I cant be the only one...

[JesusC]

You know those moments where you're in deep thought, thinking about life, the Universe, the possibility of God, and what it all means.....just trying to put it all together.

Sometimes I wonder when im in the middle of these deep thoughts, that if I really do figure out the answer....something crazy will happen to me.

Maybe it sounds dumb, but I always get these feelings like I will be sucked out of my chair, pulled into another dimension, shown all of the secrets of the Universe...both past and present...if I happen to stumble upon the "true" meaning, or to figure "it" all out.

This doesnt just happen when im stoned either, it happens almost every time I slip into deep thought. I always believe the possibility is there that I will somehow have this great awakening if I allow my thoughts to continue, and that something will happen to me if I do reach that point.



Then again, maybe im crazy. Anyone else get these feelings while in deep thought?

[IGotTheCottons]

I love deep thought, and tryin to figure shit out like that... I don't ever feel like something would happen to me if I did somehow come across some crazy answers... Save for maybe being more enlightened. Good thread though

[JesusC]

Originally Posted by IGotTheCottons

I love deep thought, and tryin to figure shit out like that... I don't ever feel like something would happen to me if I did somehow come across some crazy answers... Save for maybe being more enlightened. Good thread though

Not crazy answers, but THE answer (assuming there is one). That one answer that explains everything, the secret to all things, the force behind everything...that one special thing, whatever it may be.

I dont know man, for some reason a HUGE part of me thinks that if I were to stumble upon this answer through deep thought, this reality would change dramatically in an instant. I believe something remarkable would happen...

[IGotTheCottons]

Originally Posted by JesusC

Not crazy answers, but THE answer (assuming there is one). That one answer that explains everything, the secret to all things, the force behind everything...that one special thing, whatever it may be.

I dont know man, for some reason a HUGE part of me thinks that if I were to stumble upon this answer through deep thought, this reality would change dramatically in an instant. I believe something remarkable would happen...

Dude... You'd become GOD!

Seriously... Finding true enlightenment, and finding THE answer would be a pretty monumental thing. Maybe if someone ever found it their head would just *pop* - 'cause I don't think the human mind is capable of holding that kind of information.

I remember eating shit loads of acid and coming across all the answers... Only to forget them all when I came back to reality... Not that it's of any real relevance. Just reminded me of previous experiences is all

[Center]

^More like remember?

hehe...love ya'll.

[Sir.TokeAlot]

I too think something crazy would happen.....like you'd exit the physical realm and leave your physical body.........im not saying death, but i cant explain what im trying to say hahahaha im fucking kkkeeeeeyyyyyeeeeddddd i'll come back later when i figure out MY answer hahaha

[MelT]

Originally Posted by IGotTheCottons

Dude... You'd become GOD!

Seriously... Finding true enlightenment, and finding THE answer would be a pretty monumental thing. Maybe if someone ever found it their head would just *pop* - 'cause I don't think the human mind is capable of holding that kind of information.

Luckily I didn't go 'pop', but it is a monumental experience that you never really return from, and you can't think of yourself or reality in the same way afterwards. Whilst you're in the initial experience though, far-reaching as it is, there's no sense of anything being strange or over-whelmingly surreal. Everything feels familiar and 'normal' - or at least normal for becoming something that's all of reality. You might experience yourself as Emptiness (see the thread Buddhism 101 for more on this), or you might go deeper and begin to experience 'super-knowledges', understanding the nature of reality itself, time, etc. Deeper again and you reach 'cosmic consciousness'.

The trouble is that much of what you understand and become is beyond normal concepts and a lot would be unintelligible to anyone who hadn't had a similar experience. This makes attempts to reduce it to understandable phrases almost impossible, and can make it sound contradictory and vague. It's like trying to explain what a sneeze feels like to someone who's never sneezed before.

What you learn doesn't change anything except you. You don't become wise, gain powers or become the wonderfully moral creature that some forms of Buddhism would have you believe. You do gain compassion though, happiness, freedom from desire, freedom from fear, particularly of death.

Anyone here could have this experience in just the circumstances the OP mentions, particularly high, it doesn't necessarily require hours of meditation, thought that will help. If I had one piece of advice it would to stop knowing your reality. See it as existing beyond the restrictions and extremes that your mind places on it.

MelT

[JesusC]

Originally Posted by MelT

Luckily I didn't go 'pop', but it is a monumental experience that you never really return from, and you can't think of yourself or reality in the same way afterwards. Whilst you're in the initial experience though, far-reaching as it is, there's no sense of anything being strange or over-whelmingly surreal. Everything feels familiar and 'normal' - or at least normal for becoming something that's all of reality. You might experience yourself as Emptiness (see the thread Buddhism 101 for more on this), or you might go deeper and begin to experience 'super-knowledges', understanding the nature of reality itself, time, etc. Deeper again and you reach 'cosmic consciousness'.

The trouble is that much of what you understand and become is beyond normal concepts and a lot would be unintelligible to anyone who hadn't had a similar experience. This makes attempts to reduce it to understandable phrases almost impossible, and can make it sound contradictory and vague. It's like trying to explain what a sneeze feels like to someone who's never sneezed before.

What you learn doesn't change anything except you. You don't become wise, gain powers or become the wonderfully moral creature that some forms of Buddhism would have you believe. You do gain compassion though, happiness, freedom from desire, freedom from fear, particularly of death.

Anyone here could have this experience in just the circumstances the OP mentions, particularly high, it doesn't necessarily require hours of meditation, thought that will help. If I had one piece of advice it would to stop knowing your reality. See it as existing beyond the restrictions and extremes that your mind places on it.

MelT

So you believe you've figured "it" out?


Its hard for me to believe that, only because as cottons already said...that would be such a monumental event. For an individual to claim they have figured "it" all out...well.......thats a pretty big claim to make. Again, not that I dont believe you...its just hard to believe.


I suppose it would be a lot easier to believe you if you look at things this way:


Maybe there is no one single answer out there, the ultimate answer that explains everything in existence....and non-existence as well. Maybe the answer is different for all of us, subjective to the individual...rather than existing independent of the mind, ya dig?

[MelT]

>>So you believe you've figured "it" out?

I know you didn't mean that literally, but there isn't any figuring out or any kind of evaluation involved in it, you don't come to an intellectual decision, you become reality and thus know it. If you mean have I become realised, yes, about 12 years ago. But becoming enlightened really has two stages, experiences, then your ability to remain in the state of access permanently through the experiences. For me it's only semi-permanent, so I have some more time to go. I know it's something a bit odd to pull out of the hat, all I can say is that I'm being sincere here and don't say any of this lightly.

>>Its hard for me to believe that, only because as cottons already said...that would be such a monumental event. For an individual to claim they have figured "it" all out...well.......thats a pretty big claim to make. Again, not that I dont believe you...its just hard to believe.

As I said above, there's no figuring it out, and really no one answer. There's no single key to the Universe - there's gaining understanding about what we are and what reality is. Knowing that is strange, it is life-changing and nobody is ever the same afterwards. But this isn't about becoming supremely 'good', though that can become a side-effect, it isn't about becoming a deity or JC-like character. If anyone said they were enlightened in the average Dzogchen school they'd likely get a pat on the head and a 'that's nice for you'. Its purely a personal event. There are no 'we're realised' clubs or anyone to really talk to about it because it's so beyond words. It just happens, you change, and if you're lucky and study then you continue to change and perhaps you become fully realised. But even then, it's such a small thing and only relevant on a personal level. You can't go out into the world and tell people, who would beleive you, let alone understand what enlightenment is? If someone had come on a forum 20 years ago and said the same I would have done my best to shoot them down in flames, so I understand your reaction.

There are people who've taken it as a sign that they are now meant to go out recruit disciples or teach or go and live in a monastery and start talking in darkand mysterious ways. But there's a saying, "Before enlightenment, wash dishes, boil rice. After enlightenment, wash dishes, boil rice." You have to come back and earn a living and try to talk to people in a normal way and show all the emotions they expect or you wont survive. You have to bring it home and live in the normal world because there's nothing else you can do.


>>I suppose it would be a lot easier to believe you if you look at things this way: Maybe there is no one single answer out there, the ultimate answer that explains everything in existence....and non-existence as well. Maybe the answer is different for all of us, subjective to the individual...rather than existing independent of the mind, ya dig?

[/quote]


The ultimate answer as far as enlightenment goes is shared exactly through every person who has ever had it or a minor glimpse of it. For the last 3,500 years of written history,the event is described in the same way, by people across traditions, backgrounds and beliefs. I had the same as everyone else long before I knew what I was meant to have. It's the same for everyone, it just varies in degrees of depth.

MelT

[JesusC]

Great post melt..


I hope you didnt take my post as an attempt to "shoot you down" or anything, that certainly wasnt my intention.

I suppose it makes perfect sense that it doesnt come down to just one single thing (unless you're a believer in the supreme being), but even some define that as all things, not one thing.

In any event, I agree that the process of trying to figure "it" all out is a lifelong process...and that nobody reaches an "end point", so to speak (unless death is that end point).

I believe that I have been changed forever as a person, simply because I have realized that there is much to ponder. I think the worst habit a human can fall into is getting caught up in the everyday commotion of life, becoming complacent in your beliefs, and spending your years on this planet focused only on the here and now.

I dont know, I guess the change I went though could also be described as an "awakening" of sorts, although I certainly dont remember at which point this happend...which I find strange. I never had a certain moment that flowed through my body as if to say, "you're on the right path" (metaphorically speaking). What I find strange is that I honestly cant remember how long ive felt this way, or at which point I began to ponder such questions to the point where it became a way of life. I have no idea how I got to this point in my thinking, im only aware that im here now.

The only event I can point to is the death of a very close friend of mine the year after we graduated highschool. After his death, I became VERY religious. I began reading the bible, had pictures of christ on my walls, started going to church, the whole 9 yards. In some ways, I think religion may have actually led me to this point....or pushed me into an evolution of thinking that led me to where I am today.

Either way, im happy im here at this point in my thinking....and I know theres no going back.



Edit: As sad as it may seem, maybe that was the point in which I had my great awakening...through the death of a friend. His death placed me on the path that led me where I am today (as far as personal thinking goes). In some ways, im greatful that ive reached this place....in other ways I think its a curse. I say "curse" because I often get frustrated in the fact that my mind wonders as often as it does. I feel like 95% of the time im in deep thought in one form or another...almost to the point where its tough to just relax (this is where the weed comes into play).

Most say they have deep thoughts while high, but weed relaxes me to the point where I give my brain a rest for a while. I believe I would go insane without Marijuana.

[Mr.GoodStuff]

Originally Posted by JesusC

Not crazy answers, but THE answer (assuming there is one). That one answer that explains everything, the secret to all things, the force behind everything...that one special thing, whatever it may be.

I dont know man, for some reason a HUGE part of me thinks that if I were to stumble upon this answer through deep thought, this reality would change dramatically in an instant. I believe something remarkable would happen...

I pray that you get to have this experience during your lifetime. It is too crazy for words-

I assume it would be a very personal experience tailored strictly to your type of personality and mindstate. My experience of enlightenment will most likely be different than your's- (different experience/example, same message though) I believe mostly because the truth is a very well-kept secret. Why? When you experience your vision JesusC- you, and only you- will know. (only you will understand yourself on it) People can relate like MelT and myself but we will never truly understand what you saw the way you will. It's completely subjective.

I'm talking TOTALLY subjective... It's mindblowing. You literally are all of reality.

My experiences were drug induced every time- however I believe that through meditation the same thing could happen. Ultimately what you need to do is run your brain at more powerful level- you know, we are only using a fraction of our mind most of the time?

So what if we unlocked the part we don't use and ran more at 90-100%... For even a millisecond it could reveal the secrets of the universe to you in a flash of clarity. That's multiple times the brainpower- imagine what you could understand at that level. Maybe things you didn't wish to understand? LOL Think about how much faster a car is moving at 100 miles an hour compared to 5 or 10... Holy shit

You wouldn't even need to question what you are seeing- all it would be is knowing!

I really hope that you get to experience it one day- because it changed my life. Afterwards I learned how personal the experience was- a lot like a dream you have that you can describe but never truly show another what you experienced.

I could not share it without contradicting myself or sounding crazy until I learned that in order to truly share it- I had to let another experience it themselves first. Only the people that have experienced this overwhelming surge of knowledge (I can only describe as the 'opening up of the mind') can relate to it or know I'm not crazy beyond a shadow of a doubt.

So I really do hope that one day you and I can at least know that even though we can't describe it or know it- we will at least know we saw it for a moment. We will at least be able to honestly say that for a second or two- we saw the meaning of life!

[JesusC]

Good Stuff Mr. GoodStuff....

[g0pher]

My greatest wish, is to see all the wonders of the universe - past and present, while i'm still alive.

[Mr.GoodStuff]

^Well if your true existance is eternal like physics suggests- there is very little chance that you won't experience it. Chance can be a crazy thing though- sometimes people who want to roll 12 roll snake eyes... Sometimes it's the other way around. I bet there are people running around that never dreamed of enlightenment but got slammed with it anyways. Others who have dreamt of enlightenment never received it... It's really a crap shoot. I mean it's something that in order to reach you must not reach for it... Some bullshit if you ask me LOL how could something that makes no sense truly be the answer to the greatest question ever asked??? I still don't get it beyond that it's a secret we keep from ourselves and that's why it's so confusing.

But what I can say is that physics suggests that there really is no escape from the universe, so that it can be bet on that we will eventually understand it. Give it another trillion trillion trillion years or so. Or maybe it will only take another month... Who knows? All that can be said is that all things will happen in due time.

For every thing there is a season. Your season will come G0ph- not a doubt in my mind on that. You have the right type of mind to receive the message (you will ask for and/or demand the knowledge in the right way somehow)

[JesusC]

Okay, heres another question that relates to the topic.

If we are seeking this great awakening or realization, how do we tap into that % of the brain that we fail to utilize.

Can it be done purely though meditation, or are drugs also necessary to achieve such an experience?

I'm not talking about how someone thinks they've seen god while tripping on shrooms, but rather what the experience allows us to realize about reality itself. For me, drugs seemed to have opened doors that I would never have seen otherwise (at least I dont believe so).

I guess im just trying to find ways to continue down this path of thought, but ive also stopped doing drugs (personal decision)...other than Marijuana, of course.

I know that I can obviously advance down the path of enlightenment without the aid of drugs, but im wondering if it will cause the process to move at a snails pace, know what I mean? At the sametime, I would rather evolve in my own enlightenment without the aid of drugs to get me there...I think it would mean more to me that way.

I really dont meditate to be honest, unless meditation means walking through life thinking yourself to death....in which case I meditate most of the time.

I dont know, I guess im just looking for advice from certain members here on how to go about continuing on this path...while remaining sane in doing so. As ive said before, once my mind gets going...it usually begins to move very fast through many different thoughts and ideas, id like to find a way to simplify it....of maybe that would defeat the purpose?

I dont know....just getting some thoughts off my chest I guess.


Life...


Goddamn.