Posts by placidharbor7

shadowgardener12 said:Come on, Ivek. You clearly just need some attention in your life if you're showing up here trying to act like Pervan. And choosing "spirituality" as your thing? You could probably sell snake oil to anyone. 🤣

p.s. For all those fancy words you use, you still can't shake that basic, small-town vibe that follows you everywhere... 👍
Try to grasp the concept of transparency...

Jimmy, how can anyone be expected to grasp such a flimsy, superficial delusion of one's own limited consciousness—especially when you clearly think you have the answers?😎

shadowgardener12 said:Alright, here’s someone playing judge on who actually knows their stuff and who doesn't.

See, I could say the exact same thing about you. 😉

You just showed up to this forum to peddle nonsense. 🤣

Impossible, Jimmy.
The kind of raw intuition that comes from being a true, seasoned pro? That's just something you can't teach, and honestly, most people couldn't even begin to grasp it!

Ryan Wilson2 said:Fine, I suppose I'll get eight different answers to that. But let me ask just one more thing: is it actually necessary to neglect the mind and the other senses in order to develop the soul?

And just like that, this little atheist gets led right by the nose.👎>

shadowgardener12 said:In yogic psychology, the intellect is just one sense of perception. Intuition is the other. You’re being way too Western-centric in how you view this deeper phenomenon. It's superficial... Things yogis have spent thousands of years studying can't be grasped through logic or ratio—that typical Western approach of reducing everything down to what’s already known. But that's just a tiny fraction of a much larger culture of thought. That reductionist mindset works fine for everyday life because it simplifies things... but Yoga is about expansion—expanding experience and realization.

Once you strip away external input from the brain and its upgrade, the mind, you finally start to hear the "information" coming from within. Otherwise, it's just drowned out by all the outside noise.
At first, you'll just hear your own internal noise, much louder than before, 😉 and only once you manage to quiet that down can you enter deeper territories of experience...😉 infinite... endless inner worlds, true 😉, realizations.
And it's all just a play, a reflection, Lila, the veil, Maya... the true reality.

So, this is how a little atheist imagines Samadhi.

First off, he's convinced that the brain is physical matter—meaning it exists and functions as a God-given organic-material mush.

Then, he layers the logical processing of that very same (sic!) brain on top of it, and then you can drum and beat your heart out all you want.

ENLIGHTENMENT isn't anything more than a VASTER DREAM than the one you're currently dreaming, my dear interlocutor.
That's why Buddha's teachings, for instance, serve exclusively for "orientation" within both dreams—the current one and the next—"if you're lucky."

"Maya" is always present—as long as there is individual content. It's just that Samadhi provides a reason for the godfathers' vision to be much more generous and comprehensive than that of the "unawakened."

With these assumptions of yours, you're just stripping away every mystery of the human being and the cosmos.

No experience—no explanation, Jimmy.👎

boldsailor2 said:

"The whole point of Zen is walking that razor-thin edge of the present moment— you have to be so incredibly, absolutely present that there’s simply no room left for any problems, or suffering, or anything else you aren't really being in your core essence. In the present moment—where time just doesn't exist—all those problems of yours just melt away. Suffering needs time to exist, and it just can't survive in
the present. To pull their students' focus away from the concept of time, the great Rinzai Zen master would often just raise a finger and quietly ask: 'What is missing right now?' It’s such a powerful question—it doesn't even need an answer from your logical mind. It’s designed to pull your attention deeper into the present moment. There's a similar question in the Zen tradition: 'If not now, when?'..."

Eckhart Tolle: The Power of Now 😍

Honestly, if someone thinks they actually "get" Zen, then they don't understand a single thing about it! Seriously, what are they even talking about?👎

.................................................. ............


ABC Eckhart Tolle
Imagine we’re sitting down for a coffee, maybe at a little cafe in downtown Chicago, and we start diving into the deep stuff—the kind of conversation that makes you forget where you put your keys because you're so wrapped up in the mystery of it all! Let's play out a little scenario, inspired by those profound ideas from Eckhart Tolle about finding peace right here, right now. I love thinking about how much our internal chatter gets in the way of actually living! *** **Person A:** "I feel like I'm constantly running on a treadmill that just won't stop. Every time I think I've caught up with my to-do list, three more things pop up. How am I supposed to find any peace when life is this frantic?" **Person B:** "Isn't it funny how we do that? We spend so much energy worrying about the next five minutes that we completely miss the beauty of the present moment. What if you stopped trying to 'get somewhere' and just realized you're already there?" **Person A:** "But if I stop moving, won't I fall behind? It feels like if I don't stay ahead of everything, the whole world will pass me by!" **Person B:** "But does the world really move that fast, or is it just your mind racing to keep up with its own shadows? Think about it: can you actually experience your life if you're always mentally living ten steps ahead? It's like trying to enjoy a delicious slice of New York cheesecake while staring intensely at the exit sign of the restaurant. You're physically there, but your spirit is already halfway down the street!" **Person A:** "That’s a fair point... I guess I am mostly living in the 'what comes next' instead of the 'what is happening.'" **Person B:** "Exactly! And that’s where the magic happens. When you lean into the present moment, the noise starts to settle. It’s not about fixing your life; it’s about realizing that beneath all that mental chaos, there is a stillness that’s always available to you. Why fight the current when you can just learn how to float?" *** Isn't that just wild to think about? We spend our entire lives searching for fulfillment, acting like it's some distant destination we'll reach once we pay off the mortgage or get that promotion, when it turns out the treasure was buried right under our feet the whole time! Who knew that simply breathing and being aware could be such a game-changer?

Eckhart Tolle:
What exactly is the power of the present moment? Is it anything more than just the sheer strength of your own presence, or that beautiful state of consciousness where you finally feel unburdened by every single racing thought?

placidharbor7:
How exactly can we liberate consciousness from the grip of thought? It’s a heavy question, isn't it? We often say that thought *is* consciousness. In fact, according to Eckhart Tolle, thought serves as your very foundation. That foundation is what constitutes your "self." But think about it: how on earth do you free yourself from your own self? If you manage to strip away the constant stream of thinking, the "I" vanishes right along with it. So, if the ego and the thoughts dissolve, what is actually left standing?

So, you’re talking about the "power of presence," right? But here’s the thing—isn't that very "power of presence" just another version of the 'I'? It feels like just another opinion to me! Every single moment is actually the bitter end of the subject's 'I.' It's the final vanishing act of the 'self.' And if that 'self' disappears, then the 'now' disappears along with it, doesn't it? If there's no self left, whose presence are we even talking about, Eckhart Tolle?

Eckhart Tolle:
Being truly mindful of the present moment actually gives you this incredible superpower: the ability to look back at everything that’s already happened from a place of total presence! Isn't that wild? Instead of being stuck in those old loops, you can finally approach your past with a completely fresh perspective.

placidharbor7:
The "I" is always just the past, isn't it, Eckhart Tolle? It makes you wonder—how can the past possibly exert any influence if we are truly operating from the level of the present moment? Honestly, saying the past acts through the past just feels more accurate. As long as that sense of "self" exists, every single action we take is just an echo of what has already happened. But here is the real kicker: if that "ego" or "self" isn't there anymore, then who exactly is doing the acting? If the self vanishes, what even is the past at that point? And most importantly, if there is no "I," then who is left inside you to actually perceive and recognize the present moment?

Eckhart Tolle:
The more attention you pay to what’s already behind you, the more clearly you define that "self" you're trying to build from those old experiences. Don't get me wrong—focusing is vital! But shouldn't that focus be directed somewhere other than the past? Why spend all our energy dwelling on what's already happened instead of where we are right now?

placidharbor7:
What exactly is this "attention" we're talking about? Is it just a tool, or is it something deeper? I mean, can anyone truly be attentive unless there’s an "I" behind the eyes to do the focusing? It feels like only consciousness—that core sense of self—could actually pull this off. After all, isn't it our own perspective that does the concentrating? When you emphasize the importance of attention, Eckhart, it makes me wonder: who is actually holding onto that focus? If attention is essentially synonymous with the "I," then doesn't that imply the "self" is already established and fully formed? Are you suggesting that we can somehow upgrade or evolve this existing self from within? It's a fascinating thought, don't you think?

Eckhart Tolle:
Try to really focus on the present moment for a second! Have you ever tried just sitting back and carefully observing everything happening inside you? I mean, truly watching how your reactions, moods, thoughts, feelings, fears, and even your deepest desires unfold right here in the immediate now. Isn't it fascinating to see it all play out in real time?

placidharbor7:
That sense of attention we cling to? That’s just the "ego," according to Eckhart Tolle. It's essentially being stuck in the past. This kind of focus means you're constantly obsessing over your own identity while simultaneously dragging around everything that's already happened. Isn't it strange how that specific type of attention acts as this massive, stubborn barrier standing right between you and God? If that's the case, what kind of logic are we even following here?

Eckhart Tolle:
Do you ever feel like you're carrying the weight of everything that's already happened right inside you? It’s true—your past is always present. But here is the beautiful thing: if you can learn to look at all those old memories and experiences without being critical or constantly trying to tear them apart, you can change everything! What if you chose to observe your history with complete impartiality, without any judgment whatsoever? If you can do that, you suddenly gain this incredible advantage. You can actually face that entire past from the empowered position of your presence in the present moment. Isn't that a powerful thought? By truly focusing on the now, you’ll finally find your way back to yourself!

placidharbor7:
Eckhart Tolle claims that "the past exists within us," but honestly? I think he’s got it backwards. We don't just carry the past around like some heavy backpack; we *are* the past, through and through. Every single thing we look at is filtered through that lens. We approach life with this constant, nagging need to be critical and to deconstruct everything in sight. Think about it: if you believe that "observing" requires an "observer" inside you, then that very observer—that internal watcher—is nothing more than the past itself! That "watcher" is the ego. And let's be real, that ego is fundamentally incapable of looking at anything without passing judgment. True observation would mean being able to see things exactly as they are, completely stripped of all those preconceived notions and biases. That kind of pure, non-judgmental perception is what it actually means to achieve selflessness. And isn't that just another way of describing enlightenment? To be truly enlightened is to live entirely in the present moment. If you aren't awake, Eckhart, how can you possibly expect anyone to follow your guidance?

Eckhart Tolle:
Try changing the way you’ve been resisting the present moment. Try not to give your attention to either the past or the future, unless it's absolutely necessary.

placidharbor7:
But the "self" is made up of exactly that—the past and the future, Eckhart! How can the past possibly "not attract attention"? And how could the future ever deny itself our attention?
And what do you mean by "unless it's absolutely necessary"? Who gets to decide what’s necessary or isn't? Making those calls requires oversight, and isn't oversight exactly what kills that "detached" awareness you're talking about?

Eckhart Tolle:
Try to step out of the dimension of time in your daily life as much as you possibly can.

placidharbor7: The "dimension of time" is also the "self," Eckhart. How can you step outside of yourself?

Eckhart Tolle:
If you find it difficult to step directly into the present moment, at least try to notice the mind's habitual tendency to avoid it. You'll probably also notice that, as a rule, you tend to project the future as being either better or worse than the present.

placidharbor7:
The "present moment" is beyond the reach of the intellect, Eckhart. How can the mind then "avoid" your "now"? Observing the perceptions of one's own intellect is just a dead end. To observe is to repeatedly focus on the "self." And any kind of "self" is ultimately hollow. Why encourage that emptiness, Eckhart?

Eckhart Tolle:
For instance, if you imagine the future to be beautiful, it gives you hope and the pleasure of anticipating pleasant events. If you imagine it to be ugly, it brings you anxiety... and both perceptions are illusions...

placidharbor7:
The intellect is an illusion in its very essence, Eckhart. Straining to dissect its contents just pulls us into a vicious cycle. Dissecting it only serves to highlight that same intellect over and over again.

Eckhart Tolle:
Reciting "enlightenment" gives you the perception of a special achievement,
which people seem to love, even though it's really just a natural experience of oneness with everything that is.

placidharbor7:
How is it possible to experience that sense of oneness with all that is as long as the "self" still exists, Eckhart? Oneness means the end of your "self." Once that "self" is gone, who is left to experience the oneness? If the "self" vanishes, then all other things and phenomena vanish in the same way—including the perception of oneness itself.

Enlightenment has nothing to do with your "self." All "achievements" are just polite euphemisms for failure and lack. Every achievement involves blood, sweat, and tears. Enlightenment is a gift from God. A gift cannot be forced. That gift is bestowed upon us without any effort or involvement on our part.

Eckhart Tolle:
Your unwillingness to feel connected to oneness is what causes the sense of separation—both from yourselves and from the world around you.

placidharbor7:
The cause comes first, and then follows the "unwillingness." Don't blame the "unwillingness," Eckhart. The opposite isn't even possible; "willingness" isn't something you can simply manufacture. You are the true divider—your "self" is. You are the one who uses one cause to build another. You won't help yourself that way.

Arthur Grant4 said:A fool outweighs any number of arguments.
But what even defines an argument? Is it just smart people? So, does that mean one fool carries more weight than a whole crowd of intellectuals?
Does a single solid point actually hold more value than two fools combined?
Or maybe there's a point where having too many arguments actually weakens the whole thing?
Could one good argument be worth just a tenth of a fool?
But wait, what does that even mean? What kind of units are we using here, and how on earth are we supposed to weigh them?
If something is foolish enough, then one fool is plenty, because an argument applied to a fool remains invariant—just like an operator trace on a database display.
Oh boy... oh John, oh John...

Don't go mixing deep philosophy into the small talk, my friend from way out in Africa.😬
Otherwise, someone might just recruit you as their little apprentice editor, haha!🙄

Ryan Wilson2 said:But look at it this way—in the real world, whenever someone completely runs out of actual points to make, they just resort to swearing and call it a day. That's how most dialogues end, isn't it? 😉

Besides, you know exactly what happens to the Tower and all its residents in the Tarot readings 😁

"A fool always has more than enough arguments."

Murphy - the Master's Law
________________________

Largo said:Thanks, Largo!
I am, but maybe I'm not.

Why all the drama, Lago?
You were lost, so you just decided to go even further astray, haha.
"Left, right, nowhere near home..."😎 😳

Ryan Wilson2 said:Given my spiritual convictions, I’m avoiding that whole thing because it’s just pointless, so I’m officially "out of the game."

But I’m pretty sure that little training academy is going to end up spitting out a few oddballs once they graduate, mostly because nobody even shows up there! 😁

Biff isn't barking about the town; he's really just barking at himself.
Why is Biff so worried about the town? It’s already given its absolute best. There's nothing left to squeeze out of it! And as for who could be a LIVING LEGEND—well, they already are. For the US population, the impact was HUGE.

Biff is stressing over things he doesn't even understand, while being a LIVING LEGEND is actually the healthy way to live.
So why don't you just visit the academy, Biff? Or do you still feel like you haven't quite matured enough for Master Ivan's guidance?

Arthur Grant4 said:What does it even mean to explain a phenomenon? What’s the actual point of an explanation?
What does it truly mean to understand something?
Why did people look up at the stars and assume they were something much greater than just tiny little glowing pebbles floating in the sky?
Why do we fall into the trap of thinking things aren't always what they seem? Where does this nagging urge to demand an explanation even come from? And then there's the big question: what *is* an explanation? I think I just went in a complete circle here.

Man is merely dreaming, Afriend's students.
But once he WAKES UP, he understands everything instantly, without any effort at all.👋

hiddenpuma75 said:Take it easy, John...

What you've recalled is just standing

BUT...

...

but

...
and,
but
rather than..
vec 😁 )

That’s really just the first chapter—basically the very first stop on the massive journey she went through, which she describes here.

Because that key sentence above is everything...

"However, further annihilation was in the cards."

So

The fear is going to hit... and that Christ YOU MENTION won't be anywhere to be found.

(I can tell you now while I'm rushing to beat the traffic that THAT moment—that encounter with the ''INEXPLICABLE EMPTINESS''—actually happens in Chapter 4.
But the catch is, she spends fourteen whole pages describing it in the book, whereas this guy in the link I sent you managed to condense the whole thing into half a page! Aunt Bernadette's language is so refined, subtle, and fresh; she has this unique way of expressing things, much like our own John.)

This guy is just summarizing and relaying facts, so you lose all that raw drama and the deep, soulful description that our dear Aunt Bernadette provides.

So,

...

Keep reading along the WHOLE journey of our dear ''aunty''.👋

And you want all the Boshnjacans to call you Master Principal, huh?!

Reading about Aunt Roberts like this is just as educational, even if it's just casual conversation.

placidharbor7 will probably conclude next time that the story isn't convincing—if that's how it turns out.
Then you'll just have to present a whole new scale.

You have to process the entire scale.
Cosmo-musical, hmm?

"There was nothingness. She felt an incredible sense of joy and weightlessness knowing this. She concluded that this void and its accompanying bliss were actually Christ. She believed she could exist eternally
within that state. But, as it turns out, even deeper ego-dissolution was waiting for her."
.................................................. .................................................. ...

Now, folks on this forum, let's be honest about her.

If this lady hasn't truly "gone through" those various stages of emptying herself out, wouldn't it be unfair to deny her her own truth?

Unfortunately, the "consequences" she’s describing are nothing more than a mental construct.

Because—let's face it—where there is true "emptiness," there isn't any "you" left to feel "joy" or "lightness."
(placidharbor7)

The "experience of emptiness" is actually one of the greatest fears a human being can face!

Before reaching true "stillness," people are often haunted by feelings of desolation and sheer terror.

There isn't some version of "Christ" that just magically pops out of thin air from nowhere.

Trabunjarka has really only just "grazed" the surface, and now she's completely stunned by what she saw.

Her mind simply projected a "Christ" figure to pull her out of the overwhelming dread she was feeling.

So, let's not hold it against her. 👋

parsifal said:I’ve been waiting for a bit of free time so I could finally share some vital insights from Aunt Bernadette’s kitchen, but honestly, I just can’t seem to get my act together!
I am absolutely swamped these days. 😁

I’m going to try to tackle this using an e-donkey system 😉 (placidharbor7, you probably have no clue what that is 🙂 just ask Grizzly 😉
I'll be adding more little bits every single day

**
Here is a quick, surface-level response I gave to our dear Grizzly a few days ago—he’s getting pretty impatient for the translation, so he's really breathing down my neck!

***

''The book addresses the exact topic you opened up when nobody else would give you an answer: spiritual experiences.

Not even Buddha, nor Ramana Maharshi, nor St. Paul, nor Nisargadatta actually describe their own inner lives.
This lady, however, does it so convincingly; she basically provides the ''anatomy of enlightenment.''

***

So, I want to add this here on the forum for Grizzly and all of you as an introduction...

-St. Paul says there were things that happened to him that he simply cannot speak of.

-Muhammad says the angel Gabriel spoke to him. 😲

-Buddha supposedly (is it truth or legend?) spent 49 days deciding whether he should even begin telling people about what he discovered.

-Indian pundits, mystics, realized ones, pretenders, gurus...

Yogananda, Osho, Krishnamurti, Ramana Maharshi, Balsekar, Papaji, Nisargadatta, Sai Baba 😁

They all tend to hide the very thing we are all interested in behind a veil.

It's like asking: ''What are Mom and Dad doing behind closed doors?'' 😁

***
Well, Aunt Bernadette has essentially stripped herself bare and published a sort of ''spiritual pornography'' (though without any actual sex!) 😁

To put it bluntly...

I want to tell you through these surreal descriptions that she is the first one to provide a complete, crystal-clear anatomy and map of the internal ''experience of NON-SELF.''

And there aren't those typical fantasies and clichés about virgins and doves, or the angel Gabriel, or that wonderful feeling of the love of the Holy Spirit and the Sacred Heart.''

We miss you, Master Parsifal!
If you hadn't been missing, well... you certainly were!

Your intentions might just stir up some other waters; you're a good man.

And that brings us right back to the topic of illumination powder.
In the meantime, within the intermediate space, placidharbor7 called it the "Illumination Bang."

Actually, not much has been said about this subject on "The Challenge" or at "THE SCHOOL" lately.
In that sense, placidharbor7 previously mentioned Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh Osho and his personal account regarding the "night of illumination."
He was talking about the night when ENLIGHTENMENT seized him.
Then placidharbor7 mentioned that the latter, the "Beloved One," composed a quite vivid work on a third-degree level.

Aunt Bernadette doesn't mention the BENG-PRASK anywhere. It must be that some quiet water has fallen upon her.
So, let's see where this goes.👋

Joseph Davis5 said:It’s not really anyone's property, you know? It's more about providing the guidance needed to become a perfected being on the Way.

Does this teaching also cover how to act when you aren't just joking around?

I mean, seriously, how many schools out there actually have ENLIGHTENED MASTERS? 🙄

Joseph Davis5 said:I actually asked them the exact same thing, and they just gave me this vague "go see for yourself" kind of answer!

Who actually runs this school, and what exactly are they teaching there?

Joseph Davis5 said:If you’re living over in Astoria, you aren't even that far away! Just hop on the uptown R train, get off at Grand Ave, walk a few blocks, and look for the spot at 90-56 Corona Ave. You'll find the guy there...

But seriously, what exactly is this "real deal" guy doing over there? 🙄

[QUOTE]Joseph Davis5 says:
[QUOTE="placidharbor7"]
If you actually are, then what exactly is stopping you from backing up the "credibility of Mr. Bernards' experience"?👋 [/QUOTE
I’m really not the right person for that kind of heavy lifting.

Whether you're "right" or "wrong" doesn't even matter here, truth seeker.

So, if this isn't it, what kind of "job" *do* you consider to be your calling?👋[/QUOTE][/QUOTE]

Joseph Davis5 said:Now, look, I’m definitely not trying to nitpick or question the depth and authenticity of Bernadette Roberts' personal experiences here, but isn't it true that simply "observing nature" isn't the end of the road? Isn't it actually just the very beginning of the whole journey?

So, what you're saying is that if you actually WANTED to, you'd know how to "dive deep" into that "authenticity," right, truth seeker?

But honestly, how can you be so sure you could even do that if you haven't actually tried it yourself?

And if you *have* already gone there, then why on earth would you feel the need to second-guess the validity of Bernadette Roberts' experience?👋

🙂 placidharbor7, there’s really no need to go translating everything from English.
Just lay out exactly what you feel is in the original; I think we all get the gist here.😎

If you’re going to bring up those TRUE REVELATIONS that surfaced under the bloody gaze of local religious factions, then every single word and thought from those WONDERFUL SUPERMEN needs to be weighed with extreme care.

Sometimes, top-tier cryptography is actually a necessity—it was just so DAMN HARD TO TESTIFY TO ONE'S OWN AWAKENING during those earlier, more serene eras.👋

Ptahotep said:What kind of "mastery" is this, Seeker of Truth? 👋

Look, feel free to visit my school whenever you like, but please, just do me a favor and check out that link I sent you first. If you actually did, you wouldn't even feel the urge to reach back out to me—at least not until you’ve truly wrapped your head around your own "school" of thought.

Stop twisting my words; it’s a dead end. Just read the law of existence on that page I shared, get the full picture and the solution it presents, and then come talk to me. That is the Truth I was offering you, even if I only gave it to you in pieces. For me, Truth is simply understanding the law of existence. Do you actually understand it?
It would be much better if you understood the very law by which you exist, because merely knowing who or what you are isn't nearly enough to call yourself a "master."
I once knew what you "might" know, or what you've just memorized from textbooks, yet I never called myself a master. Honestly, that would be ridiculous, wouldn't it? It’s just not enough. I only recently grasped it all, thanks to Lubin, who finally put the law of existence down on paper. Only when you grasp the law of existence can you truly call yourself a "master"—if that's even something you want to do.

Then, if there's still something you don't get, or if you have an issue with "my" supposed ignorance, go ahead and reach out. Though, I honestly can't wrap my head around why a Master like you would struggle with such massive ignorance—so much so that you had to leave your own school to join the philosophy department at a major university, making more sacrifices just because your school is falling apart?! Are your students starting to lose faith in your sermons? Oh, heavens no, your students are just as "enlightened!" So much so, in fact, that they've started getting interested in joining the philosophy department themselves.

And finally, if you really want to play the "guru," try having a little patience. Wait for the sheep to come to you instead of chasing them down. Otherwise, this whole "mastering" thing won't last long, because you'll end up getting defensive with every single person you meet.

Regards. [/B]

placidharbor7 refers to every single source, so he’ll certainly look into Lubin's work too, Seeker of Truth.
He'll share his MASTERFUL experience regarding this matter at his own school.
Best regards to you as well.