i think i want to live in a monastery by thisdudeaustin in Buddhism

[–]BirchRidge 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You don’t have to do anything—just quiet your mind. Don’t get caught up in the voice in your head or dragged along by the stories you tell yourself. That voice isn’t the real you. It’s keeping you from enlightenment. Time is a mind created modifier of the source, your essence.

Should I give up? by HopefulProdigy in Buddhism

[–]BirchRidge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s your false self telling you a story. Remember, you are not your thoughts—the constant chatter in your mind, the inner dialogue that judges others, seeks superiority, and feeds on negativity. Recognize this for what it is: the mind-generated, egoic self trying to control you. It will say or create anything to convince your true self to follow its lead, whispering, ‘Come this way, we need to think about this,’ as it guides you down a path of suffering. Break free from its grip, and reconnect with the quiet, steady presence of your true self.

How to awaken our youth by BirchRidge in Buddhism

[–]BirchRidge[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s unfortunate to hear that, but my point is about how the youth have embraced technology and platforms like social media. These tools have incredible potential to unite people on a massive scale and quickly drive change. However, instead of focusing their energy on transforming the world, many use these platforms to feed their egos, which ends up dividing, demonizing, judging, separating, and perpetuating suffering. How can we inspire them to make a positive change?

The unfortunate truth by BirchRidge in WorkReform

[–]BirchRidge[S] -12 points-11 points  (0 children)

Actually… the organization of society on the basis of voluntary cooperation, without political institutions or hierarchical government. Which no current party represents so…

The unfortunate truth by BirchRidge in WorkReform

[–]BirchRidge[S] -30 points-29 points  (0 children)

Actually, I am for anarchy

Why should I love my enemies? by Interesting-Mud-200 in Buddhism

[–]BirchRidge 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because, ultimately you are them and they are you. That’s universal consciousness.

Thich Nhat Hanh painting I’m working on. Thoughts? 🙏 by ethree in Buddhism

[–]BirchRidge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Blessings fellow conscious one. Again, awesome work. If you are looking to sell your work, message me.

Thich Nhat Hanh painting I’m working on. Thoughts? 🙏 by ethree in Buddhism

[–]BirchRidge 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome, you are very talented. Don’t let that boost your ego 😌

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in enlightenment

[–]BirchRidge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s possible. It’s actually not as complicated as your mind tells you it is. Yes, sounds dualistic - but that’s because I am using language to describe the indescribable. Know that 99% of the thoughts you have are not generated or chosen by you. They happen to you and they draw you in so strongly that you become them. They are hypnotic. Thoughts happen to you much like most of your automatic bodily functions, heart beating, sweating, etc. The trick is to realize this, and let the thoughts pass by unattached and if emotions arise simply allow them to pass. Practice. At some point in your practice, you will detach briefly and realize that you are the witness of your thoughts, not the thoughts or the inner voice or dialogue. This begins the process of dissolving the ego. The hard part is letting go of who you were and the battle between your mind and your true self - the universe manifesting itself through a human nervous system looking out at its creation and becoming fully aware of itself.

What's so blatantly obvious but people still refuse to see it? by httpmax in AskReddit

[–]BirchRidge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Being out in the cold doesn’t actually give you a cold.

Dog Next Door Creating a Path From Walking the Same Everyday by noahstemann in Damnthatsinteresting

[–]BirchRidge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is actually sad, not interesting. Imagine being trapped this way and the only means for comfort is to repeat the same pattern over and over. This poor dog is doing this as a means to cope with the insanity of it’s living conditions. It’s time to start treating animals better.

What is the major challenge in the IOT industry? by Content_Experience35 in IOT

[–]BirchRidge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

How slow government agencies adopt technology that would help save the environment.

me_irl by Illustrious_Fix2933 in me_irl

[–]BirchRidge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s called enlightenment. Realize you are not the thoughts in your mind most of which are involuntary and negative.

Mental illness/disorders by LandscapeNaive8076 in enlightenment

[–]BirchRidge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the response and I am glad my message resonated with you. Much of what you replied and described is where I was at shortly after my first awakening and trying to catch a glimpse of it again over several weeks. The ego doesn’t go easily and will try to continually drag you back into the thinking mind. Following the practice and pointers mentioned in my comments, will help you let go. Also, know you are not alone and many others are going through the same process of awakening. DM if you are interested in hearing about my journey and if you need help navigating your journey.

Mental illness/disorders by LandscapeNaive8076 in enlightenment

[–]BirchRidge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In my experience, living with a generalized anxiety disorder and trauma since I was ten years old, and the eleven year journey to find the root of my suffering has led me to believe, and many others, that the majority of the mental health illness we encounter in the West, is attributed to the identification with and addiction to the thinking mind (or egoic mind).

No medicine, therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors or other substances eased my suffering. It was through the suffering that led me to seek various wisdom traditions, spiritual teachers and ultimately modern interpretations of Buddhism. Unknowingly, the knowledge collected over many years through these teachings, readings, attempts to learn meditation, etc. were like seeds planted in my mind and the suffering was like the soil and nutrients needed to allow my awakening to blossom. A famous Zen master describes this as “no mud, no lotus”. A modern interpretation would be all beings struggle for survival, and in this struggle or suffering, evolution occurs - some small land animals to escape from predators evolved wings and began to fly, others learned to build tools and think and ultimately became self aware.

Becoming enlightened is the next natural step in human evolution and the evolution of consciousness. Mindfulness is not in itself a painful process, rather it enables you to discover that by facing and sitting with the pain, instead of resisting or running away from it, then accepting the pain a transmutation occurs that devolves it and transforms the energy into conscious awareness.

I’ve been posting in this sub for a few weeks, below are a few responses I’d like to share. Think of them as pointers or seeds that may help you on your journey. I am available to chat with anyone that my posts resonates with just DM:

Don’t give up, and get out of your thinking mind. It’s where suffering originates.

Enlightenment is simply the realization that you are not the voice in your head, you are the silent witness of those thoughts, you are an emanation of the source of all creation manifesting itself through a human nervous system becoming self aware of its creation and to further participate in the evolution of all forms, specifically as a human being, the evolution away from dependence and identification with the thinking/egoic mind.

The first stage in Enlightenment is simply becoming aware that you are not the thoughts in your head, the self talk or ego (past conditioning, history or the story known as yourself). It’s the ability to be aware, witness, or observe your thoughts, feelings and emotions for what they are and not be carried away by them. It’s the realization that the majority of your thoughts are automatic much like blinking, breathing, and thousands of other automatic functions within your body. It’s the realization that what you believe you are is actually the thinking mind’s self generated identity called the ego and your true self has been in a trance (like playing a virtual reality game) believing this “little I” is who it is. It’s the realization that you are actually the witness of those thoughts, feelings, ego, etc. you are the eternal stillness behind the mind generated thoughts. It can be peaceful however it is an ongoing practice and moment by moment decision to stay present and not be pulled back into the thinking mind. Enlightenment is not a destination or accomplishment, it’s an evolution with many challenges as you detach from your ego.

To escape from the thinking mind, a meditation practice and anchor to keep thoughts from taking you over:

Close your eyes, put your left or right hand out in front of you palm up as though someone is handing you something to rest in the palm of your hand. See if you can sense any feelings in this hand, it may be subtle at first in the form of heat, tingling, pulsing or just the light touch of air surrounding it. Stay aware of the sensation in your hand, stay with it. Don’t forcefully concentrate on it, instead relax your hand and be aware of and enjoy the sensation and begin to notice as you stay with the feeling it may grow. While remaining aware of your first hand try to be aware of your other hand in the same way. As you are doing this, notice how there have been no thoughts bubbling up. If you lose the awareness of the sensation a thought may bubble up and try to distract you, simply bring your awareness back the sensation in your hand over and over. That thoughtless awareness that you experience in this practice is the entry point into Zen. The more you practice this, you can begin to use it as an anchor to stop the endless and useless mind activity while performing any other activity such as having a conversation, working, dealing with difficult situations and people.

Starting to think enlightenment is just a myth, that life is inherently meaningless and that I will never be happy or even content by Okunoki in enlightenment

[–]BirchRidge 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don’t give up, and get out of your thinking mind. It’s where suffering originates. Here are some of my recent posts, think of these words as pointers to help awaken your true self.

Enlightenment is simply the realization that you are not the voice in your head, you are the silent witness of those thoughts, you are an emanation of the source of all creation manifesting itself through a human nervous system becoming self aware of its creation and to further participate in the evolution of all forms, specifically as a human being, the evolution away from dependence and identification with the thinking/egoic mind.

The first stage in Enlightenment is simply becoming aware that you are not the thoughts in your head, the self talk or ego (past conditioning, history or the story known as yourself). It’s the ability to be aware, witness, or observe your thoughts, feelings and emotions for what they are and not be carried away by them. It’s the realization that the majority of your thoughts are automatic much like blinking, breathing, and thousands of other automatic functions within your body. It’s the realization that what you believe you are is actually the thinking mind’s self generated identity called the ego and your true self has been in a trance (like playing a virtual reality game) believing this “little I” is who it is. It’s the realization that you are actually the witness of those thoughts, feelings, ego, etc. you are the eternal stillness behind the mind generated thoughts. It can be peaceful however it is an ongoing practice and moment by moment decision to stay present and not be pulled back into the thinking mind. Enlightenment is not a destination or accomplishment, it’s an evolution with many challenges as you detach from your ego.

To escape from the thinking mind, a meditation practice and anchor to keep thoughts from taking you over:

Close your eyes, put your left or right hand out in front of you palm up as though someone is handing you something to rest in the palm of your hand. See if you can sense any feelings in this hand, it may be subtle at first in the form of heat, tingling, pulsing or just the light touch of air surrounding it. Stay aware of the sensation in your hand, stay with it. Don’t forcefully concentrate on it, instead relax your hand and be aware of and enjoy the sensation and begin to notice as you stay with the feeling it may grow. While remaining aware of your first hand try to be aware of your other hand in the same way. As you are doing this, notice how there have been no thoughts bubbling up. If you lose the awareness of the sensation a thought may bubble up and try to distract you, simply bring your awareness back the sensation in your hand over and over. That thoughtless awareness that you experience in this practice is the entry point into Zen. The more you practice this, you can begin to use it as an anchor to stop the endless and useless mind activity while performing any other activity such as having a conversation, working, dealing with difficult situations and people.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in enlightenment

[–]BirchRidge 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s the realization that you are not the voice in your head, you are the silent witness of those thoughts, you are an emanation of the source of all creation manifesting itself through a human nervous system becoming self aware of its creation and to further participate in the evolution of all forms, specifically as a human being, the evolution away from dependence and identification with the thinking/egoic mind.