Joseph Maynor

Common sense lol. Actually, common sense is not so common.

I like this.

I can't believe I'm arguing with someone about whether we will die or not. This is surreal. This is what happens when you get stuck in the story of Enlightenment.

Those are your words. Please don't put words in my mouth. I was very careful in how I used language and what I said. Calling me a Materialist is a rhetorical move that's clearly not ready for prime time. Someone disagreed with your beliefs, can you deal with that?

Actually I said I'm happy to find out about death when it happens to me. How is that stubborn? I'm not making any claims one way or the other. You're the one who thinks you know all these things in advance about death through theory alone. And then you project those beliefs onto me and judge me as "one of the most asleep persons on the Forum." That's a pretty big Ego backlash on your part. You must have the truth no matter what it seems. I notice your footer confidently states, "All is seen." Wow. No wonder you can't stand being disagreed with.

Nice!

You seem pretty convinced. That much is evident. Anybody can be stubborn. Keep doubling-down on that and see where it gets you. It's no skin off my back. You know me better than I know myself according to you.

I know who I am, do you know who you are? I think probably not. I think you're in fantasy-land.

That's because you're trapped in your beliefs. If it doesn't square with your ideology it must be wrong, right? I'm not asleep yet, I got about another hour until my bedtime. I guess I'm an "asleep Materialist" as you allege. You got any more million dollar words to label me with? Gimme some more of your cliches. What evidence do you have to support your contention that I'm one of the most asleep persons on this Forum? That's quite an allegation sir. At least let's be fair and honest here. It helps with credibility. I disagree with your beliefs and now I'm "one of the most asleep persons on the Forum", go figure! Examine thyself first. You think you're right and can't stand to be disagreed with. It threatens your whole worldview and rubs your Ego the wrong way. But don't blame me for that, that's all on you.

It's funny how you guys turn this back around on me when I challenge your beliefs. I'll find out when I die, I don't presume like you to know in advance.

How do you know that?

However you wanna classify it in thought -- you're gonna die. Let's not bullsh*t ourselves here.

You used the Materialist cop-out. Shame on you! Haha. Believe in death -- you're gonna die dude. Sorry to break it to you. You will die and so will a few people that you care dearly for.

Belief has nothing to do with death. Death laughs at beliefs. You can have all the beliefs you want, you'll still die.

You seem pretty convinced you have all the answers.

How do you know that? That's easy to say in theory but harder to confirm in practice.

Are you awakened?

Enlightenment might free you from domination by the Ego-Mind, but it doesn't free you from death. You will die. You will watch others die, including but not limited to people you dearly care for.

Just watch being when no thought is present and see if you're projecting. Don't over-complicate this.

Are you projecting when no thought is present?

The goal is not to have no mental projections; it's to be able to see the mental projections for what they are -- thoughts. This is part of transcending the Mind, which is a major part of Enlightenment work. You don't get rid of the Mind, you see through the Mind. That's what transcendence means.

Actually, no. In my experience Enlightenment is the location of being and the transcendence of the Ego-Mind, which includes transcendence of the Mind. When you can rest in being and loosely practice Non-Attachment to everything that can be clung to, including but not limited to thought -- this brings peace to your life.

I think a great question to ask yourself after discussing is: What did I gain from this? What did they gain from this? Did I just re-enforce my own beliefs? Did they just re-enforce their own beliefs? Try to find the nugget of growth from the discussion.

What do you mean you realize there's no death?