Awake teacher Says Philosophy is a Waste of Life

[SQAAD]

Is philosophy a waste of life?

 

Key arguement is: you can forever keep trying to solve problems inside your mind.

Edited yesterday at 06:30 PM by SQAAD

[Leo Gura]

This is a trap.

The problem with this overly simplistic take is that you cannot stop thinking. Life will force you to think, and if you don't train how to think properly you will end up thinking improperly and fall into self-deception.

Improper thinking is the default. No one is born a great thinker.

If you follow that guy's advice you will end up an enlightened anti-vax, Jews-run-the-world, election-was-stolen, Trump voter.

Also what this guy misses is that thinking is an art that can connect you to the beauty and intelligence of God. Thinking can be a spiritual activity in itself and it generates valid and useful insight.

I agree that reading philosophy books is largely a waste of time. Real philosophy is done in your mind.

Edited yesterday at 08:03 AM by Leo Gura

[manuel bon]

@Leo Gura what do you think of Eckhart Tolle's teachings?

[Leo Gura]

6 minutes ago, manuel bon said:

@Leo Gura what do you think of Eckhart Tolle's teachings?

I'm mostly fine with it. A bit simple for my taste.

The problem is it never made me passionate to do the work or even read his books fully. It's like spiritual oatmeal when I could be eating a juicy bacon burger with special sauce.

Edited yesterday at 08:36 AM by Leo Gura

[ExploringReality]

@Leo Gura

Tolle is great after an intense LSD trip, his teachings of Absolute Now is very grounding but one can go further. 

He is a cold drink of metaphysical water along the wayless way.

[Rishabh R]

@Leo Gura What about reading books like Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and What the Buddha taught by Walpola Rahula ? Is reading them a waste of time ? But they have helped me.

By the way I am struggling to remain in the present moment which is sabotaging my tranquility. Could you give advice to me of how to stay present even though thinking is important ?

[Leo Gura]

1 minute ago, Rishabh R said:

@Leo Gura What about reading books like Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and What the Buddha taught by Walpola Rahula ? Is reading them a waste of time ? But they have helped me.

Anything can work depending on where you are in life. Reading Playboy could help. It all depends.

1 minute ago, Rishabh R said:

By the way I am struggling to remain in the present moment which is sabotaging my tranquility. Could you give advice to me of how to stay present even though thinking is important ?

Just go watch Tolle for that advice.

[Rishabh R]

@Leo Gura  Right now I listened to one of his YouTube videos and he said that to be present we must be aware of surroundings rather than interpreting them.

[Leo Gura]

2 minutes ago, Rishabh R said:

@Leo Gura  Right now I listened to one of his YouTube videos and he said that to be present we must be aware of surroundings rather than interpreting them.

You are basically asking how to meditate.

Practice meditation. There are many various techniques.

Edited yesterday at 09:50 AM by Leo Gura

[Rishabh R]

@Leo Gura Ok. Did you mean it for being present or for meditation ? As per meditation I am already meditating since, 5 years. 

[Leo Gura]

48 minutes ago, Rishabh R said:

being present or meditation ?

What's the difference?

[Rishabh R]

@Leo Gura No difference. Thanks.

[Hojo]

@Rishabh RIt seems there are 2 modes you can be in, you can push yourself against the screen of life and live in the frontal cortex region of your brain or you can 'fall' back into the darkness and that is of thought and ego. Like keep energy where your third eye is and dont look back. Anytime you see that something( a thought) is dragging you back from the screen you are stopping meditation.

Edited yesterday at 01:13 PM by Hojo

[Rishabh R]

@Hojo Thanks. It's great advice.

[SQAAD]

@Leo Gura

10 hours ago, Leo Gura said:

This is a trap.

The problem with this overly simplistic take is that you cannot stop thinking. Life will force you to think, and if you don't train how to think properly you will end up thinking improperly and fall into self-deception.

Improper thinking is the default. No one is born a great thinker.

If you follow that guy's advice you will end up an enlightened anti-vax, Jews-run-the-world, election-was-stolen, Trump voter.

Also what this guy misses is that thinking is an art that can connect you to the beauty and intelligence of God. Thinking can be a spiritual activity in itself and it generates valid and useful insight.

I agree that reading philosophy books is largely a waste of time. Real philosophy is done in your mind.

You are constantly thinking about stuff, over and over again, religiously, obssessively..

Isn't this also a trap and useless after some time?

The guy in the video seems very chill and enjoying his life.

You seem kinda stressed many times.

 

Edited yesterday at 05:57 PM by SQAAD

[Leo Gura]

6 minutes ago, SQAAD said:

Isn't this also a trap and useless after some time?

Could become a trap.

Far from useless.

Yes, if you totally stop thinking you can be at peace. But peace is not the only game in town.

Edited yesterday at 06:04 PM by Leo Gura

[ExploringReality]

@Leo Gura 

Humans seek pleasure, satisfaction and cravings while avoiding suffering and pain. This is samsara.

Why do humans avoid Truth? It's a question of getting lost in a maze or pursuing understanding of the maze and transcending the maze. 

What are your guts on jed McKenna? He really puts a sword through the neck of fantasies.