Facing Doubts...

[kakkarot]

sometimes it is needed to put your current beliefs on hold, or doubt them, so that you can take a more objective look at them. because while you still believe in them, no matter how hard you try you will never be as objective as when you doubt them.

of course, this isn't to say that you will soon enough belief them again, and believe in them even stronger than before (you could end up turning away from them). but what is important is that it gives you an opportunity to take another look into your beliefs without your subconscious already agreeing with everything you hear and see.

hopefully, you faith in your beliefs after this passes will be stronger than before, whatever it is that you believe afterwards ^_^ .

good luck with this []

~kakkarot

[Meedan]

This happens to me from time to time. It is perfect for getting you to actively think, reason and question things. It gives you the opportunity to turn those beliefs into something more concrete, or to replace them. A little reminder to be more open-minded I suppose, it is also important to accept and consider the possibility that you may be wrong about some things.

No matter what we believe, and no matter how many people believe it, it's not going to change the truth in the universe. For this reason, believing is not enough, we need to KNOW.

Seek.

[beavis]

If your beliefs are based on faith, any little thought can tear it down like a house of cards. If you believed stuff because you directly experienced it, it could be a fast decline in your energy level causing you to not feel it anymore. If you dont have any experiences that prove what you believe, that is enough to make you stop believing it, as it should be.

[lifebreath]

I've been through the cycle now many a time. Each time of doubt has caused me to question more deeply, to seek with more fervor and has built character in the process. In the end, I have gained a richer understanding, come to a greater inner peace and have often been humbled as well. But during the termoil, it can be a little unsettling. Trust that whatever really IS, remains, regardless of how you perceive or interpret IT, and that you are rooted in that REALITY and that if you are internally honest and humble, you WILL move through to a higher place.

Ever read "A Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyon? Perhaps you should.

[The AlphaOmega]

Perhaps I will.  Thanks for all the replies.  After a few days of meditation I think I've got it mostly worked out.

[rodentmouse]

"the truth is, there is only the truth".

i know  how  you feel, i  really like to beleive what i do,  but im scared of devoting myself fully to them because meedan says,  you need to KNOW.
I like  to beleive that everything we say,do,think etc..  is natural  for our development,  being insecure all  the time is neccassary for someone to develop there confidence, and those "bad patches"  are just as vital as the good ones-
but then i think what if its not,  what if its all just an illusionary web  of knowledge  which i picked up here and there, burying  itself so deep into  my subconscious that what i beleive is indistinguishable from  what IS.

i like to beleive that meditation is  the key to escaping these doubts,  but when i do get depressed and paranoid,  meditation hasnt always freed me from these pains-  this  completely throws out the idea of meditation being "the key".

i think true beleive/faith trancends  the doubt of the ego,  that is why  enlightenment seems so credible, because its a way of being that works directly  upon the consciousness,  not like religions which  grow from the mind, still based upon the ego.

[jilola]

I think that doubt is an indication that the belief needs to change in some way. The change could be anything from the complete discarding of the belief or some subtle change in one's point of view.

Doubt in one's  belief arises, in my opinion, when one has proceeded beyond the level of understanding one had at the inception(correct word?) of the belief.
Also, doubt is often an indication that belief is becoming dogmatic and rigid when it really should be intuitive and malleable.

Change is what ultimately causes doubt, whether it's conscious change or  subconscious.

2cents & L&L
jouni

[kakkarot]

stagnation also causes doubt. after having believed something for too long without it ever being challenged OR EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT, eventually (and eventually may be months, years, or even decades) a belief is going to be doubted if there are no (or not enough) experiences which can support the belief.

~kakkarot

[James S]

Hi TheAlpha,

I think I understandwhere you're coming from here. You get this nagging feeling that you're not going in the right direction, or there are some beliefs or ideas that just dont feel right anymore.

Tell you what made a huge difference for me - read Robert Bruce's Catch Basket Concept:
http://www.astralpulse.com/articles/robert/articles_44.htm

It talks about an effective way of stripping back your belief system if it's getting too cluttered or confusing, and getting right back to the core of your beliefs. It really turned my spiritual life around and set me on the right path.

Regards,
James.

[Jon_88]

I was a firm sceptic , thought after being bit/poked by kundalini after a lucidreaming/OB meditation (wich failed ,im still not sure ob exists ,but im willing to hazzard a bet that it does) .i seriusly was in need for answers .

According to my docter im delusional ,gave me antipsycothica wich realy made border psycothic, and my psycologist have had me tested for epelepsi wich came back negativ (so shes sending me to a BIGGER epelepsi test).

Well i suddenly came over a kundalini site and i had about 80% of the syptoms , so my quest now is to deconstruct my earlier belif and replace it with what i know (wich is VEERY little) and get this kundalini under control (any tips folks?).

The only things i realy belive in now is :

there is most likely a god (since i dont think you could experience kundalini in a nongodish universe, unless its a kontagion contracted trough meditation and triggers spirituality in people).

It is possible to see magnetism and feel it (experienced it)
it is possible to know what is beyond your senses. (ive had a few times a uncanny ability to guess/know what opponent has/is doing in games) . But its bloody hard to separete it from wishfull thinking!

So yes i guess i suddenly came around given it took more than a day .but a year a go i call what im saying ,crazy talk. But still i long for better proof (it would be nice to prove to my closest that i aint a total nutcase should i ever reveal what i belive in) .


I just know to well how hard it would be to belive without experiencing , some wouldnt belive even if I smacked physical evidence up . Some because they belive in things that wouldnt hold water or be the only right belief! But i guess they cant be called true sceptics cause my definition is that it is someone that dont belive but is willing to try something to prove it wrong!

[Tony M.]

I experience things like that as well, but in my case I think old programming pushes me back again every once in a while. I've changed a lot in the past year and I'm still working on myself. The problem with old programming is that it will "resist being deleted". The old programming will fight the new one and this can result in occuring doubts or, as I experienced, an allergic reaction. Can't really explain why I know this allergic reaction was due to my rapid change, but I just know. I also read a few books about this subject.

[Tony M.]

sorry, forgot to subscribe to the topic.

[sain]

well, I was baptized catholic, but am not really into any religion. I can understand what you feel though, because I have felt the same way.  if you sort through everything that's troubling you, it should get better (that's what I do when I have problems).

[LogoRat]

Religion is Evil.
God save us from religion!
*above was a joke*

[Akensai]

I went thru this myself; you begin to have heavy doubts and don't really know what you should belief. I remember before it I ran in circles replacing belief whit belief, although there were times when I didn't even realize I did, it kinda sneaked in sometimes and I didn't want to admit it. (As I believed in knowing and not believing.) After awhile I began to be very confused about what I should belief, and at the same time I realized that all kind of beliefs had sneaked into my mind. I think after my heavy confusion returned me to a point were I regained (perhaps truly for the first time) a more open-minded neutral stance on things.  

I'm sure Ill have to stay alert not to have beliefs sneak into my mind again, but I think this process of change towards knowing over believing is a good thing.

James already recommended you read the catch basket concept, I advice you to put some thought into this concept, because ultimately it leads to more freedom and peace, and without building up the weight of belief you have a greater opportunity to grow spiritually.

From this point you can make investigate into whatever topic/system you think will benefit your growth and sounds logical enough to warrant your effort to finding out its value.

[The AlphaOmega]

For quite some time I have been researching many different religions and ideas to gain insight into my own spirituality.  I gained a sureity in my beliefs that I never thought I would, and everything was great.  Then this morning, for NO apparent reason that I can think of, I felt as though I have been wrong this whole time.  I believe in God (right now I feel like saying believed) and life after death with no doubt lingering what so ever.  And yet all day today I have felt completely empty and doubtful about all of it, and I can't for the life of me figure out why.  Note that yesterday everything was great with no worries at all.  Does anyone have any idea why, so suddenly (over night), I went from being a wholly spiritual person to one who isn't so sure anymore?  Has such a sudden and extreme 180 in your beliefs ever happened to anyone else?  Please reply!