Joseph Maynor

Why does there have to be a conceptual answer to Enlightenment? Notice that being doesn't need thought to be. Being doesn't need meaning to be. Being doesn't need belief to be. When the thought-switch goes off, being is still being.

Oh yeah, then go for it. At the end of the day you gotta do what you think is best on the Path.

I agree. All this forcing yourself to do stuff is neurotic. Just take things more organically.

Enlightenment in the end does not be change your normality. When you are stuck in the first part of the Path, yes -- then you're stuck in the Mind, in thought. This is what is meant by, "Before Enlightenment carry water, chop wood; after Enlightenment, carry water, chop wood." You should be coming back to normal with Enlightenment, down from the heights of fantasy-land. That's what transcendence of the Mind does. That takes time though.

I don’t really because it’s kind of my hobby. It’s the one thing I’m really fascinated by — improving life, improving happiness.

What exactly have you gained from awakening?

It's good for Enlightenment Work to take as much time off as possible from the rat race. And this includes the rat race of being a Spiritual Ego as well.

I'm glad you're participating on the Forum. There's been a lot of very smart people on here lately. We're gonna all learn from each other and need to stay open-minded, including myself. We all need to make ourselves open to being influenced by others. We're like artists that need to be open to influence, no matter how confident we come to believe we have the one right answer to everything. And I'm included in this as well. We need to be smart and humble at the same time, a paradox that requires subtle balancing.

What else is more fulfilling than helping someone? Don't double-down too hard on contribution though or you can turn this beautiful sentiment into an Egoic thing. Just live your life and allow yourself to help others in a very natural, intuitive way, without being neurotic or forced about it. And don't help others as a way to distract yourself from doing your own work. We all fall into that, so don't feel bad about it. Just become more aware of the trap of doubling-down on clinging to help others.

Nice! Being is not confusing. It's thought that's confusing.

What world are you in when thinking stops?

Sometimes you have to strip everything away before you can find out what most naturally fits best. One you transcend the Ego-Mind, then do -- and that doing will come from a much more grounded, less ignorant place.

How does it serve you to cling to the belief that you are God?

Is this true?

You're gonna attain this? So, you're striving to attain this. That's what you think Enlightenment work is; namely -- eventually you will reach this goal you've set in the future for yourself?

What are you going to attain?

When you're resting in being, are there any intellectual points of confusion?

Yeah, I'm loosening up. When you're serious-minded you see everything through the lens of seriousness.

Ok. I like that. You're not a serious-minded guy like some of us are plagued with. That's good man.

What is this supposed to mean? Does this mean look at this image and everything is ok?

Why would you assume a Zen Master is any different from you or any regular person?

Being doesn't need thought or a trip.

There is no lack of fulfillment in being. It's the Ego-Mind that wants to chase fulfillment in something other than being.

Zen master doesn't need psychedelics or thought.