Posts by Thomas Nelson25

Michael Gonzalez77 said:If you haven't truly grasped the core principles, they're right—Buddhism can feel just as much like a cage as any other religion, especially since certain doctrines have become quite dogmatic.

I didn't just become who Siddhartha was on my own. It’s the same for Jesus, or anyone else who reached liberation. Everyone needs an initiation to get there, even if they don't realize it at the start—guided by the perfect teachers of that era.

Progress stops exactly where an individual stops. Doctrine is one thing, but direct spiritual experience is an entirely different beast. You simply can't extract Truth just by reading words on a page; those texts are merely signposts that you have to encounter personally through your own spiritual growth—assuming, of course, they were passed down correctly in the first place.

I wasn't trying to look at this through anyone's specific lens. I was just pointing out a universal phenomenon that gets overrated in Buddhism—mostly because so many people fail to take that final step toward their actual goal, mistakenly thinking Nirvana itself is the finish line. In other mystical traditions, this state is correctly viewed as just a stepping stone toward true Liberation. This is something all humans experience throughout history; you and I actually enter a version of "Nirvana" every single night while we sleep, we just aren't conscious of it. When someone enters that state of pure Consciousness, they are aware of nothing else, and that’s the bottom line.

Everyone's got their own take... maybe I'm just not spiritually evolved enough yet. Who knows? Maybe in some future life I'll finally unlock those "secret teachings"... but until then, I guess I'll just be your typical American—obsessing over ontology through the lens of Buddhist philosophy.

Awakeness is an archetype—super useful. People go hunting for the essence instead of getting bogged down in myths and stories. Sure, those stories are used because they stir up things in the subconscious, but like we said, it all comes down to the context of the time.

Michael Gonzalez77 said:Effective methods are all about facilitating a gradual involution of consciousness. Regardless of how they're officially categorized, if they actually produce results within the individual mind, then they're valid tools for making real progress.

For some people, Buddhism is just a label—a word they toss around without much thought. For others, it’s a way to identify with something that feels "cool" or fits neatly into their existing worldview. Then there are those for whom it's something else entirely. But for the rare few who actually live it—those for whom this isn't a hobby, but Life itself—it serves as a genuine vehicle for growth. Whether they are standing at the edge of the trail or are already walking it, they use it to truly progress. Of course, those individuals are incredibly rare among hundreds of millions of followers.
I don't care much about what people label "Buddhism." To me, it’s more about the natural phenomena mentioned in those teachings and elsewhere. It's about recognizing how things actually work—understanding the underlying laws of cause and effect. That kind of insight is simply the byproduct of putting in the honest work to truly grasp your own experiences, then taking what you've learned and using it to move forward.

I don't deal with those kinds of dilemmas. Those doubts only hit people who haven't experienced this yet or just don't get it—so it makes total sense that they'd struggle. It’s completely natural. 🙂
You can look at life as being a lot like a dream. It’s unreal. On one hand, it feels illusory because everything is happening entirely inside our own heads. On the other hand, once you actually attain wisdom, life loses its overwhelming grip on you—it just becomes one more minor detail among many.

I didn't actually use the term "pure soul." All I ever said was "pure mind," which refers to an evolved consciousness at higher stages of the spiritual Trail. Honestly, I’m not sure how you’re connecting my actual words to what you claim someone else wrote.

Every "truth" in Buddhism is interconnected... that’s really all I was getting at. It's where you clearly see the whole point about there being no permanent self.

You can apply this stuff philosophically and actually see results—and yeah, obviously, if you go all in, the payoff is even bigger... though even that's relative, I guess. Just look at Siddhartha’s story—he had to figure it out for himself to become awakened.

Michael Gonzalez77 said:Effective methods are all about facilitating a gradual involution of consciousness. Regardless of how they're officially categorized, if they actually produce results within the individual mind, then they're valid tools for making real progress.

For some people, Buddhism is just a label—a word they toss around without much thought. For others, it’s a way to identify with something that feels "cool" or fits neatly into their existing worldview. Then there are those for whom it's something else entirely. But for the rare few who actually live it—those for whom this isn't a hobby, but Life itself—it serves as a genuine vehicle for growth. Whether they are standing at the edge of the trail or are already walking it, they use it to truly progress. Of course, those individuals are incredibly rare among hundreds of millions of followers.
I don't care much about what people label "Buddhism." To me, it’s more about the natural phenomena mentioned in those teachings and elsewhere. It's about recognizing how things actually work—understanding the underlying laws of cause and effect. That kind of insight is simply the byproduct of putting in the honest work to truly grasp your own experiences, then taking what you've learned and using it to move forward.

I don't deal with those kinds of dilemmas. Those doubts only hit people who haven't experienced this yet or just don't get it—so it makes total sense that they'd struggle. It’s completely natural. 🙂
You can look at life as being a lot like a dream. It’s unreal. On one hand, it feels illusory because everything is happening entirely inside our own heads. On the other hand, once you actually attain wisdom, life loses its overwhelming grip on you—it just becomes one more minor detail among many.

I didn't actually use the term "pure soul." All I ever said was "pure mind," which refers to an evolved consciousness at higher stages of the spiritual Trail. Honestly, I’m not sure how you’re connecting my actual words to what you claim someone else wrote.

It’s like a dream... at its core, Hinduism is just this incredibly deep philosophy. 😉 I gotta admit, even those ancient sages... it feels like Buddhism is either moving forward or some versions are just picking up speed lately.

Michael Gonzalez77 said:Effective methods are all about facilitating a gradual involution of consciousness. Regardless of how they're officially categorized, if they actually produce results within the individual mind, then they're valid tools for making real progress.

For some people, Buddhism is just a label—a word they toss around without much thought. For others, it’s a way to identify with something that feels "cool" or fits neatly into their existing worldview. Then there are those for whom it's something else entirely. But for the rare few who actually live it—those for whom this isn't a hobby, but Life itself—it serves as a genuine vehicle for growth. Whether they are standing at the edge of the trail or are already walking it, they use it to truly progress. Of course, those individuals are incredibly rare among hundreds of millions of followers.
I don't care much about what people label "Buddhism." To me, it’s more about the natural phenomena mentioned in those teachings and elsewhere. It's about recognizing how things actually work—understanding the underlying laws of cause and effect. That kind of insight is simply the byproduct of putting in the honest work to truly grasp your own experiences, then taking what you've learned and using it to move forward.

I don't deal with those kinds of dilemmas. Those doubts only hit people who haven't experienced this yet or just don't get it—so it makes total sense that they'd struggle. It’s completely natural. 🙂
You can look at life as being a lot like a dream. It’s unreal. On one hand, it feels illusory because everything is happening entirely inside our own heads. On the other hand, once you actually attain wisdom, life loses its overwhelming grip on you—it just becomes one more minor detail among many.

I didn't actually use the term "pure soul." All I ever said was "pure mind," which refers to an evolved consciousness at higher stages of the spiritual Trail. Honestly, I’m not sure how you’re connecting my actual words to what you claim someone else wrote.

I feel like we were just hitting on this yesterday... you know, those points you made about there being no permanent self or soul... and how consciousness exists for those who are awake (plus that bit about how Buddhism is basically just silence rather than the absolute truth). Obviously, I’m still leaning on Buddhist philosophy here, but I'm starting to see the point behind the non-existence thing.
it's more of an experiential vibe for me.

Michael Gonzalez77 said:To you, it’s just an abstract concept.

Karma is one thing, but Maya is an entirely different beast.

It feels like you’re just staring at the facts and realizing everything is exactly how you thought it would be. 🙂 Look, that's not what I said, and it’s definitely not what I’m talking about.

If you actually tried to live by Buddhist methods, you'd realize all those preconceptions—the mysticism and the mental gymnastics—are just more ways of clinging. At the end of the day, even Buddhism itself becomes just another thing to hold onto.

Michael Gonzalez77 said:To you, it’s just an abstract concept.

Karma is one thing, but Maya is an entirely different beast.

It feels like you’re just staring at the facts and realizing everything is exactly how you thought it would be. 🙂 Look, that's not what I said, and it’s definitely not what I’m talking about.

It really depends on how you look at it—I mean, what if this whole spacetime illusion is just a bust? If that’s the case, everything changes... suddenly, those past lives don't even exist.

Michael Gonzalez77 said:To you, it’s just an abstract concept.

Karma is one thing, but Maya is an entirely different beast.

It feels like you’re just staring at the facts and realizing everything is exactly how you thought it would be. 🙂 Look, that's not what I said, and it’s definitely not what I’m talking about.

You were talking about that "pure soul" concept—you know, the one who’s basically seen it all (like Buddha preaching about morality and paths to salvation and those enlightened types)... and honestly, Buddhists take it a step further. They're like, okay, fine, but even that's just another attachment. Beyond all that lies the absolute truth.

Michael Gonzalez77 said:The Paradox is strictly for the average mind. "Death" is really just the doorway into experiencing the Highness. Life itself is nothing more than a dream, not Reality.

So why are you so hung up on a concept like that? 😁

It’s basically what people call karma—a spatio-temporal... illusion. It's an attachment to these preconceived notions of a permanent self—basically this craving for unity with God, which is really just another psychological craving, right? In the end, once you reach perfect consciousness, that perfectly awake self dissolves within itself. That's the Buddha... it’s way more abstract than some kind of bliss that almost anyone can experience during a momentary trance—not that a trance is the same thing, obviously.

Michael Gonzalez77 said:Suffering stems from mother nature itself—specifically, how we perceive anything "outside" ourselves. We see a chaotic collection of distinct shapes and objects, which creates this illusion of separation or individuality. At the same time, we view ourselves as isolated, limited entities.

So, it’s not that the world is an illusion in the sense that it doesn't exist at all (even if its physical, subtle, and mental layers are constantly shifting). Rather, the issue is the mental impression that this world is a separate reality. We miss out on experiencing the true nature of consciousness (the soul), which is eternal—not as a constant state of change, but as the fundamental Being that exists outside of space and time.

The whole concept of an individual "soul" comes from this mistaken idea of a detached consciousness—a sense of being "someone" before any personality even develops. It's a universal experience, but in that framework, a separate soul can't actually exist. In reality, there is only soul one, indivisible. You just can't perceive it because you're stuck in a state of consciousness where you only encounter the emptiness of Nirvana. It's like how there's a "first-degree fan" level that mirrors Nirvana, similar to Sufi gnosis, but there's also a "second-degree fan" state that Gautama didn't emphasize. Nowadays, people tend to treat 'Nirvana' as the ultimate finish line.

It's just that classic spiritual paradox, whether you call it God, Nirvana, or some specific "state of peace." Ultimately, this is a natural experience for the smallest among us—people who have matured according to the way our very genes are wired. Any attempt to explain it is really just an echo or a shadow of the truth, but we shouldn't question whether such an experience is even possible.

So, Hindus and Buddhists have pretty similar models up to a certain point—side note: who was Buddha before he actually became Buddha? Anyway, if we're being real, "Buddha" should probably just be called "Yoga." Both concepts definitely share some DNA, but they aren't identical. The real kicker is that whole idea regarding the lack of anything permanent... I don't think that's quite Brahman. It’s kind of like the Kabbalistic tree—there's this state of relative silence where you basically become what you've attained.

Michael Gonzalez77 said:Suffering stems from mother nature itself—specifically, how we perceive anything "outside" ourselves. We see a chaotic collection of distinct shapes and objects, which creates this illusion of separation or individuality. At the same time, we view ourselves as isolated, limited entities.

So, it’s not that the world is an illusion in the sense that it doesn't exist at all (even if its physical, subtle, and mental layers are constantly shifting). Rather, the issue is the mental impression that this world is a separate reality. We miss out on experiencing the true nature of consciousness (the soul), which is eternal—not as a constant state of change, but as the fundamental Being that exists outside of space and time.

The whole concept of an individual "soul" comes from this mistaken idea of a detached consciousness—a sense of being "someone" before any personality even develops. It's a universal experience, but in that framework, a separate soul can't actually exist. In reality, there is only soul one, indivisible. You just can't perceive it because you're stuck in a state of consciousness where you only encounter the emptiness of Nirvana. It's like how there's a "first-degree fan" level that mirrors Nirvana, similar to Sufi gnosis, but there's also a "second-degree fan" state that Gautama didn't emphasize. Nowadays, people tend to treat 'Nirvana' as the ultimate finish line.

It's just that classic spiritual paradox, whether you call it God, Nirvana, or some specific "state of peace." Ultimately, this is a natural experience for the smallest among us—people who have matured according to the way our very genes are wired. Any attempt to explain it is really just an echo or a shadow of the truth, but we shouldn't question whether such an experience is even possible.

It’s like a temporary exit from our dimension—nothing permanent, though once you die, you basically take that ride for good because, well, you know exactly when the clock runs out. After that? It’s game over. Time and space just cease to exist, and that's when you start bumping into all those absurdities and Paradoxes that only the enlightened really get. 😉

It’s tough because we’re social creatures—we actually care about each other—and that means there’s always some kind of influence at play, even on thinkers of that caliber. Constant stuff like that.

Michael Gonzalez77 said:That would just be an idea, then. Everything taught by Buddhists (Gautama Buddha) is meant to be rooted in actual lived experience, not some made-up concept or just believing in a fiction. In that sense, Consciousness is the only thing that matters. The difference lies in how one perceives it relative to its content—where the mind becomes empty and experiences 'Niban,' which is the gateway to Realization.

Without Consciousness, there is neither perception nor any kind of experience—whether "permanent" or "impermanent." Everything happens exclusively within Consciousness (God).

Well, their whole metaphysics revolves around suffering, impermanence... and the idea that nothing lasts, not even me or the soul.

I called it controversial—not just my take, everyone says it (you already knew that, right 😉) —but I haven't personally experienced it, so I can't tell you for sure. Still, it makes sense to me... just strip away space and time and you've got nirvana.

Michael Gonzalez77 said:But there is 'Consciousness' that acts as the observer of that state. It exists, period. 🙂 Of course, if someone defines 'consciousness' differently than how I’m using it, they won't understand why I'm bringing it up. To me, consciousness isn't just being 'self-aware.' Consciousness is simply the 'is-ness' of it all, whether it's manifested or not.

Still, we can definitely lean on Buddhist concepts here, since they really sit at the very heart of that entire philosophy.

So, I'm thinking... if there's no attachment (mostly emotions, then sensations, thoughts, abstractions, etc.—you know the drill), and there's no consciousness at all (whatever kind you mean), are you talking about an experience?

We've got mystical experiences that drive emotions, and then there's the intuitive side—without the hype. Personally, I think the latter is way better for actual realization.

Or like what Buddhists say... sort of like "seeing things as they truly are."

Maria Robinson2 said:not tomorrow—more like today, I suppose 🙂
perhaps you assumed there aren't any non-Buddhists who understand this better than actual Buddhists?

clinging to suffering... isn't exactly a great recommendation for people actually living their lives.

man, you're totally labeling this as religion. 😉 you basically shoved me into a little box and now I'm just "Buddhism" to you 😁

look, I know what's real, I just can't put it into words—I'm just over here scribbling things down to swap ideas with folks who give a damn, same as me. everyone's got their own thing going on.

Maria Robinson2 said:I get it.
Look, I'm not a Buddhist, so it's not even about belief for me—I just know that once you're dead, it's over. It's basically just "you did what you did while you were alive."

haha, maybe tomorrow 😁
how can you be so sure?

Michael Gonzalez77 said:But there is Consciousness. 🙂 Some might say you're splitting hairs, especially regarding that whole "nothing lasts" idea (except for the thing that possesses permanence as its very nature—you know, the thing that remains regardless of how fleeting everything else is). Because if "Nothingness" actually existed as a thing, well, now that would be something. Just kidding. 😁

There's no soul or permanent self—everything is just fleeting and depends on how much the "I" clings to this or that, or even just clinging to itself... that's the core controversy in Buddhism, along with the idea that God doesn't exist. There's a whole mountain of paradoxes there, but whatever—we aren't here to debate Buddhism, and I'm not trying to be some preacher or anything. It's just stuff people either vibe with or don't.

Maria Robinson2 said:Where exactly did I say they were proselytizing? It seems people rarely bother to actually read my posts properly. I guess.

As for why there are various forms of Buddhism—perhaps it is because of those "eight stages" Buddhists can never quite reach, so they just decided to change their business model?

You know why I dig that philosophy—it’s because they claim there's no soul and nothing lasts. Honestly, isn't that like the ultimate peak of human insight?

Maybe it's the Tibetan thing—they've got extra steps involved and it gets super complicated... lots of stuff about death and reincarnation on demand...

wearyowl29 said:Spot on! Life is actually so heavy that most of us would check out immediately if it weren't for something to cling to. Whether it's a belief system, religion, a political ideology, sex, good food, a drink, a dopamine hit from a hobby, or some kind of mental buffer—we need that distraction to stay afloat.

Albert Camus once noted that in a world stripped of illusions, man becomes a stranger.

Yeah, for sure. And honestly? If we're gonna deal with illusions, better they be the positive, creative ones that actually build life up, rather than those depressing, dark, destructive types... like Eros and Thanatos.

Maria Robinson2 said:Suffering as an inherent part of existence? Hmm—an interesting thought, I suppose.

I assume you're already aware of this... I suppose this video attempts to make a point—though whether it actually succeeds is debatable. It’s fine, I guess.
I suppose I'll just post it anyway—it probably won't hurt to have a bit more clarity regarding what we're actually discussing, I guess.

I've had several encounters with Buddhists over the years—they'd show up at my door offering books, and I'd actually sit and listen, read their material, and even engage in dialogue with others in the community. Yet, it always seems to boil down to the same thing—either they don't quite grasp what they’re saying to others, or perhaps they don't fully understand themselves while they're talking. Not to be rude, obviously, but that's just the impression I get when they start philosophizing about various "existences." It isn't much surprising, though—Buddhism is essentially agnosticism, which is basically just "let's speculate about the cosmos because we might be a tiny speck within it." Whether we are part of some grand cosmic design or not—well, I guess that will remain a mystery; people seem to crave mysticism, and Buddhism provides exactly that.

In the long run, whether it's suffering or just general dissatisfaction, it hits everyone the same way—even the most hardcore materialists or the die-hard theists.

There are tons of different versions of Buddhism out there. Not sure which ones you ran into, but personally, I'm only interested in the actual philosophical, ontological side of things.

That video gets some points right, but a lot of it is just propaganda born from a total lack of understanding of the philosophy. 😁

wearyowl29 said:At the end of the day, life feels like one giant balancing act—just a collection of psychological tricks we use to feel steady and "normal" again. 👏

Honestly, you can't have happiness without some kind of illusion. That’s just how we get through it. Like, an alcoholic might drink every single day, while someone else stays super healthy, prays, and works hard—but both are living in their own little bubble. If they didn't have that mental cushion, they'd probably just give up entirely. 😁

You're spot on... it's basically just rationalization (what people call "putting out fires"). It's similar to what you see in Buddhism or even when therapists try to talk you through trauma—it’s a way of mind washing. But honestly? It’s often the only way to find yourself again after losing someone major or just getting absolutely hammered by life. Once you've processed that, you move toward sublimation—no wonder some folks dive headfirst into spirituality or get obsessed with work... they're just trying to escape that sense of attachment.

Maria Robinson2 said:If you follow that logic, I guess Buddhist thinkers are just people projecting their own misery onto everyone else. They don't seem particularly interested in helping followers move past that negativity—it's almost as if they want them stuck in it. So, followers end up endlessly debating spirituality while it slips through their fingers—asking pointless questions instead of just walking away from Buddhism altogether.

Suffering is just part of being alive... sooner or later, we all figure that out.

Usually, they're just busy meta-philosophizing about the origin of everything—you know, suffering, attachment, impermanence, blah blah blah...

...it’s basically realizing we need to pivot toward a different way of living—something more grounded, humble, and staying away from all that worldly noise.

That’s a fair critique right there. You can't have creation—look at how Western civilization exploded while places like India stayed more traditional for so long—without passion, deep connections, suffering, or even a bit of fantasy. You see how it plays out now.

Look, all these philosophies and religions—they kind of kill the will to live, or maybe just life itself... I mean, they definitely have their perks, no doubt about it.

There are benefits to things like attachment and suffering too... let's just look at it from that angle.

You basically answered your own questions... let's say you have to travel solo or maybe pick someone to ride shotgun. You can actually pull that off once you've reached that level of wisdom that only comes from knowing how everything works.