I strongly support Paul on this position.
I find it very rude and offensive to psychoanalyze a person in public, especially when they didn't ask for it.
Lightbody, I can promise you that I do not mean to be rude or to offend:). Your reactions are on your side of the fence, are they not.:)
Sure, Paul's thought process can be found to have some loopholes, and sometimes when I read his posts I feel like if I said anything about it I'd be beating my head against a brick wall. But, let's say I did something about it and provided my immediate reaction. I could say "Paul, I've found 10 loopholes in your thinking process", but what would it really accomplish? What would I really be trying to say to Paul? Would I be trying to put myself into a position higher than the position I perceive him to have -- he does, after all, demonstrate that he is very well read and have a very successful healing practice so that if I were simply a Reiki Master smug with my attunement(s) and mostly interacting with others online, I might find him to be be very intimidating, and I just might need to put him in his place (a place lower than my own where I could look down on him).
And if I did so, it would prove less to the readers about where-I'm-trying-to-put-Paul and more to the readers where-I-really-am.
"Actions speak louder than words," but in the forum setting, words express our actions.
Lightody, if you think that I'm trying to put Paul down in some way - I'm not, I can assure you. Is it you that finds Paul intimidating (?), because I don't :). No offense, Paul - if I'm supposed to be intimidated, I'm missing that. And I'm not a Reiki Master smug with my attunements. Are these two aspects of yourself you're talking about?
Now, to speak honestly, there are times when I read one of Paul's posts and I feel like David Lo Pang, the immortal Chinese character in Big Trouble In Little China (1985). There was a scene where Jack Burton, the main character and hero of the story, was winning. Lo Pang had transformed into his ancient and immortal body, levitated off of the floor and as he exited the screen shook his head back and forth saying "This pisses me off to no end!"
What I have not done is prove Paul wrong. I have not gone into his posts and pulled quotes that I feel make him less spiritually advanced than myself and brought them to his attention.
If Paul is feeling less spiritually advanced than anyone (unless that's your perception), then, according to Paul - that's his responsibility, his choice, what he chose to do before coming to experience this reality.
What I have done is use each of those posts as an opportunity for self healing.
When I actively taught in-person group Reiki classes, participants had the opportunity to attend the first class with no financial obligation to donate or pay for anything (a commercial business space was rented and significant expenses were involved in maintaining the group). Every so often someone would come to the group and just find problems with what I was teaching, and me.
One of the exercises that we performed on a very regular basis was looking at my aura. I would ask "what do you sense in my energy field," "do you sense any negative energy," "does one chakra feel more active than another," "do you see colors, hear sounds, or just have an intuitive knowing about something going on inside me"?
The interesting thing about that teaching experience was how the biases a person brought into the class influenced how they perceived my aura.
Prior to relocating to a commercial space, the group had its beginnings in my apartment, which at the time, was in a very lower-class district of San Francisco: an area called The Tenderloin, known as the area where the City places drug addicts in temporary and sometimes permanent housing. That still has a very negative reputation, and "everyone knows" that the streets in that area are not safe and that "it's full of negative energies".
For this discussion, I would say that basically two types of people came in to explore the class: one type came in with the perception that I was this Super Spiritually Advanced Reiki Master, and another type came in from other healing groups (probably on a "dare") to see what was healing (if any) really going on inside an area with such negative energy.
It seems to me that some of those who came in with the preconceived notion that the area was totally immersed in and broadcasting negative energy found endless problems with me. Sometimes my aura was sensed as having "a black sphere in my groin" (yes, someone actually said that to the group), to having grey clouds and other common perceptions associated with negative energies. They attended once and did not return.
Those that came in with the idea that I was some Super Reiki Master had a tendency to return a few times, and usually by the third class they realized that what shot out of my arse wasn't lightening, but rather something equally as powerful as their own and that seemed to put us on equal ground. They did not perceive the negative energies that the one-time challengers did, but as their abilities to sense energies grew, they began to notice that some areas of my energy-field had one level of intensity, while other areas had different levels of intensity -- and afterwards, they were able to use that experience as an observation to look within themselves and gain a better sense of self-awareness.
Over time, I began to realize that we were really just acting as mirrors for each other.
And that basically symbolizes my approach with Paul's posts.
Now, in Paul's case I just don't get any negative energy or any bad energies at all, but in the cases where I've had Lo Pang's reaction, I find myself saying "Why are you saying that in that way??? Don't you see the loophole in your thinking process??? You just said you can't lead a horse to water and make it drink and now you are doing just that??? What's wrong with you???" and then in my own mind I do put Paul in his rightful place:
I hang him on the wall and look at him as I look at a mirror.
Yes, Lightbody I understand what your saying totally - I can assure you that I'm not perceiving anything negative in Paul - if you're perceiving that I'm perceiving (:D), negativity in Paul and trying to put him down, are these aspects of yourself your seeing?:)
Perhaps mine should have, Jnani;)
Perhaps, Jnani, Paul has created me "as prop" - because Paul is the only one here - you do recognize your own words don't you Jnani;)
Yours? You don't have any remember, Your went 15 years ago right? you are here to point out others' games etc...Its not surprising that you remember my words so clearly. Is it Wildstrawberry?
Giles,
What your saying about me being apparently rude to Crowan - here's how I see it - I can see (clairvoyant) where a person is coming from, I can see what tricks there ego is up to - I don't want to get involved with any games so I don't. Also, I could be wrong - but I'm not going to let anyone else decide that for me, I'm operating by my own discernment (who else's, right!).
Well, it looked like a completely honest enquiry about what you had posted, and perhaps you're not really clairvoyant, perhaps that is just something you perceive about yourself and are projecting that onto others? Something to consider?
If you're going to insist that I explain everything in a way that another person asks, then it could be argued that my right to speak/or not speak in my own way is not being respected. I know it seemed apparently rude....
That's not the point. You don't have to explain everything someone asks of you, and you're perfectly within your rights to express your own beliefs... but... not necessarily "in your own way". The owner of these forums has made them free for people to use, providing they stick within the guidelines that he has laid down, which includes showing respect, and disagreeing etc. in a friendly manner. Your posts did not come across in a friendly manner as you very well knew they would not (you suggested yourself that they would come across as rude, and also suggesting that someone should perhaps consider a practice that you know they already do, is certainly offensive). If you want to be rude and offensive to people and express yourself in your own way, by all means go ahead and do that on your own webspace, but please, if you're going to be a member of these forums at least try and adhere to the guidelines of the forums and respect the other members.
...I have no wish to offend anyone - HONESTLY.
A strange way of showing it. If you didn't want to answer, you could simply say, "No offence, but I don't wish to answer that" or even not bother responding. That would have been at least friendly and respectful.
All Love and Reiki Hugs
Yours? You don't have any remember, Your went 15 years ago right? you are here to point out others' games etc...Its not surprising that you remember my words so clearly. Is it Wildstrawberry?
When did I say that I didn't have any. Remembering words, I put it down to being, mentally alert, sometimes foggy.... I remembered. I said I didn't get involved with games:);)
Well, it looked like a completely honest enquiry about what you had posted, and perhaps you're not really clairvoyant, perhaps that is just something you perceive about yourself and are projecting that onto others? Something to consider?
Yes, I know, that what I said - I strongly believe it's clairvoyance, I am being as honest with my self as possible - but, I could be projecting.
It might seem strange, but I don't really care if I'm clairvoyant or not, it's just something that happens - don't even mention it off this forum. But, I don't want to get involved in games... maybe I'm projecting, maybe not... it would be my word against Crowan's (not trying to besmirch, Crowan, btw). Like I said, who else's discernment am I supposed to live by:).
Crowan does seem to be Okay with, giving each other a wide birth...
That's not the point. You don't have to explain everything someone asks of you, and you're perfectly within your rights to express your own beliefs... but... not necessarily "in your own way". The owner of these forums has made them free for people to use, providing they stick within the guidelines that he has laid down, which includes showing respect, and disagreeing etc. in a friendly manner. Your posts did not come across in a friendly manner as you very well knew they would not (you suggested yourself that they would come across as rude, and also suggesting that someone should perhaps consider a practice that you know they already do, is certainly offensive). If you want to be rude and offensive to people and express yourself in your own way, by all means go ahead and do that on your own webspace, but please, if you're going to be a member of these forums at least try and adhere to the guidelines of the forums and respect the other members.
A strange way of showing it. If you didn't want to answer, you could simply say, "No offence, but I don't wish to answer that" or even not bother responding. That would have been at least friendly and respectful.
All Love and Reiki Hugs
Yes, I accept it did come across as rude. And, you're right, I could easily say "no offense, but I don't wish to answer" - or words to that effect. I didn't bother to answer, Crowan on another thread, and that seemed equally rude.....hmn.;):)
Hi, remember me ????, I dont mind different opinions but can there be some fairness, it seems Crowan can say what she likes and others cannot, this is childish behaviour, Energylz, Im quite surprised with that :rolleyes:,
well Star, this thread has beautifully explained the higher and the lower self concept. The higher Self is constantly at peace with itself amd lower self strives to all that higher self naturally is.
Self is naturally all that which ego/ mind wants to be- here and now, unconditionally loving, empowered, with special gifts, skills. talents, abilities, spiritual, self-sufficient etc etc and fails misreably for there is nothing special about I I I my my my mine mine mine.
Its not even your show, life is living you...when you get over yourself, God is. Otherwise it is a cacophony of me, me, me -very jarring and disruptive, Jumping at every opportunity to sing its own praises.
In its separation ego/mind/small self feels inadequate and entire life is lived to compensate for that lack. Deepest core of you is that emptiness, of which all emanates and dissolves back into...
It can only be known by grace, not by one's own mental achievements
Hi, remember me ????
Of course. 🙂
, I dont mind different opinions but can there be some fairness, it seems Crowan can say what she likes and others cannot, this is childish behaviour, Energylz, Im quite surprised with that :rolleyes:,
I'm confused. The point is that everyone can say what they like providing they are being friendly and respecting other members. Crowan has not said anything offensive to anyone, but has merely questioned what was said.
It's not about being childish, it's about everyone respecting each other. Not quite sure why you see it that way.
All Love and Reiki Hugs
Hi WildStrawberry
Paul, I'm not rummaging anyway - this it what happens.... I'm not a nosey parker, I'm not sitting here staring into a crystal ball, rubbing my temples etc...
A couple of points concerning choices. 🙂
You say that you are not rummaging anyway and this somehow happens outside of your control, sorry but that is not entirely true is it? think back to the first time this happened and what you where trying to achieve at that time. 😉
The way that I do it is to simply look within and choose to focus upon a person within the oneness of consciousness, which gives me a general impression of how they are, if I wish to go further as when I start to heal, then I state my intention to become one with them, but if I do not choose to focus upon the person (which I only do if asked to do so or I become aware that they are focusing upon me), then I would not connect with them and this will not happen, you like I and everyone else has a choice in this, just the same as we have a choice in how we choose to answer someone. 😉
This point covers our higher consciousness and the choices that we make before we come here, we choose certain things before we come here, they concern the starting point of our life experience, nothing more.
We are not predestined or predisposed to be anything but a human being, once we have developed to the extent that we can start to function as a human being with our everyday thinking aspect of consciousness, we start to observe the world around us and make personal choices, it is the personal choices and the beliefs which come from them which start to direct our life experience.
You could prefer this or that all you want, Paul.... I'm just doing things in my own way... according to your understanding, isn't this what you sign up for/chose to do before coming here to experience this reality.
So the way that you are interpreting my word concerning making some choices before we come here, is completely out of context to my understanding, for if we had no choices here, then we would not be personal responsibility for our thoughts and the things that manifest from them, we would consequently not be able to change anything.
No offense, Paul - if I'm supposed to be intimidated, I'm missing that.
I am glad to hear that, it is not my intention to intimidate anyone. 🙂
Hi Lightbody
Sure, Paul's thought process can be found to have some loopholes, and sometimes when I read his posts I feel like if I said anything about it I'd be beating my head against a brick wall. But, let's say I did something about it and provided my immediate reaction. I could say "Paul, I've found 10 loopholes in your thinking process", but what would it really accomplish?
On its own it would accomplish little, unless I was the sort of person who worried about things, but this could be due the fact that I am a little frugal in the amount of understanding that I am prepared to put on a public forum or it could be that my understanding is not complete and I had not considered what you know in the way that you perceive it, in which case if you expanded upon the things that you are perceiving to have holes within them, then we could discuss them and perhaps I could learn something new to expand my current understanding and make my picture more complete. 🙂
As for leading a horse to water but not being able to make it drink, that is true, it is also true that just because I can't make it drink, it does not stop me from reminding it where the water is, just in case it is now thirsty and would like to experience the water for itself. 😉
It's not about being childish, it's about everyone respecting each other. Not quite sure why you see it that way.
All Love and Reiki Hugs
What a fascinating thread. Don't worry Energyplz. The debates on here are a model of respect compared debates for supposedly professional pharmacists. You would not believe the level of personal abuse that gets thrown around at times!!
My personal view on the question posed is that it was my higher self that led me to reiki. So my higher self is PART of me - the part of me that STOPS my ego getting in the way. The part of me that recognises that I don't do anything when I give reiki -I just have to let the reiki do what is needed. It is my higher self that helps me set my intentions.
Hi WildStrawberry
A couple of points concerning choices. 🙂
You say that you are not rummaging anyway and this somehow happens outside of your control, sorry but that is not entirely true is it? think back to the first time this happened and what you where trying to achieve at that time. 😉
The way that I do it is to simply look within and choose to focus upon a person within the oneness of consciousness, which gives me a general impression of how they are, if I wish to go further as when I start to heal, then I state my intention to become one with them, but if I do not choose to focus upon the person (which I only do if asked to do so or I become aware that they are focusing upon me), then I would not connect with them and this will not happen, you like I and everyone else has a choice in this, just the same as we have a choice in how we choose to answer someone. 😉
This point covers our higher consciousness and the choices that we make before we come here, we choose certain things before we come here, they concern the starting point of our life experience, nothing more.
We are not predestined or predisposed to be anything but a human being, once we have developed to the extent that we can start to function as a human being with our everyday thinking aspect of consciousness, we start to observe the world around us and make personal choices, it is the personal choices and the beliefs which come from them which start to direct our life experience.
So the way that you are interpreting my word concerning making some choices before we come here, is completely out of context to my understanding, for if we had no choices here, then we would not be personal responsibility for our thoughts and the things that manifest from them, we would consequently not be able to change anything.
I am glad to hear that, it is not my intention to intimidate anyone. 🙂
Thanks Paul, I appreciate everything your saying here. I might take your post over to another forum and thread and explore some of the points you raise in more detail, at some point in the near future, if that's alright with you.
But, just briefly, with regards to rummaging around in people's consciousness - I really wouldn't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.
Only, this has been going on for a long time - all connected to the understanding about inner conflicts etc. it's been difficult to live with (I'll go into more detail if I start another thread). It could predate that in a lesser form(?).
Everyday life has been like a firework display of seeing chakras, matrices, other peoples thoughts... it might sound like fun, but when you're trying to get on with everyday tasks... and keep a straight face, when on the one hand you're not judging someone and on the other you know they don't have the best of intentions directed towards you - NOT so fun!
If I'm not controlling it, now (and your saying that it's within my control), then I thinks it's because I know I should be doing more with this - but I don't know what. And everyday tasks are pressing for attention, and I'm concerned (conflicted) that if I shut it down completely (which I've had to do over recent months, gradually, because it reached a point of becoming quite unbearable, hence my irritability), then it will be lost for good, when I really should be putting it to better use...
Hi Jnani
Paul are your "boundaries and conflicts and games" gone now? They should have...;)
I am not quite sure how am I supposed to know the answer to that? As I was not aware of them in the first place, then if they have been removed, then I would be non the wiser for their removal!!! :002::D
well Star, this thread has beautifully explained the higher and the lower self concept. The higher Self is constantly at peace with itself amd lower self strives to all that higher self naturally is.
Self is naturally all that which ego/ mind wants to be- here and now, unconditionally loving, empowered, with special gifts, skills. talents, abilities, spiritual, self-sufficient etc etc and fails misreably for there is nothing special about I I I my my my mine mine mine.Its not even your show, life is living you...when you get over yourself, God is. Otherwise it is a cacophony of me, me, me -very jarring and disruptive, Jumping at every opportunity to sing its own praises.
In its separation ego/mind/small self feels inadequate and entire life is lived to compensate for that lack. Deepest core of you is that emptiness, of which all emanates and dissolves back into...
It can only be known by grace, not by one's own mental achievements
Jnani, all of the aspects of a person which you are judging here to be I I I I me me me me - aren't they aspects of God also - in my very strong view they are. I for one would not want to do an injustice to any natural/God given abilities.
Who is it that's perceiving all of the jarring your talking about Jnani - is it you and the the props that you've created for yourself again:);)
Perhaps a better word to have used in place of my original Loophole with regards to Paul, would have been Conflict.
Another reason, that I often reach the "shall leave it at that" point Paul, is because I, like you, have spent my life so far on this stuff (not healing, per se). And it hasn't been a walk in the park. And there is not a chance, that I'm going to hand over my hard work over on a plate to anyone else.
So, as your saying in your above post to Lightbody, I too am frugal in sharing my understanding.