Posts by Joseph Moore4

Hey there! Can someone give me a big capital letter?

Sure thing, just reach out to Tyndall.

So, can we actually tell someone their avatar is an eyesore and give them some tips on how to actually improve the overall aesthetic of this Reddit thread? 🥳 😁

mistyscout2 said:So, what kind of path are we actually talking about when it comes to this whole extraterrestrial experience thing? And honestly, what’s the end goal there? Like, what is an out-of-this-world experience supposed to give you? What's missing from life if you already have great food, a good massage, or even just great sex?

Nothing's missing from those things; it's the person who's lacking. An out-of-body experience. 😁

He's probably talking about that state where consciousness transcends the physical—realizing we aren't just trapped in our bodies or stuck in our heads. Why bother? To be a happier human, obviously. 🙂 Once you realize that neither your body nor your thoughts actually "produce" your consciousness—that it's actually the other way around, that consciousness is the foundation of everything and exists independently of flesh or thought—you start seeing the world differently. And the people in it, too.

casualtiger2 said:@ Joseph Moore4
If God took His place within Jesus—which apparently happened at the latest during His baptism—then I don't get why He would cry out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" I mean, what’s the logical link between that and "descending into hell" right after death (before "ascending to the Father") just to deliver the Word to "unbelievers in hell" (or "spirits in prison")?
Especially if we assume Jesus is one single person within the Trinity.
Was He basically saying He abandoned Himself?
Who knows, but it seems like this specific line has caused quite a headache for plenty of theologians.

That thing you described—this cleansing process, shedding old habits to become someone searching for God—that definitely rings true. (Actually, I was going to start a thread about the obstacles and crises on the spiritual path, but Bruna decided on this more poetic, prettier title instead).
Still, it feels like something that happens to everyone right at the start, and it isn't actually that terrifying—assuming your motives are solid and you have enough discipline to sort things out relatively easily. It's nowhere near what people call the dark night of the soul.

Like I said before, none of my own crises come anywhere close to what I consider TND.
The connection I mentioned regarding Jesus comes from the books by A. Bailey, specifically "fra Bethlehem to Calvary - The Initiations of Jesus" and "Inititation human and Solar," as well as general theosophical teachings that just click for me.

Obviously, these are just theories—things I've only been able to partially verify—but out of everything on the "theoretical marketplace," they seem the most plausible to me. They rely on what I see as a logical analysis of the human structure (physical, emotional, mental, budding, atmospheric, monadic).
Even if Jesus wasn't a historical figure (some claim he's just an ancient myth), it still holds that certain stages of human development are similar, if not identical—think birth, baptism, transfiguration, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. It’s comparable to various stages of samadhi in a yogi, or achievements in Hinayana Buddhism: the shrotaapanna ("one who has entered the stream"), the sakridagamin ("one who returns only once"), the anagamin ("one who does not return"), the arhat, and the asekha; or as the Hindus say, the jivanmukta ("liberated while living"). By the way, only this last stage (which isn't actually the final one) can be called a Teacher or a master—though they say reaching the third stage is enough for earthly lessons, making new incarnations unnecessary.
Of course, to someone starting from a different set of assumptions or beliefs, this might all sound absurd, and that's perfectly fine.
For instance, you seem to operate on the assumption that God is something separate from man, whereas I find it more intuitive to think that we are (at our core) actually that God—that Consciousness. For some reason, a part of God wrapped itself in the veils of matter and narrowed its consciousness by identifying with one of the physical bodies.
In that light, spiritual development is essentially a homecoming—a process of de-identification. And as you move through certain stages, you hit these psycho-energetic "explosions" and systemic restructuring—initiations.

In this field, you can really only prove anything through your own experience. So, even though I love talking about this stuff, I find it much less valuable than those tiny, ordinary steps and sincere efforts made in everyday life.

I agree that the line grabs your attention and gets you thinking, mainly because it isn't mentioned in all four Gospels. It definitely raises questions that even I haven't found a straight answer to, though I did offer the interpretation that makes the most sense to me (backed by a quote). I'm sorry if your "logical connection" isn't clicking, but there's really no point in debating that here—it feels like I'd end up having to explain everything to you. Like I said, I was just intrigued by your "logical connection" regarding TND and asked for clarification (while mentioning why your reasoning felt off to me). Since you've provided the literature that led you to that conclusion, should I take that as your answer?

By the way, as far as I'm concerned, God is one, not three. 😉

What you described as a cleansing—shedding old habits as someone begins searching for God—definitely holds up (honestly, I wanted to start a thread about obstacles and crises on the spiritual path, but Bruna opted for this more poetic, beautiful title instead).

Now I'm not following—what are you getting at with that statement? Are you suggesting the TND title could be replaced by something more general, like "Obstacles and Crises on the Spiritual Path"?

For instance, you're starting from the assumption that God is something separate from man.

I'm not starting from there. 😉

whereas I find it closer to the truth to understand that we are actually that God (in our depths)—that Consciousness. For some reason, a part of God became veiled by matter and narrowed its consciousness through identification with a material body.

My starting point is already very similar to yours (above), just with far fewer "levels," "energies," "explosions," "systems," and "structures" (below). 🙂

In that sense, spiritual growth is basically just finding your way back home. It’s about shedding old identities. As you move through certain stages, you hit these psycho-energetic "explosions"—total system reboots. That's what initiation really is.

casualtiger2 said:Yes, casualtiger2, please do elaborate 🙂. I have some familiarity with the concept of the "Dark Night of the Soul," but I don't quite see how it relates specifically to that energetic shift...

Nov 24, 2008 - This is such a fascinating subject that it really deserves its own dedicated thread...

Yes, casualtiger2, please do elaborate 🙂. I have some familiarity with the concept of the "Dark Night of the Soul," but I don't quite see how it relates specifically to that energetic shift...

Nov 24, 2008 - This is such a fascinating subject that it really deserves its own dedicated thread...
Unfortunately, I can't speak from personal experience—every Crisis I've dealt with so far has been pretty surface-level.
The Dark Night of the Soul is likely just another version of that—a crisis occurring when you shift from one level of consciousness to the next.
In Christian terms, Saint John of the Cross describes it as Dark Night of the Soul.

You can find similar ideas in this book, where the author references Assagioli—he was basically the pioneer of transpersonal psychology and focused heavily on spiritual crises and stages of development.

And here’s a more modern, and honestly quite authentic, description of the process (it's all in German, unfortunately, and my translation skills are non-existent).

It’s essentially that moment where Jesus cries out during a crisis, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" The old personality has dissolved, but God hasn't taken His place in the soul yet—so the person is left "alone" in the "darkness." Probably a pretty brutal experience.
1. initiation—moving from the root to the sacrum
2. from the sacrum to the navel
3. from the navel to the solar plexus
4. from the solar plexus to the throat (which would correspond to the crucifixion)
Each of these transitions brings its own share of crises, pain, and joy.
At the heart level, we're still working on personal achievement, which tends to be pretty unstable.
Throat energies align with devotion to the divine—that feeling of being moved, awestruck, or stunned by the mystery of life; that's what we feel right in that center.
Unfortunately, I can't speak from personal experience—every Crisis I've dealt with so far has been pretty surface-level.
The Dark Night of the Soul is likely just another version of that—a crisis occurring when you shift from one level of consciousness to the next.
In Christian terms, Saint John of the Cross describes it as Dark Night of the Soul.

You can find similar ideas in this book, where the author references Assagioli—he was basically the pioneer of transpersonal psychology and focused heavily on spiritual crises and stages of development.

And here’s a more modern, and honestly quite authentic, description of the process (it's all in German, unfortunately, and my translation skills are non-existent).

It’s essentially that moment where Jesus cries out during a crisis, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" The old personality has dissolved, but God hasn't taken His place in the soul yet—so the person is left "alone" in the "darkness." Probably a pretty brutal experience.
1. initiation—moving from the root to the sacrum
2. from the sacrum to the navel
3. from the navel to the solar plexus
4. from the solar plexus to the throat (which would correspond to the crucifixion)
Each of these transitions brings its own share of crises, pain, and joy.
At the heart level, we're still working on personal achievement, which tends to be pretty unstable.
Throat energies align with devotion to the divine—that feeling of being moved, awestruck, or stunned by the mystery of life; that's what we feel right in that center.
While this comparison caught my eye, I'm having a hard time linking the dark night of the soul (based on what St. John of the Cross writes) to the context of those words from Jesus on the cross. God took His place in Jesus (at the latest) during His baptism, and I interpret those words (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me) in line with Jesus' "descent into hell" right after death (before He "ascended to the Father") to deliver the Word even to the "unbelievers in hell" ("spirits in prison"). I'm looking at this through the lens of 1 Peter regarding Christ's example: For Christ also suffered once for sins, being righteous, the unrighteous, to bring us to God. He was indeed put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit. For by means of him he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, of whom in olden times he proclaimed through Noah, while the ark was being prepared...

How do you see it?

Actually, from what I've gathered, the dark night of the soul happens to someone who is just starting to seek God and goes through painful separations from their previous, let's call them, worldly things—attachments and ways of thinking. Plus, because they are still full of old habits, insecurities, and fear of the unknown—or the danger of bowing down just when God decides to take them to Himself—the person goes through a rough period of "cleansing." It's how God strengthens the soul. The dark night of the soul, as I understand it, happens to a soul that has sincerely called upon God and truly asked for His grace, which He then provides (as the saying goes: those who seek shall find, and those who knock, it will be opened to them), even if it doesn't happen instantly. Regardless of that sincere desire, the person (or the soul) isn't quite ready to just "switch over to God" in a single moment due to their habitual weaknesses, so the period of "cleansing" and transition is often very painful. But because of that sincerity, God doesn't give up, and that's when the whole process begins.

I'd actually love to hear your thoughts too, since you seem quite familiar with this topic, and maybe hear from someone willing to speak from their own experience. Even just in passing.

I was never really a fan of that story either. 😁

Charles Thompson16 said:I honestly struggle so much to translate my thoughts into actual words... I find myself getting drawn into these debates all the time, and while I feel like I have all the necessary arguments lined up, everything feels so incredibly layered and complex that I just can't seem to boil it down into simple terms for everyone else to grasp...🤷
That’s why, for quite some time now, I’ve mostly been participating in these discussions from the sidelines—essentially just sitting here getting increasingly frustrated because I watch people spout nonsense or argue points they’re clearly wrong about, yet I can't seem to steer them toward the actual reality of the situation, whatever the topic may be. Now, I’ll admit, I did briefly wonder if perhaps my vocabulary was just too limited 🤣, but that isn't really the issue at hand. It’s more that whatever I’m thinking about or taking a stand on is just so nuanced and complicated to explain to others. I don't consider myself some profound philosopher by any means, but I do feel like I'm right far more often than I can actually demonstrate, simply because... my thoughts always seem to outrun my ability to put them into words. ☕

It might be what you mentioned—you think in such abstractions that even though your point is crystal clear to you, you know how hard it is to make it concrete for someone else. Some people have the opposite issue; they can't see past the literal. 🤷 😬

Anyway, you've got your username and total anonymity (which is priceless 😁), so just write as much as you want and however you want, without worrying about how you come across. Don't sweat it; some people will get you. At worst, the ones who see things the same way you do will find you. 😁

Alex Barnes8 said:I seem to recall a psychiatrist on Sunday Night Football once mentioning that psychopaths are actually incredibly common. He argued they aren't even really "sick," just... built that way. I think he estimated they make up about 60% of the population.😲
And there was something else. When a student asked him to weigh in on a case involving a schizophrenic patient—someone supposedly dangerous to the public who was being released for the weekend—she was horrified at the idea of him walking free and potentially hurting someone. His response was pretty blunt. He told her that people only believe those fears because they’re raised on stories claiming the mentally ill are more violent. In reality, I guess healthy people commit much more frequent acts of violence.😲🙏

p.s. If anyone reading this struggles with schizophrenia, please don't take this as me labeling you as dangerous or a killer. I'm not trying to offend anyone. This was just about that specific instance. Best.

From what I gather, psychopathy is strictly an emotional deficit, while intelligence often stays well above average. At first glance, you wouldn't notice a thing because traits like aggression or being antisocial seem pretty standard in today's world. 🙄 😁 They're basically human robots—driven by a sheer will to dominate everyone else. They operate almost entirely on instinct; they're blunt, impulsive, and forceful. It’s all about control. They lack empathy, morals, and emotional depth, but since their intellect remains sharp, you can't easily outmaneuver them.

They don't need sympathy or support. Feelings don't touch them, and moral arguments fall on deaf ears.

It’s unlikely anyone with that diagnosis would ever admit they have a problem.🤔

[User Profile: žacko1] [Username] says:
Let's be real—people can be pretty nasty. Most folks are ready to stab you in the back at the slightest provocation. Not everyone, obviously. Shout out to the good ones.Just sending out a quick hello to everyone here.).

🤣

silentfalcon6 said:I didn't start this thread just to hear people tear me down... but I guess it’s way too easy for everyone to jump on a bandwagon and judge someone before actually offering a hand. Honestly, I bet none of you have ever felt truly insecure about yourselves, your relationships, or just life in general. Must be nice! Since this isn't some high school drama forum or a teen section, I’d really appreciate a little bit of basic respect here.
Why do you think I decided to major in psychology? It’s because I’m fully aware that I’m my own biggest problem—that my self-confidence is shot and I can't seem to find a decent therapist to help me through it. But hey, maybe things couldn't get any worse... except they did. My absolute worst fears actually came true. His girlfriend sent him a message on Facebook asking when they were finally going to grab coffee, and he clearly forgot to delete it. He actually admitted to me that he’s already looking for a "backup plan" in case we break up soon. Nice... right?😢I completely lost it. I didn't even say a single word... my heart was just hammering against my ribs so hard and everything started going dark around the edges. And then people have the nerve to tell you that this stuff is harmless... that it's totally normal to play games with people... sure, but where do you draw the line? It looks like my boyfriend has completely forgotten what love even means, if he ever knew it at all. Anyway, thanks to those of you who didn't just chime in to act "cool" or try to insult me with questions like "how old are you?" or "how long have you even been using the internet?" wow... seriously, those comments really helped! Thanks a lot!🙄It feels like there are fewer and fewer people left who actually want to help anyone. Regardless, I don't want this to turn into a massive monologue; I just wanted to say that my gut instinct was right... unfortunately.😢

There you go. Always trust your gut. Even when it’s terrifying to do so. 😬

Wait, he's actually asking for a backup? Seriously? 😕 When someone hits you with something that blunt and stupid, it’s more than just a lack of respect. It’s like they assume you don't even respect yourself enough to shut it down. Then again, maybe you're both just too young to be dating anyway. 😉

Look, you clearly need to work on your self-esteem and self-respect if you ever want to find someone who actually values you. It’s like trying to drive a car with a broken engine—you can't get anywhere while you're busy mourning someone who treats you like an afterthought. 😘

I don't know about you guys, but I'm starting to get bored with being awake at this hour. 🤷

I guess I see it as a way to escape the noise, the rush, the stress—and even the responsibilities. Everything just settles down at night; the world feels half-empty and quiet. It suits the sensitive souls, the calm ones. Or the lazy ones. 😁

Honestly, the thought of sleeping through the entire day is starting to gross me out, even if it’s a hundred degrees outside. I miss those early mornings when I actually woke up feeling refreshed. One of my favorite memories is that crisp, early morning air, watching the day begin from a comfortable chair on the porch (well, far away from Washington, D.C.). 🙂

And the afternoon naps. 😍

Nighttime is beautiful and there's something special about it, but living like this isn't working for me. Since I need a decent amount of sleep, I usually end up missing the whole day. I can't deal with that anymore.

I don't wanna be a vampire. 😬

Jerry Green59 said:Kenneth Peterson5, give me a break.

(And by "give me a break," I mean I see you lurking on every single thread, demanding justifications and deep dives into everyone's motives.)

I rarely find myself browsing this specific forum.

I get it—sometimes people are dealing with real issues but feel too uneasy about seeing a doctor, so they take the path of least resistance by trying to DIY their problems online.

My goal with this topic is actually quite well-intentioned: I want to advise people that seeking help from verified professionals is much smarter than relying on internet advice. In my experience scrolling through here, I've run into plenty of cases where users offer suggestions that aren't just uneducated, but are downright catastrophic—the kind of bad advice that turns a minor issue into a total disaster.

Do you honestly think it’s unnecessary to warn forum users when someone starts "prescribing" medications or treatment plans?

If so, I suppose your stance is that anyone naive enough to follow amateur medical advice should simply be left to deal with the consequences of their own ignorance.

😲 🤣

Look, if someone is actually going to take medical advice from a "doctor" on an internet forum, a warning isn't going to do much. They’re already way too far gone. 😬

Keith Lee2 said:But get this—the next day, since you missed the lecture and I was there, the same
guy shows up again—the "Professor."
Naturally, we all give him a huge round of applause because, hey, he totally fooled us.
But then he goes:
"Who among you believed that woman yesterday when she said I wasn't the professor, but she was?"

We all put our hands up again.

Man, seriously...😁

😲

Yeah, they're playing you. 😬

Dammit. 😁

A heart doesn't just break...

Alright, just a few opening thoughts before I try to tackle the main question...

mistybison said:Just a few thoughts...

If "spirituality" is defined as self-discovery, then believing in God isn't strictly necessary. In fact, you don't even need to believe in a "soul" or any other concept we can't verify with absolute certainty. It seems to me that when embarking on this journey, one is better off traveling light—stripping away everything that might clutter the mind or lead us astray through preconceived patterns of thought. Nothing more than self-belief is required, and most of us are quite certain of our own existence. 😉

On the other hand, if "spirituality" is a search for God, then faith in God becomes the prerequisite for the journey. Typically, we look for God in the external world first before turning our gaze inward. While the process of self-discovery involves searching for the source of our being and our purpose, seeking God means looking for the entity we believe to be our ultimate origin and meaning. Have you ever noticed how reality seems to reshape itself to align with our convictions? Once we commit to a belief, we suddenly encounter endless evidence supporting it, almost as if the universe is conspiring to confirm we are right, making it incredibly easy to convince ourselves that we have found the absolute TRUTH. However, just as nothing in this world is permanent, our beliefs shift as well. Throughout my life, my understanding of "God" has evolved many times, mirroring my own internal growth.

Who are you searching for—yourself or God?

There are countless paths toward self-knowledge and infinite ways to seek God. Some follow the well-trodden trails left by those before us, while others choose to blaze their own unique path.

Are you still walking the spiritual path, or have you reached its end? Have you truly grasped the essence of yourself or God? Is such a feat even possible? Or is it more practical to simply let go? How can you be sure that what you claim to KNOW isn't merely FAITH in ideas that happen to suit your current stage of personal development? How do we distinguish between FAITH and KNOWLEDGE in a spiritual context?

But you definitely need faith in spirituality itself, or the path, or the discovery process. That naturally expands the idea of "believing in oneself" into something larger—something being sought. Because if you only believe in yourself, what else is there to discover? The truth is, it's hard to pin down or explain, so talking about God usually feels like the easiest way to frame it...

If 'spirituality' is a search for God, then faith in God is the prerequisite for starting the journey.

I used to say it that way too ("searching for God"), until I finally realized I wasn't actually hunting Him down. At least, not within myself. He’s always been there. Sometimes I ignore Him, but He's present. So, I don't see it as a hunt anymore; it's more like a conscious recognition of His presence, an acceptance of that friendship. If you have to "reach" Him (or reach that Truth, as you put it), then He's outside of us... which means we'll never actually arrive. It's like chasing a ghost you've only heard stories about. In reality, you just have to let your heart be warmed by God's presence.

Strip away all the philosophy and it's simple: everyone knows God. Maybe they deny Him, maybe they do it unconsciously, but I can't imagine a person where He doesn't exist. Every other human being, made of God's spirit, must feel it on some level. Is it my faith or my knowledge? I wouldn't know how to label it. Give me a third noun that fits better. 😁 Human spirituality is simply God within us. So, I'd venture to say there is no spirituality without God.

Usually, we look for God in the outside world first, and only then do we start looking inside ourselves.

I want to add something here because I've been reflecting on this all day 😁 and I've landed on the exact opposite of your view. For me, it's about trying to find what I already hold within myself out in the world. In others. I want to see, feel, and touch that aspect in someone else, just as I want them to recognize it in me.

Who are you looking for—yourself, or God?

Searching for Unity. You could call it a quest, a challenge, a game, luck, or just life itself.

What I’m actually hunting for, in the truest sense, is love. That's where my spirituality leads. It's essentially the point of my existence; so, feel free to throw stones at me if you want, I won't even bother defending myself. 😁

Are you still walking the spiritual path, or have you reached the end? Have you finally figured out yourself or God? Is that even possible? Or is it more practical to just give up? How can you be certain you actually KNOW (whatever that means) something, rather than just having FAITH in ideas that happen to fit your current stage of personal growth? How do we tell the difference between FAITH and KNOWLEDGE in a spiritual context?

How do we even distinguish faith from knowledge? Knowledge is basically just faith backed by evidence we choose to believe. Honestly, neither term really fits when describing spiritual experiences—they just muddy the waters. I don't think the spiritual journey ever ends... maybe it isn't even a journey. People change, perspectives shift, we evolve in every way, but one thing stays constant: the possibility (and the necessity 😁) of touching God. That connection doesn't rely on any of this. It’s not about knowledge or faith. I recognize the same God within me that I knew as a little girl; He's always been there.

I wouldn't call myself a believer, and I almost feel out of place posting this on a religious forum. You can believe in anything: gods, yourself, mental illusions, the mind itself, relativity, nothingness, everythingness, aliens... who knows 😁... but I think the core is the feeling. That simple touch, that realization. 🤷

Why am I writing this, and why was I thinking so much today? 😁

I heard this beautiful song, and I wanted to share it. Lately, I've been feeling pretty scattered, stumbling through the dark, just trying to find some solid ground by pure luck. But today was different. I was driving through the outskirts of Chicago with a friend (who is a true "believer" 🙂), no real agenda, just feeling empty inside, nothing but the road and the sun... and suddenly, these lyrics hit me. My whole inner world rebuilt itself right then. It’s amazing how easy it is to wake up. I know I sound like a bit of a freak, but I really am not. 😁

Hope you like it:

I am a garden enclosed
A locked garden
A fountain sealed
I am your resting place
I am your resting place
Here oh Lord have I prepared a place for you to dwell
Here in the reservoir of me
That you would dwell in my heart
That I would be in you and you would be in me
That I could fellowship with God
Here where it's you and me alone
The very glory of God
In the inside of me
I want to fellowship with you

Here it's you and me alone, God
You and me alone
Here it's you and me alone, God
You and me alone

I am your resting place
You promised You'd dwell within me
That I’d stay rooted in the Vine
Christ living through me
The anchor of my glory

Just You and me, God
Just You and me
Right here, it's just You and me, God
Just You and me

You've walled me in
Wrapped me in Your presence
Like a private sanctuary
A walled garden
Real life happens deep within

Where it's just You and me, God
Just You and me
Right here, it's just You and me, God
Just You and me

So step into Your garden
Step into Your garden
Step into Your garden
Step into Your garden

Here, oh Lord
I've set the stage
To make a place for You

I don't belong to myself anymore
I am Your garden

I refuse to waste my life
Skimming the surface
I'm moving from the inside out
I won't squander my days
Staying on the periphery
I'm living from the core outward

I don't belong to myself anymore
I am Your garden

So step into Your garden
Step into Your garden
Step into Your garden
Step into Your garden.....

If you want to listen (it's honestly stunning 🙂): Garden