Being Authentic

I didn't quite make it through the entire video - and I usually like cheese, as long as I'm eating it.:( It was so flawed in so many ways....

Does this video fall into the New Age category? Anyone?

I didn't quite make it through the entire video - and I usually like cheese, as long as I'm eating it.:( It was so flawed in so many ways....

Does this video fall into the New Age category? Anyone?

It encompasses authentic ways of being - probably New Age. Do you have
something against that?

The term cheesy seems to apply to those that are at odds with what is depicted, e.g.
often when couples kiss if someone is not predisposed to feeling love.

I'd be interested to hear what flaws you perceived in it.

Hay WS
Yeah i made it about half way, its just words without depth or real insight. Like much of modern spirituality very little is the real deal. Sound bites and flowing robes, chuckle 🙂

Hay WS
Yeah i made it about half way, its just words without depth or real insight. Like much of modern spirituality very little is the real deal. Sound bites and flowing robes, chuckle 🙂

Anything is just words unless it strikes a chord with you. Hmmm quite revealing!

To quote from it "words - they're nothing more than words unless we actually live by it"

It encompasses authentic ways of being - probably New Age. Do you have
something against that?

Yes, I do.

The term cheesy seems to apply to those that are at odds with what is depicted, e.g.
often when couples kiss if someone is not predisposed to feeling love.

I'd be interested to hear what flaws you perceived in it.

I'm not predisposed to sharing at the moment, Amy. Thank anyway. 🙂

Hay WS
Yeah i made it about half way, its just words without depth or real insight. Like much of modern spirituality very little is the real deal. Sound bites and flowing robes, chuckle 🙂

Succinctly put, as always, Steve 🙂

What astonishes me is that the modern spiritually stuff is being lapped up (from what I hear on the grape vine) like modern kitchens etc. were in the 50's; and yet it just as artificial, mass produced and plastic.

And whilst that's going on, the likes of yourself and Paul - who actually have a real, genuine and authentic clue are going almost entirely unnoticed - Oprah hasn't sent you the royal invite to appear on her show..... it's baffling. It's like - huh! I can't quite believe the mix up...........:confused:

WS
Know what you mean.

Going back a long time ago at some of the big MBS fairs i well remember watching and working with some very well known Spirituality/healing superstars totally compromising what they may have discussed privately with me just to make money; the secret, feed a persons expectations and they are hooked.

The really sad thing that some of those same people are still wandering round trying to find answers many years later, they are still looking for something that actually works!

Truthfully if i actually tried to control what i was able to do it simply would not happen, i would end end up working with something less than what is possible.

Simplicity is hard to grasp for many =)

Well, after seeing the comments about not making it all the way through, I thought it was going to be something like half an hour long... but it was just 2 mins 58 seconds... come on guys (and gals) even if you think it's pants you can put up with a few minutes to see it through. :rolleyes:

I wouldn't particularly class it as cheese myself, as there's plenty of "feel good" and "inspirational" videos about... but unfortunately, they mostly fall into the same standard of production... a collection happy and pretty quality photo's in a slideshow with some 'wise word' captions appearing throughout... and to be honest they get a bit samey and boring after a while.

As it says, we should speak the truth (completely agree with that), so I will... I found it a tad wishy washy in the message (yes, what some people would call "new age spiritual") rather than being soundly wise. Some of the messages are being put across in the form of "do this thing, because you benefit from it" e.g. the message "Treat others with dignity and make sure your behaviours are respectful"... "it will make you a person of quality". But in truth, living truthfully shouldn't be about doing things because it makes you better, that's something that comes from the ego (wanting ourselves to be better than others, in comparison), it should be about doing things because it's the correct action to take in the moment. In the Reiki principles we have "Just for today" (in the present moment) "... Honour and respect your teachers" (everyone is our teacher); no mention of ".. and this will make you a better reiki practitioner". That's what I like about the Reiki principles, they're not about what can be done to makes yourself "better", but all about meeting the needs of the moment and acting appropriately for the benefit of all.

So, for me I don't see this as a video for "being authentic", but more of a self (small self) empowerment and feel good video, nothing more.

And yes I did watch it from start to end, and even went back to re-read bits. 😉

All Love and Reiki Hugs

Succinctly put, as always, Steve 🙂

What astonishes me is that the modern spiritually stuff is being lapped up (from what I hear on the grape vine) like modern kitchens etc. were in the 50's; and yet it just as artificial, mass produced and plastic.

And whilst that's going on, the likes of yourself and Paul - who actually have a real, genuine and authentic clue are going almost entirely unnoticed - Oprah hasn't sent you the royal invite to appear on her show..... it's baffling. It's like - huh! I can't quite believe the mix up...........:confused:

As someone who is involved in New Age spirituality I can tell your knowledge is cosmetic and misguided. You have probably just seen the more superficial, commercial aspects of it and made a judgement based on that as being representative. Let me assure you this is most certainly not the case. Believe me I am totally genuine and can spot a fake a mile off. Pseudos don't cut it in the world of spirituality.

I frequent spiritual forums and have met gifted and deep people there who are real, authentic and wonderful people.

Oprah gives a springboard to some valuable exponents of a deeper way of living. Most notably she gave a platform to Eckhart Tolle whose profound teachings on how to escape the misery of the ego (as expounded in his book The Power Of Now) proved to be of real practical benefit to so many. Perhaps he is someone you had in mind to "knock" - if so, have you read any of his books?

Well, after seeing the comments about not making it all the way through, I thought it was going to be something like half an hour long... but it was just 2 mins 58 seconds... come on guys (and gals) even if you think it's pants you can put up with a few minutes to see it through. :rolleyes:

I wouldn't particularly class it as cheese myself, as there's plenty of "feel good" and "inspirational" videos about... but unfortunately, they mostly fall into the same standard of production... a collection happy and pretty quality photo's in a slideshow with some 'wise word' captions appearing throughout... and to be honest they get a bit samey and boring after a while.

As it says, we should speak the truth (completely agree with that), so I will... I found it a tad wishy washy in the message (yes, what some people would call "new age spiritual") rather than being soundly wise. Some of the messages are being put across in the form of "do this thing, because you benefit from it" e.g. the message "Treat others with dignity and make sure your behaviours are respectful"... "it will make you a person of quality". But in truth, living truthfully shouldn't be about doing things because it makes you better, that's something that comes from the ego (wanting ourselves to be better than others, in comparison), it should be about doing things because it's the correct action to take in the moment. In the Reiki principles we have "Just for today" (in the present moment) "... Honour and respect your teachers" (everyone is our teacher); no mention of ".. and this will make you a better reiki practitioner". That's what I like about the Reiki principles, they're not about what can be done to makes yourself "better", but all about meeting the needs of the moment and acting appropriately for the benefit of all.

So, for me I don't see this as a video for "being authentic", but more of a self (small self) empowerment and feel good video, nothing more.

And yes I did watch it from start to end, and even went back to re-read bits. 😉

All Love and Reiki Hugs

Wow - what can I say? You missed that it was about integrity? About behaving according to our beliefs? About doing what was right? Nothing "happy", "pretty" or flimsy about that and so NOT about what makes you feel better....an icecream might make you feel better. It takes guts, commitment to stand by your beliefs, i.e. not necessarily easy. Making a difference. Sorry all that was missed on you. Guess it's hard to see what's there sometimes - all depends on our perceptive filters. Ah well.

“Only the truth of who you are, if realized, will set you free.”
― [url]Eckhart Tolle[/url]

Wow - what can I say? You missed that it was about integrity? About behaving according to our beliefs? About doing what was right? Nothing "happy", "pretty" or flimsy about that and so NOT about what makes you feel better....an icecream might make you feel better. It takes guts, commitment to stand by your beliefs, i.e. not necessarily easy. Making a difference. Sorry all that was missed on you. Guess it's hard to see what's there sometimes - all depends on our perceptive filters. Ah well.

I gave honest truthful constructive critique of what was presented (and like I say I watched it and rewound it and re-watched), so I missed nothing and saw what there was to see (perhaps you missed the messages relating to ego in it? they're the ones that often make these things 'attractive' to people to watch). And in return, I'm presented with a seemingly personally judgemental response. If behaving according to your beliefs is about belittling and speaking down to others, then it would appear you have been practicing it well.

The point of discussion forums, and the forum guidelines is to discuss things in a friendly manner, not to just post what you want and then be rude to people who don't believe or agree 100% with what you've posted.

All Love and Reiki Hugs

I gave honest truthful constructive critique of what was presented (and like I say I watched it and rewound it and re-watched), so I missed nothing and saw what there was to see (perhaps you missed the messages relating to ego in it? they're the ones that often make these things 'attractive' to people to watch). And in return, I'm presented with a seemingly personally judgemental response. If behaving according to your beliefs is about belittling and speaking down to others, then it would appear you have been practicing it well.

The point of discussion forums, and the forum guidelines is to discuss things in a friendly manner, not to just post what you want and then be rude to people who don't believe or agree 100% with what you've posted.

All Love and Reiki Hugs

Asking questions is rude? How did I belittle you? I am sorry if you felt that - it was my intention only to point out what you missed; perhaps you do not take well to being shown this? Yes I read your post carefully (twice actually) and no, I saw no ego being depicted in the clip I posted....just spirit. Please share where you think it indicated ego. Integrity is a noble trait and encompasses our whole being.

It is in the nature of a forum that people constantly make judgemental responses to posts - I see nothing out of line here. I don't expect you to agree with me but I was
(quite frankly) stunned by how out of synch what your post said as to what was
actually in the clip. The correlation was very weak if not puzzling.

Going back a long time ago at some of the big MBS fairs i well remember watching and working with some very well known Spirituality/healing superstars totally compromising what they may have discussed privately with me just to make money; the secret, feed a persons expectations and they are hooked.

The really sad thing that some of those same people are still wandering round trying to find answers many years later, they are still looking for something that actually works!

Hmn.... It completely infuriates me to see people being taken for a ride in such ways - not just with the superficial spirituality, but anything that panders to keeping them locked into paddling at the shallow end of the pool..... But, they don't listen when you try to tell them (I'm thinking specifically about a couple of people I know). They're only interested in having a pacifying everlasting-gobstopper willing stuck in their mouths.

Truthfully if i actually tried to control what i was able to do it simply would not happen, i would end end up working with something less than what is possible.

I know what you mean.

Simplicity is hard to grasp for many =)

And, if they tried to grasp it, it would be gone.

The point of discussion forums, and the forum guidelines is to discuss things in a friendly manner, not to just post what you want and then be rude to people who don't believe or agree 100% with what you've posted.

I don't wish to be rude, Giles. I wish to be honest (honestly). My perception is that you are the one who gets offended - perceives rudeness - when you can't ram your understanding down someone else's throat. In effect preaching to them, in the manner that you usually accuse them of doing.

If this is coming across to you as me being rude, that's because I'm expecting you to go on the defensive about it, because you're attached to your current level of understanding, which in turn is putting me on the defensive in preparation. Like you, I don't appreciate being preached to either.

Unfortunately this emotive video has been compiled by someone who does not understand how consciousness works, nor what the power of words and judgements have upon our way of being; they do not understand that an inner divisional conflict is two or more opposing thought patterns and beliefs that arise within our aspects of consciousness at the same time, otherwise they would not have put what they did.

It is fine taking a few chosen inspirational words in isolation from their counterparts and saying that they are just words unless we live by them, but the reality is that all words are valid and encompass the creative power of consciousness to manifest into our life experience, especially when we utilise them to set up an underlying core belief. Choosing to focus upon some words but ignoring others that we utilise will not create harmony and balance, it will create divisional conflict.

It then goes on to say that our greatest challenge is to behave according to our beliefs. The reality is that everyone is already living by the power of the words that they have chosen to set up their core beliefs by, we are all already doing what this message is portraying, we are all already creating our life experience around our underlying thought patterns and beliefs, which are words.

It then injects a judgement into the equation by saying that we have to do the right thing, practice what we preach and walk the talk, by choosing to perceive one thing as the right thing, effectively makes something else the wrong thing, this sets up a division and division equates to conflict, this is how we set up our inner divisional conflicts between our aspects of consciousness. If we wish to be authentic, then there is no right or wrong judgement, there only is what is.

OK now it talks about what we need to achieve this, it says that we need commitment and we should fight the temptation to compromise our values and beliefs, so we are encouraged to intensify the inner divisional conflicts that we have chosen to create through our judgements and declare war on aspects of our consciousness that do not agree with our divisional judgements!

It then goes on to say that this course of action will make you stronger, to my understanding the only thing that will get stronger by implementing the above statement is the inner conflicts and the resulting suffering that they are creating within the person who is doing it!

The next part says to build a reputation as someone who tells the truth, I think this is what Giles refers to as ego, for we do not need to create an ego to project to the world around us, we just need to be.

The next part recommends more divisional judgements be applied, hold yourself to high standards, what about letting go of all standards so that you can just be?

We then get onto the issue of respect and are told to make sure that we treat others with dignity and make sure that our behaviour is respectful as this will make you a person of quality! Why would someone who is looking to become authentic want to perceive themselves as anything other than what they are?

It then talks of courage and says to follow our conscious rather than follow the crowd as this will make you heroic! I do what this implies all of the time and it does not make me feel anything other than myself.

Now we are into integrity, and it says to choose rightness over ease and convenience as it will give you pride and peace, unfortunately pride and peace are two different things, peace requires inner harmony and balance, pride is a divisional judgement which creates disharmony and strife. If we take the judgement out of the statement then we have be ourself if we wish to find inner peace and harmony.

The little voice is our underlying thought patterns and beliefs that we have set up in our core way of being, it will argue with us, whenever we attempt to do something that is in opposition to what we have chosen to set up as a divisional judgemental belief of right or wrong, when we get rid of judgemental beliefs, then the voice goes quiet for whatever is, is.

It then concludes with starting each day with a commitment to implement a divisional judgement of what is right, it then finishes with saying that each day brings a fresh opportunity to choose to do what is right!

The reality of consciousness is that we can choose all of the time, would it not be better to start each day by declaring what we wish to start and experience this day free from any divisional judgements and just be.

The main thing that is missing from this emotive video is personal responsibility, when we choose to be come responsible for the thought patterns and beliefs that we have chosen to implement within the fullness of self, then we take back our personal power and control as well as the ability to choose freely to be whatever we need to be in any given moment of time, this is what sets us free to be and dwell within the now.

So if anyone wishes to implement the inner divisional conflicts that will arise from implementing what is portrayed within this video, then you are 100% solely responsible for that choice. 😉

There's a saying...."life is real when you are"

[url]Walk the Talk - YouTube[/url]

Walking the talk or living by example holds one in good stead .

In living by example one has sustenance and depth as where one that speaks kindly and acts cruel lacks sustenance and is shallow .

I think the video link was full of well meanings put across in a simple way . Not my cup of tea to be honest it felt as if I was reading / watching something from out of a bible class (lol) but at the heart of the messages there wasn't anything that I could not relate too in some shape or form .

All that was said goes into the pot so to speak ..

x dazzle x

The video may be a bit anodyne - but I'm OK with a message to walk my talk.

For me, authenticity and walking your talk are important - for instance, if I am someone who prays for world peace, yet routinely picks angry fights with everyone around me, then I am clearly not 'walking my talk' and not recognising that 'peace begins with me'.

However, it then gets tricky because, to walk my talk, I wouldn't just have to 'not be angry', as that is probably suppressing stuff that needs to be dealt with, I have to work on myself so that the anger no longer exists.

So, I suppose that that is the 'gap' in the message and is possibly why some of you are getting worked up.

Unfortunately this emotive video has been compiled by someone who does not understand how consciousness works, nor what the power of words and judgements have upon our way of being; they do not understand that an inner divisional conflict is two or more opposing thought patterns and beliefs that arise within our aspects of consciousness at the same time, otherwise they would not have put what they did.

It is precisely this inner divisional conflict that the video addresses, i.e. to walk the talk
- not to just say one thing and act another. This is what being authentic is.

It is fine taking a few chosen inspirational words in isolation from their counterparts and saying that they are just words unless we live by them, but the reality is that all words are valid and encompass the creative power of consciousness to manifest into our life experience, especially when we utilise them to set up an underlying core belief. Choosing to focus upon some words but ignoring others that we utilise will not create harmony and balance, it will create divisional conflict.

Of course all words may be valid. The choice of words here relate to the subject!!!!

It then goes on to say that our greatest challenge is to behave according to our beliefs. The reality is that everyone is already living by the power of the words that they have chosen to set up their core beliefs by, we are all already doing what this message is portraying, we are all already creating our life experience around our underlying thought patterns and beliefs, which are words.

Again you miss the point. That's the issue, i.e. so many people don't behave
according to their beliefs. For instance there's a difference between someone
who purports to be a Christian but their actions/behaviour betray them and one
who is a Christian and whose beliefs shine through the way they conduct themselves.

It then injects a judgement into the equation by saying that we have to do the right thing, practice what we preach and walk the talk, by choosing to perceive one thing as the right thing, effectively makes something else the wrong thing, this sets up a division and division equates to conflict, this is how we set up our inner divisional conflicts between our aspects of consciousness. If we wish to be authentic, then there is no right or wrong judgement, there only is what is.

There is such a thing as discernment, without which you would make no sense of the world.

OK now it talks about what we need to achieve this, it says that we need commitment and we should fight the temptation to compromise our values and beliefs, so we are encouraged to intensify the inner divisional conflicts that we have chosen to create through our judgements and declare war on aspects of our consciousness that do not agree with our divisional judgements!

Again with the conflicts - no!!! Conflicts only exist when we are not integrated - you
appear to have missed the essential message of this video. :rolleyes:

It then goes on to say that this course of action will make you stronger, to my understanding the only thing that will get stronger by implementing the above statement is the inner conflicts and the resulting suffering that they are creating within the person who is doing it!

This video addresses those inner conflicts in order that we may achieve integration.e

The next part says to build a reputation as someone who tells the truth, I think this is what Giles refers to as ego, for we do not need to create an ego to project to the world around us, we just need to be.

Wow - how did you arrive at that from addressing the truth? :confused:

The next part recommends more divisional judgements be applied, hold yourself to high standards, what about letting go of all standards so that you can just be?

Sure you can let go of all standards - you can be immoral. That would be a different video don't you think?

We then get onto the issue of respect and are told to make sure that we treat others with dignity and make sure that our behaviour is respectful as this will make you a person of quality! Why would someone who is looking to become authentic want to perceive themselves as anything other than what they are?

There's a difference between those who already are authentic and those striving/interested in this issue (who this video is really for).

It then talks of courage and says to follow our conscious rather than follow the crowd as this will make you heroic! I do what this implies all of the time and it does not make me feel anything other than myself.

Now we are into integrity, and it says to choose rightness over ease and convenience as it will give you pride and peace, unfortunately pride and peace are two different things, peace requires inner harmony and balance, pride is a divisional judgement which creates disharmony and strife. If we take the judgement out of the statement then we have be ourself if we wish to find inner peace and harmony.

Peace and pride can go hand in hand - I have experienced this combination
when I did voluntary work.

The little voice is our underlying thought patterns and beliefs that we have set up in our core way of being, it will argue with us, whenever we attempt to do something that is in opposition to what we have chosen to set up as a divisional judgemental belief of right or wrong, when we get rid of judgemental beliefs, then the voice goes quiet for whatever is, is.

No - it's when we get rid of the conflict between what we think/believe and how our actions don't match this that there is no division. I think you are fond of using the
words division and judgement. This video addresses confict (i.e. division) because
it lacks integrity. Judgement is your word to criticise what needs to be focused on to
discern what is the case.

It then concludes with starting each day with a commitment to implement a divisional judgement of what is right, it then finishes with saying that each day brings a fresh opportunity to choose to do what is right!

The reality of consciousness is that we can choose all of the time, would it not be better to start each day by declaring what we wish to start and experience this day free from any divisional judgements and just be.

Divisional judgements! 😀 We obviously choose how we want to start the day -
this video is for those who wish to become more authentic. Start the day as you
please .... you've totally missed the point here.

The main thing that is missing from this emotive video is personal responsibility, when we choose to be come responsible for the thought patterns and beliefs that we have chosen to implement within the fullness of self, then we take back our personal power and control as well as the ability to choose freely to be whatever we need to be in any given moment of time, this is what sets us free to be and dwell within the now.

Yes!

So if anyone wishes to implement the inner divisional conflicts that will arise from implementing what is portrayed within this video, then you are 100% solely responsible for that choice. 😉

Sadly you end with your basic misunderstanding, i.e. the inner conflicts. It is this that the video addresses - to look at this, see what needs addressing in order to become more authentic.

Hi Amy

It is precisely this inner divisional conflict that the video addresses, i.e. to walk the talk
- not to just say one thing and act another. This is what being authentic is.

Unfortunately to have a talk that revolves around a judgement of rightness and wrongness that requires us to walk that judgemental tight walk between the judgements of what we perceive to be right or wrong within the fullness of self, it sets one aspect of self up to be right, in opposition to another aspect of self, which is judged to be wrong, it is the judgement itself that sets up the inner conflict within self.

Do you not think it would be a lot better not to have a judgemental talk in the first place and just allow ourselves to be?

Of course all words may be valid. The choice of words here relate to the subject!!!!

That is my point, the subject is supposed to be about authenticity within self, that requires us to include all aspects of self, not just the bits that we judge to be good and reject or repress the bits that we judge to be bad, we are all complete within the fullness of self, we need to embrace every aspect of self if we wish to be authentic, otherwise we are creating divisional conflicts within self. 🙂

Again you miss the point. That's the issue, i.e. so many people don't behave
according to their beliefs. For instance there's a difference between someone
who purports to be a Christian but their actions/behaviour betray them and one
who is a Christian and whose beliefs shine through the way they conduct themselves.

That is because people are choosing to employ judgements in place of authenticity, if we have no judgements to live up to or put ourselves down with, then we are what we are which is being authentic. 😉

There is such a thing as discernment, without which you would make no sense of the world.

Yes we all have inner discernment and guidance, but that is not the same as a judgement, though if we choose to discern something through a judgement, then the discernment will only reflect what the judgement creates for us.

OK now it talks about what we need to achieve this, it says that we need commitment and we should fight the temptation to compromise our values and beliefs, so we are encouraged to intensify the inner divisional conflicts that we have chosen to create through our judgements and declare war on aspects of our consciousness that do not agree with our divisional judgements!

Again with the conflicts - no!!! Conflicts only exist when we are not integrated - you
appear to have missed the essential message of this video. :rolleyes:

The essential message surrounds a judgement of right over wrong which is the theme of most spiritual development practices, it says that if we embrace the aspects of self that we judge to be right and reject the aspect of self that we judge to be wrong then we will gain stature and pride, personal development does not work on right or wrong it works on embracing the fullness of self non-judgmentally.

Please explain to me how accepting one aspect of self whilst rejecting and repressing another aspect of self can create wholeness and authenticity?

This video addresses those inner conflicts in order that we may achieve integration.e

Again, please explain to me how we can integrate the fullness of self by rejecting self through self judgement?

Sure you can let go of all standards - you can be immoral. That would be a different video don't you think?

To perceive self as moral or immoral requires us to place a divisional judgement within the fullness of self, this will only create inner division between the aspects of self that we judge to be moral or immoral, please explain how this would make us authentic or whole?

The next part says to build a reputation as someone who tells the truth, I think this is what Giles refers to as ego, for we do not need to create an ego to project to the world around us, we just need to be.

Wow - how did you arrive at that from addressing the truth? :confused:

To set about creating an outward image of truthfulness requires us to build a persona or ego based upon that perceived judgement of truth, this unfortunately is not being authentic because it is not portraying the full picture of everything that is within the fullness of self, outside of the judgement of truth which varies from person to person, we have what is.

There's a difference between those who already are authentic and those striving/interested in this issue (who this video is really for).

But that is my point, how will anyone who chooses to embrace this divisional judgemental approach and apply it within the fullness of self, become authentic?

Peace and pride can go hand in hand - I have experienced this combination
when I did voluntary work.

But non the less they are not the same thing, we achieve inner peace and harmony when we are happy with the fullness of self, we achieve pride when we judge that we have done something in an acceptable manner.

No - it's when we get rid of the conflict between what we think/believe and how our actions don't match this that there is no division. I think you are fond of using the
words division and judgement. This video addresses confict (i.e. division) because
it lacks integrity. Judgement is your word to criticise what needs to be focused on to
discern what is the case.

That is because a judgement will alway create a division between one thing and anther thing and division leads to conflict, this video addresses the judgement of rightness and being true to that judgement in opposition to what someone Judges to be a falseness and so rejects.

This is not being authentic towards self, it is being judgemental towards self, we deal with people's self imposed judgemental divisional conflicts all of the time, not by judging them to be right or wrong, but by replacing them with self acceptance in an open and non-judgemental way, we heal people by replacing their divisional judgemental conflicts with wholeness, so that they can be authentic.

Sadly you end with your basic misunderstanding, i.e. the inner conflicts. It is this that the video addresses - to look at this, see what needs addressing in order to become more authentic.

Hopefully when you answer my questions, then you will have a better understanding of the word authentic in relation to self. 🙂

Yes we all have inner discernment and guidance, but that is not the same as a judgement, though if we choose to discern something through a judgement, then the discernment will only reflect what the judgement creates for us.

“discernment”
Noun - the ability to judge well.
Synonyms – discrimination – perspicacity – acumen – judgement

Could you help solve my confusion by giving your definitions of “discernment” and “judgement” please, Paul?

Hi Crowan

“discernment”
Noun - the ability to judge well.
Synonyms – discrimination – perspicacity – acumen – judgement

Could you help solve my confusion by giving your definitions of “discernment” and “judgement” please, Paul?

Yes, we have the ability to discern things as they are outside of judgement or we have the ability to judge something and then apply that judgement to the perception that the discernment is creating within us.

So we look at an object and discern it to be a car (which is what it is), but we can also choose to place a judgement upon the car and classify it as a good or a bad car. 🙂

We do have a choice in the way we chose to think about things and that directly influences the way that we perceive them, if we have a judgemental way of being, then the perception of something is often clouded by the underlying judgements that are automatically placed upon it. 😉

Asking questions is rude? How did I belittle you? I am sorry if you felt that - it was my intention only to point out what you missed; perhaps you do not take well to being shown this? Yes I read your post carefully (twice actually) and no, I saw no ego being depicted in the clip I posted....just spirit. Please share where you think it indicated ego. Integrity is a noble trait and encompasses our whole being.

Paul correctly (and more clearly) highlights the points I was talking about.

When I talk of the ego in the video it's the points where it tells you that by doing such and such we will become more "heroic" or a "person of quality".

The truth is that a person does not need to be heroic or a person of quality to be living
truthfully or with integrity or to be authentic. If one takes the messages as they are presented, then they are going to seek to do those things because it is telling them that they will become a better person (in whatever respect)... but better than what? As Paul correctly points out, such a "better" judgement creates division, and hence duality, and when duality exists, so does conflict. The same video could have been produced without the need to tell people that by doing X, Y and Z they will become heroic, or a person of quality (and whatever else it said - I can't access the video at the minute)). Why didn't it say to do those things, because it's the truthful and honest thing to do and is for the benefit of everyone and everything? Why limit it to just putting the focus on the individual and the benefit's they would perceive?

So, as I was saying in my response, it's all fine and good giving a message to tell people they should act with integrity, or to be truthful, or to be kind to all others etc., but when that gets tied in with the message of "do this because you will better yourself" then this is tapping into the ego of the person, and the ego stems from the mind, which is not the true non-judgemental self.

The messages in the video were not missed on me. I can understand the 'nice' message it's trying to put across, but reading between the lines (and also literally the words used), it is not just about being authentic, it's about marketing into a persons desire to want to be better (tap into their ego) to get them to believe that they need to do these things and they'll somehow become heroic etc. whilst at the same time missing the point completely about just Being, truthfully without judgement.

It is in the nature of a forum that people constantly make judgemental responses to posts - I see nothing out of line here. I don't expect you to agree with me but I was
(quite frankly) stunned by how out of synch what your post said as to what was
actually in the clip. The correlation was very weak if not puzzling.

A matter of one's own perception filters perhaps?

I don't wish to be rude, Giles. I wish to be honest (honestly). My perception is that you are the one who gets offended - perceives rudeness - when you can't ram your understanding down someone else's throat. In effect preaching to them, in the manner that you usually accuse them of doing.

If this is coming across to you as me being rude, that's because I'm expecting you to go on the defensive about it, because you're attached to your current level of understanding, which in turn is putting me on the defensive in preparation. Like you, I don't appreciate being preached to either.

Not at all WS, not rude at all, though I'm not sure why you perceive me as ramming my understanding down people's throats, when all I do is post honestly and truthfully to (try and) clarify where someone may have misunderstood what I am saying. In the case of this thread, I took the time to watch the video (you didn't though eh. 😉 :D) and posted an honest critque of the message and how it was presented, not saying it was a pointless video, but highlighting where it was clearly using techniques to tap into people's ego to get it's message across (something which a lot of people miss - but that's marketing for you!) which isn't about being authentic and true (not that there aren't truthful messages in the video, there certainly are i.e. we should live with integrity, honesty etc. and aim to live what we teach others).

As for your expectation of me getting defensive and you getting defensive in preparation... let go of your future 'fear' 🙂 there's no need for it... certainly not in this present moment. :hug:

All Love and Reiki Hugs

Yes, we have the ability to discern things as they are outside of judgement or we have the ability to judge something and then apply that judgement to the perception that the discernment is creating within us.

So we look at an object and discern it to be a car (which is what it is), but we can also choose to place a judgement upon the car and classify it as a good or a bad car. 🙂

We do have a choice in the way we chose to think about things and that directly influences the way that we perceive them, if we have a judgemental way of being, then the perception of something is often clouded by the underlying judgements that are automatically placed upon it. 😉

You are aware, aren't you, that this is your definition? General usage of "judgement" can be, "Yes, I judge that to be a car."
So, if you are using your own definitions, how can you know (and in place of "know", most people would accept "judge", or even "guess") how someone else is using the word?

“discernment”
Noun - the ability to judge well.
Synonyms – discrimination – perspicacity – acumen – judgement

Could you help solve my confusion by giving your definitions of “discernment” and “judgement” please, Paul?

LOL! Good call. 😀

If they were truly identical in meaning then we wouldn't bother having two words.
I take discernment as being the dualistic ability to place one thing as seperate from another, such as identifying an apple from an orange (being able to put labels to things).
On the other hand judgement typically (and I say typically not always) is the word used when discernment is influenced by the mind, so that duality is created between things, in a way that creates conflict i.e. at the expense of one thing over another, and typically is not a truthful discernment (hence why discernment is the ability to judge "well", where as judgement is not necessarily judging things well).

All Love and Reiki Hugs

“Only the truth of who you are, if realized, will set you free.”
― [url]Eckhart Tolle[/url]

Set you free from what?

Hi Crowan

You are aware, aren't you, that this is your definition? General usage of "judgement" can be, "Yes, I judge that to be a car."
So, if you are using your own definitions, how can you know (and in place of "know", most people would accept "judge", or even "guess") how someone else is using the word?

As far as I was aware I did not judge how others would use the word, I simply pointed out the difference between discerning something and judging it, but we do appear to live in a judgemental world with all of the unrest and suffering that it creates, so it is really not surprising that the word has been utilised to form a judgement rather than its older meaning of being able to perceive that what is hidden or obscured which is the way that I perceive the word, much the same as intuition and knowing. 🙂

Wow - what can I say? You missed that it was about integrity? About behaving according to our beliefs? About doing what was right? Nothing "happy", "pretty" or flimsy about that and so NOT about what makes you feel better....an icecream might make you feel better. It takes guts, commitment to stand by your beliefs, i.e. not necessarily easy. Making a difference. Sorry all that was missed on you. Guess it's hard to see what's there sometimes - all depends on our perceptive filters. Ah well.

Giles (like myself) is a reiki practitioner so tries to live by the reiki principles - which I can assure you are ALL about integrity.

Behaving according to our beliefs is what we all day. EVERY action we take is filtered through our self image. We will never act outside that. But just because we believe something doesn't make it true. I spend time helping people to see that their self image (smoker, failure, fat, bad at exams etc) can be wrong - and help them to change it - and with it their beliefs.....

'Right' and 'wrong' are also not fixed concepts.....no-one goes to ward for something they believe is wrong............

Tashanie - there is no need for you to explain or defend being a reiki practitioner. I was never addressing this issue at all (or questioning Giles integrity) - just the reaction to the video clip I posted here.

As to right and wrong - again you have misunderstood. The video clip is about providing guidelines for those interested in walking the talk; simply bringing awareness to the moral concepts we already have and asking whether we integrate them in our behaviour. You've heard of the term "lip service"? Enough said!