Manifestation: Leaving aside the skepticism that most people would feel, I have learned that this is at best a tool to be used in tandem with other strategies. One of my favourite writers, Neale Donald Walsch, wrote about this topic extensively and I quietly think that there is something to it. But whether it is an answer for an average person with severe issues is another question entirely. The one person I know personally who has had major success with it advocates combining it with practical action.
In general, the big flaw with the New Age movement is that a lot of their material involves divorcing from reality in order to invoke feel-good vibes and cover up the darkness underneath. Shallow and finicky, they tend to pick and choose titbits from various religions and cultures, interpret them in self-serving ways, while glossing over bits that require deep introspection, shadow work, long-term commitment or heavy lifting. In the most egregious hypocrisy, most of these same New Agers have journeyed from preaching about universal love and ecology to falling for lunatic conspiracy theories that project demonic qualities onto centre-left politicians and saviour status onto far-right fossil-fuel-lobbyist leaders.
As far as 'real' spirituality goes, I have studied the work of Eckhart Tolle, Mooji, Sailor Bob (a student of Nisargadatta Maharaj who is based in Melbourne) and ultimately Ramana Maharshi. In contrast to religions which satisfy the human mind with rules, narratives and community, this material is intrinsically not understandable to the mind and is contingent upon ultimately on achieving a direct experience of the unreality of the ego, knowing the true Self and destroying the false sense of 'I'. 'I' have never achieved this experience and came to the realisation that my mind is far more monstrous and troublesome than most. Some people advocate the use of 5-Meo-DMT and other psychedelics to assist in the process, which I've not had any access to.
If you or anyone else wants to talk about this, I am only too happy to do so via PM. I can definitely offer guidance. However, many people here are highly averse to these topics and I do not want to trigger anyone. So I probably won't be replying again in this thread.
