UnbornTao

You seem to be talking about perception and its self-referential nature in relation to the presumed entity behind that act - the one we currently take ourselves to be. That's the case for pretty much everyone, except some of us like to pretend it's not, because we've picked up ideas from elsewhere that contradict our actual experience. You're being honest, so I appreciate that. As a matter of biological mechanics, this is a natural and common experience to have. Since you can only perceive your own experience, you assume you are the receiver of that process - and this particular one is a God, all‑important and central to the world, at least from your perspective. However, is it true? For instance, can you perceive the perceiver - the entity doing the perceiving? This is something to contemplate personally.

Curious about its price, too - apparently, it's on par with a mid-range PC of similar specs, not a console. The Steam Frame uses an ARM chip. Intrigued mostly by the software and the prospects of Linux gaming.

Right...

Right...

We tend to think we're the exception to "people." No one ever includes themselves in "people." I guess that's just what people do.

The power of meditation no one talks about.

@kieranperez Feel ya

Great to hear.

Well, @Someone here.

I don't know what we're doing. Schconfused.

Good point and reminder. Maybe taking a cold shower.

Milk? Red meat? Refined sugar? Not saying they're similar to seed oils in this context, by the way.

Conform to nonconformity.

Finally - a worthy reply.

Amen!

Sure, go ahead. You0re the conductor. Some practice will be needed, but start gradually. For example, can you meditate for five straight minutes? Or read a book for half an hour without interruption? Keep in mind that this concentration business is more about what you don't do rather than the other way around.

Chocolate cake and Elden Ring. Bear in mind, it's best not to take your experience of emotions too seriously. Give it some space - some "distance." Recognize it as an activity you're engaged in, not something that belongs to reality or life itself. Think of depression as a particular outfit you might occasionally wear, rather than confusing it with your body (or something of the sort). You can always wear something else, too.

Everytime you say "no", remember Bugs Bunny:

Actual listening is much rarer than people expect.

Just wait until he finds out he was never born in the first place.

@Optimized Life Sounds good, good luck.

@Ishanga In your example, it was after his major breakthrough, not before. He was just a normal teenager living a normal life. If one doesn't care now, then such reasons are merely excuses - "Someday, maybe, when the right conditions are met." There's no such thing as the right conditions; it's true now. Maybe you can't do an intensive monthly retreat at home, but you can always contemplate, regardless of life circumstances. And life doesn't stop, until it does.

Why separate them? It's a false dichotomy and an excuse. It's best to eliminate whatever notions and ideas we may have of enlightenment. I suspect you're holding it like a sort of ideal or fantasy. Monks still have to clean up, cook, and maintain the monastery, while pursuing enlightenment.