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Tommy

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Viewing 15 posts - 106 through 120 (of 228 total)
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  • in reply to: Friendships #428071
    Tommy
    Participant

    You grew up in an environment that did not have close friendship. and you think the grass is greener on the other side. So, you long for a friend that you imagine will be he perfect listener. Sorry, life isn’t fair and you are disappointed. Go read a book. “How to win friends and influence people” by Dale Carnegie. You can get some understanding of the structure of some friendships. Now, you can expand your understanding by using what you have learned. Meet someone and talk. The toughest part may be finding someone who has similar interest or lives nearby.

    Personally, I have had friends. Close friends which have disappointed me. In high school, my best friend was gay. Although in those days it was not cool and everyone made it a miserable thing to be. Anyway, I go out to visit my girlfriend. My best friend at the time gets drunk and follows me to my girlfriend. He then proceeds to rip out the phone from the wall. I get in trouble and lose my girlfriend. Yeah, so it may have been nice to have a friend but …. Anyway, now 65 years old, I just do not wish to have close friends. I just hang with the wife and daughter. They have their friends and that is enough for me. I keep busy with my hobbies.

    How to make real friends? Well, that depends on the person you are trying to be friends with. It may be a person who gets close to you and helps you. Or it could turn out to be someone close who can ruin you. So, I wish you good luck and happiness.

    in reply to: Intrusive and Anxious Thoughts #427947
    Tommy
    Participant

    [quote quote=427880]Now, even though the issues is resolved and I am studying at my dream place, I keep on getting flashbacks of that situation, and I sometimes keep on ruminating on what ifs like what if that situation would have actually happened. It is taking an emotional toll now and I am sort of tired of ruminating on intrusive thoughts and having breakdowns even though that situation didn’t happen in reality. Please suggest what should I do[/quote]

    You know what needs to be done to get you out of this cycle of believing your thoughts more than the reality. You need to release the thoughts of these possible tragedy. To not bring to mind these thoughts. It will take time to make your mind run a routine of being mindful of your thoughts. Control your feelings and what concerns you. Sure it is not an easy thing to do when you are in the middle of the thoughts. Feelings pop up and discord takes over. But, if you keep the practice of being mindful of the present and the things you need to do and think about then eventually you will make progress to living in the present and being happy. But, if you continue to ruminate over the past then all hell breaks loose. You will lose yourself in those thoughts. I wish you strength and a good handle of those things you need to deal with. Good Luck.

    in reply to: Unable to find a spiritual community that fulfills me #427882
    Tommy
    Participant

    [quote quote=425580]

    This post is awaiting moderation.

    [/quote] November 23, 2023

    in reply to: There’s always something missing.. #427846
    Tommy
    Participant

    I like the way Zen Buddhism gets to the direct point. Much like the story of the westerner going to Japan to learn about Zen. He goes to the master’s house to interview him. Rings the door bell. The master answers and invites the westerner in. They sit down. The master then offers tea. The gentleman kindly accepts. The master starts tot pour the tea. It goes to the brim and he keeps pouring. The man stands up to avoid getting the tea on his pants. He says, the cup is full. No more can go in. The master says that the cup is like the westerner’s mind. It is full of ideas about Zen that there is no room for more.

    So, what is the point? Why tell you this story? There is so much going on in your life. You just do not see the whole picture. Buddha said that life is Dukkha. Some translate that to suffering. It is more of s dis-satisfaction with life. Buddha was a prince whose father protected him from the ills of life. Gave him women to serve him. Food to fill his belly. All the pleasures of life. And, still he was not satisfied. You are going thru similar feelings. You live this life but are not satisfied by it. Is it friends you want? Is it a good education? A career that excites you? You find, once you have that something new, you begin to long for the next big thing. If you think you do not belong in this group, that you are special, that there is something more to life, that you deserve more or better. Then, I am sorry I posted here.

    There really is not much more to say. I wish you a great life. Be happy.

    in reply to: Is Life Itself Divine? #427778
    Tommy
    Participant

    Life has no meaning unless one gives it one. Life is divine when one travels the spiritual path.

    in reply to: My Kundalini Horror #427777
    Tommy
    Participant

    Seems that it has been a couple of years since the OP has been here. Please let it be that he has found peace. Calling it , .. His horror with Kundalini, … whether it is or is not , … that is not the point. I neither believe in his story nor do I disbelieve. It was something he posted in his time of pain. Pain can make men do strange things.

    For me, pain is quite a personal thing which I tend to not share unless I think I can find relief such as going to see the doctor. However, there are people who come to forums to talk about their pain in relationships. Seeking friendly words and may be some helpful advice. He did not seem to want advice nor did he reach out for relief of his pain. He only seemed to want to share his pain. And in that way, I hope he found relief.

    What is there to take away from such a person? He was a sight one sees along one’s journey when one stops to see the sights. Now time to move on.

    in reply to: Lies – stay or leave? #427741
    Tommy
    Participant

    No one knows you better than you. However, yours is a viewpoint from only one side. Seeing you at 31 being engaged and about to be married, you now have feelings of distrust and don’t know what to do about it. Lie- leave or stay? I can only ask you if you are happy? Are you happy? Are you happy being with this man or not? He will not make you happy. You must find happiness in yourself first. Then, his presence will compliment your happiness. If you are not happy then his presence will only make for more grist for the mill. You then will only grind out more drama. If you do not think you can get over these deceptions then maybe it is time to be alone? Maybe you do not want to be alone? Can you survive a collision with yourself? I wish you well. And hope you find the happiness you deserve.

    in reply to: Truth: The Whisky Talks #427727
    Tommy
    Participant

    Buddha and the truth, …

    In the times of the Buddha, a man came up to the Buddha and asked if God exist? Is there a God? After talking to this man for a little while, he answered that there is no God. Buddha’s disciples noted this. At another time, another man came to the Buddha and asked does God Exist? Buddha talked with this man and finally answered that God does exist? Buddha’s disciples were now very confused. The disciples asked why Buddha answered that there is not God and there is a God. What is the truth? Buddha replied that the first man did believe in God. And if he was told there is a God then his spiritual journey would end with that answer there is a God. So, he was told there is no God. The second man did not believe in God and his spiritual journey would end if he was told there is no God. The truth was that neither person was ready to end their journey. They needed to continue.

    So, is there a God or is there no God? Does it matter? What is the truth? What matters is to lead those people to find the truth. To continue their journey and find their truth. Where does this compassion and wisdom come from? The deepest part of love.

    This is such a simple story and so full of traps to fall into. Believe in the Matrix? Believe that it does not matter to learn to have an honest living? That one’s life is a program to do as society says to do? That seems to me to be a very narrow view of life.

    in reply to: How do I meditate? #427540
    Tommy
    Participant

    What was described in the first post are the steps involved with beginning meditation. There literally thousands of ways to meditate. Some bring immediate help and relief from stress. Others do nothing but help one fantasize. There is relaxation and release of thoughts. There is one pointed meditation. There is meditation on words or mantras. And many others.

    Some people meditate for relief of stress. Others look for enlightenment. What is the purpose of your meditation? What are you looking to do? Goal? How one meditates depends on what is one’s aim. And, if there is no aim then that is also an aim.

    There are plenty of people who can give you advice based upon what you said or not said. Plenty of Youtube videos. Instructions abound. All you have to do is choose.

    in reply to: Moral dillemas #427539
    Tommy
    Participant

    Sorry, I am not a woman so I do not see it from a woman’s point of view. You seems to be more invested into this relationship than just platonic. There has been no meeting and no face time? If you want to meet so badly as to cut him off unless he is on a plane to meet you then it must mean you want something more than friends?

    From the man’s point of view, he does not want to commit to a relationship that he is unsure of. Yes, platonic. Then as friends, the only demand should be to talk every so often as to keep in touch and up to date about life. But, if you are a woman then he might have feelings that he can not control. It makes him want to meet you. He may want to see if there is a possibility of more than friendship but he is not willing to be rejected. Putting pressure on him to be on a plane to go meet you, that is in a sense rejection. He will feel this. And depending upon how deeply he wants to meet you, he will make his decision.

    That song by Nicollete Larson, “Lotta Love”. It comes to my mind when I read your post. I hope you find what you’re looking for.

    in reply to: Did I push her away? #427420
    Tommy
    Participant

    Men instinctively want a woman who is not seeing more than one person at a time. And since she hid the fact she had a sugar daddy, whether there was sex or not, it was like a betrayal. You could not hide your disappointment by not testing her good nite. That was you rejecting her. She read your feelings. And saw that there was no way you could get over it. You having made a decision to stay with her. She rejected you. She is not going to give up someone with money and who can give her things she wants along with experiences that comes from having plenty of money. Remember her suggestion that you could sleep with other women?

    To answer your question, you presented your feelings even though you do not think you did. She, having a clear mind, also made the decision to end it. Her situation is not what you are looking for and will cause more issues in the future.

    You’re lucky to have met someone who gave you a chance. Now you live and love. It is time to grow.

    in reply to: Karma and recovery #427378
    Tommy
    Participant

    [quote quote=427339]Dear Tommy, Thank you for writing about karma, however, I am not understanding some things. When you say harm returns to others do you mean harm returns from me? Also, how is one meant to manage one’s emotions then? Sorry if these seem silly questions. Is there a book or video you can recommend? With thanks and best wishes, Rebecca[/quote]

    There are no silly questions. However there may not be an answer. When harms returns to those who cause harm, it comes from their environment. It may be you. It may not be. I do not know.

    How is one meant to manage one’s emotions? IDK. I feel emotions but I do not act only upon those emotions. They do make me think. Sometimes I wonder what caused it and other times I am trying to resolve those feelings. As a child, I felt many emotions. Some good and some bad. When the emotions alone made me act, the results were not good. As I grew older, I learned not to act only from emotions. I can not say how anyone else should deal with their emotions. I do know that if one holds onto anger or hate then the emotion possess a large part of one’s mind. Some call it baggage. Others call it a weight.

    I am guessing that I am not a good influence on you. Causing confusion. Please let me withdraw from more confusing answers. I wish you well.

    in reply to: Karma and recovery #427328
    Tommy
    Participant

    Yes, living in social groups, gives opportunity for others to have intentions or good or harm. But, their intentions are not your intentions. It is not you sowing nor reaping. It is theirs. When a person causes you injury, your anger and thirst for revenge becomes peaked. They sow harm and harm returns to them. That is living this life. Buddha said that life is dukkah (suffering). Some say that the life we live in now is because of our previous Karma. Whether it is or not, I do not know.

    Doubt, compassion and wisdom are all about walking the eightfold path outlined by the Buddha. Although they do not use words like doubt. I use doubt as not believing, not putting the proper effort in, not having faith, not able to see the truth. Compassion and wisdom, being able to see the truth of a situation and being willing to help as one can.

    Thinking of one’s life as a freshly fallen snow. Then someone walks thru our life and leaves a trail. We want our life to be back to that first fresh snow fall. But, we can not. The more we push snow into the foot prints then more we mess up the fresh snow. If we try to avoid looking at it then we hide the truth from ourselves. But, if we accept the foot prints and allow it to be then the next snow fall will brighten up the snow again. Moving past it we will see fresh snow again. If we hold onto the hurt caused by others then the more we hurt ourselves. So finding forgiveness provides a release from holding onto this hurt. It does not mean to forget. It does not mean to be as before. It means it will not have a hold on you. I do not have access to give you which will free you from this hurt and pain. No one can just give one instructions to free oneself from hurt. Only you can. I wish you well.

    Note: Yes, the analogy falls apart. Just like in life, when we go down to smaller and smaller details, the laws that govern our world do not quite apply.

    in reply to: A study in loneliness and rejection #427322
    Tommy
    Participant

    <p style=”text-align: right;”>You are in the grips of depression. Friends and family could help if they know how you feel and they care about you. I hope you find someone who can help. The person who can light the spark in your heart so you can live a happy life. No, no one person can give you that. You have to find it in yourself to be happy. But, it sure does help to have someone on you side cheering you on.</p>

    in reply to: Karma and recovery #427321
    Tommy
    Participant

    Since we do not know the specifics of why these people want to assault you, we can not give advice to action to prevent more assaults. You should consider removing yourself from those situations somehow. May be even think about calling police. Get order of protection.

    Karma is a big subject filled with many opinions. Many books are written about it. Who is right? IDK. My opinion (please do not hate on me for my opinion) is that what you sow is what you reap. Plant an apple tree then an apple tree will grow. It can not become an orange tree. Read somewhere if you live by the sword then you will die by the sword. Now, others think karma is an outside force that creates justice. Like, hurt someone intentionally and the universe will hurt you back. For me, there is no agency to dispense justice. Justice is a human idea. For me, karma is wrapping your essence around others. If you are kind then kindness returns to you. If you are cruel then cruelty will be returned to you. What you sow is what you reap.

    Donating money does not remove karma. Clearing karma (true karma, in my opinion) requires one to remove doubts and live the life of compassion and wisdom. Living in this way will bring you mental peace. Compassion is not just empathy. And wisdom is not just knowing stuff.

    Your obligation of forgiveness? Your obligation is to try to let the hate or any emotions associated with these assaults … let them go. Sometimes it requires us to forgive so we can move forward and away from these ties. This is not an easy task.

    I hope you take appropriate action to protect yourself from harm. And that you can find a happier future.

Viewing 15 posts - 106 through 120 (of 228 total)