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Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina  It sounds like you're confusing the emotional state of joy (short-term, easily accessible) with the level of consciousness of joy (long-term, takes a lot of conscious development to reach). The first one is how you feel in the moment, and you can experience it via Power of Now techniques and the like. The second one is your background level of awareness, which is an entirely different kind of beast.
I freely admit it's problematic to use the word joy to describe both. I think it makes sense to use joy to describe the emotional state, but it's probably not the best term to use to describe the level of consciousness. I'm at a bit of a loss for a better word though. Joy is the emotional residue of that particular level of consciousness, but the underlying structure of it is far more complex IMO. Perhaps a good word to describe it is truth, since it feel like the true nature of reality really opens up at that point, and life becomes much easier. |
I think we are both confused because it seems like we are both talking about the same state of joy. I do feel truth, a sense of peace, wonder and curiosity about the world. It's the true nature of what I am. I am not talking about short-term happiness which depends on egoic interpretation, which is what I think you meant by "short-term" joy. No, I talk about the joy of consciousness - the joy of Being - the joy of aliveness.
I suppose it can be difficult to experience it on a constant level because it does require constant vigilance of primary awareness and a degree of presence that allows you to detach from thoughts. However, once you learn the basic principle of dis identifying from the conditioned mind and the noise subsides the deep state of joy which is prevalent becomes known with intensity. Once you access that power, it cannot leave you - which is why I make the non-confrontational argument that joy is easy to access, a joy which is inside everyone - but covered up by attachment to things, or false beliefs about reality (which I believe are ANY beliefs about reality are false - since reality just is). It's simply learning the basic principle of dis identifying from the mind. Yes, you are responsible for your mind, but no you cannot blame yourself for thinking negatively because until you are constantly present and alert you have no choice in the matter.
Perhaps you should focus some of your articles more on the simplicity of finding this feeling. Only once this feeling is found and felt than is it possible to work on the level purpose, otherwise you get lost in your work - you care about whether you fail or not - you mistake that your work is intertwined with who you are. When in reality your work is just a manifestation of consciousness. Consciousness works "through you" so to speak once you are in touch with the state of joy, peace, or enthusiasm. The "Joy of Sadness" is excellent, I love the analogy to the storm and witnessing the storm.
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Originally Posted by Myrabeth Hi--
This has been a helpful discussion for me.
Since it's not been my experience that there's anyway to get an accurate spiritual picture of myself without community to be mirrors and spiritual friends, I host a monthly fire circle. Last night's (March 21) was an amazing, full-moon fire. Here's the post I wrote on the Virtual Tea House, a site I host, about the dialogue. It fits in with the flow of this discussion, I think! Waiting in the Garden; Stories of hula hoops, humus and holy crappola!
Would love to get anyone's input!
Myrabeth |
A monthly fire circle? That all seems so out there that it's difficult to believe that someone outside of the LSD-consuming hippies would hold such interesting events.
I appreciate the link to the Jungian book, as Jungian psychology is interesting and I would love to learn more about it. I ordered it through you, so I fully expect you to give me $1000 back once I create lots of value!