Learning...

Originally Posted by afrawfraw

The only reason why you don't worship Chris Angel, or others like him, is the fact that they admit before the performance that is illusion, not real. All your friend would have to do is show you his illuisions, and you would cease to believe he was magical.

Yes, 100% true... If they were illusions, and they are not =).

Originally Posted by eye exaggerate

...my guess would be that some people love media attention, and others can do without it. Besides, I'd think that having 'powers' of any sort would be an extremely personal thing / monstrous responsibility. Few people can induce samadhi with their presence, I don't know that TV ever could no matter who's on the screen People that are 'charged' in this way likely know what it takes to get there, and how easily the 'power' can shy away. It's conditional. First, a person has to cultivate the 'cause' to achieve the 'effect'.

samadhi (from wiki) - It has been described as a non-dualistic state of consciousness in which the consciousness of the experiencing subject becomes one with the experienced object, and in which the mind becomes still, one-pointed or concentrated while the person remains conscious.

^ that's when 'real' magic is experienced, I'm quite sure.

edit: a 'real' 'mystic' would have strangers say to them "I don't know what it is, but there's something about you..." (not necessarily sexual, but from that same idea) - a mystic would likely say "I don't have anything that you do not have". It's about helping people attain the fullest version of the self, not TV.

I wish I knew what his responsibility was, what his purpose is. He only told me "theres a few things I gotta do"... And he didnt achieve these abilities through practice, a life threatening event made him discover who he is, he could read minds ever since. He does practice and meditate to strengthen his abilities though... Believer or not, atheist or theist, if you touch him you feel a slight tingling in your heart.

That cause and effect explanation might be whats going on too, I dont know. Because when I thought he was crazy he felt no need to prove anything to me, but when I started to respect him then he showed me what he can do so I can start to learn for myself. Sadly, I have no amazing abilities yet lol most I can do is make other people feel their energy in their hands. I can see my aura too, its really trippy.

Originally Posted by Chief Walkin Eagle

Yes, 100% true... If they were illusions, and they are not =).

How do you know this? Waaaaiiit for it....waaaaiiit for it....

Originally Posted by Chief Walkin Eagle

I wish I knew what his responsibility was, what his purpose is. He only told me "theres a few things I gotta do"... And he didnt achieve these abilities through practice, a life threatening event made him discover who he is, he could read minds ever since. He does practice and meditate to strengthen his abilities though... Believer or not, atheist or theist, if you touch him you feel a slight tingling in your heart.

That cause and effect explanation might be whats going on too, I dont know. Because when I thought he was crazy he felt no need to prove anything to me, but when I started to respect him then he showed me what he can do so I can start to learn for myself. Sadly, I have no amazing abilities yet lol most I can do is make other people feel their energy in their hands. I can see my aura too, its really trippy.

...Shamanic Illness. It's scary stuff.

The future shaman sometimes takes the risk of being mistaken for a "madman". . .but his "madness" fulfills a mystic function; it reveals certain aspects of reality to him that are inaccessible to other mortals, and it is only after having experienced and entered into these hidden dimensions of reality that the "madman" becomes a shaman. (Mircea Eliade. Myths, Dreams, and Mysteries. New York: Harper and Row, 1960. Page 80-81)

Originally Posted by Chief Walkin Eagle

I wish I knew what his responsibility was, what his purpose is. He only told me "theres a few things I gotta do"... And he didnt achieve these abilities through practice, a life threatening event made him discover who he is, he could read minds ever since. He does practice and meditate to strengthen his abilities though... Believer or not, atheist or theist, if you touch him you feel a slight tingling in your heart.

That cause and effect explanation might be whats going on too, I dont know. Because when I thought he was crazy he felt no need to prove anything to me, but when I started to respect him then he showed me what he can do so I can start to learn for myself. Sadly, I have no amazing abilities yet lol most I can do is make other people feel their energy in their hands. I can see my aura too, its really trippy.

That's not true, you have the ability to frustrate people to no end and to believe groundless claims. Don't sell yourself short...

Originally Posted by afrawfraw

How do you know this? Waaaaiiit for it....waaaaiiit for it....

How do you fake reading someones mind and answering their specific questions when both people are completely silent?

Originally Posted by eye exaggerate

...Shamanic Illness. It's scary stuff.

The future shaman sometimes takes the risk of being mistaken for a "madman". . .but his "madness" fulfills a mystic function; it reveals certain aspects of reality to him that are inaccessible to other mortals, and it is only after having experienced and entered into these hidden dimensions of reality that the "madman" becomes a shaman. (Mircea Eliade. Myths, Dreams, and Mysteries. New York: Harper and Row, 1960. Page 80-81)

That makes sense, its very easy to be mistaken for a madman when you say you have these abilities. Theres more people like my friend in this town, I havent talked about them because I only had these experiences with my friend. I met my spiritual friends "master" (not really his master, just what he calls him). And he was mistaken for a madman, perhaps on purpose.

Originally Posted by Chief Walkin Eagle

How do you fake reading someones mind and answering their specific questions when both people are completely silent?

Psychology, facebook, and google to name 3. "Your worried." No shit. "You have an investment opportunity." No shit. "Your sister is in Hawaii." No shit. Again, just have him name us. Certainly a simple question can pass among friends?

He APPEARED to read minds. Without empirical data, you don't know what the fuck is going on, do you? Instead, you go on how they appeared. Then he told you it was magic. You never questioned it. This is faith. Faith is useless to me. Love, peace, and chicken grease!