging a well in one specific spot—you keep drilling until you hit water. If we spend our time digging holes all over the yard, we’ll just end up with a bunch of shallow pits and no water.
All meditation techniques eventually lead to the same destination because they share the same purpose: silencing the mental chatter and quieting the stream of thought. So, jumping from one thing to another based on how you feel? That's really just entertaining the mind, which is actually counterproductive if the whole point of meditating is to quiet that activity down.
wearyowl29 said:All music can be considered "good," but honestly, it all boils down to the recording frequency used during production.🙂
Morgan Brown5 said:If we’re being real, even Xanax won't help someone find peace if their nervous system is already worn down to a thread... 😲
Sure, spiritual music has a different dimension—it was always intended for a specific purpose for practitioners—but for most of us, it all tends to blur together.
To me, enjoyment is just letting your brain go idle. It's an escape from the daily grind. You focus on something you actually care about—like a hobby, maybe with a beer, or a joint, or just sitting in a pub with the radio playing in the background. I don't see how you "achieve" spirituality through it, but you certainly can't grow spiritually if your head is a total mess. That said, actively engaging with spiritual music definitely works... it's not much different from prayer or chanting.😢😲
electrictinker26 said:What do you think? It seems like the issue is really about letting go of specific memories or the way we identify with a self-constructed illusion—basically, we get too caught up in our own personal narratives. I just thought of that in English and didn't feel like translating it back.
Lisa Morales4 said:Following the "vision" thread, the highly esteemed Lisa Morales4 actually took me out to some endless hunting grounds today to search for an answer, because I just couldn't wrap my head around the qualification of how relevant ego self-reflection really is.
And so, I eventually arrived at an answer that finally feels right.
My only frustration is with those "non-ness" lexemes that make it so hard to articulate what I'm feeling.
But, given how this touches on themes we see all the time here—things like the duality of human nature, the mechanics of thought, free will, the concept of the Divine Child as a Person, original sin, and our primordial, pre-human, non-bio-physiological makeup—I decided to share this with the community. I'm hoping it might spark some healthy debate or lead to further clarification and deeper discussion.
Regarding the linked post above,
I’d honestly rather just use the word "reflection" instead of "self-reflection." To me, every act of reflection already implies a person—a subject who is reflecting on something, regardless of the topic. Regular reflection is becoming an absolute imperative and an essential skill for the 21st century, both for individual growth and for the progress of society as a whole. Every psychologically healthy person is essentially called to reflect, to develop themselves, and to influence those around them by being mindful of their actions—especially their mistakes, which are often the best teachers. Since reflection is a skill, it requires constant practice and lifelong refinement. It's like how every employee undergoes performance management at work, or how children start learning from a very young age through verbal feedback or written journals, then move to their peers, and eventually to family dynamics where everyone shares these reflections with one another, each in their own way.
Anyone who considers themselves a true person and views their existence as an active subject rather than a passive object—anyone aware of their own ego—will naturally recognize other people as distinct subjectivities and separate selves.
Who doesn't possess a reflective ego-consciousness?
Who isn't a person capable of striving to find themselves in order to truly "be"?
Who isn't characterized by a bio-physiological and mental drive toward growth and fulfillment?
Whose ego doesn't crave "being fulfilled"—to be someone, or to be something?
You can't expect an infant to reflect; they aren't yet aware of their ego, they don't demonstrate conscious free will, and they aren't a "person" in this sense. They don't yet know how to consciously say, "No."
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An idiot isn't a person and cannot reflect; they lack the drive to find themselves or fulfill their identity, and they fail to acknowledge the subjectivity and will of others.
A feral child could hardly be considered a person, and therefore, they aren't called upon to reflect.
Psychopaths and those who are clinically unreachable simply aren't functioning as persons anymore, so we don't expect reflection from them.
Animals and plants also lack a personal-subjective or a consciously reflective ego.
Healthy, bio-physiologically sound individuals—those aware of both their own subjectivity and that of others—develop into responsible human beings. As they mature, they learn to train, control, and discipline their ego. These subjects are people whose egos have the capacity to step outside themselves to participate empathetically in the lives of others through friendship, compassion, and love.
The reflective ego-subject, however much original it may be, is inherently bifurcated. This "split" within its individuality provides endless material for reflection and growth, but also leads to errors, imbalance, self-obstruction, and alienation from the world and the self. Even though the ego knows it EXISTS, it can never fully grasp or integrate itself because its fractal nature makes it nearly impossible to perceive itself as an active, creative subject.
Human beings tend to view the world as a seamless whole—a unified totality where they are an inseparable part. However, because we are born into a legacy of internal division and conflict, there is a constant contradiction within our own sense of self. We struggle with the shadow cast by our ego, which makes it incredibly difficult to feel truly fulfilled or centered. We are fundamentally fractured, both internally and in our relationship to the outside world. We exist simultaneously as the active observer and the mere shadow of
A healthy individual isn't just someone who recognizes their active "self"—that driving force working toward self-actualization, taking ownership of their freedom, and shaping their own destiny. They are also deeply aware of that dormant, passive, pre-conscious object living inside them. This is the part of us that lies hidden, making us nothing more than a conditioned bystander to a predetermined fate, devoid of any real agency or sense of responsibility
While the active ego acts as the catalyst for self-driven action, the atavistic ego remains a hollow, passive fact—a shell of an object. This internal friction is unavoidable
Only through a reflexive consciousness—one that can reconcile these two sides of the ego—can a person attempt to affirm their true self and rise above the inherent misery of the human condition
Brenda Cook4 said:Through sheer will, you create behavioral patterns for specific situations. But yes, you can absolutely make decisions that harm yourself or others when that self-control finally snaps. In my view, Psychology classifies that as irrational behavior. Self-control operates along the lines of information, acquired knowledge, and the value systems we build during our development and socialization.
Brenda Cook4 said:At its core, this kind of self-reflection is really just a value judgment. If the term "mechanism" feels a bit off—since in Psychology we usually reserve that for subconscious functions—then let me clarify. What I mean is a specific process, a sort of recurring pattern that brings something into being or shapes how someone acts in any given moment.
Brenda Cook4 said:In those moments, a rational person should be able to kick into gear their internal mechanism of self-control.
Kenneth Scott41 said:It's good that someone finally brought this up. I'm actually dealing with the exact same issue, which is becoming a massive headache, to be honest. My libido is basically non-existent; I just don't feel like it, or maybe I just can't. I am in a relationship, I should mention that, and naturally, my partner is feeling the effects too... and I think the older folks here understand exactly how much of a struggle that can be.🙂
I've been weighing the idea of just buying some Epimen capsules myself rather than going to the doctor for it... I don't know...🤷
bluebear5 said:So, I'm in 7th grade—and honestly, I’m a pretty good kid and a solid student... But—whenever it comes down to telling my parents the truth, whether it's about a grade or just something else—I just freeze up. I can't bring myself to say it. I don't know why, but I get this massive fear that they'll be furious or even kick me out of the house—even though I know deep down they wouldn't actually do that. Does anyone have any advice on how to find some courage so I can finally start being honest without panicking?