Post by desertrain on Jun 11, 2010 1:49:59 GMT -5
I believe most of us are here on this forum because we're looking for something different from everyday consensual reality. We might be intrigued by the possibility that there is more to reality than meets the eye. Some of us may already have come to experience a deeper aspect of reality directly, others are working toward having this experience themselves.
Whether or not your goals fit the above description, I invite you to share them here. One of my favorite teachers says that the most important thing to do throughout ones spiritual search is to keep tabs on motive and intent. That is, what's driving your search? Where are you trying to get, and why? You may share what originally got you started on the spiritual search and how your goal has changed since then.
Here is my story:
When I was a kid, I was fascinated by UFOs and various kinds of paranormal phenomena. I never experienced them myself, but it was fascinating that something like that could be going on.
Later I wanted to know whether or not there would be life after death. I got into Theosophy, which has all kinds of complicated theories about levels of existence, evolution of the soul etc. I was absolutely thrilled by it, especially by the notion that all of world's great religions share common ground when it comes to their esoteric side.
Later yet, I got into yoga and started to meditate. I wanted to have spiritual experiences and be a spiritual person. There was also the prospect of relieving my fundamental suffering and being "perfect" someday, united with God.
Then I got introduced to non-duality, the idea of which was arguably there in yoga, but now in a more direct way. I explored various teachers and was drawn in by the idea that enlightenment or awakening might not be so unreachable, because people were waking up all the time. Yet, as I also run across some darker accounts (like that of David Scoma), I was not so sure that that's what I wanted.
And now? Up to date I still haven't had any profound spiritual experiences, yet I'm very aware of the silent awareness prior to thoughts and get much, much less carried away by them than before. I'm also aware that I am much less in control than I thought I was. I think I've seen enough not to go back, yet I'm still not sure about the enlightenment thing.
Right now my goal would be to see where life wants to lead me and keep exploring the nature of reality. As I've seen through some things, I have also noticed a reduction in fundamental suffering, so I guess that's also a major driving force. That and curiosity.
So, please share your goals, whatever they might be. This is also an invitation to be honest with ourselves, so take your time to reflect. I know I wasn't very clear on my goals until recently, when I took the time to write about them.
Whether or not your goals fit the above description, I invite you to share them here. One of my favorite teachers says that the most important thing to do throughout ones spiritual search is to keep tabs on motive and intent. That is, what's driving your search? Where are you trying to get, and why? You may share what originally got you started on the spiritual search and how your goal has changed since then.
Here is my story:
When I was a kid, I was fascinated by UFOs and various kinds of paranormal phenomena. I never experienced them myself, but it was fascinating that something like that could be going on.
Later I wanted to know whether or not there would be life after death. I got into Theosophy, which has all kinds of complicated theories about levels of existence, evolution of the soul etc. I was absolutely thrilled by it, especially by the notion that all of world's great religions share common ground when it comes to their esoteric side.
Later yet, I got into yoga and started to meditate. I wanted to have spiritual experiences and be a spiritual person. There was also the prospect of relieving my fundamental suffering and being "perfect" someday, united with God.
Then I got introduced to non-duality, the idea of which was arguably there in yoga, but now in a more direct way. I explored various teachers and was drawn in by the idea that enlightenment or awakening might not be so unreachable, because people were waking up all the time. Yet, as I also run across some darker accounts (like that of David Scoma), I was not so sure that that's what I wanted.
And now? Up to date I still haven't had any profound spiritual experiences, yet I'm very aware of the silent awareness prior to thoughts and get much, much less carried away by them than before. I'm also aware that I am much less in control than I thought I was. I think I've seen enough not to go back, yet I'm still not sure about the enlightenment thing.
Right now my goal would be to see where life wants to lead me and keep exploring the nature of reality. As I've seen through some things, I have also noticed a reduction in fundamental suffering, so I guess that's also a major driving force. That and curiosity.
So, please share your goals, whatever they might be. This is also an invitation to be honest with ourselves, so take your time to reflect. I know I wasn't very clear on my goals until recently, when I took the time to write about them.