Growth!

Sophia Jones61 said:Do you have a boyfriend? Friends, whether they are dear or just expensive? Bitter enemies? Anything at all?
Then the concept of an apron still holds weight—for you, and certainly for me.
If it exists in your mind, then it's real enough.

But honestly, this conversation feels like running in circles. It's going nowhere.

Karen Sanchez19 knows exactly what I'm getting at. 😉

Thank God I don't know.🤣

Karen Sanchez19 said:thank God I don't know🤣

God? Who's God?
Who are you, anyway?
And who doesn't know?

See, there you go, you actually do know 😈

Don't try to play dumb now and start with the verbal ping-pong... 😁

Sophia Jones61 said:God? Who is God?
Who are you to ask?
As if anyone doesn't know.

There you go, proving you actually do know. 😈

Stop playing games and quit this verbal ping-pong nonsense... 😁

🙂

Karen Sanchez19 said:🙂

😘 😬 😈

FW, man, you're really reaching for something that just isn't there. If it doesn't make sense, it doesn't make sense.

Honestly, you're being about as ridiculous as a punchline in one of those old Joe jokes. 😬 😉

Sophia Jones61 said:😘 😬 😈

🤣 😍

You're acting pretty strange😕

One minute you're writing in the masculine, the next it's feminine... and so on🙄

Sophia Jones61 said:God? Who is God?
Who are you to ask?
Everyone knows who He is.

There you go, proving you actually know. 😈

Stop playing games and quit this endless verbal ping-pong... 😁

And these experts feel they have to "perform" their speech, but that doesn't mean they won't talk just like everyone else..
It’s all the same old story anyway.😁

I want to hear from the yogis out there:

WHAT IS YOUR ACTUAL MOTIVATION? Why on earth are you practicing yoga?

Sophia Jones61 said:Do you have a boyfriend? Friends, close ones or just casual acquaintances? Bitter enemies? Anyone at all?
If you do, then that sense of connection still exists (for you, and for me too, obviously).
And if it exists in your eyes, then it’s real enough.

But honestly, I feel like this conversation is just going in circles.

Karen Sanchez19 knows exactly what I meant. 😉

What good is having connections if you don't have any actual friends or if you're totally emotionally checked out from people? lol Sophia, that's a pretty weak analogy. 😬

Is communication "going nowhere" just because I pointed out you were wrong? Since when does that happen? 🤣
Is that how they taught you things back home—to just shut down the second someone challenges your little doctrine?

Sophia Jones61 said:Do you have a partner? Friends, whether they are dear to you or just acquaintances? Or perhaps even enemies? Do you have any relationships at all?
If so, then the concept of a social fabric still holds weight (for me as well, naturally).
And if that connection exists in your eyes, then it is undeniably real.

However, I can't help but feel that this conversation is spinning its wheels without reaching any meaningful destination.

Karen Sanchez19 understands exactly what I am trying to convey. 😉

Well, I’m married. Does that count? As for friends, I only keep close ones; I don't have any enemies. Why on earth would I go out of my way to hate someone?
Why do you think this conversation isn't going anywhere? Is it because we aren't seeing eye to eye on everything? Come on, don't be so defensive. As far as I'm concerned, you're perfectly fine.

Sophia Jones61 said:So, what’s your actual take on it?

To be perfectly honest, I don't have any thoughts on the matter at all.

God? Who exactly is God?
Who are you to ask?
Is there anyone left who doesn't know?
Why bother with three separate questions when we are all talking about the very same thing?

electricdrifter68 said:God? Who is God?
Who are you kidding?
Does anyone actually not know?
Why the three questions? It’s all one single point.

Yeah, 😁 😁

creative said:And what’s the "shell" if you don't have friends and you're just emotionally indifferent to everyone? lol Sophia Jones61, what a reach. 😬

So communication goes nowhere just because I pointed out you're wrong? Where is that coming from? 🤣
Is that how they taught you back in school—to just shut down the whole system whenever someone says something that doesn't fit your specific doctrine?

Alright, let's actually use some brain cells here.

Where does it say anything about being emotionally indifferent toward people?

We're talking about realizing oneness here, so the "shell" is basically everything I see around me and around you, if I'm looking at you.

People say that shell doesn't exist, but we can clearly still see it, which means we haven't reached oneness yet, even if we talk about it. What I mean is, if I see someone through their physical body, they can be hot, attractive, someone I'd marry, etc.
If you were seeing souls, right, there wouldn't be any distinction, so you wouldn't have friends, partners, enemies, or anyone else, because we'd all be the same... so, we're clearly talking past each other.

Communication leads nowhere because what we're discussing (souls vs. bodies) needs to be experienced. Unfortunately, this debate isn't going to help us experience it; we're just swapping theoretical stances (which isn't bad) and maybe some lived experiences (which would be great).

And please, don't insult my spiritual path. If I'm being an idiot, that's on me, not my journey. You're more than welcome to come for me personally, though—I really don't mind.

Honestly, it might be better if we just stop the debating and get back to studying, gaining awareness, or whatever actual work needs doing.
Or at least realize that nothing we're doing is actually working, but then we're right back where we started.

Peace! 👋

Lame Deer said:FW, just let it go, man. If it isn't working, it isn't working.

You’re making yourself look as ridiculous as a punchline from one of those old Joe jokes. 😬 😉

Sadly, I don't actually know any Joe jokes about parrots.🤣

But fine, consider me officially backing off. 🤣

Karen Sanchez19 said:🤣 😍

You're acting pretty weird😕

one minute you're using masculine pronouns and the next you're switching to feminine... etc🙄

I only switch to the feminine when you start asking me pointless questions. 😈

I guess that's just my feminine side coming out 🙂

electricdrifter68 said:I have a wife. Does that count? As for friends, I only have dear ones. I don't do bitter enemies. Honestly, why would I even bother hating anyone?
Why is this conversation going nowhere? Is it because we aren't seeing eye to eye on everything? Come on, don't get all defensive on me. You're totally fine in my book.

Oh, wait—correction on that quote. I was actually replying to someone else, so check the thread above.

And I don't think we're even disagreeing that much. 😬

Look, you're cool too. 😍

It’s just that sometimes we all juggle these ideas that might be true, but they don't mean much until we actually live them out. I'm talking to you guys because I feel like you actually "get" what I'm getting at.

Fine, God, the soul, oneness, universal consciousness—I'm down with all that. No problem believing in any of it. But when I look at you, I want to see the soul. If all I see is the surface stuff, then I'm just playing around with concepts I don't truly stand behind.

My goal is to make that real, and honestly, my patience wears thin sometimes.

Anyway, I'm not being defensive. 😉

Sophia Jones61 said:Come on, try using some actual logic here.

Where does it ever mention emotional indifference toward people?

We are talking about realizing oneness. That "membrane" is simply what I perceive surrounding myself and you, if I’m looking at you.

They say this membrane doesn't truly exist, yet we clearly see it; therefore, we haven't achieved unity yet, even if we talk about it. What they mean is, if I view someone through their physical shell, they might be attractive or charming, someone I'd marry, and so on.
If one were to actually see the soul, there would be no distinction. You wouldn't have friends, partners, or enemies because everyone would be identical... clearly, we are missing the point.

Communication is a dead end because the subject matter—souls and bodies—requires direct experience. Unfortunately, this debate won't facilitate that experience; all we can do is trade theoretical stances (which isn't a crime) or perhaps share lived experiences (which would be ideal).

And please, spare me the insults regarding my spiritual path. If I am being foolish, it isn't the path's fault. Feel free to insult me personally; I truly don't care.

It would be best if we just stopped arguing and got back to studying, gaining awareness, or whatever else constitutes actual work.
Or at least realize that nothing we do actually works, though that just brings us back to square one.

Regards! 👋

:yawn: 🙂

FW!
I want to thank you for such a warm and sincere post. First off, please know that I have absolutely no intention of engaging in petty arguments with anyone; honestly, that kind of back-and-forth hasn't mattered to me for a very long time. I’ve been both vilified and celebrated by so many people over the years that one more critic or supporter doesn't move the needle for me. Isn't the only true point of connection found in sincerity and our shared humanity? Everything else is just noise. Concepts like God, oneness, or universal consciousness... one shouldn't try to "believe" in them. You can't even truly live through them as mere doctrines. Rather, they are things that simply emerge from within us as a natural consequence of genuine experience.
Please, I beg of you, stop juggling these abstract ideas if you aren't prepared to stand behind them. Instead, why not present your ideas with your entire being, regardless of what they may be? Pour your whole self into them. Let them express the very essence of who you are. Let your words become an extension of your soul.
I realize this might be difficult to grasp, but this idea of a "boundary" is nothing more than an illusion. In fact, that boundary is just as much a construct as the perceived essence of your own being. It isn't the barrier itself that separates you from the One, but rather your relationship to it. If you believe the wall exists, then for all intents and purposes, it does. But if you were to fully accept that boundary, wouldn't it simply vanish?
I certainly understand your longing to achieve that state, but if you find the path too arduous, perhaps try this approach: "Accept that it will never happen." If you can commit yourself entirely to that surrender, won't you see what unfolds?
It’s really just a bit of cosmic irony, isn't it? At the end of the road, we are almost always met by a joke at our own expense.
In the realm of pure consciousness, where "ALL IS," the concept of a boundary disappears along with every obstacle we thought stood in our way. It is quite simply the total acceptance of EVERYTHING. You are, in fact, ALL of it.