Gaia: What Is Enlightenment? - The Enlightenment Cafe

Re: Teachers to bring you to enlightenment

http://Domus-ulixes.gaia.com — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:45:11 GMT

Yeah, but honestly, I doubt that that is only one.
I think more in the range of thousands.

Re: Teachers to bring you to enlightenment

http://worldwidehappiness.gaia.com — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 03:57:37 GMT

I think statistically, in a population of 7 billion people there will be one who is much more charismatic and intelligent than the rest.

That person could stimulate a dramatic improvement in the world.

Re: Teachers to bring you to enlightenment

http://Domus-ulixes.gaia.com — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:08:01 GMT

The One doesn't exist

Re: Teachers to bring you to enlightenment

http://worldwidehappiness.gaia.com — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:53:20 GMT

Hi Domus Ulixes,

Study and hard work! Count me out.

I just say and do what I feel with women (when I’m with them). My compliments are just what I feel, not to get them or anything.

If the children conversation doesn’t happen, then I would be left with the most likely expectation i.e. that they can and want to have children.

I think outside the box e.g. my book Worldwide Happiness, songwriting, and screenwriting. It doesn’t help me avoid babies and get money. Those that think outside the box and improve things are the lucky ones. Most people who think outside the box simply struggle. We only hear of the rare successes.

Re: “Teachers to bring you to enlightenment”: David Deida is a good relationships/sex guru: www.deida.info.

Also, Alx Uttermann (http://jdr.gaia.com/) says she “met a living Indian saint and got swept off to my destiny, which turns out to be healing on a global level, in relationship with such yogic heavy-weights as Shirdi Sai Baba and Jesus. (www.kaleshwar.org). after the honeymoon of a year passed, I spent five straight years in India (from 2000 - 2005) studying, meditating, burning karma and finding out what it's like to live in the spiritual community of an ashram where a living saint who does miracles – lots of miracles, the more outrageous the better – is presiding.”

That sounds pretty far out to me. Maybe he’s The One?

Re: The "near death experiences" - suggestions for books & studie

http://opening.gaia.com — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:27:10 GMT

I have almost died a few times, so I have had my share of wierd experiences. In fact, because at least one of these times occured when I was an infant, I have memories of things that occured that could not have happened while in a physical body. So, I may have actually died then and come back, I just don't remember it. I was told that I almost died when I was a baby and that a nurse that lived with us did something to bring me back around. However, I have loads of "wierd" experiences that occurred when I was perfectly healthy and just walking down the street, sitting in my room, meditating, or whatever. It seems, if I did die then, I brought a bit of "over there" back over here with me. I have tried to write them all down. But, they seem very, very hockey when I do. But, I have another experience where I had something like an NDE and right afterwards, I did almost die.

Re: The "near death experiences" - suggestions for books & studie

http://opening.gaia.com — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:18:17 GMT

Your teenage son? My goodness, I thought that you were still just out of your teenage years yourself. I am so sorry about your son. Okay, gotta go and cry now.

Re: The "near death experiences" - suggestions for books & studie

http://opening.gaia.com — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:08:41 GMT

I just found this thread and this group as a result of finding the thread. I recently joined a website dedicated to people that have experienced an NDE. If you are not already a member, you may be interested in checking it out. Here is a link:
http://www.nderf.com/phpBB2/index.php
If you have not had an NDE, what you can read is limited. If you have, then you can join and let them know and they will clear you to join the group of other experiencers.

Re: Teachers to bring you to enlightenment

http://Domus-ulixes.gaia.com — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:02:37 GMT

well Martin, you would be surprised, I can never tell people my study in advance, because they assume I am a nerd... besides that, I need to spend a lot of time in my study, far more then for instance a lawschool education. And the addonis things isn't sure either, I was born fat, and always was fat, only be intensive exercise and healthy diet, do I even look like this. It is all just hard work.

don't just compliment women, you don't want them to think you are a suck-up. And don't give them compliments when they ask for it. As the matter of fact, insulting them in a laughing, humoristic but serious way, is a sure way to get them wanting you. (just don't let it be something obvious, like don't insult a woman for something she clearly has. And NEVER insult them by saying they are fat, try the nose)

yeah... women and children.... They are in fact linked. but lets face it, the children conversation is something that won't just happen. And if they are unhappy about not being able to have them, so what?
it doesn't change who they are.

About the box, you are thinking it wrong.
Thinking outside the box isn't something that 'doesn't work' it isn't a technique, or method. It is an essential philosophy without which nothing gets done at all. All large difference are done by thinking outside the box. If everyone in this world would use known system. Nothing in this world would change! It is just a matter of intelligence and persevearance to how succesfull thinking outside the box is. And about your example, it just matters what your goal is. Do you think that people that create tell-sell products make any significant (disregarding the negative) changes in this world? No, but they do get rich, and make people less intelligent.
It depens on how succesfull your goal is. In the tell-sell case it is thinking outside the box (of ethics)

Cheers!

Re: Teachers to bring you to enlightenment

http://worldwidehappiness.gaia.com — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:09:47 GMT

Hi Domus Ulixes,
So you’re a quantum physicist. That’s impressive. I looked at your photo and you look like an Adonis too. So Adonis the quantum physicist is going to do well with women!

But I take your point that you found it very simple. I do have blocks – mainly the fear of babies and being unable to provide financially. I agree that it is easy to get women, but I haven’t found it easy to get a rich one who doesn’t want kids and who is willing to put up with someone who has been a failure all his life.

I’ll check out 'Double your dating' by David DeAngelo. My tip to others is to be bold. I just give a direct compliment (when I feel like saying it), then wait till they come back. In Australia women can be a bit surprised since the men here don’t usually compliment women, so the woman will usually run, but then a week or two later they think, “Hm, no one else has complimented me or asked me out in the last week or two” and so they come back and present themselves for an invitation.

The problem is getting the right woman. And let’s face it, a woman who doesn’t want kids is unusual, and a woman who can’t have kids is likely to be unhappy about that. I just find the whole thing clunky.

I’ve tried thinking “outside the box”. I have learnt that it doesn’t work. Stuart Wilde came to Byron Bay a few years ago, and someone asked him about how to get money. He said, “You make a product or service, then sell it.” Now that is economics 101, yet he wrote all those silly books about affirmations, etc. They were his products! So my response to the female in the car was after having tried thinking out of the box for years.

Hi 1Vector3/OM Bastet,

Biomarkers of fertility are the things that are attractive on the physical side in the first place! Catch-22! Being a Libra, I am focussed on physical beauty.

Yes, definitely I want a good person and to have the other positive qualities you mention.

I have been open to how the universe can bring me what I want. The universe hasn’t delivered. After experimenting and observing others, I think it requires hard work and/or the x-factor.

I reckon the statistics for affirmations etc. consistently working are probably 1:10,000 in reality, but the few that work sell the idea. And I don’t think it is any kind of magic about the universe fulfilling your wishes like a genie. I think it is just focussing on what you want and going for it. People I have seen succeeding with affirmations were actually quite aggressive people who grabbed “opportunities” that were ethically questionable.

Yes, affirmations might not be the best technique. I heard that doing things like making a photo of yourself in a Porsche works better.

Re: Teachers to bring you to enlightenment

http://ADLIAC.gaia.com — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:51:12 GMT

True, Domus U., relationships are considered excellent teachers toward enlightenment!!!!

Martin, unfortunately (haha) reading yesterday's posts brought up more thoughts and questions I'd like to pose for you:

Is it on your list that you love her despite HER many imperfections? Is it on your list that she be physically and mentally healthy, and of good character, at least basically an honest and benevolent person who is into communicating and not prone to silent sulks or temper orviolence or negativity or manic/depression, who won't nag you or try to destroy your self-confidence, or who gossips about you to others? Is her age and body form and skin color and her devotion to you more important than these things????? From your list, one would think so.

Do you want her to love you despite your many imperfections because she is an accepting compassionate person, or because she is so shallow she doesn't even register who you are and her "love" is pretty superficial, say because of your age and body build and your cute smile? Do you want her to know who you are and deeply appreciate your essence, and do you want her to be able to accept that from you?

Do you want her to be able to grow and mature and change, or don't you care whether she's not significantly wiser and more mature at 45 than she is at 25? Is her educational level more important than this?

And finally, I wonder why you assume that if she is divorced, she is over the marriage fantasy. Couldn't being divorced mean she was someone that a reasonable person couldn't live with, and she hasn't changed a bit since then? Seems a rather large assumption. But then, I know you would have checked it out first before making any decisions.

Just a few thoughts from a woman who's been through a lot of relationships in a bunch of decades, and whose specs list is considerably longer than yours, haha.

Best wishes,
OM Bastet

Re: Teachers to bring you to enlightenment

http://Domus-ulixes.gaia.com — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:28:19 GMT

Well Martin, things like this isn't that much of topic. Our relatives play an important and distinct role in our path to enlightenment.

I am a quantum physicist currently working on a (quantum)theory for opto-magnetical effects.

Let me say this, these are my demands:

- Intelligent & preferably PhD material
- 20 to 30
- Realistic and a sense of style
- Gorgeous body
- Bright blue eyes, dark/black hair by nature.
- Loves me in spite of my many imperfections.
- Has thought about the world,
- etc, etc,

(I have already found her)

I am a very demanding person, yet it is still very simple to find them! What (I think) makes you increase the statistics, is that you simply do not know how to deal with such kind of women, and repel them before they even talk to you. I know I don't know you, but I do know that with most men, this is in fact the case. In any way, read: 'Double your dating' by David DeAngelo

The idea is that everyone is still human, and all humans are the same. It is as simple as that. And most women will deny that they are easy to get. But empirically, this is the case. 99 percent of women are in fact easy to get. You just got to know how. And finding that out takes balls, just like actually trying. But women (all women) like that. except those, that nobody really should be dating for their own sanity. (women will hate me for this paragraph)

You don't need the x-factor. Most of the X-factor can be taught. But 99 percent of the humans don't know this. We are humans, and are so vulnerable for suggestion and that sort of things. But more important, once you know, that all of the troubles you described can be easily solved by yourself. But the problem is finding a way to learn how to find methods to solve those problems.
This requires you to think outside the box.
Something you do not do (from your own thought description of the female in the car).
If you learn that, you will triumph especially as a philosopher. But it isn't something they teach you at philosophy majors.

Good luck!

Re: Teachers to bring you to enlightenment

http://ADLIAC.gaia.com — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:53:33 GMT

Martin, here are just a few thoughts from the Peanut Gallery who is 1 1/2 times your age:

I wonder why you are letting your DNA run the show by having you look for, in a woman, the biomarkers of fertility when you have no interest in having children.

And I wonder why (or whether) you are restricting the Universe to bringing you money via a rich woman. That's a pretty severe restriction on how you can receive a lot of money.

And, as a Manifesting teacher, I also wonder why you seem to restrict the Universe from bringing you what you actually want via ways other than your having cash in hand to pay for what you actually want.

I also wonder whether you mean affirmations don't work for anyone, or just for you. There are people running around the world who have experienced affirmations working for them --- though I personally regard affirmations as very weak in the techniques of Manifesting.

Blessings, OM Bastet

Re: Teachers to bring you to enlightenment

http://worldwidehappiness.gaia.com — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:47:43 GMT

Hi Domus Ulixes,

Thanks for the reply. I hope people don’t mind us getting off topic (“Teachers to bring you to enlightenment”). We have moved on to the two most practical WORLDLY things: 1. relationships 2. careers!

You’re a scientist! You must be smart and practical, and there are plenty of opportunities in this world for you. I’m glad. It’s great when your talents and interests are desired. What type of science do you do?

You wrote: “There are places where rich infertile women are a one in 5 chance. And good odds are that once you get into this world, it will take only days to find out which through the tool of gossip.”

You should use your knowledge of statistics to start a dating service! Where are these places? That would be amazing. Oh, they have to be beautiful too. Actually, my ideal is…

- Intelligent & educated
- 20 to 30
- Divorced (so she has already done the marriage fantasy)
- Short-medium to medium height
- Fair skin & dark hair – a very striking combination!
- Loves me in spite of my many imperfections…

Hang on… the statistics are expanding to 1: 10,000 again!

Regarding work, I’m writing a GROUNDBREAKING philosophical book called “WORLDWIDE HAPPINESS” (see http://www.worldwidehappiness.org – [but the book will be much better than that article, which I wrote 5 years ago]). It’s a slow process for me because I’m not a natural writer (just a philosopher). Also, I like screenwriting and songwriting, but I’m not sure of my talent regarding those two things. And I’m a part-time mystic. I have a diploma in writing and I’m doing a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Philosophy.

But even though the book will be a masterpiece, that doesn’t mean it will sell well. I learnt from experts at the writing school that quality isn’t enough. Writers need extraordinary writing talent, and/or good luck, and/or great charisma, and/or fame, and/or an organisational structure behind them. And it will take another 2 years to finish the book at my current rate.

In the meantime, I’m bumbling along with no money, and looking at a totally unknown future. And that’s been my entire adult life. If my old affirmations worked and someone knocked on my door with $100,000, then I could hire a professional writer/philosopher/researcher to write the book with me in six months and hire a PR company to polish my image and presentation and to help me sell the thing. But then finding a suitable assistant is maybe a 1:10,000 chance too! Maybe I should do an affirmation about that too!

But affirmations don’t work. Only hard work plus the x-factor works in this world. I can do the hard work over the next 2 years, but the x-factor is missing it seems. At least I will have written a great book. ;-)

Regards,
Martin Gifford.

Re: Teachers to bring you to enlightenment

http://Domus-ulixes.gaia.com — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:53:44 GMT

Well, then you will be pleased to hear that I am a scientists who is very formiliar with formalisms and statistics.
If you want reasoning why I say these things, please mail me with strong questions, I will return with well documented answers.

And true, 1 in 10000 women are part of that, but let's not confuse superficial statistics with reality. after all, almost 10 percent of the women become married before the age of 16... yet, none you know.

Statistics work in a confined place of its boundaries. The trick in life is not to disregard these statistics, but to find out where they feed. There are places where rich infertile women are a one in 5 chance. And good odds are that once you get into this world, it will take only days to find out which through the tool of gossip.

As for your work, Do you know what you do want? because sure it is annoying that you do not want an ordinary life. But I know hundreds of people looking for something they didn't want just because they didn't know what they did.
You cannot look for something if you don't know what you are (exactly) looking for.
If you find what you do want, you will quickly find what you still need to achieve, and then you can achieve it. So, Do you know what you do want?

Re: Teachers to bring you to enlightenment

http://worldwidehappiness.gaia.com — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 08:22:56 GMT

Domus Ulixes,

Thanks for the reply and suggestions.

But I have come to trust statistics and science more than magical thinking. I tried magical thinking (affirmations, etc.). It didn't work.

Evolution has programmed us in so many ways to make babies, and sure enough, everyone I know have babies. That's fine if you're a earthy type with a high pain tolerance and therefore able to work for 20 years to bring up junior, but not for me. I have a low pain tolerance and I have zero interest in ordinary life. It's not easy for such a person to find a career, I've been looking all my life, and I'm 45, so there's 25+ years of proof. Also, about 1/10,000 women are "infertile and rich". I think the maths proves my point.

Re: Teachers to bring you to enlightenment

http://starpeople.gaia.com — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:07:47 GMT

Martin, I like what you have written.

I'm going to sit with it a while and think it over

Re: Teachers to bring you to enlightenment

http://Domus-ulixes.gaia.com — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:53:51 GMT

Well Martin, you make a perfect example of how simple life can be, and how we mess it up afterwards.

Most problems in life, and then I really do mean most problems. Aren't solved with any spiritual books, or enlightenment for that matter. It has nothing to do with that. It has to do with Dogma.
People in general are afraid to review their own beliefs, to ponder what they think and do, is really the best thing to think and do.

For instance, in your first paragraph, you enjoy life.
Then comes the dogma (2nd paragraph)

You assume, that it is 'normal' to have babies. 'normal' as you are somehow convinced that is what is going to happen. The mortgage, as you think you probably need one. 'the shitty job' again, a Dogma. and 'the suburban wasteland'. Again an assumptions.
In fact you ruined the joy of the moment, just by reflecting back on your beliefs. because that is what they are. Thoughts, dogma's of what you assume to be a truthfull future perspective. But fact it:
It isn't. This is just one (very unlikely) course of events. Just ponder, that she might be infertile and rich. It solves all the problems. Or: that you do not need this way of life. You can rent, get a job you like (it just takes time) Get not babies (a free choice) live somewhere else (again a free choice)
Stop thinking like this, as you can see, it ruins the moment. Enjoy what there is to enjoy right now, and live now. There is no need to ponder these things, until you actually are required to. So, rethink your own thoughts, chances are you can label 90 percent, as bullshit. (naturally things like, driving on the right, and paying for your groceries are good things to keep)

Re: Teachers to bring you to enlightenment

http://worldwidehappiness.gaia.com — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 08:33:41 GMT

Domus Ulixes,

After writing my reply here, I wandered down onto a back-road thinking about wanting to find a guru who either went fully into being and stayed there or who came back and fully manifested potential, and that this great guru knew about the deep meaning and structure of the universe (which is probably beyond our capacity to comprehend anyway), when all of a sudden a pretty blonde in white clothes and a white car beeped her horn repeatedly and waved at me and smiled. It really seemed like the answer to the meaning and structure of life is play for fun! It was so sweet, fresh, and alive!

Of course, then comes the babies, the mortgage, the shitty job, and the suburban wasteland - so much for play for fun. Maybe she was Maya tempting me into the tender trap!

Starpeople,

I looked at a Surat Shabd Yoga article. It seemed too complicated to me.

I read your blog article about What is Enlightenment? This is the reply I left:

Yeah, first we seek material happiness, then spiritual happiness, then we realise seeking happiness is the problem. In other words, the problem isn't how to get happy but rather how to stop making ourselves unhappy. We don't gain enlightenment; we lose illusion.

So the right question is, "What is illusion?" And you give a good answer to that: "Any movement in any direction is a movement away from ourself." And happiness is in the very nature of our being.

Of course, we can always answer "What is enlightenment?" with "It's an illusion!"

Re: Teachers to bring you to enlightenment

http://starpeople.gaia.com — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 07:33:30 GMT

Martin, that's an interesting challenge :-)

I''ve never every really considered that there was a need to prove it, I was responding to a post and I only really know my experience and I question whether anyone else can actually show God to someone else. I am aware that Arjuna asked Krishna for a vision and he almost pooed his pants (please excuse the language), and Krishna was an Avatar and he had a bit of a Spiritual magic wand as an Avatar.

The Sant Mat and Ruhani Satsang guys use a method called Surat Shabd Yoga, and if someone said "Is there one tool that you would recommend to pierce through the mind?", I would definitely say Surat Shabd Yoga. But here's the issue, both groups say their teacher is the Living Master, but it's the same tool as used by Eckankar, and I'm not sure how set in their ways those guys are. I am also aware of it in the scriptures of different faiths, and my friend showed it to me years ago and after that, I dropped everything else.

To actually prove that there is only God is something I wouldn't honestly not know where to start, but I do know that everywhere I look, I see the presence of something that is alive and in moments more frequently I feel waves of incredible compassion. And I'm confident that it's the small things that are overlooked, which are right in front of us which is where the God thing can be experienced and it is not off somewhere else in the mystical fantasy world that a lot of people are looking for.

Cheers Tony

Re: Teachers to bring you to enlightenment

http://worldwidehappiness.gaia.com — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 07:10:19 GMT

Domus Ulixes,

Well, I think allowing your whole lifestyle to collapse is a powerful step, and that’s what Ramana did. Then I think some people stay there, while others come back and get involved in manifesting their earthly human potential. I’d love to meet someone who did either of those things fully.

Starpeople,

You wrote: “To start with, there is only God, what else does anyone need to know? Know that, and get on with your life.”Prove that, and I’ll get on with my life!Thanks for the tips. I’ll check out those guys you mentioned.