(Part 3) Best spiritual self help books according to redditors
We found 905 Reddit comments discussing the best spiritual self help books. We ranked the 293 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 41-60. You can also go back to the previous section.
In the alley from a guy named Joaquin. Heyoooooo!
If I'm being completely honest:
Pain. Leaning into fear. Eventually, refusing to settle for a default life. Creating my own meaning. Focusing more on what I am being more than what I am doing or having. Moving out of my comfort zone, returning to it only when I need a break.
At default, I would go on a month-long growth binge every 6 months or so. Now, it is every day. The days feel much longer. Living life is so much more satisfying than watching it pass by. Death is always around the corner.
Edit:
Oh right, timeline. These are the ages I had the strongest epiphanies and what was linked to them:
Plenty of interstitial growth happened between those ages, but those are the epiphanic ones.
For those interested:
There is a book with the same title detailing the adventures of Ram Das, Tim Leary , Andrew Weil and another fella whose name I forgot : https://www.amazon.com/Harvard-Psychedelic-Club-Timothy-Fifties/dp/0061655945
/u/p0rtable_panda in pirate garb holding a box of God's semen on a cracker and showing off his shapely calves in heels. Comes complete with R-rated catchphrase!
Edit: If by any chance I won I would love to have this book or this protein base coat for mah nails.
>Where do you draw the line between religion and superstitious nonsense? Frankly, I'm having a difficult time separating them at all. Too many people say, "I don't understand how that works, therefore God."
There are principles for reasonable belief. The three I can think of are:
>Assuming that Christianity is correct, how can one know with a little more certainty? I'm willing to make a leap of faith, but without some credible evidence, it's like trying to ford the Mississippi river. Can we bring it a little closer to "caulk the wagon and float it across?"
Short answer: yes. Long answer: yes, but it's going to require some research on your part, and by research I don't mean a few google searches. Books can be a good friend. Some others here may be able to recommend good books about the historicity of Jesus and the church, but I tend to favor the philosophical and metaphysical.
>Assuming there exists some evidence sufficient to convince me of Christianity's veracity, which version is correct and how can one know? Or does it really matter, since every Christian church agrees on the most important points?
It's incredible unlikely that any given church is correct on every single point of doctrine. The best you can do is take up the protestant ethic by studying for yourself to see which doctrines appear to be the most reasonable. Looking for the "correct" church is a red herring, in my opinion.
Examining your faith can be a very rewarding experience, even if you end up becoming atheist/agnostic. Just don't take in more than you think you are ready for.
Titus Burckhardt - Alchemy: Science of the Cosmos, Science of the Soul
Jung - Psychology and Alchemy
Jung - Alchemical Studies
Samael Aun Weor - The Perfect Matrimony: The Door to Enter into Initiation, Tantra and Sexual Alchemy Unveiled (don't take this guy too seriously because he's a bit of a nutter, but he is certainly worth a read)
Though it's not a book, also check out this album of images, particularly this image and this one
As for all the symbols, I highly recommend getting a dictionary of symbols and reading it straight through, from A to Z. My favorites are The Herder Dictionary of Symbols and The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Signs and Symbols.
I, like many others, started out as what Chapman calls a Concensus Buddhist. Batchelor never really appealed to me, although I did used to adamantly deny reincarnation when I started all of this. Tantric Buddhism is Vajrayana, btw. David Chapman was (is still?) a practitioner of Nyingma Dzogchen. It's a really interesting school with quite a profound view that you won't find anywhere else. Their masters claim to achieve a "rainbow body" and can perform all kinds of spectacular wizardry like flying, producing emanations, etc. I'd recommend you dig further into it if Chapman piqued your interested. I'd recommend The Crystal and the Way of Light as a wonderful Dzogchen primer.
I identify with a lot of the things you experience and am currently working to increase my own abilities. I suggest checking out Sonia Choquette's Ask Your Guides and The Psychic Pathway. She covers a lot of your points (feelings what others feel, effects of negative energy, strengthening your abilities, etc). She helped answer a lot of my questions and validate some beliefs. I'd also suggest meditation, if you don't already. Especially chakra meditations to open your third eye. I hope this may have helped and wish you luck on your journey.
You sound so much like me. The pain of separation is real, the longing for ‘home’ is real. We’re not so much ex-Mormons as political refugees from an institution we cannot morally nor intellectually abide, while still living in its midst. It often feels like a wandering, rootless, questing.
I tried going back many years ago and found myself a stranger in a strange land. I can’t think or talk or act the requirements anymore. The Home I longed for is not really home, but a bizarre shadow of what I once thought a wonderful place. Having looked behind the curtain, having seen what I now see, I find I have to stay away just in order to not think of my neighbors as strange, odd and creepy automatons.
Having said that, I’m finding it’s up to me to reimagine the world, to reimagine my identity, to build a new structure, a new ‘home’ that I can live in wholeheartedly. And it is not easy, especially at our ages. But it can be done. Slowly, slogging along, finding inspiration from others, exploring new disciplines like humanism, like physical activity, meditation, exploring the universe, loving others deeper and more powerfully than was ever possible within the confines of a small-minded, fearful, deeply tribal and constrained Mormonism.
You are a refugee for now.
If you decide you cannot adapt to a new culture, a new world, you might try to return. You might find you can never go back. But because you only get one life, do what works for you. And no regrets either way.
Here’s a book called “Leaving Your Religion” https://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Your-Religion-James-Mulholland-ebook/dp/B00HYDYCUU/ref=nodl_
Thoughtful, gentle, insightful.
I like this one and this one for magical stuffs
And this one for scientific identification
They have a book on how to be an exMormon - neat huh?
It has sold at least 7 copies.
Amazon is only taking 84 cents of that $2.99.
Micah McAllister has monetized r/exmormon to the tune of $14.98.
Nice work, Micah!
Not so much sequences, but breathing focus will clear your mind.
Our minds need a lot of space. They're dusty, dirty and piled up with stuff that we've just dumped there for a lifetime.
Every minute dedicated to non-thinking gets it a little less dusty.
One thing that was recommended to me that I can personally vouch for is The Presence Process.
It may feel a bit too granola for some, but if you can look past that part and just do it, it's pretty empowering.
And there's always good ol fashioned meditation. Don't knock it til you try it.
IMO Samael Aun Weor is a fraud. I condemn Gnosticteachings.org wholesale.
I'd recommend gnosis.org and the Gnostic Bible on Amazon. That and some of Carl Jungs stuff.
Start with the gospel of Thomas. Move to the gospel of Phillip. Then to the gospel of Judas.
Edit: this is the first Gnostic book I got. I can't recommend it enough:
https://www.amazon.com/Laughing-Jesus-Religious-Gnostic-Wisdom/dp/140008279X
I just read The Road to Nibbana which focuses on metta. It adds a sort of relaxation step that you apply to anything that comes up. Maybe that would help.
A shorter and cheaper book covering the same technique is this.
Edit: also I sometimes find it helps a lot to dive right into any major bad feeling that comes up, and then relax. I think I've seen that suggested somewhere. But take anything I say with a grain of salt, I'm not exactly advanced and I've never worked with other meditators.
I don't know about training like that but here's book about exactly what you're asking: https://www.amazon.com/Aikido-Everyday-Life-Giving-Your/dp/1556431511
The way I looked at it is, I was going to have to do it sooner or later and no time was more preferable than another. I also was so sick of trying to hide the real me around them all the time and pretend to care about the religious shit so I just wanted to be done with it. If there's going to be a shit storm it's probably going to happen no matter what. You may as well rip it off like a bandaid and get it over with. It sucks but then life goes on. However, this book is well worth the read before coming out, I think. It's a quick read though.
My Utmost for His Highest is one of my favorites. its a classic daily devotional book that is written well and can really make you think. i've known people who read this year after year because of its ability to shine new light each time.
You might find the book "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle to be a good start.
Also, I might suggest this very simple and effective book by Giovanni Dienstmann.
https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Meditation-Simple-Step-Step/dp/1465473416
Start with: How to Change Your Mind (start with this detailed annotated summary). The pop culture starting point these days. The summary is all you need to read to understand the entire book but the book is well worth the time.
After that you'll have more ideas where to do. Below is a lot of stuff. I've watched/read all of them, so happy to answer any questions/give more guidance.
​
Study the "classics" by taking a look at these (skim the long ones to start):
Seeking the Magic Mushroom (first western trip report on mushrooms)
My 12 Hours As A Madman (another historically important trip report)
The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based On The TIbetan Book of the Dead (classic book on guided trips)
LSD My Problem Child by Albert Hoffman
Al Hubbard: The Original Captian Trips
​
Docs to Watch:
The Sunshine Makers (documentary)
Orange Sunshine (documentary)
Aya: Awakenings (documentary)
Dirty Pictures (documentary)
A New Understanding: The Science of Psilocybin (documentary)
Hoffmans Potion (documentary): r/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFfblVjCwOU"
​
And a whole lot of others:
​
Books
The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide – James Fadiman
In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction – Gabor Mate
Storming Heaven: LSD and the American Dream – Jay Stevens
Psychedelic Psychiatry: LSD from clinic to campus – Erika Dyck
The Natural Mind: A Revolutionary Approach to the Drug Problem – Andrew Weil
Acid Hype: American News Media and the Psychedelic Experience – Stephen Siff
Acid Dreams: The complete social history of LSD – Martin A. Lee and Bruce Shlain
Drugs: Without the Hot Air – David Nutt
A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life – Ayelet Waldman
Neuropsychedelia: The Revival of Hallucinogen Research Since the Decade of the Brain – Nicolas Langlitz
The Harvard Psychedelic Club: How Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, Huston Smith, and Andrew Weil Killed the Fifties and Ushered in a New Age for America – Don Lattin
Videos
Terence McKenna discusses the stoned ape theory
A Conversation on LSD – In a video from the late 1970s, Al Hubbard, Timothy Leary, Humphry Osmond, Sidney Cohen and others reflect on LSD’s heyday
Alison Gopnik and Robin Carhart-Harris at the 2016 Science of Consciousness Conference
The Future of Psychedelic Psychiatry – a discussion between Thomas Insel and Paul Summergrad
Documents, Articles & Artifacts
Al Hubbard’s FBI file
Remembrances of LSD Therapy Past – Betty Grover Eisner’s unpublished memoir about her role in developing psychedelic therapy
LSD, Insight or Insanity – Transcript of excerpts from hearings of the Subcommittee
on the Executive Reorganization of the Senate Committee on Government Operations [concerning federal research and regulation of LSD-25] May 24, 1966
The Brutal Mirror: What an ayahuasca retreat showed me about my life —A Vox writer’s first-person account
​
Forums
Ayahuasca.com: Includes experience reports, discussion of spirituality, ecology, healing, and recovery by means of the vine are collected here. A place to learn from members of ayahuasca churches, as well as a few foreign language channels.
Bluelight: A 20 year old online harm reduction forum that fosters open and factual discussion of drugs and provides support for those seeking recovery from addiction.
DMT Nexus: A hub for underground psychedelic research on botanical sources of tryptamines and other psychedelic compounds.
5Hive: A newer forum devoted specifically to 5-MeO-DMT — synthetic, botanical or toad-derived.
Mycotopia: All things mycological — discussions of edible, wild, and psychoactive fungi.
The Shroomery: A forum devoted to cultivating psilocybin-containing mushrooms and sharing trip reports.
TRIPSIT: A 24/7 online harm reduction resource. Users can chat instantly with someone about their drug experience, or questions they may have about about the safe(r) use of a wide variety of controlled substances.
I considered myself agnostic for much of my life. The book My Descent Into Death: A Second Chance at Life was an eye opener for me.
From there I started reading Holy Bible: From the Ancient Eastern Text.
Using several translations together will give you a good understanding without learning Hebrew/Greek.
I wish you well on your journey!
If you want to get a good run down on the big three religions, check out The Laughing Jesus: Religious Lies and Gnostic Wisdom.
To believe that everyone who literally hears God talking to them should be locked in a psychiatric ward is insane! Seriously. Please please please read the book Rethinking Madness by Dr. Paris Williams. Your mode of thinking about hearing voices is outdated by psychological standards and actually dangerous to people.
After that you might want to check out The Spiritual Gift of Madness and Soteria.
Millions of people with things as simple as insomnia hear voices sometimes and yes some of the more religious of those ascribe it to God. Heck 7% of people diagnosed as schizophrenic are misdiagnosed because the psychiatrist didn't didn't do a simple one night sleep study or even a genetic study to identify that the patient actually has narcolepsy. As a result they get the opposite medications and often end up hospitalized all because psychiatry doesn't believe in doing tests before making a diagnosis.
Some people absolutely are speaking metaphorically and many are speaking about a sort of imperceptible 'voice' that is communicating more in concepts that they are ascribing to something outside of themselves but literally millions of people hear voices every day that they ascribe to things like God, Satan, angels, demons, aliens, and all other manner of thing. It does not mean they should be locked in a psych ward though.
For many people that hear voices more distress comes from society and loves ones telling them that they have a problem or a disease than comes from what the voices themselves are saying. More often than not its not the voices that are the problem - its the family and friends of the person hearing the voices and the old-school psychiatrists that are convinced its something that has to be medicated away.
You might also want to check out The Hearing Voices Network for more information.
Obviously, this is a cause I'm passionate about ;-)
Have you read The Spiritual Gift of Madness or are you aware of the "mad pride" movement?
For me, this was the best reading. I hope you could get some good insight about meditation. https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Meditation-Simple-Step-Step/dp/1465473416
https://smile.amazon.com/Ayahuasca-Journal-journey-through-impossible-ebook/dp/B01LMOE44K
At some point you have to decide whether you want to spend your entire life learning only what some teacher wants to teach you, or if you're going to explore past what you experience on the mat.
If nothing else, read the book "The Art of Peace" translated from the writings of Ueshiba himself. I also highly recommend "Aikido in Everyday Life" by Terry Dobson.
For good or bad, no sensei will be there to help you train in these ways. Again, sometimes the best training is what you end up teaching yourself.
Well I'm clairvoyant and a medium, which means they talk to me. I'm also clairempatheic (an empath). But I worked on opening up my chakras and practiced and honed my psychic abilities over years. I'm still working on it all the time. :)
Because I'm clairvoyant, it means they talk to me in pictures. So I see them in my mind's eye. I don't see them like a person standing in front of me. Although some who are clairvoyant do. And I'm a medium which means I can talk to them and they can talk to me. I talk to them in my head (or out loud) and they show me pictures or scenes. Sometimes I'll hear them in my head. Just depends on the person I'm communicating with. My empathic ability allows me to emotionally feel what they are feeling.
But there are tons of books out there on learning how to develop your psychic abilities. Just given the fact that you feel like you're being watched, you're probably clairempathic (clear-emotion) which means you can easily read people's emotions. You could also be clairsentient (clear-feeling) which means you can physically feel them as well.
Here's info on the the "clairs": http://www.quantumpossibilities.biz/clairs.htm
And here's a book that got me started on sharpening my abilities: https://www.amazon.com/Psychic-Pathway-Workbook-Reawakening-Voice/dp/0517884070
But there are a ton out there. You just have to find one that works for you. :)
I think it has gone pretty good considering how little I market it. I'm sure if I spent more time getting the word out or even some paid advertising, it would have even more success. It has sold a couple hundred copies on Kindle I estimate, with a few copies still selling every month by no effort of my own. 11 online reviews is a good start too. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D31BNFY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00D31BNFY&linkCode=as2&tag=lifeaftemorm-20
Alright, this is going to sound a bit strange but I think you should look into Buddhist philosophy. The beautiful thing about all of it is that you don't have to believe in reincarnation or any of the other stuff in order to reap the benefits. Basically, the idea of the philosophy is to acknowledge that life consists of suffering. Suffering is caused by attachment (whether that be to materialistic things, emotions etc.)
This is a great podcast to start off with. It really goes over the basics of Buddhist teachings. I have listened to one of these podcasts nearly every day for about a month now and I've noticed a hell of a lot of improvement.
How long have you tried meditation for? It takes a while to in order to reap the benefits. I've found this guided meditation to be extremely helpful.
I've been reading this for a little bit and so far I've found it pretty helpful.
Anxiety coaches podcast has some good content as well.
While I haven't gotten rid of my anxiety completely, I have noticed a huge difference within myself. The only reason that I've noticed such improvement within a short amount of time is because I have fully immersed myself in all of the things I mentioned above. I tried to dabble in all of the above for about a year with little results. I only started to notice a major change once I made all of it a daily routine.
I hope that some of this may be able to help you. If you aren't already, you should also consider getting on medication. I wouldn't have found any relief at all had I not gone to the doctor.
Hi there, sorry you're struggling man, I've experienced depression before, there's nothing quite like it. Now, professional help is probably best, but never gone through it myself.
I'm a lot happier now, but my life is far from perfect. I'm usually on the nofap section of this site, I'm not going to try to convert you to it, but there are many users there that have experienced depression. One thing I've seen recommended is this book - The Presence Process by Michael Brown. http://www.amazon.com/Presence-Process-Healing-Journey-Awareness/dp/0825305373 I bought it for an online kindle I had on my laptop, I've not actually done the practice, but it's an interesting read though it is quite verbose. I make no commission on this advice, and like I said, I can't say I've even done it, but it seems that a lot of people struggling have benefited from it. Having said all that, when I was depressed I had no money, even spending $7 I didn't have to was unthinkable, so I can understand if you're not interested. I'll tell you this though, when you get better, however you get better, life is so amazing because of what you've been through. I know it's cold comfort now, but people that have never seen how low the mind can sink also can't appreciate the true glory of life or revel in the smallest victories. Good luck to you.
Might help
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LMOE44K
I went to Etnikas in Cusco, most terrifying/beneficial experience of my life.
This chick is a nut. She was originally an atheist, then seriously Catholic, and now she's abandoning it. She wrote the foreword to My Descent into Death, a fairly riveting account (I read it- I was moved) by a former atheist of his overpowering near-death experience and later conversion into a believer. This interest may have been buoyed by the death of her spouse the same year (2002). She's switched teams so many times that I can't really believe anything she says anymore. I've read a few of her vampire books, though, because I love "good and evil fighting each other" type works ;)
Everyone is psychic. In case this interests you:
"A practical, step-by-step, 12-week interactive program that teaches you how to develop the intuitive sense that lies within you and to live in accordance with the soul's purpose by discovering your center of spiritual power. The Psychic Pathway refines intuition into a life-enhancing tool that can be used every day."
The Psychic Pathway: A Workbook for Reawakening the Voice of Your Soul
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SECTION | CONTENT
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Title | How To Deal With A Break Up - Get Instant Relief!
Description | Bestselling author, Noah Elkrief, describes how to deal with a break up in a shocking way that will provide immediate relief... --- Want help? I do 1-on-1 Counseling on Skype: http://www.liveinthemoment.org/session/ --- Get my FREE 40 page e-book: http://www.liveinthemoment.org/free-ebook/ --- Check out my #1 Amazon Bestseller: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ADDTAA0/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00ADDTAA0&linkCode=as2&tag=howtoliveinth-20 --- Use my FREE web ...
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https://global.oup.com/academic/product/windows-of-the-soul-9780199276578?cc=us&lang=en&
http://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/religion/religion-general-interest/esotericism-and-academy-rejected-knowledge-western-culture?format=HB&isbn=9780521196215#RPgRv3Wdp7EWoiFr.97
http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674066632&content=reviews
https://www.amazon.com/Alchemy-Science-Cosmos-Soul/dp/1887752110
To answer your question: Yes, I would consider hermetics a historic philosophical science. While hermetics isn't a reputable modern scientific field of study, its history and principles are worth studying within the social and political contexts of the time period you're interested in. We see throughout history, especially in the Renaissance, that occult sciences and hermetic principles made their way into the studies of many 'scientists' or "natural philosophers" in that era. Occult practices and philosophies sometimes neither were prominent in the overt studies of such scholars, nor heavily publicized by these scholars, because of the 'mystical'/secretive nature of possessing such occult knowledge (emphasis on the Latin origin of "occult" which means "to conceal/hide"). Despite them being hidden away from public eye, these philosophies were recorded, and sometimes even encrypted by their creators (like Hermes Trismegistus), giving historians who discover the writings a better idea of the development of scientific inquiry and how it progressed to the science we know today. It is definitely fascinating to study such a topic that has been discounted in modern scientific communities, since its sheds light on the fact that many of these occult philosophies were perceived by scholars of antiquity as valid methods of studying the natural world and universe. It can also be interesting to trace the lineage of what was considered 'taboo' natural philosophy and what was 'sound' natural philosophy back then, and then discovering where the branching of modern scientific method occurred.
Best wishes & I hope you enjoy! The books above are great reads from I course I once took called "The Philosophy and History of Occult Science."
Probably something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Aikido-Everyday-Life-Giving-Your/dp/1556431511/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527192877&sr=8-1
https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Tranquil-Wisdom-Insight-Meditation-ebook/dp/B00XVEIK8G
Personally, I have had some difficulties with this. When I was on retreat I had trouble sleeping. But if you are doing it at your own pace I think you should be fine. I still practice this method myself.
And if you're going to do this type of metta meditation, I wouldn't bother doing the breath first.
https://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Bible-Judy-Hall-ebook/dp/B01N096V0P/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487464257&sr=8-1&keywords=the+stone+bible
I thinks someone already mentioned this, but my mentor relied on this.
She makes magickal jewelry and the like, was Wiccan-ish. Though, can't deny that she is a QUEEN of crystals; So, yeah, she's a trustworthy source.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HYDYCUU/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Essa idéia de que a alquimia foi uma versão trial da química é pura balela. Refutada por um acadêmico de respeito nessa obra aqui
Note: This is all in the public domain, I'm not doxxing any one. This and many other pizzagate posts have been deleted recently.
Majestic Apes/Heavy Breathing; Comet Ping Pong
Summary
The Apes' strange webpage and biographical history indicate that they are either a part of or are advertising a Crowley-inspired cult known for creating "Visionaries" through trauma and abuse. The Apes who are now formally Heavy Breathing whose singer Amanda Kleinman has her own act called Majestic Ape are directly and indirectly related to James Alefantis and Comet Ping Pong. The band Heavy Breathing played gigs at Comet Ping Pong and the singer, Kleinman also performed her Majestic Ape stand up where she references children being euthenized as well as jokes about pedophilia and having a preference towards children!! The band and Kleinman also filmed several music videos depicting fast imagery of torture and pedophilia. This is a women who was formally a special needs aid as well as an employee at James Alefantis Transformer Art Gallary.
Body
The Apes are an interesting part of the Comet Ping Pong investigation because they can easily hide any insinuation of pedophilia behind the plausible deniability of being hipster/punk. But it's worth noting that their whole narrative doesn't exist in a vacuum. Rather, they seem to be following the tenets of a loose, Crowley-inspired cult called The Visionaries, who are inspired by Thelemic ideas (such as the "Do as thou wilt") and Jungian Psychiatry (using trauma and horror to "release oneself", to steal the "numen" of others).
For all intents and purposes, satanic abuse victim Kim Noble was likely a victim of these practices, as the goal was not simply to abuse her, but to literally split her personality and showcase the potential of creativity-through-sexual-abuse.
Now to the Apes. If you remember the Baba's Mountain portion of their website, they reference a 'visionary' called Jackie Magik, the name a likely reference to Crowley. http://www.theapes.com/babas1.html http://www.theapes.com/misc/prologue.html
Jackie Magik, the maniacally focused visionary, guides the vessel with his heavily-effected voice modulations. His body shakes violently as gale forces and riverspray sweep through the mainmast, into his bass held against it, and are transmitted out again as flashing torrents of lightsound and booming triggers, signals for Ronald Wolf's rhythm track and Majestic Ape's piano incantations.
The visionary movement is inspired by occultists like Crowley and psychiatrists like CG Jung and Otto Gross, and believe that mental health mainly illusory and that most mental issues derive from repressing one's savage tendencies. That's why they are called "The Apes"--they deliberately release their madness, their transgressions and their urges for sinning as a way to heal themselves. Otto Gross is a lesser-known psychiatrist who was famous for hosting orgies and coining the term 'sexual revolution' in the late 1910s.
The Babas' Mountain page on their site talks about something called Captain 20's Children. You have seen the graffiti on the walls. Captain 20's Children. Mount of the Child Generals. APES. Imp Ahh.
This, of course, leads to Alefantis' Transformer Gallery, and this image,
http://www.transformerdc.org/exhibitions/images/captain-20s-children-c20c
which is creepy in itself but implies that the gallery name is deliberate and relates to whatever the Apes and Alefantis do in secret. And this pattern of "transformative" galleries is GLOBAL -- be it Creative Growth in Oakland, Intuit in Chicago and the American Visionary Arts Museum in Baltimore. So, I ask, what are these galleries really showcasing?
Back to the Apes
"Baba's Mountain" has been one of creepier and elusive parts of the investigation simply because no one really knows what it is. What we do know is that the Visionary Cult (as outlined in this book)
https://www.amazon.ca/Spiritual-Gift-Madness-Psychiatry-Movement/dp/159477448X
>sees Baba Ram Dass aka Richard Alpert as a pseudo-messianic figure. As one of the pioneers of LSD research, it's not surprising that he became spiritual, but what may be more important is that he started several Ashrams and retreats in New Mexico and Maui.
>The mysterious Count 101 -- once, a traveller-orphan hustling Chinese checkers in Lincoln Town; then, his eyes opened in the Apes' workshop, soul liberated by the discovery of the world that works through the night while the masses of the other world sleep, the final quarter of the Apes' circle -- consults those invisible confidants beneath his cloak: His Voices.
Brian Baker from Bad Religion also appears on the site - He is in the "Visionary Leaders Circle" with Alefantis, Folger and Webre that forms after their annual Transformer auction. It's worth noting that Arrington de Dionysio, another Comet PP confidant, lead a band called "Old Time Relijun" and has been associated with two galleries who have the same schtick at Comet--One of Us Gallery in Los Angeles and True Measure in Portland. One of Us burns baby effigies and is obsessed with Pizza; True Measure showcases trauma-based art, like Alefantis' Transformer Gallery. http://www.theapes.com/pics/05-april/pics5.html
http://oneofus-la.tumblr.com/post/107869032463/miles-robertson-performing-god-needs-money
http://oneofus-la.tumblr.com/post/102945351358/more-photos-from-audrey-marilyn-jacobs-for-the
http://truemeasuregallery.com/
http://www.transformerdc.org/give/visionary-friends
Hints of Pedophilia Band member 'Breck' solemnly posing with dolls
http://www.theapes.com/pics/06-fall/pics.html?photo=15
This is very telling
>You have heard rumors of those gone missing: Adolescents, leaving their homes, wandering into the night and never being seen again. The melting of children into feed for the woodland animals. Please ignore these rumors - rumors created by your teachers, the local media, parental figures. Ignore the ignorant teens-in-heat "blogs". Spurred by myth, inspired by whispers, many have written us from all over the world, wanting to know more about our mountain retreat. Why not come see for yourself? http://www.theapes.com/babas1.html
http://www.theapes.com/pics/07-sxsw/pics.html?photo=3 "I'm not sure we want to know what the 6'6" gentleman in the bulky coat is doing hunched over in Moto's Kiddy Kamp."
http://www.theapes.com/04_10_euro/pics12.html
Probably this book
https://www.amazon.com/Opening-Channel-Connect-Guide-Earth-ebook/dp/B0072NYNTW
> and yet I can't progress on it.
So like, not even access concentration?
There is a book I recommend that has 40+ meditation methods.
https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Meditation-Simple-Step-Step/dp/1465473416
I'd just give each one a few days doing 10 or 20m a day and work my way down the list until you find something enjoyable that you can practice, daily, to build towards access concentration.
I think you gave TMI (I'm guessing by extension Anapanasati) a good try at 3+ years. It by no means is the only path.
I don't see anything wrong with goals. We form goals to eat food, find shelter, find a path for our lives. The most attained person who ever lived had a goal to ... end suffering, so don't look at goals as the problem.
A very aggressive method to make progress is Mahasi noting. I have a copy of Manual of Insight, (again not TMI, again not Anapanasati), this book is no joke.
Have you read Opening to Channel? I highly recommend.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0072NYNTW/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
I really like Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy. Their "Laughing Jesus" is terrific. http://www.amazon.com/Laughing-Jesus-Religious-Gnostic-Wisdom/dp/140008279X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1419628671&sr=1-1&keywords=laughing+jesus
The Words of My Perfect Teacher is a great book on the preliminary practices in the Nyingma tradition. The preliminaries aren't much different from tradition to tradition, so it's pretty applicable regardless of the school. This book will give you a crystal clear idea of what your practice would be like for the first X,XXX hours of practice if you happen to begin a Vajrayana practice.
If you're keen on Dzogchen, you could also check out The Crystal and the Way of Light.
There is nothing else which is similar to "the ultimate" in Dzogchen except Mahamudra.
Unfortunately, it's really difficult to explain. Even the term "the ultimate" is misleading, so it was a bad choice of words on my part.
I remember when I first read about Dzogchen, I couldn't help but compare it to the Tree of Life, mostly the supernal triad and Ain, Ain Soph, and Ain Soph Aur, but also the whole notion of how phenomena came to be made so much sense to according to the YHVH formula and and the ray of creation, that I simply saw it in everything I read if something sounded similar. It seems to make so much sense, although in a vague and mysterious way, that it is easy to get stuck on, especially if you have used the YHVH formula to apparently manifest reality or perhaps "spoken" with the numinous in one way or another to confirm the validity of Qabalah. Once I had some experience with pathworking, it was difficult to shake the idea that Qabalah was not the absolute truth. What else could possibly manifest such perfectly verifiable experiences? But, I had trouble with the origins of the whole thing, since I am repulsed by the Bible and pretty much all forms of Judeo-Christian religions. It didn't satisfy me to think one was "exoteric" for the profane and one was "esoteric" for the enlightened, particularly because so many different schools had such different ideas about God, the gods, where the world was headed, what aeon we were in, what is "good" and "bad," etc. etc.
So, now that I've given some backstory on that, I will defer you to this link, which might make some sense to you, but frankly I doubt it... http://awakeningtoreality.blogspot.com/2009/10/dzogchen-rigpa-and-dependent.html
It is not something you can read about and understand, really. I learned that firsthand. The Western Mystery Tradition involves a lot of reading and thinking and I was just determined to try to understand Dzogchen intellectually for several years before I realized it just wasn't going to work... and then I finally started listening to all the Dzogchen teachers who had always said this. A little reading is okay, but practice is most important. And then, when you get some idea of what it's all about, reading may be more productive rather than just a complete waste of time trying to make sense of things that seem impenetrable.
I would also recommend some book for you if you're interested on a good introduction to Dzogchen:
The Crystal and the Way of Light
Dzogchen The Self-Perfected State
The Mirror
I recommend them in that order.
E: Also, this might be useful. It is 7 pages, notice the "next >" button at the bottom.
http://vajranatha.com/articles/dzogchen-and-meditation.html
God is real, the Bible is real, Jesus is real, the Holy Spirit is real, salvation is real. Some are blessed with amazing experiences that convict them of this and are never shaken. Some can see this truth in other Christians around them and accept it without deeply questioning it or understanding. Some need to touch the wounds in Jesus' flesh.
It's not wrong to ask God to reveal himself. It's not wrong to ask him to cure your doubts. It's not wrong to question the things other Christians are saying if they go against your personal understanding and relationship of God. The important thing is you don't try to do these things behind his back. Lift them up to him in prayer.
Are you aware of the Marsh Chapel Experiment? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsh_Chapel_Experiment)
A good read with some information on it is The Harvard Psychedelic Club (https://www.amazon.com/Harvard-Psychedelic-Club-Timothy-Fifties/dp/0061655945)
Another great read for you is: Sacred Knowledge: Psychedelics and Religious Experiences (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0175P7PP0).
Another writer/researcher/professor/Christian who might interest you is Amos Yong. He writes about how much Christians can learn from other faiths and their practices and how they fit within a broader scheme of Pentecostal theology. All of his books are interesting reads (though fairly dense).
https://www.amazon.com/Presence-Process-Healing-Journey-Awareness/dp/0825305373
After I just read this book, you have hit the issues spot on.
What were you going for here? My eyes go from the shoe to the two words that are starkly in focus, to the top of the busses and out of the frame. The woman seems an after-thought.
I get that things like the circular-mask blur and the contact-sheet-esque border create visual interest, but they don't add or enhance anything. They are crutches meant to obscure the lack of actual content from the casual observer. Any attempt at critique is thwarted by these elements - what are they doing there, how do they add to the shot? There are many techniques for manipulating a photograph to enhance visual interest, to make the subject stronger and the background less distracting. Some standards are dodge/burn, vignetting, or cropping the extraneous elements. Consider also the C-B technique of capturing the decisive moment - first find a compelling background, and then camp there until an interesting subject arrives. I believe true craftsmanship lies not in knowing what to include (typically a very short list), but what to cull, what does not belong in your work. That's why we have professional editors in almost every creative field.
The human brain is a marvelous thing, we do so much subconsciously. For instance if you were to put your hand on a hot stove, your nervous system moves your hand automatically, before sending the pain signal - you move your hand before you are aware that it hurts. I mean really, breathing, need I say more? An excellent primer on this idea is BLINK by Malcolm Gladwell (or THE FOURTH WAY by PD Ouspensky if you don't mind the occult). What I'm getting at is that elements like the blur in your composition are literally revolting to the human eye - our brains subconsciously register it as unnatural, sort-of wrong, and that feeling that something isn't right often manifests as revulsion. No matter how good the rest of this photograph is, all of that is negated by your blur.
On the subject of the blur, consider the frame as a container. You choose what to put inside of it. When you're packing a lunch, most of that container is filled with food and drink, with a small share for napkins/utensils/etc. Your frame is filled with forks - I have a hundred forks and only two bites of food to eat them with. It looks like you're focusing (oooh pun) on the shoe/sign/woman - ignoring their relationship or lack thereof, why do these three main elements fill less than a tenth of the frame? If this is a picture about the woman, what's with all this blurry bus bullshit? Crop the crap and be done with it. To further this idea of frame as container, why did you employ that border which only serves to reduce the size of the container? Digitally emulating artifacts of analog techniques can serve a purpose, but what purpose does it serve here? I can see how one may consider the border 'artish' but to add one to a shot it bares no relevance on belays the idea that, again, it is there because there isn't anything interesting in the photograph itself.
You have good material to work with here in your original photograph, I hope your editing was non-destructive because I would really love to see a more thought-out rework of this. Keep working, keep sharing, keep being the champion that you are; that will gain you a lot more respect than your actual work, in many cases.
To paraphrase Dali, "Begin by learning to photograph and edit like the old masters. After that, you can do as you like; everyone will respect you." This is in small part because you will have learned quality technique, but a large part of that respect comes from showing that you have the perseverance, the drive to improve. To end on another Dali quote, "Don't be afraid of perfection: you'll never attain it!"
Four books about art that I personally believe to be invaluable to any photographer: the Adams holy trilogy (Camera, Negative, Print), and Dali's "50 Secrets of Magic Craftsmanship."
Full disclosure: I am a Young Uneducated Male Pedant.
tl;dr: start from the top and then continue until you arrive back at this point.
>See, this is the thing - you assume your way is the right way and everyone else
>is wrong. Yes, according to your culture, it's about making people miserable.
The concepts of "punishment" and "deterrence" are hardly modern or localized inventions; they're fairly universal.
>For those who probably couldn't ever be rehabilitated like Anders Breivik, they are
>at least isolated from the general public and unable to hurt anyone else.
But why does he need to be provided with better living conditions then many citizens? Other than the inability to travel, he can lead a relatively full life, from education to library to leisure activities, etc. This reads like the description of an American senior citizen retirement home. His young victims lost their lives; why is he entitled to live a relatively full one? Far from any sense of remorse, the man threatened a hunger strike unless he got his Playstation 2 upgraded:
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/02/18/norways_mass_murderer_brievik_threatens_hunger_strike_for_better_video_games.html
Video games, computers, library, gym, school, education, leisure activities... where's the "justice" in this justice system? It's obscene. Do the parents of the victims feel this is a fitting punishment?
>there is nothing to gain from cruelty
How is not providing him with non-necessities "cruelty"? I've stayed in less well-equipped hotels.
>Not everywhere wants to be like America. Deal with it.
Honestly the world is shrinking and the homogenization of culture began decades ago, as outlined in Jihad Vs. McWorld. Cross-border capitalism vs. fundamentalism and factionalism.