BootsnAll Travel Community

kudos to captain and eowyn for moving ahead and posting even more.

Everything we do is based on if we really want to do it or not...Has anyone decided to not complete the workbook assignment?

I need feedback here folks...even from those who temporarily stopped or flat out quit.

Please tell me:

Is it hard asking yourself these questions?

Or... is it just hard coming up with an answer for many of them?

Is there a feeling of...Whats the use in answering?

or...Ignorance is bliss...I'd rather just let sleeping dogs lie...why stur up the waters?

What has personally come up for you while doing this assignment or from choosing not to doing/finishing this assignment?

Were any question[s] just skipped over? Why?

Should there be a commitment agreement prior to starting...such as: if you start this...you must finish it...even if it feels uncomfortable?

What say you on these matters?

I have spent a lot of time on this assignment, some of the answers have been easy to answer but some I have been thinking about for sometime and I have yet to answer. It is easy asking myself and I can answer some of these questions in a superficial way quickly and easily but I want to give true answers and that involves me looking at my entire life and that is what is proving to be difficult and time consuming and doing that brings up many more questions.

I have committed to this because I believe one must understand and know themselves and I did not know the truth to many of these questions.

The questions that I have skipped over I am finding more difficult to answer but I am continually thinking about them. There is one in where I have a mental block and it occurs where I have issues in that subject. I am asking myself many many questions….and I know the answer will come in due course.

What I have done so far is empowering.

Thanks for the feedback Captain!

...and your process is to be commended!

Hi oldhippy,

I can't speak for the others, but at least for me, I have been able to answer all of the questions fairly easily because I did all of the 'hard work' on much of this stuff in the past. A few years ago, for a good 12-15 months, I really tackled my views on God and religion, and put all of that down in writing. It took a really long time for me to get where I am today, philosophically, and suspect it will continue to evolve over time, as I come to new understandings. I also grazed the surface of the purpose/meaning of life back then.

As far as the likes/dislikes, dreams, strengths/weaknesses, I tackled this stuff last fall, so it didn't take long to bring it back to the surface.

I have never thought about your question on Truth, which is why I haven't answered it yet; I have never really thought of the natural laws either, but I think that will be a lot easier for me to do, since I already have a lot of stuff in mind.

Hello Hippy,

There were a few things that really caught my interst in this thread, and I responded directly to those without really going into great details for the personal quest. I hope I didn't break the rules!

I guess one of the questions I"m going to have to really look into is my views on God/religion. This hasn't really been an important issue lately, but, the deeper I get into my life purpose (changing people through music) I sometimes wonder if we all have a predetermined "purpose". Now I don't happen to believe in fate , but, I do think things come into our lives when we are prepared for them, does that make sense? Or do you guys and gals think it's the same thing?

For example...I don't put much faith in the idea of a "soul mate", but believe a wonderful person could come into your life when you are ready for it.

Ok, I shall stop now before I make any more of an ass out of myself

Hippy,

I have to admit it is hard answering some of these questions. It seems lately that I've lived life on autopilot and I'm just recently coming out of it. I've never really taken time to plumb the depths of my own thoughts and feelings.

This is rough. Still a work in progress.

Thank you one and all for the feedback, I asked for.

I needed to make sure this was not just a lesson in futility...of which I really wouldn't want to waste your time by adding even more crap!

Chris: You and everyyone else... never has to worry, as you say, of making an ass out of themself.

As there is no right or wrong answers on this board...there only is...as you see things...at this place in time.

On some of these other topics...perhaps all we need is to first prime the pump

For example...on recording truths...The first truth I found was:

"The only consistency we will ever really know in life is change."

The next was: "Seek and ye shall find."

When you read and reread these statements, can you find the depth/substance in them?

You can debate them until you are blue in the face...but would they still stand up after taking them apart?

for example... if in the moment, you felt a million miles from having peace of mind...wouldn't you, as your very first step in finding it, actually need a "prime motivator", such as that found in the statement:

"seek and ye shall find?"

In fact...Why would you even take a step, or begin any search...unless somehow you intuitively knew, the answer you sought, was actually possible?

Truths can be collected as you find them along your way...but if you do find one...please write it down, for these nuggets can be strung together like the "pearls of wisdom!"...which is another name for the "wisdom of the ages"...for these truths will remain long after all around it turns back into dust!

Riddle:

My most precious possessions can neither be lost, stolen, or ever destroyed.

They can be freely given, yet never ever given away....what is it, that I speak?

Answer: Love and Truth

They are the obvious ones but I will ponder this a bit more.

Ok...you all jump in anytime you have something you want to share!

Part 2 of the assignment starts right here:

The line, you must cross to start Part 2:
---------------------------------------------------------------

Have you noticed I would rather have you asking and answering the big questions rather than just having me answering them for you?

There is a reason for this....Each person must get "it" on their own!

Sure it would be easy for me to attempt to fix all your woes...but that is not why we are here?

I come from a place, where being "fully accountable" for the quality your life is directly related to your abilty to first... "get it."

I asked you all...on another thread for you to ponder and ask your self, "What is possible reason[s] for human suffering?"

Why would I ask that?

For if there were not suffering...would we ever get off our butts and do anything to change, or question our lot in life?"

As we are by our nature, creaturers of comfort...my vote is no, we would be just like the masses that attempt only quick fixes for what ails us...but never attempt to find the route cause...by digging deep...and asking the big questions!

For if you are a true seeker...who wants to find the absolute truth to your life...You are to be commended!!!!

Your cause is most noble...and it all starts with: "personally getting it" and accepting... the real you....warts and all.

Part 2.

Make a list of all your short comings...your embaressments...your regrets...those things you feel sorry for...list all those you have harmed or hurt, [including yourself], list all your guilts...for we are about to take this assignment up to the next level.

Do be strong here...dig deep...and remember...everything we did before this point...we did it out of: ignorance...and for that we can ask for and receive atonement.

and what is atonement?

atonement is: at-one-ment with our self and with our universe.

So remember...prior to this point in time...We simply did "not know" that every action of ours has a reaction... and that if we are still carrying around any negative emotions...we must now, first cleanse the vessel....before we can fill it with all the joys of which are rightfully ours...just for the asking!

So... list all your regrets...all your actions made out of pure stupidity...out of jealousy...out of anger...out of ???? ....[You fill it in].

Share if need be! We are all in this together!

Oldhippy,

I really like what you just posted, and understand what you're referring to, as far as each of us having to reach a place on our own; no matter how much others may help or provide input, we really have to come to that place and realization of our own accord, and fully embrace it.

I will start on Part II this weekend.

As for the truths, well, I love the two you posted, and agree with them. I'm still working on this piece of part I though!! Perhaps I might add..Life is hard?? Could that be a truth? I just thought of that, because I was reflecting on your comment regarding how so many people seek the quick fixes, rather than really getting to the heart of the matter/problem, and I have always been one to really try to figure out the root problem, and solve things right at the foundation. I think that's one of the reasons it sometimes seems I'm really sedentary, and don't get myself out of situations I'm frustrated with -- because I want to address the underlying problem, rather than a quick fix.

Hi Hippy,

Once again, you provide us with outstanding insight. Thank you so much

quote:

Have you noticed I would rather have you asking and answering the big questions rather than just having me answering them for you?

There is a reason for this....Each person must get "it" on their own!

This one really stuck with me. After reading countless books, asking myself countless questions, etc, something FINALLY clicked within me, and I got it! At least what's most important to me.

And, in my enthusiasm, I try to encourage my friends to change, becuase it feels damn good, better than anything I've ever experienced.

But, then I read something that truly shook me, and the way I look at things. Events, objects, views on life, etc, all only mean something because we as individuals say it does.

Kind of like we all (99% of us I'd say) tend to think our taste in music, movies, religion, etc is more in touch with whats really important.

This really hits home for me with my friends. Insteand of trying to change them anymore, I've stopped bothering with it. Finding out the meaning of their lives may not be important to them. Following the local sports team and being able to watch TV 6 hours a day may have the most value to them. And it's no better or worse that what's important to us. The TV lovers and seekers of truth think the other is crazy for not thinking how they do

Sorry for my poor grammer, spelling, syntax, etc. I hope you nderstand my points!

And on the the second part of the mission...while I haven't went through all my embarrasments, regrets, etc, I HAVE been looking at a list of the shortcomings of my life, why they are a shortcoming, and what I"m doing to change them.

It is a bit scary, but very empowering. I find it's taking time to overcome these things. But I"m not quitting this time. If I backslide, I'll just have to get caught back up.

Well, I hope you all get something out of this.

Thanks again Old Hippy and all contributors, you rock!

I think another truth might be that we each come up with our own vision of life and reality - tied to what Chris said!

Another truth might be that you can't change anyone elses' core belief system. That's probably tied to each person having to come to 'It' on their own.

Just a quick progress check in:

No words but sums it up !!!!

I am actually muttering words now...

This was a real toughie for me, I'm normally a positive person so concentrating on all negative aspects has been really difficult.

Has anyone felt the same?

Howdy Howdy,

For me, I have a tendency to always look for new problems to fix, so I consider it more preventive maintenance instead of focusing on all the negative

Try to think of it that way and see if it helps. View it as taking control of the negative parts of your life, and turning them around. If that doesn't make it easier, keep looking till you find something that does!

Thanks for the positive reassurance, Chris.

I wouldn't be pulling those skeletons out unless I thought I could turn them into a positve or unless I could ultimately learn from them. I have really dug deep and I am remembering a lot of things that I have buried long ago.

Just looking at a list of them is very confronting.

I'm falling behind, but I feel this is really important. I'll try to catch up.
Thanks,

Jet

I had a really busy weekend Fri/Sat, and then yesterday I spent all day reading a book, so I haven't gotten started on Part II yet. It's definitely gonna happen though. Maybe it'll be my project at work this week!

The stuff we bury or hide is scary only because we couldn't deal with it correctly when it occurred...that is why they call it skeletons in your closet...we are digging up old remnants that really can no longer hurt us...but skeletons are still kind of scary, huh? ...eh, [aye] to our Canuk friends!

The reason we want to dig them up...is so we can free the spirit and be done with them...once and for all!

Guilt has no value...but for change!

Use all the old crap for fertilizer, to grow a whole new crop of our choosing!

Every thing on that list that has left a negative residue has a lesson to be learned from it.

The goal here is to turn a negative into a positive...by growing thru it.

It may be as simple as just accepting it that it happened...and then to choose to let it go...to move on to greener fields...or to truely forgive yourself...for you really did not know then what to do...or to forgive another...for they were only acting out of their ignorance as well.

But ask yourself on each one...if I knew then...what I know now...would I/could I, have handled it any differently?

Was it so totally out of my control, I can only accept that it happened ... and I survived it...and I am stronger for it...and then, if nothing more can be learned from it...I can now let it go!

Write thru each one...or even find another growth oriented friend to discuss it with ...or discuss it right here. You have a community of helpers just waiting to help you here.

remember...Forgiveness is yours...but for the asking!

Ask...and ye shall receive!

Hey oldhippy, just a quick question; one of the things I really regret was a past relationship. Nothing new there, right? Well, I constantly kick myself for getting into it in the first place, and I know a lot of it was because I didn't know then what I know now, but I still beat myself up about it, totally block out the mental images of the relationship because it makes me feel ill, and really haven't forgiven the guy, because I don't really think he was ignorant regarding his actions; I think he was aware of what a prick he was. Oops. That kinda lets you know how I feel!

So I don't know what I'm saying here, other than that I can't fully blame him because I definitely allowed the relationship to happen, but at the same time I can't let go of my animosity towards him (haven't even seen him for 2 years or so), because I feel like he took advantage of my state, so to speak. How do you forgive someone who you feel is a bad seed at his heart?

Or maybe my question is, how do you forgive someone who isn't necessarily ignorant of his actions, but is more premeditated, and fully aware of what he's doing? I guess this could cover all sorts of people/circumstances, obviously not just mine.

Lynn