[Valkyrie]

Originally Posted by rei

I just did an intuitive reading for someone, so I am not really up for continuing the debate right now. I am probably still adjusting to how it is to be back here without all those extra frequencies that happen to feel lovely when they are connected.

That's ok. I'll just respond to what you've posted and you can come back if you feel like it another time, or not, it's up to you.

If you also reject direct experience then you may not leave much left... and that is your choice.

Well firstly as I mentioned earlier I'm not necessarily rejecting all experiences, simply asking how an experience can be verified.

And secondly it's not much of an issue anyway since I don't have spiritual experiences. I can be curious and read about others but that's never much fun and seeing as how they conflict, it leaves me little to go by.

There may not be a way to validate or reject these things that would satisfy everyone. I try to stay away from the generalization language such as using the word "all" but I may not have been totally successful with that here. And, I do happen to think we all have a soul (though there are different names for it) because I have visited the soul records for a skeptical friend I have who does not believe in soul. A materialist would not believe this, though, and I am not trying to force anyone to believe it. I just share from my perspective, it seems that aspect of self exists independent of the belief of the personality. Do you not think there might be more than the personality?

I do not have such strict criteria as you have, and I find my life flows well. If you listen to your heart instead of your mind it will probably tell you whether a specific metaphysical idea is for you or not.

I don't see how it can be more than personality (and memories). I mean I suppose it could but I don't see how it's useful.

If I die tomorrow, and say my memories are destroyed, my personality ceases to exist, and some sort of soul that doesn't contain either of those things is born in some completely other body with a different personality and no recollection of the memories that I have right now, or that soul arises to some sort of other realm, then I don't see that as any different from me simply ceasing to exist and an entirely new soul being created in that new being. Because from my perspective, for all intents and purposes, I'm dead, my series of conscious moments interrupted and stopped.

For this reason the present moment is important (to echo the current other conversation I'm having in this thread about focusing on the moment), as I have consciousness and can enjoy it if it's a good moment, but if I no longer have a personality due to death then I can't observe or enjoy any moments. Likewise, if I have a soul that lived past lives or in different realms but it had a different personality and I don't have those memories, then how is that different, than simply not having had a previous life at all?

Oh, and earlier in the thread that was Source (aka whatever label) that wanted to keep talking. Source probably doesn't care whether the audience believes it is actually Source, but I'm not in the same place right now so I would rather leave Source's feelings about the distortion of the message for another time.

It seems folks either welcome connection or generate disconnection - we all have a choice. And our conscious selves may not even know what is going on at the core... there is no requirement to communicate with our inner self. Certainly seems life is more enjoyable when there is a sense of being an ally with self, and not in conflict with part of self, but that does not mean any reflection or exploration of self is required.

It seems this conversation has shifted in its tone, so I don't know if I'll be back. Your heart, your connection to love, is a great source for truth. But you are free to pick truth on whatever criteria you like.

Ok. Well I hope you feel better and you are welcome back if you want to come. Your posts are thoughtful and clear.

I mean honestly you've got me really curious now but if you don't want to say it that's ok. I'd like to hear it if/when you're ready.

Originally Posted by Alan1986

If you find it boring, it means that there is some kind of resistance. When you are fully in the Now - when you, and not your mind, are, there is acceptance.

Acceptance is also the knowingness that whatever you know at this moment is all that you need to know. Your mind, but not the fully conscious you, is uncomfortable with not knowing.

I just kind of view it like, some people find something that works for them and seem to believe that it will also work for others. This might not always be the case.

Originally Posted by Alan1986

Why do you do any one thing that is uninteresting, after you label it as unteresting?

Because I have to. I have to eat, even though eating is boring.

Some people really like food- they really enjoy the tastes. Focusing on the moment gives them pleasure. I'm not one of them. To me food just doesn't taste that good. Some foods taste bad and some foods taste neutral or kind of ok. I eat foods that are healthy and taste neutral or kind of ok.

90% of things are uninteresting. eating, sleeping, driving to work, working, cooking dinner, doing the laundry, etc. These things just don't provide much sensory pleasure in my opinion, in sensation or thought. They have to be done for maintenance, though. Why would I want to focus on them? Why would I want to be present, other than for practical reasons (ie driving safely or working intelligently)?

The other 10% or so, peak experiences, are worth focusing on. Adrenaline rushes from doing something exciting, sex, having a glass of wine and enjoying the warmth, seeing a really good movie or a really good piece of artwork, the one time I did cannabis, getting a massage, walking barefoot through grass or through waves on a beach, thinking of somethings really interesting and ingenious, etc. I can see how it's important to focus on and be present during those things, as there's somethings worth being present for.