Have you guys ever had an epiphany?

[Castout]

Two days ago I just had my first epiphany. I wasn't making it up it suddenly came to me clearly that chasing after money or financial success is not my life calling.:).

It's the first time that I realized this and actually accept it. Before two days ago I was concerned about being financially successful.

Actually that was not the only thing that dawned on me but I felt that God accepted me wholly even though I'm a sinner and it affected me such that I was willing to accept anybody else since God accepted me even though I'm a sinner. I felt acceptance and a majestic feeling that I belong to God and I looked forward to be with God, the feeling of uh I cannot even describe it:nope: I felt being lifted up that I'm part of something higher, majestic and glorious....chosen. I just cannot describe it.
The anger in me just disappeared too I was no longer in enmity with anyone....you know my sig..I just wasn't interested in feeding my anger and whatever pain that I carried felt that they have disappeared and I felt I was complete... never knew I was incomplete before

I've been Christian all these 30 years and never felt anything like two days ago:D

Okay now you guys can laugh at me:yep:
or maybe it's time for me to say goodbye to this world..I'll post an address so that you guys could send me flowers.lol:rotfl2:

[Sledgehammer427]

I don't think that deserves being laughed at.
I applaud your epiphany. :yeah:

After a recent breakup, I was devastated, but I went to back to how I thought as a child, always analyzing, always thinking. I stopped being spontaneous and random, and I started being introspective, and it got me more happiness than any girlfriend I ever had. Of course, I still desire a significant other, but I'm in no rush to get one.

I just never got into religion, I think too scientifically to accept a god. I tried, but it just wasn't for me. But don't fret, my best friend and fellow subsimmer is christian. I get along with so many people from so many backgrounds I found peace in accepting all of them. It's a nice feeling.

[Castout]

Well I don't think an epiphany is something worth given applaud it is just it is:). Since it just came to you without effort or anything it just dawned on you from no where. At least that was how it is for me.


Yea I find no problem accepting people from any background either well as long as they are are not a psychopath :O:

[Skybird]

Just take it as what it is: a sudden insight into some aspects of life, resulting in a changed state of mind. Don't interpret things into it, don'tr try to give it names. Don't try to repeat it, don't hold expectations of what comes next, don't rationalise it later when you remember it from a greater distance - just accept a readiness of yourself to let your mind open wider, if that eventually should happen. Every label and every conceptional context you use - just minimises the experience.

You can't trigger it by practicing things, or obeying rituals or teachings. You just can let it happen if it happens. And eventually you can help surrounding conditions to increase the likelihood for that happening.

There are people who are chasing "enlightenment" all their life, and never see a single sparkle of light. Others just do never care for such things, see a bird landing on a tree - and all universe around them suddenly has changed. My advise is: just don't care for "enlightenment". Every thought on and expectation for it is wasted. Just do what you do - and don't do two things at the same time.

[Castout]

I'm not chasing anything or trying to be anything than myself :) but that's some wisdom Skybird :up: Now that is worth an applaud!

[Chad]

I'm pleased you were able to achieve this. I myself recently had one, and since then have had a different view on the world. The trip to Europe for the SubSim Meet 2009 was a real eye opener, there is more to this world than what it seems at first.

Around last year this time, I was contemplating joining the Navy, and in fact posted on here asking for peoples advice on the subject. Through counseling (more like group counseling, but not leaving out UndrSeaLcpl) I decided against it and continue with college, and am within several credits short of my bacheallors degree with a whole future infront of me.

As you mentioned, I was able to think of how it was when I was younger, thinking about how things are to be when you're older. I began to appreciate things, such as my parents and home life more, and am the happiest I've been in years!

As Sledgehammer mentioned too, I had a girlfriend, fiance, leave me, and it crushed my world. That was the original intent to join the navy, to get away. But through help from friends (online and not) and my family, I got through it though not completely happy till I moved to my current university, met some new people and girls ;) and know there's definately more out there than I could ever imagine.

Best of luck in the future, and God bless Castout

[Jimbuna]

As we say in the UK Chad...."there are always plenty more fish in the sea" :03:

[Platapus]

Can't say I have ever had an epiphany, but I have had a Satori.

Congratulations. The next question you need to answer for yourself is: what are you going to do about it?

How will you make your sphere of influence better?

[Castout]

Satori? Umm what's the difference of that to epiphany?

It's not about losing a girl for me. It never was at least in the long term. IT'S MORE ABOUT A BATTLE OF IDEOLOGY FOR ME. Besides it' better to not marry than marrying the wrong person imo and haven't seen a worthy girl in a very long time. It's just that people with beautiful heart are usually ugly on the outside while beautiful people are ugly in the inside. The most beautiful heart that ever felt was that of a Catholic nun while she was praying..but on the outside well she was not much on the outside. Her shell really protected her. I would not have guessed such a beautiful heart could exist inside her shell. Like I said better to stay single than marrying an ugly(in the inside) woman. And most people that I encounter if not all, are ugly and to certain extend stupid(without wisdom) and it doesn't take a spiritual contact to notice that, the bests are still untried too, pretty much untested. It takes a flood to test the foundation of a house until then you can't really tell.

I know now money is not my main goal in life. I've realized money is just not my cheese. I've accepted all that I've gone through. As for what I'm going to do next I'm going to LIVE eager to experience the next big thing :D to await what life has in store for me. To not be afraid of life. To see more possibilities in impossibilities. 2009 has been a barren year for me but then again it's not about the experience but the journey itself. I hope when my time is due I would die with the same feeling I felt three days ago when I had that epiphany. But I'm struggling whether to tell what came to me or to keep them myself, the ethics and consequences are not to be taken lightly though they are far in between. I've been pretty much silent in the past and afraid somebody would take advantage of my silence or even take credits for them(these people are low). I'm not crazy over recognition but I feel a little humiliation to those that put me down and persecute me would be somewhat an eye opener. Right now they are playing a broken song of victory over me. A fake smugness sort to say, ignorance and insult are their main weapons. To break free is my goal I guess.

[Skybird]

Satori? Umm what's the difference of that to epiphany?


Satori (big time enlightenment of top grade in gold with oak leaves, plus fanfares and fireworks in the background :D), Kensho (a brief moment of insight and understanding into one's own nature) or just Makyo (hallucination and fantasizing during meditation) - don't let yourself be concerned by these, its just technical terms and labels, and if you pay attention to it, it leads you back to where you were before the "event".

It's all too much thinking, that flatters the ego and keeps the intellect humming around in circles - and that makes focussing on such things and even craving for them a problem in itself, and it makes you running around and telling everybody what a clever Dick you are. I do not judge the specific claims in this thread (how could I, and why should I?), but by experience with dealing with a lot of people investing time and energy into what they considered to be a gaining of spiritual fitness I say that many people claim to have had this or that experience, and they followed specific practices and thought that to raise them any spiritual merits, and the more such merits, the closer to Nirvana they thought to be - and in reality they just had fallen for their own ego's mental creations. Don't step into that trap.

You can gain nothing that is not already inside you, and always has been, there is nothing additional from the outside that you must search for or can find and add to "yourself". So if you find out - why the fuss you make about it? Whether you call it Kensho or epiphany, means nothing, and only distracts you from the things you are actually doing. Meditation and having spiritual experiences, is no martial arts. There are no coloured belts to be gained, nor any badges you can wear on your jacket. Be focussed on what you do, don't rush ahead or lag behind with your mind, be aware of how your thoughts are working and form the image of your world. That is better than having a thousand clever thoughts about Satori. Instead of asking questions about Nirvana or Satori or epiphanies of feelings of God filling yourself, you should ask yourself just one question: "Who am I?".

;)

[CastleBravo]

I wasn't making it up it suddenly came to me clearly that chasing after money or financial success is not my life calling.


So you have accepted that you will be a financial failure. Congratulations! You will be living with your parents until they die, no interweb @ $8.25/ hr. No new clothes, Rhaman noodles three times a day...etc...etc...

Let me guess, European, or Obama Democrat. Kudos for your experience.

[Skybird]

So you have accepted that you will be a financial failure. Congratulations!

Let me guess, European, or Obama Democrat. Kudos for your experience.

Damn materialist! :arrgh!: :D

If enough is not enough, then it never will be enough. That's what usually is called "chasing the money".

But what he actually says is that he has understood that if you have enough, then it is enough - and that there must be more in a life than just gaining possessions that sooner or later wane again.

And seeing it like this, is wise.

[CastleBravo]

Damn materialist! :arrgh!: :D

If enough is not enough, then it never will be enough. That's what usually is called "chasing the money".

But what he actually says it that he has understood that if you have enough, then it is enough - and that there must be more in a life than just gaining possessions that sooner or later wane again.

And seeing it like this, is wise.

I guess for folks without ambition and wish to complain about other's success this is a wise course. But making something of ones self is hardly without reward. in a fair world we call that making money and capitalism. The alternative is mediocracy at best. Who wants to be known as mediocre, or worse?

[Skybird]

Are you aware that you need to put it to extreme interpretations in order to make your point on mediocrity? If somebody lives his life in a way where he can support himself and those next to him, does not depend on the money of others, and says that instead of raising himself a monument or building a big company he prefers to invest the rest of his free time for something he sees as more valuable to him, may it be for example family, or arts, or charity, or whatever - I fail to see what makes that "mediocre" a way to spend one's life. You define "ambitions" purely materialistically, and that is the essence of materialism/capitalism: that there is nothing of value in life that goes beyond material gains, possessions and money.

But that is simply not true, but indeed a very poor way to see life. If you were right, people should be the happier the more money and business succees they have. But that is not true, and especially very successful people in banking, medicine, big business, often pay a physical price for their excessice work overload, in becoming ill, physically or/and mentally.

Man does not live by bread alone. There must be more.

And just for the record, Castout has not complained about people being successful.

And finally, what is "success". Is it to be defined by just the level of admiration for you by others, as you express above? I would not necessarily call that "successful" beyond a purely statistical statement. To me it has more to do with being "fremdbestimmt" (nonautonomous). And to me somebody is the more unsuccessful in his life the more he is depending on others, both materialistically or intellectually and psychologically. Autonomy - is an alternative to a purely financial description of success. You may have let'S say some idealistic intentions, for which to realise you need to raise money. Okay, fine with me. But here the material aspect does not become the decisive criterion to judge success, but is just a tool. Success is to what degree that idealistic vision gets realised - whether it be by raising the needed money, or realising it in another legal manner.

Money as a tool is one thing. Declaring it the meaning of life - is something different. And the admiration of others - sorry, I am beyond that, really. I only really care for the opinion of people about me whom I really know and to whom I have a relation that I consider to be valuable to me. To know that there is a million of people knowing that I exist and just did this or that - means nothing to me.

[CastleBravo]

Are you aware that you need to put it to extreme interpretations in order to make your point on mediocrity? If somebody lives his life in a way where he can support himself and those next to him, does not depend on the money of others, and says that instead of raising himself a monument or building a big company he prefers to invest the rest of his free time for something he sees as more valuable to him, may it be for example family, or arts, or charity, or whatever - I fail to see what makes that "mediocre" a way to spend one's life. You define "ambitions" purely materialistically, and that is the essence of materialism/capitalism: that there is nothing of value in life that goes beyond material gains, possessions and money.

But that is simply not true, but indeed a very poor way to see life. If you were right, people should be the happier the more money and business succees they have. But that is not true, and especially very successful people in banking, medicine, big business, often pay a physical price for their excessice work overload, in becoming ill, physically or/and mentally.

Man does not live by bread alone. There must be more.

And just for the record, Castout has not complained about people being successful.

I see and know your point Skybird, and don't dismiss it out of hand. The point I am trying to make is that an epiphany about not having to make money should go hand-in hand with one about what one will do with ones life.

As an example. Bill Gates certainly had an epiphany in his garage. It wasn't about making money, it was about changing how computers work. MS DOS changed everything and Gates was rewarded for it.

I didn't get any feeling Castout knows what he wants to do other than not make money.

[Skybird]

He did not say he does not want to make money. He said something like that he must no longer crave for making more money than he actually needs for a living, that'S how I got him when he said he is no longer priporitizing what he called "financial success. He said that he felt accepted in life in a way that was somewhat "universal" - and obviously was totally independent from financial criteria.

If I would think he just started a self-glorifying parade in order to get rewared a social wellfare-ticket over religious reasons and not needing to make his living himself anymore, I would be the first to wash his head, or else kick his back. I love religion, have you forgotten? :D

as long as he does not claim any right to demand others needing to pay for his future mental/religious/spiritual/whatever intentions, I see no problem , for the only one being materialistically effected by his new understanding - is himself.

[CastleBravo]

Well what he said was....

Two days ago I just had my first epiphany. I wasn't making it up it suddenly came to me clearly that chasing after money or financial success is not my life calling.:).


And it certainly isn't everyones life calling. Not mine either. But to not have a calling for financial success can be interpreted as a calling to mediocrity.

I know it is none of my business, but what is the second part of the epiphany? What is he going to do with his life? The first part is telling him to be a bumb, please tell me there is a second part.

[Skybird]

I think we just let him clear it up. I referred to the same sentence, but I interpret him less literally than you seem to do. But we can know for sure only if he comments on it a little further.

[Castout]

So you have accepted that you will be a financial failure. Congratulations! You will be living with your parents until they die, no interweb @ $8.25/ hr. No new clothes, Rhaman noodles three times a day...etc...etc...

Let me guess, European, or Obama Democrat. Kudos for your experience.

Hmm not exactly like that it means my ambition is not money.
I was worried about financial success before but I've realized money is not my ambition and not my goal in life.

it doesn't mean I will be a bum either it merely means money is not my ambition. It means I'm grateful with whatever money I get and not wanting more. Whatever work I do it will not be merely because I'm wanting more money it will simply because either I like the work or because I need the money or both.It doesn't exclude the possibilities that I will be rich or even extremely rich either but it merely means money is not my ambition.

it means it's okay if I didn't end up with a big house with luxury cars or a high position in job. It doesn't exclude those possibilities but they no longer be a part of my dream or ambition.

There's a verse in the bible telling one cannot serve two masters mammon and God(mammon being money). I was always worrying and had ambition to become financially successful that it became a sort of goal to me but not anymore. I've realized chasing after money is just not my calling.

But then you may ask how could one be rich if he doesn't have ambition to accumulate wealth? That's a question which answer I'd like to keep to myself. The poorest works the hardest yet they are still the poorest at most they become mediocre, the very wealthy work less yet they are even becoming even wealthier. Anyway I don't aim becoming wealthy but that doesn't exclude me from the possibility.

Skybird got the most of my point ;D

[CastleBravo]

The accumilation of wealth isn't important. But please do something to make yourself happy. For me it was aviation. I still love the feel of a Piper Cub. I can make it sh1t little green apples.

[Castout]

Well what he said was....


And it certainly isn't everyones life calling. Not mine either. But to not have a calling for financial success can be interpreted as a calling to mediocrity.



Then you're judging everyone with how much money they make money is your yardstick in life. Bill gates is probably a mediocre singer and a lousy actor.
John of the cross is probably a lousy merchant but he was a great mystic.
A person may be a great soldier but is a mediocre businessman. But your view is shared by many people in today's world that measure a man's worth by how much money he is making.

I know a priest of certain monastic order who is very successful. In fact he is like no other man I know. Not even Obama. In my mind he is a great person. But he doesn't have a lot of money. If he wanted to stray from the righteous path he could even change history and the leaders of my country or at least making himself extremely wealthy. No joking. You would ask how could he? I mean he's just a priest . . .because money is your yardstick. The Somalian pirate leaders probably have more money than most of us. Is he a great man to you? There are people who ran away with people's money in my country I mean really lots of money in hundreds million of dollars and got away with it. You think they are great men?

[CastleBravo]

Don't judge me by my ramblings, lest you be judged. I'm with you Castout. But please have a calling. It is the most important thing you can do for yourself and the Lord.

[Castout]

The accumilation of wealth isn't important. But please do something to make yourself happy. For me it was aviation. I still love the feel of a Piper Cub. I can make it sh1t little green apples.

of course we all should strive for our own happiness. MUST INDEED :DL

[Castout]

Don't judge me by my ramblings, lest you be judged. I'm with you Castout. But please have a calling. It is the most important thing you can do for yourself and the Lord.

Of course we each do what we could do to the best of our ability in whatever calling we are called into some maybe called way differently than others so people began to question them but let the giver of all calling who started all things finish His masterpieces in each of us so that all be revealed in its due time. We can only guess what the other people's calling really are. But we each are called in our own special way. I believe no man's life is ever wasted.

[Castout]

If I would think he just started a self-glorifying parade in order to get rewared a social wellfare-ticket over religious reasons and not needing to make his living himself anymore, I would be the first to wash his head, or else kick his back. I love religion, have you forgotten? :D

as long as he does not claim any right to demand others needing to pay for his future mental/religious/spiritual/whatever intentions, I see no problem , for the only one being materialistically effected by his new understanding - is himself.

Hmm whatever I'm not looking for anything I'm merely speaking truth If that sounded like self glorifying then I guess you took me wrong but that really sounded glorious wasn't it:D? They are my victories in battle. I have a battle of ideology that you don't know anything about. If you thought I was boasting well I'm boasting that God is my helper that's all. Who is like God is my battle cry! I certainly don't need any free welfare ticket:O: I just can't stand the mediocre people to put me down! Yes you are right that sounded glorious indeed! I didn't mean it to be self glorification though. But they are sure glorious indeed and I haven't even begun to write anything substantial.lol but people often cry cockiness to veil their jealousy and hatred. I haven't even begun to write anything substantial yet. That was nothing. I have a God that I want people to know! I have victories that I want people to know. I want everything good that God has done to me(not me myself) be eventually remembered by my own future children at the very least. I want people to know WHO IS LIKE GOD! So this is my battle cry WHO IS LIKE GOD!

In return of lies and cheats of my enemies I gave them the truth. I'm not desperate either as I have hope. I just would like to tell the world that they have GOD.
And if I died right now, today or tomorrow I could say what a glorious God you are! What a journey!

[Skybird]

Hmm whatever I'm not looking for anything I'm merely speaking truth If that sounded like self glorifying then I guess you took me wrong but that really sounded glorious wasn't it:D? They are my victories in battle (...)

Well, if you read me correctly you'll see that I defended you from a suspected accusation and did not say you were boasting, but I said that I assumed you to be exactly not on what i called a self-glorifying parade.

[CastleBravo]

I will vouch for Skybird, if that is necessary, and appologize for any insult you may feel. I don't think either of us accused you of being vain glorious. And even if we had done so niether of us are in a position to claim it about you.

GD
CM

[nikimcbee]

I'm pleased you were able to achieve this. I myself recently had one, and since then have had a different view on the world. The trip to Europe for the SubSim Meet 2009 was a real eye opener, there is more to this world than what it seems at first.

Around last year this time, I was contemplating joining the Navy, and in fact posted on here asking for peoples advice on the subject. Through counseling (more like group counseling, but not leaving out UndrSeaLcpl) I decided against it and continue with college, and am within several credits short of my bacheallors degree with a whole future infront of me.

As you mentioned, I was able to think of how it was when I was younger, thinking about how things are to be when you're older. I began to appreciate things, such as my parents and home life more, and am the happiest I've been in years!

As Sledgehammer mentioned too, I had a girlfriend, fiance, leave me, and it crushed my world. That was the original intent to join the navy, to get away. But through help from friends (online and not) and my family, I got through it though not completely happy till I moved to my current university, met some new people and girls ;) and know there's definately more out there than I could ever imagine.

Best of luck in the future, and God bless Castout

@chad: Stick with school and you can't go wrong!:yeah: Even though I'm not even remotley doing what my degree is in:dead:, it still totally opened up the door for me. find something (usefull) that you like to do learn it in and out and become really good at it, then make a career out of it.:woot:.

[Castout]

@chad: Stick with school and you can't go wrong!:yeah: Even though I'm not even remotley doing what my degree is in:dead:, it still totally opened up the door for me. find something (usefull) that you like to do learn it in and out and become really good at it, then make a career out of it.:woot:.

Of course school is number 1 whether you knw your calling by the time you enter tertiary education or not yet

Well, if you read me correctly you'll see that I defended you from a suspected accusation and did not say you were boasting, but I said that I assumed you to be exactly not on what i called a self-glorifying parade.

Ooops :oops:. I read you wrong?? So ashamed. Sorry about my babbling :DL

I will vouch for Skybird, if that is necessary, and appologize for any insult you may feel. I don't think either of us accused you of being vain glorious. And even if we had done so niether of us are in a position to claim it about you.

GD
CM

Hmm no worry I didn't feel insulted in fact I feel surprised you guys don't try to contradict me :D. It's all cool. If there were people who insulted me it wasn't you guys on subsim. This post is for the world to see ;)

Just that for the people around me their weapon of choice are ignorance and denial. Would love to discuss and ask say theology of death with people who really know it for example but I just never got the chance. My friends largely ignored me on my testimony(knowledge) on death because it doesn't fit the Roman catholic version. My mother is even worse wouldn't even want to listen. I put the facts from the bible too and get plainly ignored or worse refused to be listened to. Ignorance is really an effective weapon of choice! Sometimes they use denial too. Plainly denying things which is true. That's one of the reason I keep silent when I feel other people heart especially my own family, the other reason is ethics wouldn't want to embarrass them. I just needed to take a peek at their faces or I used facial expression once to convey to a priest which wasn't saying a thing entirely true and it worked since after staring at him in the eyes he revoked his speech, other than that I slipped my tongue once because I didn't agree to the person who was feeling it. Ignorance and denial often got to me. I know I'm considered enemy of a state which explains the discrimination(generous discount to my grades) and society pressure and the way my family treat me. Shame on them.

[Sailor Steve]

I could be wrong, but I get the feeling that much of that last statement of Castout's should be taken in the context of what he wrote in his signature.

I've never had an epiphany, and have slowly come to conclude that most of what I've ever believed is wrong. But that includes both the times I was a devout Christian and the brief period I tried being a devout atheist. My calling? I may have been denying it all my life, and it may have snuck back up on me recently. We'll see.

As for you, Castout, I'm behind you 100%. Some people will say that the internet is not a place to discuss personal issues too deeply, but that is one of the things I like about Subsim - for the most part I feel free to talk about almost anything.

I hope your newfound faith and orientation work out for the best.

[Shearwater]

A really interesting thread, mates :DL If it's here to stay, maybe I'll post something about a very curious and pleasant experience myself. Just now, I'm not sure whether it's too personal, and I'd be too tired to phrase it anyway. In any case, there are some things in here that have really kept my mind busy for quite a long time.
Keep it up! :ping:

[Skybird]

I must admit to me this thread makes less and lesser sense. I must conclude that I allowed to get misled by flawed impressions in the beginning. My wrong. I'm out here.

[longam]

Enjoy life, Eat your Honey. Take off the mask.

http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/5102812/EatYourWaytoBeautifulSkin-main_Full.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW32D_Y4Bhg&feature=related

[Castout]

I could be wrong, but I get the feeling that much of that last statement of Castout's should be taken in the context of what he wrote in his signature.

......

As for you, Castout, I'm behind you 100%. Some people will say that the internet is not a place to discuss personal issues too deeply, but that is one of the things I like about Subsim - for the most part I feel free to talk about almost anything.

I hope your newfound faith and orientation work out for the best.

Hey thanks Steve perhaps the reason I babble about my personal life is because I have no one to listen to me. :)

Enjoy life, Eat your Honey. Take off the mask.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW32D_Y4Bhg&feature=related

:hmmm: I'm not wearing any mask!
Nor I'm trying to create a certain image. Perhaps you misunderstood me. Most importantly I'm not a liar unlike some people:).

[Castout]

A really interesting thread, mates :DL If it's here to stay, maybe I'll post something about a very curious and pleasant experience myself. Just now, I'm not sure whether it's too personal, and I'd be too tired to phrase it anyway. In any case, there are some things in here that have really kept my mind busy for quite a long time.
Keep it up! :ping:

:03: I already said too much didn't I ?!