Bill Wiltrack wrote:...
Pursuing self-consciousness is the only thing that matters within a philosophically-based life.
Now there's a fraudian slip if I've ever heard one as if it is the case that 'self-consciousness' is the only thing that matters then surely achieving it is the only thing that really matters?
Lose the baggage. ...
Best to find out what luggage you've got in the first place. So in your case it sounds like you still have a couple of cases left-over from your religious upbringing. So lose the idea that there is something behind what you've got, lose the idea that you are 'imperfect' in some sense to some other better 'self-consciousness', that there is some 'reality' being hidden or denied to you, etc.
Live within each moment. ...
Best you define what this 'moment' is to you first?
No extra thoughts. ...
What the hell is an 'extra thought'?
Better to identify the difference between thoughting and thinking and know when you are doing either. Understand what your thinking and thoughting strategies are, how they relate to your goals or outcomes and how communication and language works in these matters. Learn how to still the internal monologue(if you have one). Identify the positive intention behind any behaviour you wish to change. Learn how to take the three positions or viewpoints before speaking to another. Try achieving some of these and 'self-consciousness' may well be an achievable state.
Know yourself through self-consciousness = ecstasy.
Detachment. [/size]
Really!? A 'detached ecstasy'?