kieranperez

Find a teacher who will initiate you into the practice. Read prior comments.

People aren’t wrong for this either. In the sense that… it’s really hard to find something or someone trustworthy. The thing is, anything you find in the relatively trustworthy. However enlightened one might be, they still occupy a relative perspective, in a sense. And the trouble is, we are yearning for the realization of what is Absolute, which is to say, absolutely trustworthy. That which we can always have faith in, in a sense (not blind belief in). However enlightened one might be, and I’ve met many impressively enlightened people, that doesn’t they cover all their bases. This doesn’t necessarily mean they all have the best conventional views on science, religion, politics, other traditions, other ways of living, nor makes one a good parent. I personally have struggled with this A LOT precisely because I see teachers that may be cognizant of certain biases or short sighted views. And if I find a teacher that’s not absolutely perfect (from a relative pov which, if we get honest and truly see deeply enough, we’ll probably find that that “perfection” is based on our own sets of biases and preferences). Perfection is truly recognized when we are unburdened from the need to have things fit inside our own preferences and seeing and reality be exactly what it is. I was living in a Zen monastery a few years ago that is quite Green. They did the whole pronoun thing and found a whole slew of people doing the whole “they/them” and even “zi/zir” stuff. Internally I was walking around debating and trying demolish all of them in arguments in my head. ‘Why the fuck are you even here?!?! You aren’t even a fucking body, much less a stupid fucking person whose illusory existence is made up of nothing but language, concepts, conditioning, and mental constructs! Why would you go to Zen monastery, of all places, to adorn and cherish your own bullshit!’ Even some teachers on retreat would give dharma talks about what if The Buddha was trans and would go on covert ramblings that reflected their own prejudices of capitalism. I would go on a tirade in my head because that has nothing to do with Zen practice. It’s about waking up from ALL personal views! And then talks were set up in such a way where the was no discourse, dialogue nor means to challenge what was said. Ironically though, that became a huge medicine for me because as I would sit there I would see I couldn’t let go of my own hatred and anger for this. And the more I sat with it the more I consciously suffered. People were doing and saying things that I reacted to on the basis of what I liked/disliked and loved/hated. I’m a rather intense guy and this would be worked through and shed in very cathartic ways that were both very painful and heart opening. So in a way, bad teachings can be quite the medicine believe it or not. Obviously there’s a limit to that of course. Beyond that it was a pretty damn good monastery but hopefully you see the moral of the story. This is something I still struggle with but ultimately, it’s never really about the teacher because the external form is merely an aid to your Realization. It is true it is on us. The true teacher acts through the form and both is and isn’t it (nor both nor neither). And when the student is ready the teacher will come.

No human is perfect in this regard. That responsibility lies with the student. A human having flaws and being incomplete in certain areas or perhaps wrong doesn't negate the utility of a powerful teacher to truly humble oneself to and learn from and be willing to be truly vulnerable. Yes, it's important to pick the right teacher in the same way it's important to pick the right person to whom you end up marrying. Be so stringent with your criteria though you'll up learning from no one. I've been and studied directly under some great teachers and none of them ever suggested that one shouldn't question or just believe them. And more importantly, the quality of their direction as a teacher is integrity with what they utter out of their mouths. Some are better at it than others. But again, that's the responsibility on the student to see that. You can't outsource that. And if you want one quality teachings that all teachers worth their salt preach - the responsibility begins and ends with you. The paranoia over "human biases" and needing someone to say all the things you think they should say can become a very paranoid defense to truly being vulnerable and open. Most people here over the years are just people that insulate themselves on the internet and just try emulating Leo anyways. Best you GTFO of your heads and truly find some quality teachers. You'll save yourself years of time and misdirection down wrong roads. Up to you though what you do.

This is all 100% accurate. The only thing I would add, and I would include this for most of the traditions, and especially the one's that lean more into the yogic schools of meditation, is the emphasis on transmission, initiation, or diksha for teacher-student, guru-disciple. A lot of people play around with practices they have no initiation or transmission into. Getting transmission from a truly accomplished teacher makes a world of difference. Good on you for finding a real practice that works for you and sticking with it every day. Realization is assured. Be well and be free.

You’re an idiot if you think you’re going to predict or outwit the market. Nobody knows. All this is is just gambling. Create REAL value by doing REAL shit with a REAL legitimate career and then invest a portion of all your earnings into the S&P and do that for 10, 20, 30, 40 years. It’s that simple. People don’t like simple though. @Leo Gura is on the money with this one.

Haven't read the full thread but if this is a real shift and breakthrough and you're struggling, reach out to a teacher that can assist you and maybe help you. I can help provide some resources to some people if you need it. Just send me a message succinctly explaining what happened (I know it can be hard to explain) and what's going on now and I can try and refer you to some good people to work with.

You’d be a fool to get that.

https://youtu.be/Lrw0CNf0A0g?si=lGvgsquD2FywEoOs

You’re back to being a dick again. Stop being an asshole.

Hello, Some folks that have participated in Peter Ralston and Brendan Lea's workshops, retreats, and intensives are making an effort to create the opportunity for Peter to possibly be a guest on Lex Fridman's YouTube channel. If you've participated in some of Peter's workshops or intensives and have benefited from his contributions you're welcome to fill out the form down in the link down below. My personal invitation, for those that would like to fill it out, is to be honest and please be mindful of your fantasies when you fill it out. Please don't write nonsense that's likely just going to repel the possibility of actually making something like this happen, should you actually to see this come to fruition. With that said, may you be well. https://form.jotform.com/lexfridman/podcast-guest-pitch?fbclid=IwAR2oCKLIWKmDPJ9sfgQ6LftpoQVXL9lUexW3FR3-y1lIGcB6FsMomc8266I

If you’d like to see it happen, contribute. Beyond that, it doesn’t really matter. As the story goes, after the Buddha’s enlightenment he was walking towards the Himalayas where he was going to live out the rest of his days. He was stopped by someone and suggested that he help others in realizing what he did. He replied how no one would get it. The person who approached him responded saying how someone might. The Buddha acknowledged and said, ‘yes, someone might.’ And so then he helped others as best he could.

Available for Pre Order. https://www.amazon.com/Art-Mastery-Principles-Effective-Interaction/dp/164411643X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=W3Z9O3BSL1GZ&keywords=the+art+of+mastery%2C+peter+ralston&qid=1671223373&sprefix=The+Art+of+Mastery%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-1

It’s honestly kinda sad watching the decline of this channel, Leo, and this forum and what it’s all turned into. It’s like watching the fall of Elliot Hulse or some other self help guru that started out with quality stuff that’s just decayed into something rather grotesque. Goes to show everything has their growth, peak, and decline.

He doesn't.

You’re just ignorant. Just admit it’s not your thing and be done with it and and admit you don’t know what you’re talking about and have a cool humble attitude about it. For once, have some honest humility in subjects you know nothing about. You don’t need to be an ignorant arrogant dick with every subject matter and put things down you don’t understand.

You don’t know what you’re talking about. Vibram made false claims because they got caught in the hype with the barefoot movement post-Born to Run when thousands of people read that book and got lost in the part about barefoot running but missed the part about how it can take 6 months to build up and run 2 miles barefoot. As a runner whose invested more than a decade studying this stuff and knows some of the best athletic scientists regarding this stuff, there is no debate about the benefits of minimal footwear. However, the matter is not black and white. The modern human foot is so incredibly weak and we’re on surfaces that human beings that ran barefoot just a few thousand years ago just weren’t on. There was no pavement and humans weren’t running up high mountain peaks (by and large). They also weren’t necessarily all trying to maximize how fast they ran a mile or 5000 meters on the track. And even then, some humans, like the Tarahumara, did create minimal forms of footwear for basic protection. The reality for most modern people is that they would benefit tremendously from minimal footwear but in low doses and gradually build strength in the foot and lower legs and let the body adapt over time. It’s not the answer most people want though. It can start by just walking around your house barefoot and going on walks on your local grass or turf field and slowly build from there. Build strength not just in your feet but your Achilles, ankles, tibialis, calves, etc. If you’re doing this just to be healthier and develop over strength, check out knees over toes guy on YouTube as he does really lay out a solid progression that assists with all this stuff. Be smart and best of luck with your journey.

@Leo Gura

https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/william-shatner-space-boldly-go-excerpt-1235395113/ “Everything I had thought was wrong. Everything I had expected to see was wrong. I had thought that going into space would be the ultimate catharsis of that connection I had been looking for between all living things—that being up there would be the next beautiful step to understanding the harmony of the universe. In the film “Contact,” when Jodie Foster’s character goes to space and looks out into the heavens, she lets out an astonished whisper, “They should’ve sent a poet.” I had a different experience, because I discovered that the beauty isn’t out there, it’s down here, with all of us. Leaving that behind made my connection to our tiny planet even more profound. It was among the strongest feelings of grief I have ever encountered. The contrast between the vicious coldness of space and the warm nurturing of Earth below filled me with overwhelming sadness. Every day, we are confronted with the knowledge of further destruction of Earth at our hands: the extinction of animal species, of flora and fauna . . . things that took five billion years to evolve, and suddenly we will never see them again because of the interference of mankind. It filled me with dread. My trip to space was supposed to be a celebration; instead, it felt like a funeral.”

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2022/12/05/asia/indonesia-new-code-passed-sex-cohabitation-intl-hnk/index.html

It was a great channel run by two great English gentleman that did a great job getting on great guests that sparked deep conversations and was a great platform that put on display what great intellectualism can look like. I admire both Alex & David for being in tune enough with their ethical and moral compass as well as their own gut knowing to be able to make the gutsy decision to end something that truly did run it’s course. I imagine that can’t be an easy decision to make. So hats off to them and I wish them the best in whatever is best for them. My salute to both of you gentlemen ?

You misunderstand self inquiry. Self inquiry is fundamentally not about the question and constantly repeating some question to yourself. The practice can be described and expressed many ways but to assume self inquiry boils down to just asking yourself “who am I?” all the time you fundamentally misunderstand the nature of the practice. Self inquiry or working with koans is not something you do for just duration of the time you’re on the cushion. As I already said in the last post but will say again, it’s every waking fucking moment. Eventually the inquiry and investigation or meditation starts doing you as its nature is not about a question. It breaks you open. It is the undoing and the unraveling of the illusion “I” on a cellular level. There is no break from it. Abd fundamentally its nature is no different than classic Soto Zen instructions of “when walking, just walk. When hot, be hot. When cold, be cold. When working, just work.” These are fundamentally still insight practices. It’s nature is no different than maintaining mindfulness 24/7 that eventually seeps into sleep.

Fundamentally, this is really different not all that different when it comes down to what we’re doing with our attention when we’re holding a koan or maintaining self-inquiry or surrender 24/7. Which must be maintained every waking moment as that is the practice.

@KH2 & @StarStruck I would like to confess and apologize for my righteousness, arrogance, and whatever defensiveness I had in this thread and would like to own that. I'm working on this. I do not retract the statements I made when it comes to what's true and what it was I wanted to convey in terms of my statements regarding the subject matter itself and the factual nature of what I was saying. I would like to apologize for the energy and projection of my own anger and defensiveness. I'm would like to cultivate more skillful ways of communicating in the face of whatever projections people have about what I say when it comes my way and trying to outmatch people in this doesn't seem to work. This is the internet and there inevitable gaps in communication and cues that are understandable but nonetheless I would like to own my own and would appreciate to be met halfway there in truth, humility, and peace. May you be well.

I’m not going to pretend I don’t know what I speak about. Psychedelics highs are not enlightenment. That is not an opinion. That is not a need to be right. It’s a fact. And you can go find and look up teachers who’ve done massive dose trips that have also awakened and they’ll tell you the same thing ever time and that’s been valid in “my own path” in so far as that statement makes any sense at all. So I don’t just believe people in what they say. If that’s how you read what I say, cool. That’s fine and you’re free to do what you want but in the end I’m going to call it out. I’m not outright dismissing psychedelics but I’m calling it for what it is and isn’t. You actually aren’t being some innocent “I don’t know anything” seeker with your projections that I’m suggesting some monastic dogmatism is somehow necessary. I was pointing out the demand for genuine real work for most people as that seems to be how it goes. Thank you come out of nowhere calling “that Buddhist dogma” and making false claims regarding psychedelics and the belief that psychedelics trips somehow awaken people when in fact they don’t. They might open people’s minds to resize there’s more to self and life than meets the eye but that’s not awakening. That is what I was calling out and it isn’t an opinion. It’s not just some preference for some teachers over others. Those that think conditioned experiences are realization of the unconditioned unborn nature of that which is Absolute are wrong. In the same way those that think 1 + 1 = 4 are wrong. Or confuse Mexico and USA on the map. It’s not an opinion. And if you think spiritual teachers aren't clear and deliberate in calling out people when they’re wrong, again, you don't know what you’re talking about.