Posts by jademarlin26

Sophia Lee80 said:I would like to know how the drive to destroy the ego functions as an ego trip?
A better person altogether... I don't understand how someone can fail to grasp the concept of "becoming a better person" without immediately asking, "better than whom, or what?" Your response alone proves you cannot discuss spirituality while still viewing yourself as something special—an entity separate from the environment you inhabit. This debate regarding spirituality is nothing more than semantics. The girl asked a question; ask yourselves if any of you actually answered it. Look at how many concrete answers exist in this "spiritual discussion" and reconsider whether you are truly capable of helping anyone on their spiritual path. Or better yet, ask if YOU are even on a spiritual path. Have you experienced spirituality firsthand to claim it is merely "a form of ego"? If you have, that says more about your own state than about spirituality itself. restlessseal16, my advice to you is to turn off CNN; you'll find more spirituality there than you will here. If they had the answers to your questions, the first replies wouldn't be "those lost in semantics will never realize the essence" or "a form of egoism." Spirituality is a practical skill. Our words are inadequate substitutes for our thoughts, and our thoughts are emanations of our experiences. Therefore, one who uses words too easily lacks the experience required to speak of spirituality. That is all I have seen here: throwing around big words with little meaning. If any of you were brave enough to actually experience and confront this world, rather than just criticizing it through a screen or paper, then perhaps this forum could be called spiritual, or even more.

The ego is essentially an agent of self-destruction. To put it another way, you are attempting to smell your own nose. It seems impossible to me, though perhaps someone has actually managed it. 🙂

i

The ego is nothing more than an illusion. It doesn't actually exist; it’s just a fabricated image you've constructed of yourself. Once you recognize that illusion for what it is, you stop entertaining it and simply move on, knowing it has no substance. There is no point in chasing it.

Sophia Lee80 said:I would like to know how the drive to destroy the ego functions as an ego trip?
A better person altogether... I don't understand how someone can fail to grasp the concept of "becoming a better person" without immediately asking, "better than whom, or what?" Your response alone proves you cannot discuss spirituality while still viewing yourself as something special—an entity separate from the environment you inhabit. This debate regarding spirituality is nothing more than semantics. The girl asked a question; ask yourselves if any of you actually answered it. Look at how many concrete answers exist in this "spiritual discussion" and reconsider whether you are truly capable of helping anyone on their spiritual path. Or better yet, ask if YOU are even on a spiritual path. Have you experienced spirituality firsthand to claim it is merely "a form of ego"? If you have, that says more about your own state than about spirituality itself. restlessseal16, my advice to you is to turn off CNN; you'll find more spirituality there than you will here. If they had the answers to your questions, the first replies wouldn't be "those lost in semantics will never realize the essence" or "a form of egoism." Spirituality is a practical skill. Our words are inadequate substitutes for our thoughts, and our thoughts are emanations of our experiences. Therefore, one who uses words too easily lacks the experience required to speak of spirituality. That is all I have seen here: throwing around big words with little meaning. If any of you were brave enough to actually experience and confront this world, rather than just criticizing it through a screen or paper, then perhaps this forum could be called spiritual, or even more.

I could certainly offer a cliché response, but that serves neither of us. I could pretend to ignore the fact that the human mind functions through binary opposites—and that life isn't merely a game of contradictions—but I won't let you cling to the illusion that one can be "better" without being measured against something worse. That would be dishonest. Therefore, it is entirely valid to ask: "Better in relation to what?"

Sophia Lee80 said:I would like to know how the drive to destroy the ego functions as an ego trip?
A better person altogether... I don't understand how someone can fail to grasp the concept of "becoming a better person" without immediately asking, "better than whom, or what?" Your response alone proves you cannot discuss spirituality while still viewing yourself as something special—an entity separate from the environment you inhabit. This debate regarding spirituality is nothing more than semantics. The girl asked a question; ask yourselves if any of you actually answered it. Look at how many concrete answers exist in this "spiritual discussion" and reconsider whether you are truly capable of helping anyone on their spiritual path. Or better yet, ask if YOU are even on a spiritual path. Have you experienced spirituality firsthand to claim it is merely "a form of ego"? If you have, that says more about your own state than about spirituality itself. restlessseal16, my advice to you is to turn off CNN; you'll find more spirituality there than you will here. If they had the answers to your questions, the first replies wouldn't be "those lost in semantics will never realize the essence" or "a form of egoism." Spirituality is a practical skill. Our words are inadequate substitutes for our thoughts, and our thoughts are emanations of our experiences. Therefore, one who uses words too easily lacks the experience required to speak of spirituality. That is all I have seen here: throwing around big words with little meaning. If any of you were brave enough to actually experience and confront this world, rather than just criticizing it through a screen or paper, then perhaps this forum could be called spiritual, or even more.

I would call this a desperate shot in the dark, as you haven't actually reached any meaningful conclusion here. I have stated, or at least strongly implied, on several occasions that a person is not merely an ego trapped in a physical shell. A human being and their environment are fundamentally inseparable.

Sophia Lee80 said:I would like to know how the drive to destroy the ego functions as an ego trip?
A better person altogether... I don't understand how someone can fail to grasp the concept of "becoming a better person" without immediately asking, "better than whom, or what?" Your response alone proves you cannot discuss spirituality while still viewing yourself as something special—an entity separate from the environment you inhabit. This debate regarding spirituality is nothing more than semantics. The girl asked a question; ask yourselves if any of you actually answered it. Look at how many concrete answers exist in this "spiritual discussion" and reconsider whether you are truly capable of helping anyone on their spiritual path. Or better yet, ask if YOU are even on a spiritual path. Have you experienced spirituality firsthand to claim it is merely "a form of ego"? If you have, that says more about your own state than about spirituality itself. restlessseal16, my advice to you is to turn off CNN; you'll find more spirituality there than you will here. If they had the answers to your questions, the first replies wouldn't be "those lost in semantics will never realize the essence" or "a form of egoism." Spirituality is a practical skill. Our words are inadequate substitutes for our thoughts, and our thoughts are emanations of our experiences. Therefore, one who uses words too easily lacks the experience required to speak of spirituality. That is all I have seen here: throwing around big words with little meaning. If any of you were brave enough to actually experience and confront this world, rather than just criticizing it through a screen or paper, then perhaps this forum could be called spiritual, or even more.

"Helping someone on their spiritual journey" is pure New Age rhetoric. Perhaps if you play the fool long enough—as W. Blake so elegantly put it in "The fool who persists in his folly will become wise."—they might finally realize they manufactured their own crisis and that no one is coming to save them.

This forum isn't the place for such exercises, as a ban would follow almost immediately. However, I suspect there are plenty of "great teachers" out there capable of turning their students into absolute idiots, simply because some people clearly need to learn that there is nothing left to learn.

Sophia Lee80 said:I would like to know how the drive to destroy the ego functions as an ego trip?
A better person altogether... I don't understand how someone can fail to grasp the concept of "becoming a better person" without immediately asking, "better than whom, or what?" Your response alone proves you cannot discuss spirituality while still viewing yourself as something special—an entity separate from the environment you inhabit. This debate regarding spirituality is nothing more than semantics. The girl asked a question; ask yourselves if any of you actually answered it. Look at how many concrete answers exist in this "spiritual discussion" and reconsider whether you are truly capable of helping anyone on their spiritual path. Or better yet, ask if YOU are even on a spiritual path. Have you experienced spirituality firsthand to claim it is merely "a form of ego"? If you have, that says more about your own state than about spirituality itself. restlessseal16, my advice to you is to turn off CNN; you'll find more spirituality there than you will here. If they had the answers to your questions, the first replies wouldn't be "those lost in semantics will never realize the essence" or "a form of egoism." Spirituality is a practical skill. Our words are inadequate substitutes for our thoughts, and our thoughts are emanations of our experiences. Therefore, one who uses words too easily lacks the experience required to speak of spirituality. That is all I have seen here: throwing around big words with little meaning. If any of you were brave enough to actually experience and confront this world, rather than just criticizing it through a screen or paper, then perhaps this forum could be called spiritual, or even more.

Focus on your breathing. This will pass.

Quincy:

Sophia Lee80 As stated by: By what logic is spirituality considered a form of egoism?

The ultimate ego trip is attempting to eliminate the ego itself. People often ask how to stop identifying with the wrong "self." There is no way to do so, because the "you" that identifies with the wrong "self" doesn't actually exist. 🙂

Quincy:

Sophia Lee80 As stated by: Spirituality is about outperforming your former self, not competing with others. It’s simply the effort to be better than you were yesterday. I am certainly not suggesting that people actually embark on a "spiritual journey" just to become decent human beings.

Better than whom, exactly?

Spirituality has been run over by a cat on the interstate.

What defines a "right" path versus a "wrong" one? Regarding the concept itself, I see no distinction between good/evil and right/wrong. In my view, there is only the idea of the path.

Richard Torres2 said:I'd be surprised if they managed to pull off even two meaningful tasks at the same time...

And how exactly do you define "coherent"?

Mark Anderson9 said:Science is eventually going to nail down the empirical mechanics of human consciousness, sure, but here's the kicker: everything we actually observe and study is just the *content* of our consciousness. So, how on earth do you explain the actual thing itself?

I suspect science won't be able to account for that specific process anytime soon.

Richard Torres2 said:Trying to juggle two major things at once? If you've mastered that, more power to you, but I highly doubt anyone can do both with any real depth... personally, I still believe a person needs to be much more inward-facing when it comes to this whole thing...

People juggle multiple tasks constantly without giving them even a moment of thought.

Richard Torres2 said:The answers aren't waiting for you out there in the world... they're already inside you. Once you've experienced everything life has to throw at you, you eventually have to turn inward and face yourself.

Understood. Though I fail to see why one can't be introspective while actually moving through life. One doesn't need to retreat into isolation to achieve that. IMO 🙂

driftingraven122 said:So, I guess you’ve actually solved the mystery then—since you clearly know exactly what it takes to understand it, right? 🤔

Hardly. Even if I had, my path remains mine alone; it holds no obligation to serve as a roadmap for anyone else. I neglected to include "IMO" while lost in thought about the cave allegory.

If you feel the need to sit there, be my guest.

I wouldn't call it suffering; it's simply a complete waste of time. You have to step out of the cave if you ever want to grasp the mystery of your own existence.

Richard Torres2 said:Of course you have to believe—but not through the lens of physics. It has to be spiritual. I mean, if we're talking about mastering time, space, and matter, where does the human element fit in? Where is the soul that connects us to whatever comes next? If you orient your entire being toward pure physics, you lose the essence of who you are. To me, that doesn't feel like the future. It feels much more meaningful when you look at what gurus do out in the mountains of India—they head into a cave with absolutely nothing just to try and wrap their heads around existence. That is pure spirituality; nothing material is tethering you to this world. In my view, that's the way—there has to be some form of sacrifice or struggle involved. Because let's be real: if life is comfortable and you have everything you want, who in their right mind would ever choose to walk away from all that?

Life is understood through actual experience, not by sitting in a cave.

Chris Collins2 said:Well, if you look at faith in Buddha, it's different. As Christians, we talk to God through prayer, whereas Buddhists might use prayer, meditation, or other practices. I guess it just varies.

And what "other practices" might those be? Exactly what kind of nonsense are you filling your head with?

Is anyone here training in Shorinji Kempo? I am curious how a system built entirely on dualism—according to their own literature—finds its philosophical footing in Zen, where dualism is non-existent.

Chris Collins2 said:From what I understand, for a Christian, it’s mostly just a technique, whereas for Buddhists or followers of other Eastern religions, it seems to be both a practice and a matter of faith.

Faith in what, exactly?

Paul Peterson8 said:Maybe the easiest way to break it down is this: ju-jitsu is the OG. It's traditional Japanese martial arts, originally built for actual warfare. Later on, once people started training it more for sport or just for fun, things got watered down and simplified, which eventually gave birth to karate, judo, aikido... and basically all those other Japanese styles. So, ju-jitsu is really the umbrella that covers all of them. Brazilian style, on the other hand, focuses almost entirely—maybe exclusively—on ground fighting. In karate, you're looking at strikes; in judo, it's throws; aikido is big on blocks. Ju-jitsu ties it all together: standing, ground work, strikes, kicks, throws, joint locks, chokes... even weapons stuff.
Long story short, anything with "ju-jitsu" in the name should theoretically include all those elements. Depending on the specific organization or school, though, they might lean harder into one area or dilute others to fit their vibe.

😕 If you mean blocking strikes by meeting force with force, that isn't what Aikido is about. In kihon, certain techniques might look like blocks initially, but that isn't the underlying principle.

Christian Johnson53 said:Given the scriptural teaching that no one comes to me (God) except through my son (Jesus Christ), I find myself wondering what becomes of the souls who never placed their faith in Christ? Furthermore, is it even possible for a spirit to reach God at all without that connection?
hi

It is possible, via the Stairway to Heaven.

Jonathan Johnson67 said:Does strength actually get in your way when you're doing Aikido?? 😕
Are you guys even bothering with any strength training at all?

Forget the prices. It’s just bait for Westerners who still brag about practicing a martial art without breaking a sweat. In my dojo, we certainly incorporate strength training and conditioning drills. It's obvious why many Aikidoka skip it—they've convinced themselves that building muscle will somehow ruin their technique. Give me a break. 😵These are just pathological fixations by certain individuals.

IMNSHO, training any martial art without possessing enough strength to even handle your own body is absurd.

😁

Both disciplines are equally applicable in a fight.

One can simply allow an opponent to injure themselves. It is often most effective to strike them against the ground. 🙂

David Lewis7 said:Are skills the only thing that provide those qualities we need to make life meaningful?

They certainly aren't. If I had chosen differently, I would have trained in rugby and wrestling. For me, that was the dream combination, and in my opinion, it’s no less valuable than BJJ. Once you reach the stage where you are searching for quality of life within some club, you have already missed the mark; those things should be found first within your family and among your friends.

Donna Brown6 said:Look, jademarlin26, that isn't quite right, but it doesn't matter. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, you have to admit there is a logical distinction between self-defense, law enforcement, and homicide. Right?

From a technical standpoint, there is no difference, nor should one be drawn. A skill set develops a complete individual (conditionally) rather than discriminating based on profession. I associated what you referred to as "Džija" with Jujutsu. Were you implying something else?