Joseph Maynor

You can't convince anyone of Absolute Truth, they have to find it. You can point them toward the project at best.

This seems like it would be easy but it's actually the most difficult problem in self-help. The answer is you have to do work to develop the motivation to do clearly specified projects. My method of doing this is building up inspiration to do a list of projects in a specified time. But to make a long story short I try to build up a way to have fun while doing a list of tasks.

Yes. If you need to create this, I get it.

I feel like Ralston has an implicit notion of self that is very similar to Sartre. He thinks you have the ability to control your life. This is why he's so popular because he finds a way to bridge enlightenment with real life.

That's a good point. But how does one verify if they're in deep sleep or whether that is a fantasy or metaphor?

I get this and you're right. There's a split here where some people deny that there is such a finite perspective and chalk it up to a kind of attachment that is unreal.

What I mean specifically is the aspect of the self that is showing up in space and time.

Actually it's the inverse of abstract. What is abstract is denying the existence of how finite perspectives operate, including myself. There's a desire to deny reality here. And if you don't see this, you're going to react vehemently against this.

Ego is the way you show up in the world as a finite perspective.

Don't you feel there might be a balance with living a contemplative life and also being a successful human. I don't see these as at odds.

Respectfully, I'm curious why you seem to be obsessed with how corrupt things are. It's just a theme with you, and I want to understand.

The ego needs meaning. It's what creates your character in space and time.

I feel like it comes down to the extent one feels like they can speak for everyone. That tendency. The need to moot the other. This has nothing to do with anyone on here per se. Just a general observation.

I agree. But egos also differ to the degree that they try to create authority and the manner in which they do so as well.

I feel like a lot of reaction is due to someone playing the role of fake guru. Then that creates a need to deal with this issue.

Of course. That's not a bug, that's a feature.

Who does this advice apply to? Quoted from your blog post #446: "Do you have any idea how much your mind is fooling you? It’s conned the shit out of you. Do you realize that? Your mind has invented so much shit that you barely know up from down."

Leo ultimately controls what appears on this site. That's the right of ownership. So you need to know where you are.

So you assume the other is some feature of you basically?

Sometimes your strengths become your greatest weaknesses ironically.

You appreciate mods when you're exposed to an online community where there are weak mods. The mods on here are good.