What, me go trolling on the internet? Does a bear crap in the woods?

I have read that in Native American spirituality, the bear is about introspection.

As far as I know, everyone at this online group uses a fake name. Mine is, Puzzleheaded.

Reddit spirituality

Maralita

How to deal with people thinking you're crazy?

I've really awakened over the past two years. When I talk about anything spiritual related I'm met with weird looks. I feel like I'm making more sense than ever too lol. Do I just keep my mouth shut and allow everyone else experience it on their own terms? 

 

merkabah

It’s a lonely path. I feel people out before opening up. 

 

ZenMaster

That's wise, and spiritual people need to be careful about potentially waking others up against their will or before they are ready. It can actually be quite dangerous for all parties involved. 

 

Puzzleheaded

What about when the student is ready, the teacher will come?

I doubt someone on the spiritual path for 2 years has much chance of waking up other people. I doubt that, because I recall when I was 2 years into the shift from where I had been stuck most of my life, to where I was headed having no clue what it would be like.

As I read about Jesus in the Gospels, he seemed to try to wake up anyone who was listening, and he knew only a few might hear him. After he had disciples and had worked closely with them for a while, he told them that he taught the masses in parables, but he taught them in secret what wise men and kings would give all that had to possess.

Different spiritual traditions have different ways of waking up people. In my case, it was angels known in the Bible that started in on me in early 1987, and they are still with me. In phases, they kept turning me every which a way but loose and upside down and inside out, and they stood me before many mirrors looking at me. I t was made very clear to me that I was in it for the duration; there was no safe jumping ship.

I don't know if this poster is being harnessed by angels, but he might consider praying for that to happen, although my experience is, angels tend to only be interested in people who know they are at the end of his/her rope, out of bright ideas, and ready for any and every thing that might be delivered by the angels.

Maralita

Please elaborate, Zen Master. 

 

ZenMaster

Not to put too fine of a point on it, but mental illness is a serious issue that affects a lot more people than people may realize. I think I heard once that it's something like fifty percent of all people are dealing with some form of mental issue or issues, and much of that would probably tend towards depression.

Opening the mind can be a very dangerous thing for someone that is not grounded or stable enough to handle that much newfound freedom and power, and unlocking what's within that can easily tend towards someone delving into a messiah complex or contemplating suicide, or even killing another person. Someone could also potentially get very angry at someone else for waking them up, because delusion is the rule of the day across the world and is in fact quite comfortable compared to the truth.

Historic Zen had a very interesting way of circumventing most of these problems: an aspiring monk or student of Zen would have to prove themselves worthy of being opened to ultimate truth, and the master would often have them work in the monastery and show mental stability for years or sometimes even a decade before answering a single spiritual question of theirs. I believe that's also why new monks would be taught to adhere steadfastly to the precepts of the Buddhist Eightfold Path, so they wouldn't get entirely lost when facing ultimate freedom.

Puzzleheaded

If this poster wants to keep his existing relationships, he might wish to read A Course In Miracles, and then take to heart its advice to not react to anything that punches his buttons, including anything his/her significant other, family and friends do. After a year of that, according to ACIM, this poster will be a different person, ready to move forward, instead of backward. That also was a method taught by G.I. Gurdjieff, to build the will center. I think it's a method used by Buddhism and other spiritual traditions, including Jesus in the Gospels.

If this poster wants to tell others about his awakening experiences, assuming that is what they are, that's his/her business. However, I think if he expects others to clap or come around to his perspective, that probably will not go well for him or for them. And, depending on their mind set, beliefs, etc., the poster might find himrself locked up in his local version of Hotel California for a while, or longer. And, or, on prescribed anti-psychotics, which he/she might find are addictive and quite difficult to quit once they get deep into his body fluids and cells.

Or, he could just head to a monastery somewhere and submit to its discipline. Or go off and live alone, which he/she might not like, but it might be easier on to do it that way, at least for a while. 

As time passes, this poster might see things differently, try new ways of moving forward with other people, or not. The spiritual path is not easy, and I have heard it said a few times: better not to begin it, than to begin and then turn away.  

 

The Order of Pen

Brenda

All of Me

I hid my shadow self

in the shadows..the pastor

had never heard me swear,

but the milkman has..

I dragged my good manners out

for the high and mighty

And the Almighty

but let it all go to hell

in a cheap motel

~Is it that we're false

or is it just that people don't see

all that we are?~

~ Brenda

Sloan Bashinsky

Brenda I heard once upon a time, when you destroy your reputation, you can be (or are) free.

Brenda

Sloan Bashinsky It's just an analogy - how people see what we present and think we're like that everywhere we go.I wasn't in a cheap motelI just used it for illustrative purposes.

Sloan Bashinsky

Brenda no worries, I’ve stayed in cheap and upscale motels. 

I’ve been homeless. I’ve vacationed in Hotel California-like digs. I very slowly learned it takes a lot more energy to be someone else, than to be me.

Order of Pen

R.V. Stiltskin

 

Sloan Bashinsky

Catholic humor?

Stiltskin

Sloan Bashinsky

Sloan Bashinsky

Stiltskin

Hey haw! Irony has to be one of God’s favorite amusements.

Alice

Bliss is the order of the day, if you know, you know.

Sloan Bashinsky

Alice In times of exasperation with me, my mother often said, "Ignorance is bliss."

sloanbashinsky@yahoo.com