[andymania]

I took a nice walk today to the local library. As I was walking, the bastard popped into my mind again. Another setback. (it has been a while). The thoughts about existance and feeling dreamlike came roaring in. No panic, but it really put me down. I think the trigger was when I read Scattered's post and this was what really frightened me:

"There aren't doorways that have been opened into other universes, links to god or truth or anything else. Its just a different frame of mind. Its not a spiritual epiphany, just an ordinary realization. Its just that this ordinary realization has vast implications. When you realize that things contain less "weight" than you once did, everything becomes light, airy,...reality is something that wafts through the air like rings of dissipating smoke rather than the solid pillars of objectivity we once thought it was.

I couldnt help. I kept thinking more and more about this and it scared me. I really tried to do what Janine said regarding focus outward in such situations but the advice seemed to be overpowered by the thoughts and I ended up trying to figure it out instead.

I keep trying to practice this way way of thinking when situations like this arise, but I keep failing and end up obsessing.

I wonder if I will ever change and solidify my positive thought patterns.

-Andy[/quote]

 

[Scattered]

Seriously, don't listen to anything I say. Often times its a bunch of bullshit, or a rant, or simply out of anger and confusion. I'm in the same boat, except its this mental masterbation that helps keep me where I am situated, miserable, scared, and lonely.

 

[Guest_]

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[Milan]

Andy I understand where your coming from. A word of advice; if your trying to distract yourself by NOT thinking about your existentail thoughts don't bother it doesn't work (well at least not for me), rather pull your attention away from your thoughts by engaging your mind in something that needs your minds full attention like reading technical stuff, working out a math problem, watching a doco on something that interests you. If the thoughts/fear are not too over the top you may find that this helps.

 

[Monkeydust]

Milan's advice is really good. You don't get your mind of stuff by trying not to think about stuff, you do it by thinking about something else.

Often times its a bunch of bullshit, or a rant, or simply out of anger and confusion. I'm in the same boat, except its this mental masterbation that helps keep me where I am situated, miserable, scared, and lonely.

Scattered, I don't know if this was sarcastic or not, but it really is very true. It sounds harsh, but this really is mental masturbation, and if you want to get better you're probably best off realizing that it is just that. Give it a try.

 

[Scattered]

I still value the search for an answer. I'm just saying that others shouldn't think about sh*t if its freaking them out. I'll continue to look until I either find an answer, hit bottom and stop, or am gone.

 

[Monkeydust]

Searching for an answer doesn't necessitate turning your back on "ordinary life" entirely. If your needs aren't being met then it's no surprise that you'll be having symptoms. You can look for answers without making it a full-time occupation.

With all your endless scepticism, wouldn't you have thought it's an idea to be sceptical about scepticism itself?

 

[Scattered]

Skeptical about skepticism itself...ha. No, I'm not skeptical about skepticism because I've come from a point of being gullible, and easily led into various religious ideas or spiritual concepts, to being more critical about these ideas. I've found that its easy to accept things as they are uncritically and go about life rather than ask difficult questions and try to evaluate them. But ideas that come about by blind acceptance have a tendency of leaving you when things are at their worst.

 

[bright23]

There are no answers, it is simply an error of the human mind to think that this world, or the thinking process itself will reveal "answers" to fundamental philosophical "questions."

We can improve our own human situation only when we let go of the need for answers to unaswerable questions. We have to learn to sit in that uncomfortable and groundless position of "there are no answers." We learn how to relax in that fundamental uncertainty, we let go completely, and then finally we can focus out on the physical world around us ? the only world there is, the only moment there ever was.

Have you looked into any eastern philosophy? I find it really helpful to help get my head out of that typically western mode of "I need an answer, I am stuck and WILL not move forward until an answer reveals itself!"

 

[Scattered]

Jesus Christ....eastern philosophy IS an answer. Its just another answer. Its where people go when they NEED something to believe in. Its fulfilling the same basic desire for an answer that I have but in a different way that is thinly veiled as a personal philosophy and not a religion. It tries to somehow make itself above that of other methods of inquiry.

 

[bright23]

Again, there are no answers.

"Be a lamp unto yourself" ? that's the closest you're going to get in this world.

 

[Phill]

If you believe Jesus Christ is "an" answer, look a little deeper
into who He said He was, make a LARGE study, and i mean a BIG one.
Look at all the information you can possibly get your hands on!
Delve deep into all the "fors" and all the "againsts" about Jesus Christ.
And of course include the Bible in your search, at least the entire new testament.
Your study might well go on for a week, month or maybe a year. Search with ALL your heart and intellect and strenghth and soul.

Then if you come to the conclusion that Jesus 'is' who He said He was,
you have truly hit the jackpot!!!