Question 11
I am in recovery from Alcohol and drugs. I find myself replacing these by acting out with deviant sexual behaviour and being filled with all the guilt and shame surrounding these acts. Then I pray and focus on my spiritual condition and cease the self-destructive activities for a while, only to fail again. This binging and purging is taking it's toll. How can I break this vicious pattern of behaviour?
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Question 12
What is fear and how do I deal with it?
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Question 13
Based upon your definition of enlightenment, what are the salient characteristics of an enlightened person?
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Question 14
Does God speak to us individually? I want desperately to believe in God.
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Question 15
I have been on a spiritual path now for 30 years and now I find myself in a crisis. I am in a relationship. She is a good, loving & generous person but mentally and verbally there is a great deal of chaos between us. It is exhausting and energy-draining. I am more interested in the Center-less Space of Being, while she tends to dwell on emotional and sentimental things, which I experience as a burden. I feel psychically drained for two or three days after we have had sex. What shall I do? Am I destroying myself in this relationship? Could this be the point in my life, where I have to 'die' to that too and let go of the need to be in a relationship?
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Question 16
I was with a teacher for about 5 years who taught a group of us various methods, which were designed to help us to see ourselves more clearly and he also taught us some methods to help break up the habits of consciousness that we were caught in. They did lead to different experiences and insights. I hung onto some of them desperately so as to be free of me and open to something beyond me. But, after awhile it seemed to be a false freedom. I could see this by my limited and stiff responses to the people around me. I wonder if presence requires a remembering. How do you come back to Presence? How do you remain in Presence without it being a doing?
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Question 17
I read the teachings of Steven Harrison, and Andrew Cohen. The former is of the opinion that one has to do nothing in order to be free and that no particular practice or meditation could liberate one. Andrew Cohen, however, says that one has to put effort and cultivate the intention to achieve liberation. My question is this: How do I reconcile the teachings of these two teachers?? While one says there is nothing to be done, that meditation is not be the answer, the other says that effort is necessary, and that meditation helps.
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Question 18
How does one deal best with excessive guilt and feelings of unworthiness? It seems my mind never stops coming up with thoughts that disturb me. Even as I learn my lessons, my mind will find something else to prevent any possibility of peace of mind.
For instance, at the moment, it has me almost convinced that I made a sort of sacred promise, that I don't live up to. Can that be? Should I worry? Would it be okay to just let go of such thoughts, if I can? Another is the fear that I may somehow make some "eternal mistake" or get the people I love into trouble. How about those? Thank you for any advice you might have.
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Question 19
What must I do, what must happen, for me to AWAKEN and be free? How do I do this? Where is the moment from asleep to awake?
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Question 20
I don't understand the aspect of sex in one's life. Should one use sex for only producing offspring or should sex be embraced freely when truly in love? Is sex a part of the lower self and in order to become the higher self, one should overcome this aspect of oneself by remaining a virgin?. Should sex be embraced in life in balance with other aspects of yourself?. What are your views on homosexuality is it natural or abnormal?
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