Warm greetings Eclipse,

I am here in this group because I am truly intrigued by your story. I've posted bits about my own path in other care 2 groups but feel this group is focussed on something unrelated (for the most part) to my journey - it would be like speaking an entirely different language and would be inappropriate to the concepts behind your group. I am often drawn to the differences in our world which contribute to the whole.

Looking forward to listening to more from yourself and all other members here.

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Hello Eclipse and all:

My name is Melissa and I am glad I have found this site. I understand the feeling of being on the path totally and utterly alone and not resting until your answers get found. Presently on my path I need to BE the truth, to live it day by day, moment by moment, through all the twist and turns and unsureness. The great thing about a site like this is that the  connection to others is flowing, alive, in the now. It brings a differnt perspective and support that all the books talk about, point to: but now I am experiencing it live and with positive feedback. I am glad I joined and look forward to what it has in store. Many blessings.

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Like you my path has been to find this peace alone.  I find the people I include in my life are not on a healthy direction and use Buddhism for temporary peace and gain.  I grew up in Japan and this is part of my heritage especially understanding zen philosophy.  I'm glad I found this group.  It's difficult to find you cannot stay friends with one or more persons due to their constant wrong actions...sometimes it gets lonely but I hope joining this group will help me find new friends who are like minded & like spirited.

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Yes Eclipse, I make & use music to help bring our world closer.  I believe music is our universal language and music can heal many hearts and souls!  I hope you take a look at my site & bio so you can see for yourselves what my music means to me and what hopes I have for music and universal language of peace, love, music, community, spirit & healing

You can check my site out at www.seejimusic.com  

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Very glad you asked that question Eclipse   I'm the "Great old fool with the rusty gimlet"  I fill the well with snow and I am the pigeon that tries to put out the forest fire.  These things we do because it is an extension of us and our call here.  I am in financial debt because of the dedication I feel that my music can make someone smile...I don't think about the cost or what material gain I have.  Since you have read the bio you would also see that I am keeping my anonimty and refuse to give out any personal info, photos..I'm not looking for fame.   l look for community and I continually fill the well with snow with no questions asked.  I stay the great old fool with the rusty gimlet and I hide behind an artist name.  To claim enlightenment is not to think. No dualties but pure enlightenment.  Why do you use the computer and chatroom?  You feel you can connect and make a difference.  So I ask you to ask yourself the same question.  I fill the well with snow and I stay the great old fool with the rusty gimlet.  That is my ego and humbleness.  Compassion and reverence to all things because all things are me.

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Born into an atheistic Scandinavian family, my approach to life was best characterized by the phrase reductio ad absurdum. My motto was, “If it smells good – eat it. If it feels good, do it.” I hitchhiked to California from Minnesota right during the height of the psychedelic sixties and I never looked back. I’ll spare you the details. In 1969 I jumped 5 stories and when I came out of the coma, the nurse looking down at me said, “It was 50/50 whether or not you would make it – God must have some plan for you.” I tried to figure out the plan for about 30 years and then in 2003 I got tired of scheming and calculating and analyzing and trying to figure it all out and I just took shelter of Krishna’s lotus feet. My happiness now is off the charts and I’m experiencing that peace which surpasseth all understanding.

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All I can seem to say is wow. I read everyone's tid-bits of their own personal journey to reach the core of their own soul---- and I'm left speechless.

I personally am pretty young. My life has only been 24 years, yet still that is a long time I think. Growing up I never went without, and my parents always said I had a kind soul. I was the little girl (who never knew any better) that would walk up to a strange homeless person and give them my Happymeal, or a flower I picked and had in my hair.

When I was a teenager, I would still do the same. I fell into the pitfalls of growing up I guess, with the breaking of the rules of the house and playing with "extracurricular activities" if you will.

When I hit 22 I realized I had hit my selfish level. It was all about me. Screw everything else... Then within a year I had four very tramatic and personal occurances which threw me into a whirlwind. I needed an outlet, so I started painting and sketching more and going out with my friends less. Then one day, my life just came together. I found out I was pregnant six months later. Out of all the hurt and despair, I fell madly inlove with life all over again.

Things seemed to be fine for another three months- until I miscarried.

I felt like I had been on a rollercoaster, going two hundred miles per hour and hit a brick wall.

I think that was my turning point a year and a half ago honestly. I'm still kind of lost, but I know I mean well deep down. I think I just need some insight and guidance, which is hard to come by sometimes. I'm just trying to be the best person I can be is what I think I've been trying to say. I'm probably rambling and I'm going to end this now.
Have a beautiful afternoon...

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thank you Sarvo for invitation

me too was born into a very much atheistic family, pretty much still today i'm considered like the fifth wheel in that respect

have been through lots of pain and deep sorrow ... always searching for light somewhere behind the shadow, learning from direct experience

my upbringing had a lot to do with discipline and obeying rules, ... so i stuggled to escape, my spirit wanted to breath and play and dance and fall and enjoy and all.

Eclipse, we are sharing some of our ex-country history, pleased to meet you.

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Hello from Miami, Florida 8pm Eastern Time

Orlando aka Slimah Juicer

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thank you for the invite i look forward to reading what people have to say, and maybe saying what i have to say

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This is such a wonderful group!  I am enjoying reading about everyone's divine life paths!

This earthly school has not been an easy one for me, yet I am not sure "easy" is what I would have wanted; because in retrospect, my heart has opened up with such love, compassion and empathy for all souls who suffer because of what I have endured in my 43 years here on this earth.

I grew up in a liberal California beach town. My mother was quite an advocate for many political causes, especially for those who were the underdog. She was also a meditator and had an enormous library of all sorts of spiritual books from many paths.

When I was 13 I read Ken Keyes~Handbook to Higher Consciousness. This book had a great impact on my inner Self. My childhood years were a mixed blessing. I had a very mean and educated step-father, and so I tried to escape home a lot. I did not literally run away, yet I went within more, and also spent a lot of time at the beach. I absolutely LOVE the ocean. I dream of it frequently.

At 16 I was sent to a college prep boarding school in the Sierra's. My grandparents sent me there so I would not have to be around my step-father. This was very difficult for me, yet it was so meant to be. At this school I won the 'Self-Awareness award.

During a field trip with my school I came to see a picture of my now guru, Paramahansa Yogananda. His influence in my life is indescrible. I eventually joined SRF and practice kriya yoga. Paramahansa Yogananda's writing and inner presence has helped me through some very very difficult times in life.

I have also met many other wonderful saints and teachers such as Eknath Easwaren, Sri Karunamayi, Ram Dass, Krishna Dass and others. They are ALL Golden! I have such respect for all paths. I love Buddhism, Hinduism and Christ, The American Indian worship etc... My favorite movie is Kundun, about the life of the Dalai Lama.I know deep within my heart and soul that it is only Divine Love that will heal our world.

There is so much more to say, but so little time!

Peace~love and light to all!

Wendy

I know deep within

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Thanks for the invite to your group.

First let me start to excuse myself for not being to involved the next week: I'm finishing up my Summer semester at college and my life is rather hectic. Paper to research and write etc. and then still taking care of my 3 kids and house...

It is not easy to keep calm and focussed. it easy to get carried away in the hectic of it all.

But to answer your question.... How did I get here?

I grew up in a non-religious family in Europe. I met and married a Jewish man. I learned more about the Jewish traditions but it just didn't feel right to me. So although Buddhism somehow pulled at me since years and  I read a little about it, I never acted on it.

Last year I started college (at 35!) and I really enjoy it. Even more then before I started reading books about all kinds of topics: from simple living, eco-friendly, vegetarianism and Buddhism.

Feeling still uncertain on how to act and be at a temple stops me from actualy going to a Buddhist temple. Although I think it will probably help me to have a better everyday ritual (prayer/meditation).

So in many ways I still feel like a student.

Love to learn more from your wisdom

namaste  

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I have to thank Sarvo for inviting over to this group!

And now - I do not know if it takes a few lines or more I will have to explain why I joined. And I really do hope that I do not sound too "crazy".

I believe in God. There is some outer force - something we can believe in. Maybe it is only the "general" rules - do not fight, do not want thy neighbours woman and so on. But I believe there is an outer force.

And I think that everyone needs that - needs to believe, needs to have faith, needs to have to talk to someone in quiet...whatever the name is.

I call myself Christian...but I have a lot of thougths of that.

There is a lot of mystery about religion always. Who is right who is wrong - they discuss a lot about it - but what about a mix  - a mixture of all what you have experienced...and get your philosphy out of it.

Why not? Buddha,Jahve, God, Allah,...etc. take anything out of the religions which apply to you - is that wrong?

God is there - in whatever "person" or "appearence" he is showing to us - or she.

I am controversy and my belief is also.

I belief that in case I will be good with my fellow neighbours and my fellow beli vers I will be alright.

It is something very controversy as I am.

My goodness - what a long introduction

But I hope that you got me - somehow

well, that is me - controversy

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You’re all a lot like Alina. You’ve all been on a spiritual path in past previous lifetimes that’s why you’re naturally attracted to these things in this life. You’re just picking up where you left off.

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I posted a small hello earlier...But I wanted to return to share a little about myself.

I have known since I was young that there is a little something different about myself.  A sort of ESP or PSI of somesort.

I have never really studied it or looked into it very much, because every time I start to look into it I get really confused on what to read/study.

I dream things that happen.   I have warning dreams sometimes about person(s) close to me.  I have had relatives to visit me in my dreams just before their passing away.  All of these relatives that have visited  me in my dreams, visited the home that I grew up, I imagine that is where they start to look for me first.  I have had them to speak to me and tell me that they were going away, to a better place....

I have confusing dreams sometimes....I cannot figure them out at the time, but something happens thru the day that connects the dream.

I visit places while awake and feel that I've been there before.  I get vibes from people/animals and such.

I have seen spirits, heard them and felt them.  All in different locations.  One that occurred a few times in a work place.

Ok...I have went on enough about this something that I cannot figure out on my own.  Possibly a little guidance from someone who is aware of such things...

Thank you kindly.... 

~Peace~Mz.Janice~Author/Poet of Heart of Joy~

http://www.geocities.com/anangelsthoughts

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Hello Everyone!

my name is tulsi and i like to thank Sarvo for the invite to this wonderful group i have been reading some of the posts and seem a very very intellectual and interesting bunch of soulmates.

I was born in Mexico border with Texas to a poor family according to the government sensus i never felt poor then. My family was redbone Christian Protestant my Father a very kind soul and open minded really did not followed the church much compared with my Psychotic unbalanced mother.I am not sure if anyone has experienced this but i can remember as far as been a 6 mo. baby or so but the weird thing is i have always felt i was an adult i never felt like a baby or child i had feelings,understandings and notion as any adult.

At age 6 I had my first past life recollection then i did not knew what it was,i had lots of vivid dreams of People tying me to a table and doing examinations on me under bright lights this was often like every 4 mos. or so they will meassure my hight,widht,eyes etc. also probe in my mental capacity with some weird words ,lights and games later in life i found out this might have been ET visitations.

As a child i was very distant from humans i loved to be in nature,talk to animals and always discovering new things in the wilderness.at early age like 9 yr old i came in contact with books from Lobsang Rampa,Blavaski and others to me this open up a world that i had already experienced in my daily life and proved me this other world of other energies existed.

I became an avid readear of anything concerning with the Universe and other cultures for me it was an escape from the hellish life i lived in the hands of a mental/physical abusive mother and a sexually abusive brother.

in my life i have had many experiences,aparitions etc. along with my already open psychic abilities this drove me to find more and more trough the years.

the story is too long to put in one post but my path have brought me to learn from all Religion/paths and movements,from Catholic,Christian Gnostic,Wiccan,Native American and Mexican Indian  Medicine,TM Org.,Rosecrussians,ET groups,new Age groups you name it i been there and also in the Eastern Buddhist,Zen and different branches of Hinduism i respect all of this teachings to me they have been steps on the ladder to find my understanding of who I am and the purpose of my life and how to achieve this purpose.

thank you for your time and I will be joining on other topics.

love to all

tulsi

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I am a beam... beam of light... I waffle back in forth in darkness and light, however I tend to imagine I brace the light just a bit more...

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I was not been able to introduce myself because I just didn't want to, but if you insist......

I came here more out of curiosity. My friend Sapiencia N has mentioned many times the host of this forum in other groups, so I'm mostly lurking around. I'm a 41 yo man born in a Roman  Catholic household. A childhood's dream that might be called "joining with God" is mostly what drives me towards spirituality, well, I have been a truth seeker all my life, but christianity has inflicted its damages (fear) on me and I have been reticent to seek more. Last year, I found a cultish group who teaches a course in astral travel. I joined it and thus I knew about Samael Aun Weor. I left that group (it was mostly a cyber group, so it was easy to leave) and continued reading his books.

For now, I just can tell you that I'm a fool looking for the truth. As Master Samael wrote in many of his books, we must seek to meet our own inner master in the depths of our own consciousness and I'm striving to learn to meditate and thus getting to the Samadhi that might grant me the honor of meeting my own inner master. So I'm on the very beginning of my path to enlightenment.

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Betsemes! great ur here, bro! and just when we've been handing out goodies as u might have noticed on other threads!

the reason i insisted was that i always feel that it's so helpful to everyone when we talk! especially me! i luv hearing about other ppl's thoughts, experiences and path!

often we may have ideas in our heads and we're fine with them but when we try to convey this idea to someone it is then that we realize that that idea isnt completely formed yet or we start questioning it ourselves completely. to turn a thought into words helps us become much more clear to ourself. of course to the listener, in our case, reader, we get to kno each other better, our strengths and weaknesses show and we may all help each other..

ppl who r not confident to talk about their experiences and their path are probably worried that they would b challenged but challenge is good on our paths! and if u are confident with the path ur on, well we would all like to hear about it, it might be of help to us! ultimately with enlightenment we hope to change this world to a better place right?! so shouldnt we start by helping eachother?!

all the best to u Batsemes and thank you for the introduction, it does tell a lot about u  

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my true self, then, is grateful beyond words. it is rooted in the divine and awake in the divine and is burning its light -- as best it can -- to help ignite similar flames in other people.

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For me, right now… its one step at a time.

If only I could say that I'd found all the answers, pursued all the avenues that have opened to me, and reached the destination where I was able to live a perfectly joyful, peaceful, life of compassion and love. Such is not the case. I still fall, victim, to the emotions of the past the regret, guilt, blame, and frequently lose myself in the emotions of the future.

In spite of this, I know that I'm getting better and growing spiritually every moment, and that I can stay in the Present, the Now, more and for longer…without inner emotion erupting. I can detach from, and learn from negative emotions instead of repeatedly reacting. ‘It’s difficult’ and I may not fully wake up in my whole lifetime- But I feel- that for me and my life, ‘the journey to enlightenment is most important thing’, and not the destination.

In this life I think we get what we expect to get, and what we focus on. I believe that we create our own realities from a number of possibilities, and that the external world mirrors the internal world.

Bow...

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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First of all, I would like to humbly thank Eclipse for starting this group, and for making it what it is today.  I have read a lot here and am very intrigued by what I have found.  Thank you, Eclipse, for all you are doing for others.

I began my personal search for "truth" when I was in school at around the age of 12.  I did almost all of my searching alone when I was young, but as I grow older I find more of a need for contact with others whom I can relate to and learn with and from.  I have always felt that there was a lot for me to learn in this lifetime, a hunger for all things spiritual, and I believe that I will feel that way until I leave this body and then beyond that.  I grew up in a difficult situation, and am working hard to leave that part of my life behind, although I believe that the things that have happened to me have served me in certain ways to help to keep me mindful of what is really important in life and what is excess baggage.  I believe that every being on this planet, every "thing" is an integral part of the whole of existance.  I believe also that my soul has lived in many bodies in the past, although my memories of those previous lifetimes are dim at best.  Meditation is very important to me at this point in my life, as I tend to see meditation as a vehicle which can carry me along my path as opposed to a destination which I must struggle to reach.  One of my favorite types of meditation is Heart Rhythm Meditation, which I learned from Puran & Susanna Bair.  My heart is filled with love for all and deep saddness for those who suffer, but no longer with regret for the past.  My deepest desire in life since I was very small has been to help others.  I love music and art, and my favorite musicians/singers are Steven Halphern and also Deva Premal and Miten. 

I am very happy to be here, and I am excited to learn and to grow.

bright blessings,        

~darksky moon

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Eclipse, Lyra, W9, and all, . . . just stopping by to say Hi.

& Lep pozdrav,

.

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Yes, true. Happy new year IshenWarri I.

I've been coming here occasionaly and also what i do is every now and then i tend to un-join from all the groups i'm in, just on impulse, compulsory cleaning thing or something, and then join again, . .  and all over again.

in the mean time . . i did quit the job afterall and i find myself more relaxed and well.

hope you're well too

.

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Alina again!?!? well is there end of surprises? this is your 3rd time to join..

A znas kako nas narod kaze: treca - sreca!

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I'm happy to see you too Eclipse .

Hvala, & these are for you

.

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I am Shanti and am a spiritual intuitive and live in California.  Have been "on the path" for many years and look forward to sharing, learning, and connecting with all here. 

(Also want to wish everyone a very Happy Spring!)

Love, light, and spirit,

                            Shanti R.

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It's many a day that I see myself more as this than anything else. As more swami Baloney than as any true wise man.
 In all seriousness it is a good question but one that might well be unanswerable as all of us are a work in prigress and the path that works for us now may veer dramatically tomorrow.
Who am I ?
A product of a great many conditioned responses.... and the past. My past as part Native American born to oil field Texas workers. Of a life spent without many real family connections except for brief periods on the reserve with my Grandfather. A life of moving from town to town........
Then a moment of grace in discovering the words of a wise man.... Gotama Buddha, discovered as a very young boy.  Words that moved something deep but words that were for a time lost in the fire of growing up. Of trying to exist in the world.. safely and sanely. Working sometimes with the ranchers in the Alberta fields and then moving on to Ottawa. Finding again those words of the Buddha dressed in the Bhagavad Gita among the Hare Krishnas there in that city. Then the world once again dampening that grace down for a time. And on, and on... a story much the same as anyone elses here. Often sad.. and often happy.... and always confusing.
For a time ....... lost totally to any light of those old words. Time spent often in a rough life of anger and alcohol as a biker. Of fighting and drinking and hurting myself in the hotels across the Ottawa river with other bikers. Thinking that in that rough brotherhood an answer was found... one that was all I needed. But the drugs became too much.... the pain that I was causing .... too much, and the hidden words that I had once read bubbling up. All driving me to something else.
They say that the universe conspires to enlighten us. Whether that is true or not I do know that all those old words finally broke through and my path turned to one that was not self destructive. I nearly took the robe in the older Theravadan path..... as Bhikkhu Somanassa ... "The experience of joy" in the Pali. But that would not have been true to my real nature so that road never quite jelled for me. So I struggle on through as a "householder", as Buddha would have called it. Seeking my way slowly through his words (that burn deep in the heart for me).... in the words of Krishna as felt by Arjuna.... in my dreams of Shiva, who comes occasionally in the night in my sleep. So I often look in.. as Krishna called it... my "clouded mirror" seeing the real fire somewhere in there... a reflection of my true self. It becomes a little clearer each day... but slowly.

So who am I.. my true self? A simple man more and more often... and one who sees a certain grace in being a fool... a holy fool. Of being beyond any concerns of what is deemed "wise" or "right" by the world. Maybe someday I can really answer this question. It is out there, that answer... Tat Tvam Asi... maybe some day I'll really understand it's true inner meaning. Then I can answer this question truthfully and wholly.

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When you realize meaning of 'Tat Twam Asi' there will be no answers to give..

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Eclipse... thanks for the comments.

I suspect though that there will always be a seeking that derives from answers. That there will always be a question ... partly due to the mind/body relationship.
Tat Tvam Asi is as simple an answer... and as beautifully defined a one as Einstein's elegant formula..... E=MC2. What truly could be more simple or clear an answer than "I am that" or that total energy equals total mass. Each saying the same as the other.

The problem doesn't lay within the understanding of the answer. It is clear... and precise... and beautiful in it's clarity... there can be no misunderstanding. There is no room allowed for it in such precison of thought and idea. The real struggle is within the question. It is in what we are asking that eventual understanding will come. Not the answer but rather in what the question really was. The answer itself stands as a pyramid buried in the sand. We have found the tip of it and now we must dig to find the root. As we come to see what we believe to be the truth we only in the end find another layer... a deeper facet of the question.

It's been my thought and my observation that even enlightenment will not fully end the search for the real meaning of the question. Our body mind relationship will always present new challenges to full understanding..... new layers of meaning emerging as our means of really experiencing the world grows and matures. Just as the 2 dimensional dwellers of Abbot's fictional "Flatland" could only barely grasp the faint idea of a 3rd dimension.. of "Up" so too are we hindered in our grasping of our "true self" by our physical chains of 3 dimensions. Our idea of "true self" a shadow cast by the reality.... as Sri Balsekar says qouting from his teacher... qouting from yet his as well... "The noumenon becomes concept, becomes illusion... and only a shadow of the real"

Is the search then fruitless... even pointless given that we will never fully see it in this form? No.... never..... it is the searching not for the answer, because we've always have known it... it's never not been there. It is the searching for what the question really is that our "true self" begins to reveal itself. One beautiful petal at a time like a vast lotus flower that we can only see.... for now.... a small part of. The search will always be worth it, even in the pain of seeing the monsters that hide in our closets because all of that disolves as our true self is revealed. Our real and true beauty opens up... the beauty that lies within us all.

Thanks for letting me share.... forgive the lecture but I'm not on here, on care2, enough.... so I tend to post these sudden bursts of thoughts from a need to say these ideas...... these ideas roiling about in my head. 

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Hi, I'm the mystery of existence. I just thought that I'd stop in and say hello to myself. lol 

"tat tvam asi" 

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Yeah, you got the point, say hello to yourself.

We are all reflections of your mind, we are your mirror.

gemini..

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Creator is observing itself from ourselves and looking at himself all around! when you get to be one with creation then creator is not looking at you - you are creator and everything around is YOU - you are watching yourSELF -- your TRUE self.

That is what is all about here.

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Nobody should wait for death to become one with creator. Do you have any proofs that it`s happen exept religion beliefs? Your purpose is knowledge, not religion, not belief.

Purpose of Enlightenment is to be one with creation while are you still consciousness so you can expirience it to the fullest, otherwise - uncoscious achievement has no purpose. It has in it some parts missing therfore it is not complete - otherwise it is not wholistic so it can`t be word for knowledge on absolute.

Some thinks that after death you are one with the absolute and your ego disapears. Some think that you preserve your personality and after death. i agree with last otion. So your only chance to become one with ONE is NOW.

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glad to see forum alive thanks to new refreshment. welcome!

Philosophy is sometimes good introduction to yourself and Enlightenment but in some cases can be greatest obstacle on the way. AS Buddha said: "Be aware of big wisdom" Mind is to be shut up on way to Oneness and then should be awake again watching the world in different way. But all this is little out of the subject  on introduction of yourself so i suggest that we should continue in some other more appropriate thread, like 'Is there Absolute' http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=2815&pst=1140940&archival=&posts=4

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