Posts by mistybison

Joseph Bailey41 said:It's true, the option of monastic life exists for laypeople too. Elizabeth Gaskell (Eat, Pray, Love) used to scrub floors at an ashram frequented by travelers, and Leonard Cohen stayed at a Zen monastery until he had to head back because his accountant cleaned him out (or something along those lines, I don't recall the specifics), and he said it helped free him from depression. As far as Christians go, I know the Carmelites have their secular orders for both men and women, but I'm not sure if there's an option for short-term stays in a monastery.

But, the person who started this thread is interested in the desert hermit lifestyle, which is something else entirely. There are people living out in the woods, almost completely isolated from society, though usually not for religious reasons. The main issue is that in that situation, nobody is coming to feed you or check to see if you've been eaten by coyotes. You have to be totally self-sufficient, so you won't actually have much time left over for prayer and meditation. Even if some of those folks claim they hardly need food, I wouldn't count on that.

What seems like a reasonable middle ground to me would be lighthouses. Some of them are rented out much like apartments (though the price tag is definitely steeper), so if you can afford it, you could rent one for a few months and just be alone with God, the ocean, the fish, or whatever else is out there.

That is an incredibly difficult and harsh way to live, especially given the climate here in the States.

A reasonable option seems to be renting a lighthouse. Some of them are available just like vacation rentals—though the price tag is much steeper—so if you can afford it, you could stay for a few months and simply be alone with God, the ocean, and the sea life.

I believe the best approach is to connect with someone actually living that lifestyle to gather enough information before deciding if a person is truly ready for it.

Joseph Bailey41 said:Yeah, well, being "skillful" doesn't mean much when you're stuck in a corner with no way out. 😁

That isn't spiritual! 😲

I believe the best approach is to first connect with a religious organization (like a church) that welcomes laypeople to stay for a while in exchange for help (working in the kitchen, the garden, etc.). Even living in a monastery, which requires communal life, isn't for everyone. It is better to start with the most low-pressure option. 🙂

I once read a blog by a woman who spent several years at ashrams in India. She mentioned there are ashrams that are free for anyone wishing to join (providing basic lodging and food) and are supported entirely by charity and donations. Participants spend most of their time focused on meditation and spirituality, while everyone helps out during their free time—some in the kitchen, others cleaning, and so on. Some of these ashrams even welcome foreigners. Anyone is free to come and go as they please. It isn't about joining a monastery or a cult. I read about her experiences with meditation sessions that lasted 20 hours straight! Truly incredible. 🙂 If I find the link, I will post it. 🙂

casualtiger2 said:Jews have been waiting thousands of years for their Messiah.
Christians already had Jesus God, but apparently, that wasn't enough, so they're waiting for his second coming (we've actually had a thread on this for 15 years—Warning before the second coming of Jesus Christ).
Muslims likely expect paradise on Earth the moment everyone converts to Islam.
Hindus are waiting for their avatars (though people don't usually treat those with such apocalyptic urgency).
New Agers are waiting for Maitreya, and Benjamin Creme has been stringing them along for over 40 years (there's even been a thread on this for over a decade—The final phase of Maitreya's public emergence).
Alternative theorists are looking for aliens, Nibiru, or density shifts coming from the direction of Sirius (Ascension is in full swing).
When I first got into TM about 35 years ago, they kept talking about the Age of Enlightenment, which—surprise, surprise—still hasn't arrived.

Scientists, meanwhile, are working on fusion and interplanetary travel—which, compared to everything else mentioned above, is actually grounded in reality, even if it doesn't guarantee we won't accidentally blow ourselves up along the way.

It all boils down to a kind of "youthful" optimism—this deep-seated desire for something massive to happen during our lifetimes.
Personally, instead of all these *deus ex machina* prophecies, I’d much rather see a handful of politicians, religious leaders, and scientists who are actually powerful, smart, and compassionate enough to step up. You know, people capable of reigning in global mega-corporations, curbing nationalism, stopping religious wars, and halting the poisoning of the planet with industrial waste, plastic, and radioactive junk.

As for children, the priority should be preventing the physical, sexual, and psychological abuse that is still far too common.
Educational approaches are already shifting in many developed nations—ranging from the freedom found at Summerhill, to Montessori, Waldorf schools, and even experimental methods like multi-age classrooms and self-directed learning used in places like Sweden or Switzerland—and it has nothing to do with "indigo children," just basic societal needs.
But honestly? As long as industry needs qualified screws, the school system will keep churning them out.

That isn't happening anytime soon. People on this planet still live by the motto: "After me, the deluge!"

Admittedly, if we were to discover a new planet and some other beings we could conquer, plunder, enslave, and oppress—perhaps that might at least save the Earth. 🤔

Would that mean living in some kind of shack or cave, relying entirely on charity from others? I suspect that would be quite difficult here in the States (perhaps in India? 🤔).

A solitary life could be structured on a mountain, as someone else suggested, perhaps by working as a rancher or something similar. It provides shelter and enough income for daily needs, while still offering seclusion from the world and peace for "spiritual work." 🙂

wearyrider16 said:The real problem is that I’ve lost my way. Honestly, I'm not even sure who I am anymore or what I'm doing here.
I don't even have the energy to dig through all these psych diagnoses anymore. If I went by those labels, I’d probably be hooked up to life support by now. 😵

I'm leaning towards Indigo, mostly because I have 17 out of the 21 traits, which definitely makes me feel like I fit that description to some extent.

Ever wondered if you might be an Indigo child?

Does your kid already have a real sense of who they are? I feel like mine surprises me all the time with these little nuggets of wisdom that seem way too old for them.
Does your kid struggle with discipline or having a hard time listening to authority figures?
Does he actually handle waiting in line, or does bureaucracy drive him crazy? He’s usually pretty chill, but even he has his limits when dealing with endless paperwork.
Does your kid feel stuck because of those rigid, ritual-heavy systems that leave absolutely zero room for creativity?
Does he hit you with a barrage of impossible questions all the time?
Do you think your kid is super creative?
Do you usually multitask a lot, or do you struggle with ADHD and find yourself constantly jumping from one thing to the next?
I’ve always been a huge bookworm, but honestly? School felt like such a drag most of the time. I loved learning new things on my own, but the classroom stuff just never really hit the mark for me.
Do you find yourself constantly retreating into your own head, lost in books or daydreaming through the day?
Does your kid fall into one of these categories: super sensitive, both physically and emotionally, or are they more on the cold, angry, and stubborn side?
Can lies and unfairness really upset or sadden your kid?
So, is your kid a total genius?
Does your little one tend to freak out in big crowds? I’ve noticed mine gets pretty overwhelmed by loud noises, heat, or even strong smells.
Does your kid constantly demand real answers instead of those "baby stories" we tell to keep them quiet? It feels like they end up getting labeled as "difficult" just because they actually want the truth.
Does your kid have any standout talents? I'm talking about those skills that feel almost supernatural or just an incredibly sharp intuition.
Does your kid have a huge heart for others? I've noticed mine gets really worked up whenever they see someone struggling and just wants to jump in and help.
Did your kids start getting into computers and tech at a young age too? Mine was practically born with a tablet in hand.
Does he always go on about how he’d fix things at school or make society run better? It seems like he's constantly dreaming up ways to improve everything around him.
Does your kid act out or show antisocial tendencies even when they aren't around other kids their age?
Did your little one take a bit longer to start talking?
Does your kid ever give you that look—you know, that deep, soulful stare that makes them seem way older than they actually are?

If I really am an indigo child—or was one, growing up—I honestly have no clue. Nobody ever really sat down to talk about it with me. So, how do you actually figure out why you're here? And more importantly, how do you turn down the volume on all this sensory overload and material noise I feel like I was just dropped into?

I deal with this identity crisis stuff pretty often—whether I'm at work, out with my partner, or just hanging out with friends. Sometimes it hits so hard that I just shut down completely. I end up feeling like a ghost, staring blankly at everyone around me, just desperately trying to find my way back to who I really am. It’s hard to put into words, but it feels like I'm searching for a home that's still stuck somewhere in the fog.

Even though doctors have officially labeled me with anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder, and even some unofficial bipolar tendencies, I can't help but feel like there’s a strong "indigo" vibe to my personality too. Honestly, I'm just sitting here wondering what the point of all these labels really is.

I’ve actually tried reaching out to the mental health system several times, hoping they could help me through some psychiatric sessions, but it was a bust. Honestly, I walked away thinking they need help even more than I do—just in a completely different way.
It just doesn't work for me. They didn't help, so I don't trust them.
Everything else involving them is a whole other long story, but I won't go there because I think it's tied more to spirituality.

As for my indigo aura—which one woman who specializes in etheric light levels and energy medicine told me literally colors my entire being—I've come to realize I'm just not cut from the same cloth as the rest of the "normal world." I’d honestly love to hear from anyone else in a similar boat so we can swap stories, perspectives, and ways to handle daily life together.

Here's an interesting guide on navigating auras if you're curious:

I really want to turn this "curse" into a blessing and just live a bit more normally.

There are moments during the day where I actually pull it off. I feel like I have my life under control and I'm not letting these things trip me up. But generally speaking, I fluctuate too much and struggle to stay balanced. Internally, I’m struggling; I often feel like a kid stuck in an adult's body. Everything hits me hard, I overanalyze everything, and emotionally, I'm still pretty immature.
I feel chronically exhausted. Most days, I just want to spend all my time out in nature or talking about topics like this for hours, scrolling through the web looking for answers that might actually help. That's where the trouble starts, though. I can't keep up with the usual stuff—rushing to work, dealing with paperwork, the whole grind. It stresses me out until I just snap. And the worst part is, deep down, I know there are others just like me out there, we just haven't met yet.

On top of all that, I have this gut feeling that there's a deeper purpose to all of this, even if it hasn't quite clicked for me yet.

I took the quiz, and the answer is no. 🙂

There were hardly any questions, and most could apply to pretty much any child out there. 😢

Personally, I don't buy into this whole "indigo child" concept. 🙂

P.S. It seems the moderators are away, so the forum mice are running the show. 😁

Jessica Howard6 said:The title says it all: how do you actually rewire those subconscious beliefs that act like an anchor, dragging us down? How do you even identify what they are in the first place? It’s one thing to feel stuck, but it's another to drag those looping, unconscious patterns out of the basement and into the light where you can actually deal with them. I'm talking about shifting from just feeling "off" to pinpointing the exact mental block preventing a better life.

And once you find it, how do you swap out a toxic belief for something actually useful? What’s the mechanism for replacing a lie with a truth?

Has anyone here actually pulled this off? Any real-world experience with breaking these cycles?

I don't believe a total erasure is possible. A similar situation can always arise, acting as a "trigger" that awakens those old, negative thoughts and feelings. Everything stays with us forever.

What helps is identifying and avoiding the "triggers"—certain situations, people, or events—that stir up those old patterns. Shifting your perspective toward yourself, others, and specific events is also vital.

For example, if the negative belief is "people are selfish," try recalling times when someone was truly selfless. Consider whether we might be misinterpreting someone's behavior as selfishness, or look at the underlying reasons behind their actions. The goal is to weaken the belief, cast doubt upon it, and refine it into something like, "people can be selfish sometimes," or "some individuals are selfish," or even, "sometimes people have no choice but to act selfishly." We should aim to dismantle broad, negative generalizations and replace them with positive ones, such as, "people can also be unselfish," or "people often help without expecting anything in return."

Practicing compassion—for both ourselves and others—can significantly shift our perspective. 🙂

It often feels like we are constantly oscillating between protecting ourselves and trying to build intimacy with others, struggling to find that perfect balance. 😁

I don’t fear death itself; I only fear the process of dying. Death represents either a total cessation of existence or a transition into a different state. I have always felt it was a shame we aren't granted the agency to choose our own exit. Imagine simply deciding, "That's enough for me," falling asleep, and never waking up—or perhaps waking up somewhere else in an entirely different form. Unfortunately, the rules of this life aren't designed that way. 😢

I have the impression that the internet is simultaneously bringing us closer together and pulling us further apart.

Welcome aboard! 👋

Some women are incredibly sensitive to fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone, whether those hormones are naturally occurring or introduced through birth control or hormone replacement therapy. For these individuals, the physical and emotional shifts can be quite intense. In some rare cases, PMS can manifest so severely that it mimics the symptoms of an anxiety or depressive disorder. You might want to look into Premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Unfortunately, many gynecologists aren't fully aware of just how profoundly estrogen and progesterone can impact a woman's mental health. It would be ideal if gynecologists and endocrinologists collaborated more closely to manage these hormonal treatments and mitigate these effects.

David Ross3 said:Anyone ever messed around with this "technique"? If you have, how often are we talking—and did it actually work to manifest what you wanted by just acting like you already had it? Esther Hicks has a bunch of videos on this under the "telling a new story" vibe... She says the universe doesn't care if you physically have the thing yet or not; it’s all about getting that vibration to line up... 🤔
She also mentions that writing about your desires in the present tense is just as solid a way to create.

Anyway, I'm curious to hear what you guys think about all this. 🙂

This is essentially one variation of "positive thinking" or the Law of Attraction. There is a vast library of literature on the subject, ranging from classics like The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy to modern interpretations. One of the more prominent contemporary advocates is Dr. Joe Dispenza, whose book Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One has gained significant popularity.

All these theories share a common premise: we are the architects of our own reality. They suggest we possess the power to attract anything we desire—including health and prosperity—simply through focused thought, concentration, and willpower. This power is generally attributed to the subconscious mind, under the belief that by consciously influencing the subconscious, we can achieve any outcome we desire.

The concept itself is fascinating. It feels empowering to think that a person can act as a sort of magician, shaping their world through mental effort, whether in a waking state or during meditation. Some theories emphasize visualization, others focus on "vibration" (embodying the feeling of already possessing the goal), while others advocate for a blend of both.

In my experience, however, things don't quite work that way. We simply don't possess that kind of power. Even if there is something greater than us at play, "creating a new story" is essentially just a form of prayer, with the same level of unpredictability in its fulfillment.

Occasionally, it might feel like we have manifested something through sheer willpower. In my view, this likely happens because time isn't just a linear progression from past to future; everything is happening simultaneously. We might experience a profound longing for something, and when it eventually materializes, we mistakenly credit our own concentration for making it happen. Personally, I believe the process works in reverse: the event that is meant to occur manifests within us first as a desire, creating the illusion that we influenced the future.

Of course, this is merely my personal perspective. 🙂

It is certainly worth trying, though. 🙂

One should simply be careful not to become obsessed. Many people fall into the trap of cycling through endless techniques and buying dozens of books, constantly worrying that they aren't doing it correctly or haven't sufficiently "cleared their subconscious" of negative patterns. They spend years fruitlessly struggling to force a result. That is something to avoid. 🙂

swifttrucker13 said:I’ve actually been dealing with these same symptoms for a while now—they only really spiraled once I started banging my head against these deep philosophical questions, specifically the whole free will debate. Because if you look at it through the lens of determinism, the entire concept of guilt just falls apart. I mean, why even hold Hitler responsible for the Holocaust when he didn't exactly get a choice in being a psychopath? He was basically just a victim of his own brain chemistry... those chemical reactions forced his hand into committing such atrocities. It’s not like he sat down and decided to be that kind of monster; he was just acting in accordance with his character and couldn't have done anything else. Honestly, you could apply that same logic to pretty much every emotion we feel, which is exactly why I feel almost nothing right now. What’s your take on that—specifically that Hitler example? Sorry for dumping this on you, my brain is just totally fried right now and I can barely think straight... I can't even begin to deal with this right now... just totally over it. Honestly, everything feels like it's hitting redline lately—just pure overdrive. It’s like you’re flooring it in a Ford F-150 through a desert storm and the engine is screaming at you to just stop, but you can't because if you do, everything just falls apart. Everything! I'm just spinning my wheels here... seriously... Look, I guess I should try to look at this whole mess from a different angle... if there even is one...

So, if I’m actually following what this guy is saying... this specific quote from the Bible is supposed to be some kind of smoking gun proof that free will doesn't even exist? At least, that's how I'm reading it—if my brain isn't totally fried today...

Wait, what even are we talking about here? Is this just random nonsense now? Because honestly, I feel like I’m losing my mind trying to follow these threads sometimes... just total chaos. Anyway, whatever. The user says:
How’ve you been sleeping lately? Like, can you actually drift off fast, or are you just tossing and turning all night? Honestly, seeing you run on fumes like this... it looks brutal, man. It’s gotta be totally draining you. Anyway, let me know how that appointment with the psychiatrist went—hope they actually gave you some real answers. Seriously though, try to get some sleep... you really need it... 🙂👋

I don't really have an issue getting to sleep, honestly—by the end of the day, my brain is just so absolutely fried from all the constant overthinking that I basically just crash... no problem at all.

Look, I’m just checking in—I only officially signed up for this near the end of the month, even though I actually put my order in like a whole month ago... xD

If Hitler's actions were predetermined, then our reaction to them is also predetermined. EVERYTHING is predetermined.

Determinism cannot be used as an excuse for anything. If everything is set in stone, then our sense of free will is also predetermined, along with our behavior according to it. Therefore, you will judge Hitler as evil and condemn his actions rather than justifying them by saying he was simply "born that way."

That is why I mentioned that believing or not believing in free will doesn't change daily life. Determinism might eventually help you accept yourself, others, and existence itself more easily, since everything is as it must be. However, in your everyday life, you will continue to act according to your nature—essentially acting as if you possess free will.🙂

swifttrucker13 said:

I can't believe I even have to say this out loud—it’s like everyone just stopped thinking, you know? Like, we're all just drifting through life without a single thought behind our eyes... it's exhausting. I was reading about the whole concept of depersonalization the other day—which, by the way, is a terrifying rabbit hole once you start digging—and it just hit me how much of our modern existence feels like that. Just... disconnected. Everything is so fast, so hollow... it’s like we’re all just ghosts in a machine that doesn't even care if we're functioning or not. And don't even get me started on the origin of all this madness! It didn't just happen overnight, but man, it feels like it did. We’ve traded actual substance for this weird, shallow imitation of reality... and honestly? It makes me want to scream sometimes. Just... ugh. kaže:
So what? 🙂

Honestly, I’m struggling to wrap my head around this... and I’m terrified that once I swallow it, I’ll never be able to look at the world the same way again. My motivation? Completely shot. I just don't find joy in the things I used to love anymore—everything feels kind of hollow now. Man, I wish I could just shrug my shoulders and accept the nonexistence of free will as easily as you do. xD

But at the same time, I just can't bring myself to accept it—I mean, I’m constantly stuck in a loop of Googling, desperately hunting for some shred of proof that free will actually exists. Because honestly, if it’s all such a lie and we really don't have any control, then why on earth have people been duking it out over this for centuries? If it were that obvious, the debate would be dead and buried by now! I don't even know what to think anymore... my head is spinning, I'm just totally lost in it all, and frankly, I'm terrified I might actually lose my mind over this... :/

mistybison I can't even begin to explain this... honestly, I'm just sitting here staring at my screen wondering how we even got to this point. It’s like—well, you know that feeling when everything just feels slightly off? Like a glitch in the matrix? Anyway, what Chris Perez was saying earlier—and I don't mean to get bogged down in his specifics because he's always going off on those long-winded tangents—but he hit on something really irritating about how much depersonalization we deal with every single day now. It’s everywhere! You turn on the news, you look at your phone, you walk down the street in Chicago or wherever... it's all just noise. And don't even get me started on the whole origin of this mess. It didn't just happen overnight, it's been building up for years, like a slow leak in a basement that eventually floods your entire life while you're busy watching Netflix or whatever... it's exhausting, truly. Just... ugh.
We’ve all been conditioned to look at the body and the mind like they’re two totally different things—like they exist in separate zip codes or something. It’s easy enough to wrap our heads around the fact that our bodies just... do their thing automatically. You don't sit there consciously deciding when to beat your heart or how to digest your lunch, right? It just happens. But man, it is so incredibly hard to swallow the idea that our actual thoughts are being cooked up by our brains—that they are fundamentally physical processes. We aren't even in the driver's seat half the time when it comes to how a thought actually forms... it's wild. Honestly, just sitting here thinking about it makes me feel a little helpless, if I'm being real. Because, look—when everything is running smoothly and the brain is firing on all cylinders, we get this massive illusion of control. We tell ourselves we’re picking what to think about and how to feel, and that sense of mastery makes us feel so much safer in our own skin... even if it's mostly just a trick of the light. 🙂

So, basically, I've come to the conclusion that my brain just isn't firing on all cylinders... like, at all. It’s just not operating at peak performance anymore—total system failure, honestly. 😁

Your attempt to deduce whether free will exists through pure thought only leads to total mental exhaustion, because the mind simply circles itself without finding an answer. The solution to this issue is to STOP thinking about it. If you can, let go of that perceived control you think you have over yourself and see what happens. Nothing will happen. 😁 Everything will remain exactly as it was. 🙂

Perhaps this will show you that it truly doesn't matter whether you believe in free will or not, and that—even if free will doesn't exist—it doesn't mean everything inside and around you will fall apart. 🙂 It is entirely possible that your sense of security will return once you realize that—regardless of your stance on free will—everything continues to function normally. 🙂

So the conclusion is that my brain isn't functioning optimally. 😁

I am not sure 😁

You mentioned yourself that you struggle with obsessive thoughts, so this might just be an idea currently occupying your mind rather than something you are truly interested in. If you were to seek help, your interest in this problem might vanish entirely. 🙂

We tend to view the mind and body as two separate entities. It’s easy enough to accept that our bodies function on autopilot—things like our heartbeat, breathing, and digestion happen without any conscious input or manual control. However, it is much harder to wrap our heads around the idea that our thoughts are actually products of the brain. They are fundamentally biological processes, often occurring through mechanisms we don't consciously direct. Just considering this can make a person feel quite helpless.

When the brain is functioning optimally, we experience the sensation of being in control. We feel as though we can choose our own thoughts and dictate how we perceive the world, which provides a much greater sense of security. 🙂

swifttrucker13 said:When you say it's "probably predetermined," does that mean there's actually a chance it isn't? Look, don't kill me, I'm no physics expert—I'm just trying to find some shred of proof that free will actually exists! xD

I totally get that, except for me, it’s turned into a full-blown obsession because of PTSD, and I’m genuinely worried I won't be able to snap back to "normal." If you don't mind me asking, what's your take on the whole free will thing?

I mean, sure, we don't *act* like robots, but that’s exactly how it plays out when you look at it through the lens of determinism. Honestly, everything just feels... colorless now. I'm seeing the world through a totally different filter and it's stripped away all that beauty—though, God, I really hope it doesn't stay this way forever. I've even scrolled through some forums where people argue that pride and guilt are completely meaningless under determinism, which just leaves me wondering... what kind of feeling actually matters anymore? If nothing counts, then what does? I feel like I'm literally losing my mind over this, if I haven't already..

Perhaps you could seek some help or look into different medications?

I've even read on some forums that pride and guilt are meaningless if you believe in determinism, which makes me wonder: what feeling actually matters?

Every feeling matters. 🙂

Your belief or disbelief in free will doesn't change reality. You will continue to act as if you have free will, regardless of whether it exists. A logical "realization" regarding the absence of free will is practically useless in everyday life. It simply becomes an unnecessary burden that makes everything feel pointless.

swifttrucker13 said:Fair warning: this might trigger an existential crisis for some of you!

Hey everyone... I wanted to lay out my situation pretty quickly, and if anyone out there thinks they can offer some advice on how to snap me out of this current headspace, I’d really appreciate it. 🙂

So, here’s the deal—I’ve been dealing with OCD for as long as I can remember. I’ve cycled through basically every obsession and fear in the book, but this one feels... different. It feels worse. These days, it isn't even about the physical compulsions—like, I'm not necessarily tapping things or checking locks a dozen times—it's more like these constant mental rituals (pure O style). My brain is currently stuck on determinism and the whole "free will" debate. From what I've read online, most people seem to agree that free will is a myth, though there are always those outliers who argue otherwise. Personally? I think we probably don't have it, but there's still this tiny, nagging chance that we do. And that's the thing... it's all I've thought about for the last few weeks, and honestly, I'm terrified I'm going to lose my mind if I don't stop. I know, I know—I should just let it go because philosophers have been banging their heads against this wall for centuries without a real answer. But it feels so incredibly vital, like I *need* to solve this puzzle to move on. To make matters worse, I'm also struggling with depersonalization and derealization right now. I'm scared that I won't be able to look at the world or the people around me the same way anymore... like I'll just see them as these biological robots with zero agency. The determinists just have such much stronger arguments than the free will crowd, you know? So, yeah... if anyone has any tips on how to escape these existential loops, or if anyone else has been down this rabbit hole before? Thanks in advance.. 🙂

If free will doesn't exist, then nothing truly possesses it—everything simply exists as part of a larger sequence. By that logic, everything should feel automated, but does the world actually look that way to you? 🙂 Even if a tree's movement in the wind is predetermined by physics, does that diminish its beauty? 🙂

Even if you intellectually conclude there is no free will, your mind will likely continue to operate as if it does, meaning your daily reality wouldn't actually change. 🙂 You will still feel as though you are making choices, such as deciding whether or not to post on this forum. Even if you were constantly aware that these actions weren't entirely up to you—which usually only happens during rare altered states of consciousness—that experience might not even be negative. In fact, it could be quite liberating. 🙂

I am not sure if this perspective offers much comfort... 🤷

Do you believe the ego acts as an obstacle to spiritual progress?

Is diminishing the ego a byproduct of spiritual growth, or is reducing the ego a prerequisite for that growth to begin?

Certain teachings focus on the total "dissolution of the ego." Do you think such a feat is actually possible, or perhaps even necessary?

How has your relationship with the ego evolved on your own path? Is it expanding, shrinking, or fading away? Or have you simply shifted your perspective regarding it?

In your view, what is the true definition of the ego from a spiritual standpoint?

feralranger said:I actually came across your previous post, but that wasn't really what I was getting at...

You claimed that humility is one thing, and you seemed perfectly content to agree with that notion...

Humility, which by its very definition involves a modest, unobtrusive, almost self-effacing demeanor where one perceives themselves as insignificant compared to others...

Now, if you truly view humility as a virtue, then I suppose—if my logic holds—you would also desire that same quality in your friends, which would inherently imply they should be humble toward you. And why on earth would you want that?

I am merely attempting to interrogate this particular stance of yours, which remains, quite frankly, rather baffling to me.

To be honest, I didn't even notice she used the word "others" in that sentence. I believe my previous posts clearly express my actual stance. 🙂

I suppose I should have only quoted the second part of her post, specifically the part I agree with. I will be more careful next time. 🙂

feralranger said:I find myself somewhat perplexed by this notion of 'spiritual' humility—could you perhaps elaborate on what that actually entails? For instance, would you truly desire for your own friends to exhibit this peculiar brand of 'spiritual' humility toward you? I would be most grateful if you could clarify how such a dynamic would even manifest in practice.

I have already provided an explanation here. 🙂

Spirituality is a deeply personal journey that one walks alone. It is essentially an intimate relationship between an individual and themselves (and/or God—something greater than oneself). While it is always lovely to meet fellow spiritual travelers 🙂, our individual paths can vary significantly. Personally, I don't mind at all whether others share an interest in spirituality or not. 🙂

feralranger said:Hmm... does that mean you actually desire for the people in your own circle to be humble toward you? Or would you perhaps find that you don't wish for them to experience the same thing you do?

I am not entirely certain, but if you ask me, one should always strive for a sense of equilibrium...

One ought to bring the overinflated and the arrogant back down to earth—to humble them, if you will—while elevating those who have been unfairly overlooked... and perhaps then, we might make this world a slightly more balanced place...

The discussion here focuses on spiritual, rather than secular humility.