Curious if TGWB is the same as The Brotherhood of the White Temple.
I've never heard of that organization. Could be.
So, if I'm understanding this correctly they are to maintain this balance of negative and positive?
Yes, that's how this realm we call "earth" is designed to operate. It's a "temporary false reality". We are here because we keep holding onto judgment. We are each individually choosing to eat the fruit from the "tree of knowledge of good and evil", which is choosing JUDGMENT - that's what "knowledge of good and evil" is.. The story of Adam and Eve is a metaphor for the human condition and the "free will" we were granted. It's always our individual choice.
Which without the negative their wouldn't be growth in the positive?
I'm not sure what you mean by "growth". Opposites require one another to exist. If there was no "up", then "down" wouldn't make any sense. If there was no "black", then "white" would make no sense. If there was no "dark", then "light" would make no sense, etc. Right? So if there was no "bad/evil", then it wouldn't make any sense to describe something as "good". Everything would just "be" as it is. We would naturally presume that everything would be "good" in comparison to what we're familiar with now. But in such a reality, there would be no distinctions possible. You would say "this is good", but it would make no sense because there would be nothing to compare it to.
As you can rightly suss this out, when you describe something as "good", you are invoking JUDGMENT, which means you're choosing to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. As such, there must be its OPPOSITE available for you to be aware of.
So as long as humans continue to choose to eat the fruit, there must be the appearance of opposites available to them.
Also, how does one "discharge karma"?
Accepting all that comes your way, what you would consider the "good" and the "bad", without adding an energetic charge to said events, such as anger/fear/worry/frustration/annoyance/etc. In short, "allowing everything to be as it is" in your life.
This is described in scripture as "Becoming a witness for God" or simply "witnessing". In other spiritual and metaphysical traditions they would describe this as "neutral observation" or "being present" or "residing within the heart space", etc. There are many ways to convey this concept.
The word "repent", or "metanoia" in Greek, correctly translates to; "Having a radical change of mind". Where the word "Mind" goes well beyond what we've been presently brainwashed into believing today. Today, the mind is virtually synonymous with the brain, which is a massively incorrect interpretation, as the "brain" is really nothing more than a "receiver" of thought. In ancient times, the mind encompassed both the heart and mind in balance and coherence. A state of being very few humans today are operating within. We've all been heavily brainwashed to maintain our attention on the monkey-mind thought-stream 24x7x365.
What "repentance" really meant in ancient times was to shift out of the mind and back to the heart. Or, said another way, from the non-existent "past/future" back into the present now moment. The heart operates in the "here and now", the brain/thoughts are lost in illusory events of the past and future. And this is why you'll find many metaphysical teachers whose primary teaching platform is to continue to bring oneself back into the "present moment", where "all your power truly lies".
The word "sin" meant in ancient times "to miss the mark". Where "the mark" was literally to "be present". Thus, by one "missing the mark", one slips into the ramblings of the monkey-mind, which lead to an incorrect assessment of reality, which then leads one into sloth, pride, envy, lust, gluttony, wrath, greed - the "seven deadly sins". "Forgive him father, for he knows not what he does".
So if you want to discharge your karma, you stop reacting to life's events and situations from the deluded mind and accept what comes your way, the good, the bad and the ugly if need be, reconciling all energy that you've issued out in the past. All of it is a result of what you at one point "sent out", which must return back to its issuer.
Taking this one step further, should you choose to consider what I'm saying, if you wish to not generate future karmic payback, become aware of the "negative energy" you put out going forward - hatred, anger, fear, vengeance, jealousy, etc.
The simple path forward is shifting your awareness from the monkey-mind thought-stream, to the heart-space. Simple, but not easy for most of us. As the monkey-mind will diligently fight for your most valuable attention for a considerable time. It takes discipline and vigilance. The majority are still not up to the task.
Returning your awareness to the heart-space is precisely what "witnessing" or "being present" actually is. Effectively "letting go and letting God".
Sounds scary to most. Like you'll "lose control". That's the monkey-mind telling you so. It will indeed "lose control". But that's a massive "net gain" for you. As the ego/monkey-mind was designed to be your assistant in this realm, not "the boss", which it is now for the vast majority. It's not about "getting rid of the ego", as many wrongly think many metaphysical traditions are teaching. It's about allowing the larger, wiser, greater part of you to regain control of your life.
And the only real way to pull this all off is indeed this shift in attention back to the heart. All efforts of the ego-mind to logically and rationally think its way to a detailed and elaborate plan to pull this off are in vain.
Nobody can convince you that this is true. And even if you choose to BELIEVE what I'm saying, at best, you'll just add this to your "belief filing cabinet" of concepts housed by the ego mind. Nothing will change for you if this is the case. The shift of attention must be incorporated into your life. Nothing less will do.
As I said, simple but not easy.
Your results will speak for themselves. Eventually, you will come to know "that peace that passeth all understanding". For such a state is beyond and outside the "understanding" ego mind, aka "the matrix".
What I'm sharing here with you today is, quite literally, the ONE AND ONLY RED PILL. There's only one. And this is it.
You can disbelieve, believe or put what I share into practice. Nothing will change for you if you choose the first two options - which are nothing more than conceptual abstractions in the ego mind.
EVERYTHING will change for you should you choose the latter.
I like the way you articulated that. I completely resonate with what you are saying.
I was able to be present in most moments for a period of time in my life. Daily meditation helped a lot. Life seemed so blissful and like the universe was moving in concert with me. Truly something magical to witness, and on an almost daily basis.
Thank you for your reminder of living in the present, and the knowledge you shared surrounding it. Looks like I need to get back to being present and meditating. š
Any suggestions on how one can gain control over their individual monkey-minds? If Iām even phrasing the question correctly. Maybe replace control with the word master. š¤·āāļø
You must practice WATCHING the thoughts - that aren't "yours" anyway.
Step one: You must first come to the realization of the following; The thoughts aren't yours because you can't stop them with your own willful volition. Until you see and accept this, no progress can be made. If you can't summon or dismiss thoughts with your will, then something else must be going on, correct?
It's not that you're weak or lack control or power to stop the thoughts. Something else is going on. Something few talk about.
Step two: Once you've accepted this runaway train you've accepted all your life as "my own monkey-mind", but now see differently, you can then begin to watch/witness the thoughts. This, rather than "engaging" with them. You learn to see how they come and go like clouds in the sky. There's no need to TRY AND STOP them. You can't. This will only generate even more thoughts.
When you begin to witness the monkey-mind thought-stream, but take no interest in engaging with them, they slowly but surely begin to lessen and eventually dissipate. They need your interest and engagement to continue proliferating.
There are two simple ways to do all of the above. Learning to tune into your heart-space is the easiest. All that's involved is shifting your attention back to your heart (the present moment) every time you find you're lost in the monkey-mind thoughtstream. It takes discipline and vigilance. Nothing more. You have to declare and intend to do it. Key in this process is to not berate and judge yourself when you get lost in the thoughts. Flip the script on this tendency. Instead, give yourself a pat on the back and a gold star every time you recognize you were lost in the monkey-mind as you shift back into the heart-space. This may be the most important part of the whole practice. Never belittle yourself. You've got 20/30/40/50/60/70/80 years worth of habit placing your attention on the monkey-mind thought-stream. You're not going to break said habit in a few days, weeks or months most likely. You have to develop and embody this new habit. That's all. Results come fastest when you don't criticize yourself for getting lost in thought.
The other way to go about this is more of the eastern esoteric teaching which is simply To become aware that you are aware and to then just sit and watch in this space. It's really quite simple, but your monkey-mind will try to make it complicated because it wants to "figure this out" and be the "doer" of the new practice. But there's really nothing for it to do, and this is why it fights back so hard.
So all you do really is place this thing you call "me" into your "screen of awareness", where previously you were aware of say your phone/computer, desk, chair, wall, etc. as well as other people in the room with you. As you're aware of all of this "stuff", you place your body into this scene as well. In effect, you've been brainwashed into treating the body called "me" as the "subject" and then everything else as "objects" that are "out there". Instead, include the body called me as one of the "objects out there" as well. Then, you will see that there are all these other bodies - family, friends, strangers, etc. - that are AWARE OUT THERE, as well as "me" in the mix. You will just see that there's somebody here called "me" that is aware.
There's nothing else to it. You simply sit in the space that in addition to being aware of other people that are "aware" around you, you drop your own self into this movie scene as well, and recognize that this body known as "me" is also aware "out there".
This is a process that animals can't do. In psychology they say humans are set apart from the animal kingdom because they have this thing they call "self awareness". This is what they're effectively talking about.
So the practice is to watch this me/self/body from a different vantage point. The "witnessing" vantage point. Said vantage point offers no commentary, no judgment, no criticism, it's just "aware". This is how you'll know whether you're aware from this vantage point, versus the ego monkey-mind which is always offering commentary, judgment, analysis, etc. of everything it sees "out there".
I prefer the former practice, but some prefer the latter. They both ultimately produce the same results however. It's a movement out of the ego monkey-mind, which only exists in the past or future, into the greater mind (heart) which only exists in the present moment. The former lives in the space of judgment and fear, the latter in the space of kindness, compassion, understanding, love, gratitude, etc. The former energy drains your power, the latter energy builds your power.
It's all really quite simple, but it's never "easy" after a lifetime of bad habits. All that's required is your conviction to make the shift and maintaining your discipline and vigilance.
Never try to "get rid of your thoughts". This is a fools errand. You can't do it. Nobody can. So first become convinced of this for yourself, experientially, and then choose the practice that you prefer and stick with it. Don't get discouraged. The shift is subtle and gradual. Some days are better than others. Some days you can't get away from the chatterbox monkey-mind no matter what you do. Don't despair. Stick with it, through thick and thin, and you will be greatly rewarded!!
I've never heard of that organization. Could be.
Yes, that's how this realm we call "earth" is designed to operate. It's a "temporary false reality". We are here because we keep holding onto judgment. We are each individually choosing to eat the fruit from the "tree of knowledge of good and evil", which is choosing JUDGMENT - that's what "knowledge of good and evil" is.. The story of Adam and Eve is a metaphor for the human condition and the "free will" we were granted. It's always our individual choice.
I'm not sure what you mean by "growth". Opposites require one another to exist. If there was no "up", then "down" wouldn't make any sense. If there was no "black", then "white" would make no sense. If there was no "dark", then "light" would make no sense, etc. Right? So if there was no "bad/evil", then it wouldn't make any sense to describe something as "good". Everything would just "be" as it is. We would naturally presume that everything would be "good" in comparison to what we're familiar with now. But in such a reality, there would be no distinctions possible. You would say "this is good", but it would make no sense because there would be nothing to compare it to.
As you can rightly suss this out, when you describe something as "good", you are invoking JUDGMENT, which means you're choosing to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. As such, there must be its OPPOSITE available for you to be aware of.
So as long as humans continue to choose to eat the fruit, there must be the appearance of opposites available to them.
Accepting all that comes your way, what you would consider the "good" and the "bad", without adding an energetic charge to said events, such as anger/fear/worry/frustration/annoyance/etc. In short, "allowing everything to be as it is" in your life.
This is described in scripture as "Becoming a witness for God" or simply "witnessing". In other spiritual and metaphysical traditions they would describe this as "neutral observation" or "being present" or "residing within the heart space", etc. There are many ways to convey this concept.
The word "repent", or "metanoia" in Greek, correctly translates to; "Having a radical change of mind". Where the word "Mind" goes well beyond what we've been presently brainwashed into believing today. Today, the mind is virtually synonymous with the brain, which is a massively incorrect interpretation, as the "brain" is really nothing more than a "receiver" of thought. In ancient times, the mind encompassed both the heart and mind in balance and coherence. A state of being very few humans today are operating within. We've all been heavily brainwashed to maintain our attention on the monkey-mind thought-stream 24x7x365.
What "repentance" really meant in ancient times was to shift out of the mind and back to the heart. Or, said another way, from the non-existent "past/future" back into the present now moment. The heart operates in the "here and now", the brain/thoughts are lost in illusory events of the past and future. And this is why you'll find many metaphysical teachers whose primary teaching platform is to continue to bring oneself back into the "present moment", where "all your power truly lies".
The word "sin" meant in ancient times "to miss the mark". Where "the mark" was literally to "be present". Thus, by one "missing the mark", one slips into the ramblings of the monkey-mind, which lead to an incorrect assessment of reality, which then leads one into sloth, pride, envy, lust, gluttony, wrath, greed - the "seven deadly sins". "Forgive him father, for he knows not what he does".
So if you want to discharge your karma, you stop reacting to life's events and situations from the deluded mind and accept what comes your way, the good, the bad and the ugly if need be, reconciling all energy that you've issued out in the past. All of it is a result of what you at one point "sent out", which must return back to its issuer.
Taking this one step further, should you choose to consider what I'm saying, if you wish to not generate future karmic payback, become aware of the "negative energy" you put out going forward - hatred, anger, fear, vengeance, jealousy, etc.
The simple path forward is shifting your awareness from the monkey-mind thought-stream, to the heart-space. Simple, but not easy for most of us. As the monkey-mind will diligently fight for your most valuable attention for a considerable time. It takes discipline and vigilance. The majority are still not up to the task.
Returning your awareness to the heart-space is precisely what "witnessing" or "being present" actually is. Effectively "letting go and letting God".
Sounds scary to most. Like you'll "lose control". That's the monkey-mind telling you so. It will indeed "lose control". But that's a massive "net gain" for you. As the ego/monkey-mind was designed to be your assistant in this realm, not "the boss", which it is now for the vast majority. It's not about "getting rid of the ego", as many wrongly think many metaphysical traditions are teaching. It's about allowing the larger, wiser, greater part of you to regain control of your life.
And the only real way to pull this all off is indeed this shift in attention back to the heart. All efforts of the ego-mind to logically and rationally think its way to a detailed and elaborate plan to pull this off are in vain.
Nobody can convince you that this is true. And even if you choose to BELIEVE what I'm saying, at best, you'll just add this to your "belief filing cabinet" of concepts housed by the ego mind. Nothing will change for you if this is the case. The shift of attention must be incorporated into your life. Nothing less will do.
As I said, simple but not easy.
Your results will speak for themselves. Eventually, you will come to know "that peace that passeth all understanding". For such a state is beyond and outside the "understanding" ego mind, aka "the matrix".
What I'm sharing here with you today is, quite literally, the ONE AND ONLY RED PILL. There's only one. And this is it.
You can disbelieve, believe or put what I share into practice. Nothing will change for you if you choose the first two options - which are nothing more than conceptual abstractions in the ego mind.
EVERYTHING will change for you should you choose the latter.
Thanks for your questions!
Awesome comments. šš¤
I agree! A different way to live life. More peace and joy.
I like the way you articulated that. I completely resonate with what you are saying.
I was able to be present in most moments for a period of time in my life. Daily meditation helped a lot. Life seemed so blissful and like the universe was moving in concert with me. Truly something magical to witness, and on an almost daily basis.
Thank you for your reminder of living in the present, and the knowledge you shared surrounding it. Looks like I need to get back to being present and meditating. š
Great. Glad you're on the board and best of luck to you getting back on board the peace/love/bliss/joy train! :)
Any suggestions on how one can gain control over their individual monkey-minds? If Iām even phrasing the question correctly. Maybe replace control with the word master. š¤·āāļø
You must practice WATCHING the thoughts - that aren't "yours" anyway.
Step one: You must first come to the realization of the following; The thoughts aren't yours because you can't stop them with your own willful volition. Until you see and accept this, no progress can be made. If you can't summon or dismiss thoughts with your will, then something else must be going on, correct?
It's not that you're weak or lack control or power to stop the thoughts. Something else is going on. Something few talk about.
Step two: Once you've accepted this runaway train you've accepted all your life as "my own monkey-mind", but now see differently, you can then begin to watch/witness the thoughts. This, rather than "engaging" with them. You learn to see how they come and go like clouds in the sky. There's no need to TRY AND STOP them. You can't. This will only generate even more thoughts.
When you begin to witness the monkey-mind thought-stream, but take no interest in engaging with them, they slowly but surely begin to lessen and eventually dissipate. They need your interest and engagement to continue proliferating.
There are two simple ways to do all of the above. Learning to tune into your heart-space is the easiest. All that's involved is shifting your attention back to your heart (the present moment) every time you find you're lost in the monkey-mind thoughtstream. It takes discipline and vigilance. Nothing more. You have to declare and intend to do it. Key in this process is to not berate and judge yourself when you get lost in the thoughts. Flip the script on this tendency. Instead, give yourself a pat on the back and a gold star every time you recognize you were lost in the monkey-mind as you shift back into the heart-space. This may be the most important part of the whole practice. Never belittle yourself. You've got 20/30/40/50/60/70/80 years worth of habit placing your attention on the monkey-mind thought-stream. You're not going to break said habit in a few days, weeks or months most likely. You have to develop and embody this new habit. That's all. Results come fastest when you don't criticize yourself for getting lost in thought.
The other way to go about this is more of the eastern esoteric teaching which is simply To become aware that you are aware and to then just sit and watch in this space. It's really quite simple, but your monkey-mind will try to make it complicated because it wants to "figure this out" and be the "doer" of the new practice. But there's really nothing for it to do, and this is why it fights back so hard.
So all you do really is place this thing you call "me" into your "screen of awareness", where previously you were aware of say your phone/computer, desk, chair, wall, etc. as well as other people in the room with you. As you're aware of all of this "stuff", you place your body into this scene as well. In effect, you've been brainwashed into treating the body called "me" as the "subject" and then everything else as "objects" that are "out there". Instead, include the body called me as one of the "objects out there" as well. Then, you will see that there are all these other bodies - family, friends, strangers, etc. - that are AWARE OUT THERE, as well as "me" in the mix. You will just see that there's somebody here called "me" that is aware.
There's nothing else to it. You simply sit in the space that in addition to being aware of other people that are "aware" around you, you drop your own self into this movie scene as well, and recognize that this body known as "me" is also aware "out there".
This is a process that animals can't do. In psychology they say humans are set apart from the animal kingdom because they have this thing they call "self awareness". This is what they're effectively talking about.
So the practice is to watch this me/self/body from a different vantage point. The "witnessing" vantage point. Said vantage point offers no commentary, no judgment, no criticism, it's just "aware". This is how you'll know whether you're aware from this vantage point, versus the ego monkey-mind which is always offering commentary, judgment, analysis, etc. of everything it sees "out there".
I prefer the former practice, but some prefer the latter. They both ultimately produce the same results however. It's a movement out of the ego monkey-mind, which only exists in the past or future, into the greater mind (heart) which only exists in the present moment. The former lives in the space of judgment and fear, the latter in the space of kindness, compassion, understanding, love, gratitude, etc. The former energy drains your power, the latter energy builds your power.
It's all really quite simple, but it's never "easy" after a lifetime of bad habits. All that's required is your conviction to make the shift and maintaining your discipline and vigilance.
Never try to "get rid of your thoughts". This is a fools errand. You can't do it. Nobody can. So first become convinced of this for yourself, experientially, and then choose the practice that you prefer and stick with it. Don't get discouraged. The shift is subtle and gradual. Some days are better than others. Some days you can't get away from the chatterbox monkey-mind no matter what you do. Don't despair. Stick with it, through thick and thin, and you will be greatly rewarded!!
Good luck!