trying to live harmoniously

[true1]

I have had a few anxiety attacks in the past, but most of the time I just have super strong reactions to everything. My anxiety can make my blood pressure go ridiculously high even though i have low blood pressure. Anxiety attacks are THE WORST. If someone hasn't had them, it is difficult to describe it to them. I always feel like I am going to die and I am out of control.
I had a really intense experience once with meditation where I realized I was not in control of anything, and my mind just gives the illusion of control. When I feel a threat to myself i just react strongly. I have been noticing the more i accept i am not in control, the less anxious i am. I do not believe in God, but as you have noticed the powers of the universe and nature are what is in control. We are really nothing in this infinite universe.
anyway i found this book online that really helped me understand how things work better.
there are a lot of other spiritual books out there too, like Eckhart Tolle that can help out too.

[Jethro Tull]

I have had similar experiences during meditation.

That book "The Present" at The Truth Contest that you linked is incredibly interesting.  Thank you for sharing.  I have never seen anything like it before.

[true1]

Glad you guys like it. It gets more and more interesting as you read.
It actually was completely cured of my fear of flying (I used to get so anxious all i could do is sit there and listen to the sounds the plane was making to see if it sounded alright LOL) because I got to the point where I realized nothing but the present moment even exists, so it makes no sense to worry. After that i just kind of watched my fear and didn't identify with it, and i could even sleep and eat !

[BruiserBear]

Lose the fear, and you lose the anxiety. 

[mellowout]

I'm about half way through "The Present".  I'm going to say it again.  THANKS!  This book is incredible.  It rings true the entire time I'm reading it. 

[tmicrowave]

love your post!
thanks for sharing
i agree with you nature is in control!
nature is god!
everything is god
to me
i used to get pretty deep into mediation myself

[true1]

Mellowout,
I am very happy you like the present. The first time I read it it was like lights going off in my head and bells in my ears because it was like something I had been looking my whole life for. It is incredible that you say "it rings true for me the whole time" because that is EXACTLY how I felt! Just keep on reading it gets even better. When you are done I would like to discuss it with you if you don't mind. 

[Jethro Tull]

I'm about half way through "The Present".  I'm going to say it again.  THANKS!  This book is incredible.  It rings true the entire time I'm reading it. 

Yeah reading this is like an emotional roller coaster for me; I have literally been in tears and in full laughter during some parts.  It is so simple and obvious when someone says it in a simple and obvious way.  It's sort of like I know everything subconsciously before I read it, but this book brings it to a conscious level.  It brings forward a lot of things that the mind usually hides.  I am also about halfway through, and I just don't want to stop!  Where did you find this?  It is great that this book is free and interesting to read, a lot more interesting to me than other books that have the same topics.

[mellowout]

True1,

It would be great to discuss the book.  I'd imagine I'll have it completed by mid week.  I have 2 small children running around the house, reading is definitely a luxury I can only take advantage of incrementally... 

E

[true1]

Take your time! Reading that with two little kids around is understandably difficult, kudos to you. Just let me know when you are done. 

[Jethro Tull]

True1, I just finished The Present, and I will not hesitate to say that it is the best work I have ever read.  It has really helped me to see things more clearly, and I have already noticed myself catching my neurotic behavior more and more, separating what is "real" from "illusion."  Thank you so much.

[Insane-Bolt]

Hi,

Someone said this book is free, is there somewhere I can download it online?

Or where can I buy it from?  I would be very interested to read this.

Thanks.

[mellowout]

Search "The Truth Contest" on Google, it'll be the first hit.  The book is a linked MS Word Doc...

[true1]

True1, I just finished The Present, and I will not hesitate to say that it is the best work I have ever read.  It has really helped me to see things more clearly, and I have already noticed myself catching my neurotic behavior more and more, separating what is "real" from "illusion."  Thank you so much.

Thanks, it has helped me begin to do that too. You would think it would be easy to remember that everything the mind creates is not real, but we have been following our own delusions our whole lives so it is a hard habit to break. Whenever i find my mind wandering off or whenever i am giving to much life to my thoughts, i just begin to feel my whole body and begin to become more present and grounded.

[true1]

and Hi! Mellowout,
did you get a chance to finish the book?
 

[Jethro Tull]

Thanks, it has helped me begin to do that too. You would think it would be easy to remember that everything the mind creates is not real, but we have been following our own delusions our whole lives so it is a hard habit to break. Whenever i find my mind wandering off or whenever i am giving to much life to my thoughts, i just begin to feel my whole body and begin to become more present and grounded.

It really is a hard habit to break.  I am seeing how my mind blocks out and filters out life ever since I read that book.  That drawing on page 1 of The Present is so simple, but so amazing at the same time.  It makes it clear and obvious that the mind is the problem, and it is something we can check for ourselves.  "Life is perfect; it is just our minds that mess it up."  I really like that line from near the beginning of the book.  This is something that I want to read more than once, despite its length.  I really want it to sink in.

[mellowout]

I stalled out on reading the book.  Need to sit back down and get through it.  I may start over again.  So much good info that calms my nerves as I read it better than Xanax...  ;)

thanks for checking up on my progress, good reminder to keep me in the right direction.   :-)

[true1]

no problem, mellowout
I feel the same way, the more of it i read the more i am able to overcome my imposing mind. everytime it sneaks up on me now i just look at it for what it is; something that is not real. everything that is created by the mind is not real. It is up to us to live in harmony with the natural order of the universe. it is such a joy, knowing you are just a part of an infinite universe that works within you and without you. everywhere and in everything. the more you understand its nature the easier it is to let go.
if you keep reading it and deeply understanding it i bet you could possible get off that xanax.
If you would like to discuss the book or any probs you can email me at sunonmytoes@0204
 truth is what i love the most, so i would love to discuss it with you.
take care.

[Jethro Tull]

I stalled out on reading the book.  Need to sit back down and get through it.  I may start over again.  So much good info that calms my nerves as I read it better than Xanax...  ;)

thanks for checking up on my progress, good reminder to keep me in the right direction.   :-)

I agree, it rings true the whole time and has a lot of good info.  I think I am going to read it again too.