Natasha Tori Maru

Where my Aussies at? 💔💔 @Ponder @Ramasta9 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-14/active-shooter-bondi-beach-sydney-nsw/106141580

What's your biggest block? Energy, focus, willpower? They can all be tied. But sometimes the body wont co-operate, other times it is mind activity interferening

Interesting point! My thoughts? I see: Inquiry related spirituality moving toward opening, seeing, understanding and being understood. Looking more closely, curious. Which leads to more complexity before it simplifies. But this can seem cold and destabilizing... VS Regulation oriented spirituality akin to settling, soothing and stabilizing. I see this as moving toward nervous system being and coherence. It feels as if to be moving toward containment and safety, surrender, letting go and reduces activation. Becoming clearer through the calm and not so much contrast. And this can sound evasive and bypassy... I think the clash comes because the two approaches appear to be solving a different problem - or rather - seeing a different problem. Similar words but different intent and energy. But they are just two phases, not opposing teams. I didn't really do the above two descriptions justice with my words. I just attempted to describe this consistent vibe I get from different seekers, and the phases they currently reside in. I think a mature, balanced practice oscillates between the two methods.

I think women are somewhat forced into the flow of life and less likely to resist/use force due to monthly cycles endured. And an interesting point you raise regarding energy stagnating - I have a theory a lot of highly sexed men may be channelling too much of their sexual energy into the chasing and obtainment of sex, when there are other avenues and ways to express this intense energy of creation. Just a theory as I do not experience the same sexual 'flavour' as men, and cannot really ever hope to understand. Yes I love expressing like this also - it is an easy way to merge with object to view all as object, and dissolve the 'subject' or self - all as object object object. Or move the other direction; merge and view all as subject as we merge with air in movement, sound in music etc to dissolve self as all in the opposite way. Subject subject subject all as subject. Object object dissolution or subject subject dissolution.. all is a merge with flow and unity, reaching the same place but from opposite ends

You elaborated better the point I was trying to move toward earlier. I think masturbation has nothing to do with sex, personally. 2 different things, fulfilling totally different needs.

I think while society is built as a patriarchy - it is wrong to blame or think all men are for, or created it. Because in reality the patriarchy was built by an elite group of men. And the typical guy (as you describe) is just as much a victim of it as women can be ! Men as a whole should not be blamed for the patriarchal nature of society. But everyone should be aware of how we play the games it is built on - especially unconscious, damaging social hierarchies that status signal in a negative power seeking way. Yes it is a HUGE point of difference and many women - almost all women I know in my personal life, do not understand it or comprehend how much of a need it is. My respect to the men who can channel and contain this immense desire in a healthy & powerful way that avoids exploitation and enhances connection and creativity

Yes, I understand that. It is the phrasing around the 'getting' that really runs into the icky feeling of it being transactional. Reducing interaction down to a single persons needs being met at the expense of the other (I feel this is the main issue surrounding this dialogue). I think some of this is a function of the extreme and overriding compulsion to obtain sex from men with very high sex drives. Some have appetites so overwhelming, another's wellbeing and needs can be reduced/ignored. Sex is a huge need for men - while for women, I think it is different. The axis is very lopsided

I think that can be true for sure. I think many men do this also, and are totally unaware of it. I think as maturity rises men become more aware of this function of emotional connection through sex. Enhancing bonding and closeness. Some men remain unaware their whole lives. I have had my most real, vulnerable and close conversations from men following making love while just rolling around in bed I find women can connect emotionally through words much more easily than men can. Which is why I think sex is so important for them - especially higher consciousness men

I did not say sex is the only way. But perhaps, it is to be considered as a love language for men, and how they can more easily access emotions and emotional connection with a women. Just as women feel closer and more connected through words etc Sex is an expression of love for me and emotional connection. In a way that words cannot do. Many men also feel this way. This is just another way to view the situation. Many men suffer from alexithymia and sex can help them open to emotions. It can help them express and communicate better as physical intimacy acts as a conduit and clarity enhancing expression for them.

@Ramasta9 Thank you I do journal a lot but with with pen/paper. Maybe one day when I have some more material I can express with clarity! I see many people really confused by 'no self' and nonduality thinking it is bypassing. When in truth, it is more in touch, connected and soulful than many understand. But I think you know this, as you have experience with seeing many users lost in confusion and bypassing. Thanks for the video shares - I watched them last night with my poodle sleeping in my lap, after a hard day at work. My houseplants dotting the loungeroom, happy and blooming better than any season I have seen them go through

Do you think perhaps sex is a way that men connect to women emotionally - a way to express their love and feel closer and more connected? Each sex feels connection in different ways, in my experience. The above might present an issue, in that case.

The idea behind the realization that the small self is an illusion is not about annihilation or trying to destroy the self, or the ego - it is simply about seeing through it for the illusion it is, to bring us closer to the unity behind all things. The awareness that becomes aware of itself. Awareness always remains. Thoughts, emotions, come and go - awareness doesn't. The infinity and therefore unity and holism at work behind duality that gives rise to experience without judgement. Differences still exist, but they are no longer felt as fundamentally separate. 'Seeing the illusion of the self' isn't that the self/ego doesn't exist at all, but that we mistake it for the whole picture without recognising what is really at play. The self remains, doing its job planning, protecting, navigating society, just without running the show unchecked. It is a fundamental misunderstanding to think this is bypassing.

I cannot speak to the retreat side of the question, but I have many years or consistent meditation behind me. Fasting enhanced the depth and ease of my meditation practice. The longest I have done is 3 days fasting, combined with meditation. I found it very beneficial

Women can like men and money. Not mutually exclusive. Neither is a purity test.

It seems like to identify with body/mind will render one stuck.

This must hurt you to be so this way

Very cool - I like hearing from users after the retreat. I still remember when you got back from your previous one. Bouncing off the walls

@Elliott I still think it stands that strict gun control reduces harm. Sure, there will always be those low consciousness people that this will not stop. For me, there is no way around arguing that reducing access to guns assists in raising the barrier to entry for access AND harm - and this will have positive effects.

Does it have to be so black and white? What if taking away guns reduces the barrier to entry? Reduces incidence? Surely that is good.

A gun is a much lower barrier to entry for harm than a knife - much more impersonal to shoot someone from afar than walk directly up to them, and stab them (close quarters combat). Impersonality can scale harm (ie gun) but a knife demands some commitment. If the intent/desire is there 100% nothing will stop a person. But a gun and a knife are totally different.

It's exactly what this thread is doing 😭

Now hug. Everyone

It might be worth asking 'what is really at stake?'

@Leo Gura My god - this portly fucker is gonna break skippies legs

This is exactly the pattern James is stuck in, repeated over and over. Only James does not ask questions and probe into what the other says - giving them space to be heard - instead it is just more neo-advaita circles thrown at us like a philosopher hurling spaghetti at the wall... Attempting to understand each other is love !!!