UnbornTao

"What's true regardless of my predispositions?"

How come we say things such as the art of war, the art of contemplation, the art of seduction?

@Water by the River It isn't an ideal. Grasping what you are doesn't necessarily transform your self or your experience. Transcending suffering is not the same as getting enlightened, as the former relates to relative existence. For example, Nissargadatta, being enlightened, was addicted to tobacco, and there was emotional pain behind this drive.

@Dodo To be clear, I was being sarcastic. I don't know what I'm talking about.

The Church of Shitology.

Speaking of astrology, I received $20 in an esoteric cryptocurrency three years ago. I opened my wallet yesterday for the first time since then, which goes to show my level of interest in crypto, and to my surprise, it had grown to $300. It was sheer beginner's luck. So, my best investment advice is to have no idea what you're doing.

None. Every one of them is a failure to personally grasping the absolute. The spirit of Zen is probably the "purest" or clearest one. But it is pretty rare. Plenty of crap passes as Zen nowadays. To conclude: none.

"I'll be right here."

Don't confuse a breakthrough with a breakdown. Btw, moved to Mental Health section.

Upsides: It's a spiritual forum Downsides: It's a spiritual forum

@Water by the River Enlightenment and transcending suffering are different pursuits. Trying to dissolve suffering is still a form of suffering.

How could we approach real change? Can your attempts at "resolving" yourself, or life, ever be effective? For instance, feeling inadequate, you might pursue strength, popularity, or wealth to pacify inner lack--hoping these will "fix" you. I’m not disparaging such efforts but pointing us toward investigating their motives. Don’t use doubt to undermine action; instead, do what you want, but clarify why. It’s like being blind and--wanting to recover your sight--going about changing your surroundings. This analogy reveals how we address only superficial manifestations, leaving intact the very conditions that source our struggles. What recurring challenges do I encounter? What’s the root of this condition?

Macho macho man

Seems to be mostly unnecessary and self-created. But the reality of this eludes us.

The mind is constantly struggling for certainty and safety.

AVOID. Stick to the relatively safe psychedelics.

By not doing it.

Is Madrid going to win the Champions League?

Enjoying the Shogun TV show.

The Buddha had several enlightenments before his awakening under the Bodhi tree. This suggests that paradoxically, one can become more deeply conscious of the absolute, and also that transcending life and death requires more than a few enlightenment experiences. Maybe.

@bebotalk Keep to the guidelines.

@bebotalk Easy.

Hmm. I think it's useful to first see it in yourself. Then, you can see how you actually love everyone, and so do others. Although this isn't evident or obvious. It's more existential. A bit like: without another, I can't exist. So my existence is fundamentally shaped by "other." Something to investigate.

Just started watching True Vs False Skepticism.