Jesus spent 40 days in the Desert. I only spent 21, but here's what began to happen;

Interesting story. I've had slightly similar experiences just from camping. Every thanksgiving me and some of my family/friends go high into the mountains in British Columbia (where I live) and spend about 14 days there. I normally just bring a back pack and sleep on the bench seat in my truck.

After 2 or 3 days I'm always saying things like "Man this sucks, I wish I had a nice bed to sleep on" or really missing video games and tv. But then about 5 days or so of constantly fishing, hiking and hunting small game for dinners I start to forget that stuff even exists. It just fades out of my mind completely without realizing it.

On the very last day, when I realize that I'm going home my regular mentality kind of kicks in again and I look forward to having a hot shower and sleeping on a big mattress again. But then I get home and it's like..... I want to just go back to the woods. I sit down to play Xbox or watch a movie and I'm like wow.... this is really stupid. I can't even be entertained by it.

Then I think deeper. People literally spend their entire lives just sitting on their ass, soaking in all this crap without even taking a glimpse at life.



I don't have any profound moments with "God" or anything while I'm in the woods. Just a simple realization of how messed up our reality really is.

i never reached your state of mind but i did spend 31 days in the ozarks - 16 miles outside salem - no communication, no transportation and no protection - quite stupid really - had no idea just how really stupid i was - didn't know anything really -

but i worked every single day - clearing land, planting a garden - filling in deep logging holes so a vehicle traverse - i did the hauling of dirt in a plastic tub pulled by my leather belt - did a pretty good job -

the closest water was a mile away over rugged terrain -

had to wash my body every single day from the dust - and my clothes had to be washed frequently which was the worst of it all - a washing machine is probably the only modern convenience i can hardly live without!

i just didn't have your experience - but i did learn a great deal - i'll never do that again unless i have a rifle!

reply to post by anon29


Well people are usually curbed by a logical argument. I suppose your no exception to the rule; would it seem new to you if the person that didn't agree with majority was labeled a 'troll' or someone just trying to 'derail' the thread? Seriously the logic of most on here is seriously flawed, arrogant, and ignorant. Good Day.

reply to post by dominicus


You've proved me correct, great reply. I won't further outline it you've done an amazing job of doing that yourself.

reply to post by NoJoker13

Seriously the logic of most on here is seriously flawed, arrogant, and ignorant. Good Day.

A
As is your logic about this thread seriously flawed, arrogant, and ignorant. Especially when you see the majority in agreement about it, and your the only one not getting it, even after all your arguments were debunked.

The minority may be right about some things, but that is only true a minority of the time. This time, and on this thread, it's sadly not the case.

Lucky you didn't have any food, the Bears, skunks, raccoons would be making a house call, and no insects? what kind of Forrest is it that doesn't mosquito's? The mosquitoes would be sucking you dry, not to mention the ticks and other insects.
When I camped out in the backyard the raccoons would be coming by I could hear them breathing I'd tell them go away

spent only 5 days out in the wilderness with the wifey. Spent the entire time fishing and hiking. I didn't miss my phone at all, didn't miss the TV at all. I could actually see the stars in the sky (where I live you are lucky to see a few with all the light pollution). Just looking in the sky at night for hours is amazing... although we saw some freaky stuff in the sky (stars moving quickly across the sky and making 90 degree directional changes, not satellites..)

Walking through the woods and listening to life, smelling nature, it is really enough for me to be happy. It's a shame I cannot do it more often.

reply to post by dominicus


Wow! I had a friend drop me off twice out bush too. Once for 10 days and the second time for 7.

Everything that you said that happened the first week or so is dead true. You are the only other person I know of that has had a friend "dump" them in the wilderness, so I don't feel so alone anymore!

It's amazing how little you need to eat when away from society. I was climbing huge hills with a reasonably heavy backpack in warm weather and had plenty of energy on a handfull of food. Some days, I simply forgot to eat altogether.

When I am at work, I eat like a horse. Even though my job involves minimal physical activity, for some reason I just feel the need to eat excessively.

When I came back, society seemed so fake to me. I have never been the same since. I see everything exactly how it is and how unnatural it is, while everyone around me sees it as "normal", because it is all they have ever experienced.

A good topic- we all need to get away as Christ said to His disciples, but a bit presumptuous to think you are in the same league as Jesus.
He was temped 40 days by the devil to not give Himself up for the sins of the world- you took time to chill out but have no sacrifice to atone for your original sin except what God has supplied through Himself..
If you realise that Christ died for you personally that you might not be a swayed by this crazy world your isolation will be profitable. If you then become familiar with His word of spirit and life as He attests then you are on the Way.
And that is what you appear to be seeking but, like in the Matrix, there is an enemy of your soul trying to thwart God's grace toward you.
There is the blue pill
And there is the red pill
But only the Gos Pill will awaken and reconcile you to God
y

reply to post by dominicus


Again your doing a great job of outlining why you haven't reached any sort of 'enlightenment' or 'spiritual' realization whatsoever. It isn't about me here my friend, it's all about you, and you've proven to be offended by someone's ill comments toward you, something a quote unqoute spiritual man would care nothing about.

reply to post by NoJoker13

In rep,y to the Troll:

Again your doing a great job of outlining why you haven't reached any sort of 'enlightenment'

Never said I did

or 'spiritual' realization whatsoever.

These on the other hand, plenty. Third eye open, illumination by light of consciousness, holy spirit indwelling, various spiritual deaths, dark night of the soul, insight into the nature of the mind (I am not the mind), I can go on and on, but at the end it doesn't mean much other than to show that your assumptions are a prison cell in your troll life. It's sad.

It isn't about me here my friend, it's all about you, and you've proven to be offended by someone's ill comments toward you, something a quote unqoute spiritual man would care nothing about.

Oh believe me, there is no "offended" on this end, because I know the real you and Love you. I see your ego/mind at work trying to provoke others, hence the troll label. Part possible psychosis, part self gratification. The purpose of my replies are to defend truth, not to be offended. Your bullying and assumptions have no effect other than to prove that your statements are weightless.

at the end, there is still alot of love for the real you, the soul.

Congratulations. It takes guts to go out into the nature like that, thus being alone in pitch black with all the surrounding sounds

I'm with you all the way to step 18. Somehow I'm able to achieve incredible dimensions, but I just can't let go of fear at the end. it sucks. The grip of fear is too strong, and I haven't come anywhere close to managing my body's reaction to it. This will be an inspiration.

reply to post by dominicus


great op. wish i'd joined the party sooner. I am going to peruse a few posts in the thread to see if anything relevant is said....but re: the OP....

....the desert has a cleansing power all its own. To truly experience the type of experience that you refer to with the 40 days in the desert (which likely didn't happen, but is instead a story rife with esoteric symbolism related to the ancient esoteric schools) would require actually doing it in the desert. The southwest has its own mysterious aspects. The shamanistic people of the area (not the new agers, but the indian population) are very interesting.

BUt your assessment of the reality we live in....dead on accurate.

reply to post by dominicus


Ahh, the ramblings of a madman. Yes, is this direct correspondence from a journal that you kept while there is the solemn place?

Have you read any Thoreau? His works are a wonderful companion when attempting to connect with nature. Just remember the perspective you have gained while out there, and keep it close to memory, as you will need to call upon the very peacefulness to combat some realities.

What a great post, s&F!

Did anyone notice (pag5) that RevRay said he was dying? He hasn't logged on since April. I just found this thread (loved the OP, btw) and read every page. It bothered me that a faceless name behind a screen casually mentions to a bunch of strangers that he's dying and in all the pages that followed, not one person had a word of comfort for this man. Yes, it's apparent that we've all reached sublime spiritual heights.
Don't mean to derail. I actually am enjoying the thread (minus the trolls).

whitewave
Did anyone notice (pag5) that RevRay said he was dying? He hasn't logged on since April. I just found this thread (loved the OP, btw) and read every page. It bothered me that a faceless name behind a screen casually mentions to a bunch of strangers that he's dying and in all the pages that followed, not one person had a word of comfort for this man. Yes, it's apparent that we've all reached sublime spiritual heights.
Don't mean to derail. I actually am enjoying the thread (minus the trolls).

Hey WHitewave,
Yes I just noticed the poster on page 5 discuss that he's dying. I have reached out in a u2u just yesterday, but clicking on his username, he hasn't logged on since april.

I hope it's not too late, as I frequent the area he lives in and would love to pay a visit to the poster if he would like some company.

Anyway, I will reach out to the staff of ATS to see if they they can send him an e-mail based of his user name

Glad to hear it, D. I also sent a U2U when I read his post but haven't heard back. I don't mean to diminish your experience in any way; it just bothered me that someone could be so alone in the world as to chance reaching out to strangers only to be ignored.

OP you are awesome to have done this! I wish I could find the time with work and all but will make it my personal mission for the year 2014.

Next time may I suggest you take it even further and do a water-only fast. Don't be afraid, you can survive this way for weeks if you take it seriously. When you intake any kind of food you are essentially breaking your fast, even if it is seems like just a few grains or fruits. You will notice a substantial benefit to your thought process and your body will be forced to remove years of built up toxins.

kushness
OP you are awesome to have done this! I wish I could find the time with work and all but will make it my personal mission for the year 2014.

Next time may I suggest you take it even further and do a water-only fast. Don't be afraid, you can survive this way for weeks if you take it seriously. When you intake any kind of food you are essentially breaking your fast, even if it is seems like just a few grains or fruits. You will notice a substantial benefit to your thought process and your body will be forced to remove years of built up toxins.

you need not find the time to make changes in yourself, you need not fast nor delve into the wilderness because it's already inside you, the ability to "go away", the ability to forgo the ego and disconnect from society, you just need nothing but to look inside your own self.

OP nice thread, glad you found yourself out there.

how do you perceive yourself now, one year after your get away? have you noticed you can return there without leaving your own home or job or everyday life? i'll bet you have and it feels good doesn't it.

reply to post by dominicus


thank you for showing this, i am going to try this myself but i will try and make the 40 days make it possible i may not be able to the first time but i will attempt this but i already see most of these things without having to do this so the entire 40 days will help me