Expectations

[Kalika]

Imo and possibly off topic, since this thread wasn't easy for me to follow, death (enlightenment) comes when we no longer feel the need to talk, yet live here and now. A stage I haven't reached, obviously, because I'm posting my thoughts, yet to me I envisage a stage of silence and pure acceptance of all there is, while we breathe and attend to this life.

Btw, love Parmahansa Yogananda. But, have yet to find a spiritual teacher. Not sure if I find one or they find me? Part of the PY teaching that I've come to understand is to find a master - which didn't necessarily mean him since there are many before and after, but find one you must - which is my dilemma. Who? Sorry, will save that for another thread.

[psychoslice]

I am not here to disrespect anyone's journey, but I would like to remind us all that we are already there, its the mind that is on the journey, for who we truly are cannot be anywhere but where we already are, here, Now.

[Kalika]

Yes agree, we are here. Its the mind and mouth that perhaps is not. Hence reaching a state of silence, of total acceptance without judgement or having to respond etc.

[psychoslice]

Originally Posted by Kalika

Yes agree, we are here. Its the mind and mouth that perhaps is not. Hence reaching a state of silence, of total acceptance without judgement or having to respond etc.

Yes these are the games the ego plays, most just like the game, but don't know when to finish the game, games can be fun and hence the trap.

[Kalika]

Just hopped back on to mention I mean me :) I hope to reach the stage of keeping/holding silence and not being judgemental of (or attached to) opinions, mine and others.

[Kalika]

An ideal person who appears to be able do this is Thích Nhất Hạnh. Someone I admire greatly.

[FallingLeaves]

Originally Posted by Kalika

Imo and possibly off topic, since this thread wasn't easy for me to follow, death (enlightenment) comes when we no longer feel the need to talk, yet live here and now. A stage I haven't reached, obviously, because I'm posting my thoughts, yet to me I envisage a stage of silence and pure acceptance of all there is, while we breathe and attend to this life.

I saw a tv show or a book or something with that, a man and woman attended mindfully (for lack of a better word) to their lives with each other while not talking. Pretty cool....

I look at it now though and see there is so much more to play with than 'pure acceptance'... although I suppose that is a part of it... meanwhile I'm back on the road to saying less, I never wanted to be there as a child but now I miss it sigh.

[psychoslice]

Originally Posted by Kalika

Just hopped back on to mention I mean me :) I hope to reach the stage of keeping/holding silence and not being judgemental of (or attached to) opinions, mine and others.

That is true, we should not be attached to any opinions, not even from those who are so called Enlightened, we should use what they have shared like a thorn, to dig out the thorn that is causing out pain, and then we throw away both thorns, we no longer need them.

Originally Posted by Kalika

Yes agree, we are here. Its the mind and mouth that perhaps is not. Hence reaching a state of silence, of total acceptance without judgement or having to respond etc.

Nietzsche called it "Amor Fati" or 'Love of Fate', it's the state of seeing everything that happens in one's Life as good or at least necessary. So instead of talking about 'negative energies' and 'toxic people' we should simply accept that they are a necessary part of our Spiritual/natural development and gain from them rather than fight against them. Expectations are also a sign that we don't 'accept our fate' because expectations mean we are looking to a certain outcome.

Psychology calls it 'cognitive behaviour' while the Sanskrit term is 'Chitta' or 'lower mind' - https://www.ananda.org/yogapedia/chitta/

I'm currently taking a course on cognitive behaviour and it's interesting how it changes perceptual reality by 'dismantling the frameworks' that create the need for response, judgements or attachments. What it means is that instead of fighting against it - which would be negative/harmful cognitive behaviour - I can choose whether to rise above it or respond more mindfully.

Originally Posted by Kalika

I look at it now though and see there is so much more to play with than 'pure acceptance'... although I suppose that is a part of it...

Acceptance means you're not spending effort and energy fighting against it, and what we resist persists. From the harmony of equanimity understandings and realisations can come. Acceptance is often a good basis on which to plant your feet.