@strangelooper
This might be one of the most accurate and succinct quotes I've ever read about what reality is, how our natural state is: "The natural state is empty of any "mental world", it's pure awareness with no movement. Anything that moves or flows or changes is part of the projection and thus illusory and ultimately devoid of freedom."
However, why do you say the the projection is "ultimately devoid of freedom"? What are you basing that argument on? Doesn't it seem more plausible just like ocean waves where the vectors of the waves flow naturally and unpredetermined, our choices and actions give rise to new sets of choices ad infinitum?
Kinda like a those old Choose Your Own Adventure books?