Comments for Finding True Magic, the blog

Comment on Medical Hypnosis by Andrea Maslin

Andrea Maslin — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:21:58 +0000

Hypnosis is “a special psychological state with certain physiological attributes, resembling sleep only superficially and marked by a functioning of the individual at a level of awareness other than the ordinary conscious state.”[1] One theory suggests that hypnosis is a mental state, while another theory links hypnosis to imaginative role-enactment.

Comment on Real But Not True by Jack Elias

Jack Elias — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:41:24 +0000

“Real but not true” as used here means you have a ‘real’ emotion — real in the sense that you are having it. But not ‘true’ in the sense that you ‘have to’ have it. So there is no such thing as ‘real AND true’ in this context — you don’t ‘have to’ ever have a particular emotion. Your description of the person and the group is all your own judgments and no reality checks: how do you know he is ignoring you — maybe he is obsessing about some pain in his life. Maybe he is shy and there is something about you that inspires him to judge himself ‘less than’ you and others. The Buddhist view, which is in accord with friendly common sense in this case, is to encourage you to talk to this person and make friends. Even if he doesn’t like you and is ignoring you for some reason, you do not ‘have to’ get involved in anger, worthlessness, or rage. This is extra unnecessary self punishment on your part — a widespread problem so don’t beat yourself up for having it! I have several programs you could benefit from in my web store — for example: Conflict Transformation: If You Don’t Like Conflict, Why Have It? http://shop.findingtruemagic.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=CT_NW_DVDs
Good luck! Hope you make friends!
Peace, Jack

Comment on Real But Not True by E

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:02:54 +0000

Hello

I have been reading, lately, much on “real but not true” and have, with much repetition, had some success but I must keep at it.

My question is this: what if something/situation is “real and true”. For example, I have been in a discussion group for the last year. Recently, about a month ago, a new person entered the group. I noticed, over time, that this person will say hello to me but will ignore me the rest of the evening talking to only a couple of other people in the group – ignoring me and others. I found this to be a “real and true” situation. I can’t speak for the other people who are ignored but only for myself – I feel angry, worthless, rage. How to I deal with a “real and true” situation? In Buddhism, what does one do? I have allowed my feelings to stay, I have tried to stop the mind chatter but I can’t find peace and I’m not going to leave the group. This situation is “real and true”

Comment on Ego – The Fearful Sense of Separation by jackelias

jackelias — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:44:06 +0000

Thanks for sharing this wonderful example of listening. May you continue to cultivate a loving inner environment.

Comment on Ego – The Fearful Sense of Separation by Keith

Keith — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:08:45 +0000

Once during a parts therapy session, my “parts” all ganged up on me and said that we can get and go where we want if it wasn’t for “Keith”. Well, I’m Keith, and I was offended and didn’t know what they wanted from me. They suggested that I listen closely and do some of the things that they suggested and see if I liked the results. Keith is still listening and now can tell when he does and does not follow what comes from inside. Last time I didn’t listen, the candy bar pulled off one of my gold crowns!

Comment on Ego – The Fearful Sense of Separation by jackelias

jackelias — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 22:26:02 +0000

Thank you for sharing, Sondra. I deeply respect the efforts your Great Heart made to emerge from the darkness of abuse and depression.
Peace, Jack

Comment on Ego – The Fearful Sense of Separation by Sondra Lewis

Sondra Lewis — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 21:20:58 +0000

I love the depth of this conversation. The ego is only an affect of me as part of a species forgetting my connection with Source Energy. Once that happened I got scared that I would surely die and thought I needed to protect myself. I then started judging what was good and what was bad based on my fear of death and not getting what we wanted. When I identify with Source Energy the energy that created all things, I can trust the process and am open to the lessons that Source Energy( the energy of love and creation) is teaching me. Since I am in fact one with Source Energy these lessons are actually ones that I create for myself to encourage me to remember who I truly am. Each time I remember who I am and integrate that into my day to day affairs by embracing the oneness theory through my thoughtful expressions of forgiveness, understanding, compassion,patience, tolerance, kindness. These qualities equate to unconditional love and trust of Source Energy and myself as being one with that Energy. As I do this I have experienced pure joy and happiness. This is coming from a women who suffered deep depression due to physical and emotional violation and exposure to others who suffered from metal illness. I believe the biggest source of mental illness is our forgetting who we are and in my experience the remembering healed me.

Peace and blessings,
Sondra

Comment on Ego – The Fearful Sense of Separation by jackelias

jackelias — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 18:10:24 +0000

Thanks for your comments. Kemila.
It all depends on how we define terms. I do not define ‘ego’ as a thing. In my book, Finding True Magic, I coin the term ‘egoic-minding process’ to highlight that ‘ego’ is not a thing that can be or needs to be destroyed. The process of ‘ego-minding’, however, can be changed, in the same way that if you are slapping yourself in the face, you can stop that useless and hurtful activity. So “Ego” can’t be destroyed or released (because it is not a thing) but the activity mislabeled as the thing “Ego” can be stopped.
From the ultimate point of view, which you seem to allude to in your comment about “no enlightened beings,” there are no enlightened, nor confused beings, no death, and no suffering. Do you know the Heart Sutra? — I think you would like it.

Comment on Ego – The Fearful Sense of Separation by Kemila

Kemila — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 17:02:09 +0000

I wonder if “Ego” can ever be “released”, but we are free no matter what. It’s false premise that we can’t be free unless the “ego” goes away.
Yes Jack, it’s an identity thing. Thoughts and emotions are there, but we are not thoughts and emotions, which always changes. Who we are can’t be that which changes.
Yes, it’s death. There is no hope in it. We can’t stay as caterpillar and hope/think/believe that we can fly. Caterpilla has to die. And that’s the beauty of death.
So in this case, there are no “enlightened beings”. Separate beings have died. When enlightened, one is. It’s not “we are one”, because there is no “we”.

Comment on Ego – The Fearful Sense of Separation by Sandro

Sandro — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:40:56 +0000

Great post Jack. Always inspiring.

Well…my comment is: I know, I know but…easier said than done