I want to change how I see and think..(help would be immensely appreciated)

What are any and many possible ways to do this? I'm seventeen but I feel the strong urge that I need to move on from this way I think and how I react and see around me. A new perception I guess. I don't want to sound like I'm just some dumb "wannabe" or anything, but I really just want to be the best I can be with a new perception. Or attaining enlightenment. At the moment I am reading The Power of Now and it is opening up a bit to me, but not quite there yet. Please leave any thoughts or recommendations. Thank you so very much.

 

You seem very mature for a seventeen year old. The fact that you recognize the need to be de-brainwashed is incredible, especially among your generation, which seems to center around technology, materialism, and ego.

There are many ways to alter your perception and see the world for all it's beauty, as well as delve into your unconscious mind. Listening to music... Practicing yoga and meditation, perhaps focusing on your third eye chakra, and of course psychedelics will change your perception, but I don't know if I would recommend hallucinogens to you considering your young age. Have you ever done them? Do you smoke cannabis?

 

Well thank you for encouraging my mature..ness? I guess that would be a good way to put it? Haha, anyways that's one thing The Power of Now is trying to teach, losing that ego.
But I am a musician, I love music with such a deep passion (I believe I do anyways), I know that has helped shaped who I am to a better degree. I listen to all the many genres mainly that of the 70's and 60's( I play guitar and sing with soul haha) , classical( due in part that I am playing tenor sax at school), motown, early blues, etc as long as its not mainstream rap or country..
I delved into meditation a bit, but being that I'm always on the move, it can be tough. Yoga would be something I would maybe like to do sometime soon though.
How could I focus on my third eye chakra?
And this is the big one, I've done three hits of LSD once earlier this month, I wanted to use it to gain some sort of new perception. I had a great and thrilling time, but no "enlightenment" so to say. Maybe the setting was wrong? Ehh, I most definitely want to do it again. But in the perfect setting and mindset/goal.
And finally, I used to smoke heavily last year. But after a while things started going downhill and I started going into teen depression I guess. Now I just smoke maybe once every one to two weeks. I don't want to constantly be high you know?
Sorry that was long, but I want people to understand a bit about my scenario and give some real advice. I know there are incredible people on here, everywhere. And I would love to hear what you all say. I would love to answer any questions, and I would love some inspiring answers and advice.
Thank you so so much.

 

get in the habit of questioning -everything- no matter how small or trivial. Listen to what your body tells you instead of what you have been told. Do absolutely everything you can the hardest way possible. Never take shit from anyone but do it with a smile on that face

 

If I may offer some guidance. Learn 'who you Are'. Initially, before genuine Self realization (as you termed enlightenment), people process through the meditative practice of asking deeply 'who am I?'. Then that progressive process ultimately shows the body/mind that it is made of the Eternal Light of God/Reality. Literally, absolutely, and only God form the substance of your entire existence.

Once you have truly Awakened to genuine Self Realization your Real Spiritual practice will begin. True spiritual practice Must be supported by Self Realization, without a fundamental Awakening of God consciousness a person does not practice spiritually. That person is in doubt, and true Spiritual practice transcends doubt, wonder and what if's. Identity is discovered Only in God. True spiritual practice is supported by a Perfect Faith in Self Realization/Understanding. Right now you are "Who you Are" without all the added baggage that one 'thinks' defines oneself; the day you were born, the day you die, if you experience multiple life times, you will still be the same One. You Are (you exist whether or not you label oneself) prior to any added defining qualities that appear consciously.

The conditioning you are living with is what holds you down. A person must transcend the egoic/separative ideas of identity. As the body/mind Awakens to the Transcendent consciousness, that One will demonstrate to the body/mind 'who you Are'.

Hope this helps you move forward. Siddha Buddha :sunny:

 

Listen to Incubus, study Philosophy, turn off the tv, read books and newspapers, study physics and religion, open and expand your mind.
ps. I am 18 and went through this same thing about two years ago. It makes you sad and angry with the world around you when you realize what all we have/are doing to the Earth, and how kids are taught to love cell phones instead of human interaction and play.
But if everyone starts thinking like you, that will all change. Until then have fun learning

 

Learn Chinese?

 

Try to re-acquaint yourself with the typical kid you were born as; the earlier in its life, the better.

Then, when faced with a difficult decision, ask yourself What “Mokey” (my long lost kid’s name) Would Do, rather than what Jesus, or some other proto-fascist control freak, or “God,” would do. Our Creator, The Great German Shepherd In The Sky, (PHUH!!) provided us with all we need to sustain us down here before we were born.

In other words, start relying more on your earliest instincts, instead of trying to live according to what amounts to the sum total of conservative thought since Abraham played full-back for Babylon.

True mystics suggest rather than insist on the best lifestyle for you.....

 

Offering condescending stuff like this may have actually offended the person. Regardless, there are more than Judaic/Christian concepts of God. Even quantum theory offers a God. Even science has confirmed the existence of a non-local consciousness. Actually the metaphysics of quantum theory show that consciousness is present throughout the universe, and that consciousness has a creative interaction with reality. Quantum theory suggests that consciousness is the substance/nature of the universe. Ultimately, concepts of God are not the communication. The Divine Presence is always the commune-ication. The only way that happens is with consciousness. My comments are not make believe, there is sound evidence to back up these ideas. Returning to childhood is not moving forward, transcending the conditioning one has been submitted to for years, since childhood, is moving forward.

 

Please point out how "Offering condescending stuff like this may have actually offended the person," rather than monkey-see-monkey-do organized religion.

 

Genuine spiritual practice has nothing to do with religion. Genuine spiritual practice does not support the monkey see monkey do mind.

 

That's not what I asked. I'd like to know how what I said that

- as you said.

 

If he is a follower of any of the barbaric Abrahamic religions I hope it DID offend him!

 

Psychedelics are a good way to change your perception of the world but to use them is not a light decision to make and it is something that you should thoroughly prepare yourself for.

 

enough of all of this.

Who are you? What do you need and want?

If you can approach this with open heart and body, you will find it, we all have.

Breathe and let life in...it matters. Breathe, life force, grounding, belly in and out. Clears the mind and cleanses who we are.


There is no right or wrong, only you and what fits.

 

Ghandi ~ "Be the change you want to see in the world."

 

ideas....with commentary:

1. chemicals are not what they are cracked up to be. in reading a lot, having known a number of trippers (as well as alchoholics, potheads, etc.) and my own experience...drugs never have shown me 'enlightenment'. yadayada...there are many paths....

2. A Course in Miracles....you don't have to believe 'any' of what is written. simply do the workbook, and 'believe' that it will 'do something'...i got through about a third of ACIM, and realized...it drastically changed my view of the world. i have not gone back...where it put me was a compromise for dealing with 'what is' and 'knowing there are more ways to see'.

3. yoga...i don't believe one needs to do the really strenuous schools....but...the physical way of practice is most definitely a path, i think.

4. meditation...i started with what is basically tm. alan watts was my first 'teacher'; i never met alan, but i listened to his radio broadcasts from the age of 14. i have read several of his books. his outlook convinced me to use meditation off and on for 40 years or more...i believe that this would help a person who wants to 'see more'. but...it takes persistence.

5. tai chi (or other martial arts) will eventually raise one's consciousness with 'the right teacher'. i don't know how to tell you to find that 'right teacher'.

6. everytime i read this, it 'floats me':

http://www.spiritualteachers.org/norquist_article.htm

however, when the flush of seeing 'the edge' recedes...you will find that 'enlightenment' is highly overrated, i think. maybe not.

7. ken wilbur...he makes me want to scream...he's terrible arrogant, think i. but...his writing will make you think very deeply, or it will spin you off like a muddy drop of water from a car tire on the freeway.

i would advise to simply search things with a semi-open mind, using your common sense to protect you. ask questions of people who have been there (as you are doing). if it seems like bull squat, it probably is....so, don't do it. run...don't walk...away.

 

Do -all- of your drugs super ritualistically so you never fall into the pattern of sitting at home getting fucked up and learning nothing from it

and create your own vocabulary/language

take a vow of silence for a while - seriously, even just doing this for one day you'll learn a lot

 

i too am craving a new perceptive on life. Would you recommend "The Power of Now"? And who is the author?