Gaia: What Is Enlightenment?

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: I'm New Here

http://ADLIAC.gaia.com — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:45:15 GMT

Hey, WW II veteran you must be someone oldern' me, which there aren't too many of !!

How about a link to your group? I have a few things to say about where rights come from, and how one could be enlightened while living under an oppressive government.

If you don't want everything you learned to go with you, then dig in! Start carrying around a digital recorder, and talk talk talk. Get interviewed and record it. Make videos of your wisdom. Write, write, write. Post all over Gaia.

I am glad to hear your life is so very good! Wishing you much more of that!

Blessings, OM Bastet

Re: I'm New Here

http://inlink2009.gaia.com — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:43:00 GMT

The all-time favorite Gaia discussion group is "What is Enlightenment?" This Group is for people who wish to engage in meaningful spiritual inquiry about the topic of enlightenment. What is enlightenment? What does it mean to be enlightened, and what comes next? What has your experience been with developing your own awareness, with those who claim to be enlightened, or those that promise enlightenment?

The above questions go with my new discussion group I’ve named "The Right to Peaceful Coexistence." What is enlightenment about? The moment I opened my new group, just a few days ago, the question was asked: "Where do our rights come from and why are we entitled to them?" That’s a very good question. Why is might makes right not right? I answered the best I could. The questioner must have been satisfied. He hasn’t been back.

How can one be enlightened if he is forced to live under an oppressive government, if he doesn’t have the right to peaceful coexistence? I'm a World War II veteran. Thousands of us are dying every day. My time to go will come soon enough. Everything I've learned will go with me.

My experience with developing my own awareness comes from within, however, not always. After I ended in a snake pit, I started looking within. When everything should have gone wrong, everything started going right. And now, if life could be any better, I don’t know how.

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: What is Enlightenment? The Endless Quest

http://Domus-ulixes.gaia.com — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:17:27 GMT

Well, I for one reason deal with quantum mechanics. Now there are several distinctly different ways to describe the world or nature around us. You have 3 different theories, each based upon different sets of first axioms. These Axioms contradict one another.
It becomes wonder some, that is to what extend we observe, it is possible to describe and in the same sense understand nature in multiple distinctly different ways. You can argue that two must be false, that all must correct, or none of them. Either way, you cannot deny the fact that our reality is indifferent to what prime-assumption we make. (with prime-assumption I mean the axiom(s) we make as humans to understand or try to understand the world around us. Everyone has them. Most people don't know they have them that is also part of the problem)

This means, that it is possible for several different ways to describe the same reality in different ways. Now this might seem not of a problem, after all the reality is still the reality right?
Well, here comes the kicker, reality and literally the world we view, is based upon the way we view it. And it can be confirmed by experiment.

The limitation imposed by my mind is, that without such a prime assumption, I cannot think. Even though I know easily how to contradict the assumption. I cannot make any theory without making axioms. And how we view the world is basically just that, a theory, we try to test every day and impose upon others. Because of this assumption, it is suddenly evident that my mind is limited in its understandment and development. I cannot (not yet at least I hope) envelop a mindset that is based upon three contradictions. Even though it seems reality has no problem with it. (with reality, I really do mean, reality)

As for the other limitation, it is a more simple one. Take Math. Math is a science of the mind, and as the matter of fact, just that. It isn't real. Math is continues whereas the world isn't. Math we can travel infinetly towards zero, whereas in the world this is a set quantized moment. Nature, or reality limits us by its laws to do things that in our mind is possible, without which reality wouldn't exist.

Also perhaps a stronger example is that of consciousness.
In the Copenhagen interpretation (mind you, just one of the possile interpretations, and the only one with a consciousness) there is something like a consciousness, it makes the wave function go non linear, and is said to even be able of violating some appearent laws of nature. Such a consciousness is still limited by nature to an extend. It can only function in quantum regions. But one needs to question how far, and to what extend. I hope to write an article about it soon.

Hope this helps, otherwise I will find a few others.
It might not seem much of a problem. But I refuse to chose just one interpretation of reality, if they all work.
regards,

Re: What is Enlightenment? The Endless Quest

http://telesterion.gaia.com — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:03:42 GMT

Domus >>> Or a brain and mind at ease, in harmony with its surroundings.

Nope, it's something very different. Happiness and ease is just happiness and ease, much simpler to attain, requiring nothing like process needed for 'enlightenment'.

Happiness and ease often accompanies 'enlightenment', but the two aren't directly related to each other in any significant way.

Domus >>> I am beginning to wonder what limitation are induced by my mind, and what limitations are induced by nature. Let's just say, whatever we pursue, we need our bodies.

Yes, whatever we pursue, requires our bodies, so far as we can determine. Anything observed and experienced can only be observed and experienced by living humans with bodies.

I personally can't draw much of a distinction between "mind" and "nature" - so I'm wondering how you mean that distinction?

What's an example of a limitation imposed by mind that is not a limitation imposed by nature, and vice versa, what's an example of a limitation imposed by nature that is not a limitation imposed by mind? Perhaps with examples I can understand your distinction better.

Re: What is Enlightenment? The Endless Quest

http://Domus-ulixes.gaia.com — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:27:00 GMT

In your sense of brain an biology. Yes, I do think that it is possible. I just call it happiness and satisfaction. Or a brain and mind at ease, in harmony with its surroundings.

The further I look into the subject of 'reality' the more I am beginning to wonder what limitation are induced by my mind, and what limitations are induced by nature. Let's just say, whatever we pursue, we need our bodies.