Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Karen Sanchez19 said:Accepting the fact that you don't have a specific goal—and actually figuring out what that feels like—is pretty much the same thing as quieting the mind...
And I couldn't agree more. 😁
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And I couldn't agree more. 😁
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Karen Sanchez19 said:You've got to let go of the idea of "achieving" anything...
Enlightenment isn't something you accomplish, and it definitely shouldn't be your target. If you treat it like a goal to check off a list, you'll actually end up pushing it further away...
Even Ramón teaches this exact principle.😁
But doesn't Ramón say that it just happens on its own—but only after we bring the mind back to its source and shut down its distractions? So why bother doing all that if there's no ultimate goal?
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Sitting Bull said:No, I just realized last night—or maybe today—just how little we actually know. Not me, and not anyone else here. Look, I’m not even talking about whether God exists or doesn't; what I mean is that we can spend our entire lives acting like frantic little monkeys, twenty-four seven, and still "He" might never show up.
So, what's the move? If He doesn't show Himself, do we just blow everything up and, like Hakuin did, just surrender to the world because we can't dodge hell anyway?
But sooner or later, the cycle has to reset. There really isn't a choice; the world isn't being guided by anyone. It just spins in circles, caught in this loop of desires, frustrations, highs, lows, and more cravings... breaking out of that circle is the only way. It’s not even about having a choice at this point; it’s just a matter of time.
I honestly think it's better to at least give it a shot than to sit around doing nothing because you're already expecting to fail. We don't have anything left to lose anyway. There isn't anything useful left in this world worth chasing, and He isn't going to hand us some permanent fix—not even basic peace or fulfillment, regardless of what people think they're looking for in their endless pursuit of goals. What's left besides trying to find something lasting? It's either that, or you just give in to resignation and guarantee that nothing ever changes.
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Sitting Bull said:Ravana, you’re dodging the question again.
I don't care who said it; I care about what was actually said. How can you possibly link the "persecution" of monks getting married to this:
If it were conditional on anything—it wouldn't be worth the effort.
In other words—what kind of metric are we using here to decide if someone is married or not?
Or are you just playing dumb?
Look, if we're talking about a monk choosing to marry (I’ve lost the thread of the conversation a bit, so bear with me), the whole point is that he opted into a lifestyle defined by renunciation. To go and get married is basically the same as being unfaithful to that vow—actually, in my book, it’s way worse. Sure, he *can* get married. But if someone takes those vows, they shouldn't be hypocrites and lose their minds the second they see a skirt.
At the end of the day, it’s all mental constructs. But for Ramón, both this body and this entire world are just mental constructs. Ramón wasn't a monk or a layman; he never even thought about marriage because he was completely beyond all that. Is that me or you? As long as we’re still conscious of our bodies, as long as duality feels real to us, I think it's pretty pointless to use Ramón’s enlightenment as an excuse for self-delusion. In my current state, I’m not totally indifferent to women. If I were truly in a state beyond all appearance and duality, it wouldn't matter at all whether I got married or not. I could just pick one option and stick to it; I couldn't claim "it doesn't matter" because, in my mind, it *does* matter. If it really didn't matter, these questions wouldn't even exist, and I wouldn't even notice women, monks, or anyone being married.
For most of us, though, it's just not that simple.
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Paul Campbell3 said:ExxonMobil claims this came out of nowhere, while they’re insisting there’s absolutely nothing to see here.
So, how are they supposed to pivot to being "green" now? 😕
Look, if they claim it happened by accident, they're full of it. If they say their "master technicians" somehow just stumbled upon it, I'm calling BS. I haven't heard of a single case where a pro just magically finds a massive leak without a reason—it feels like someone is just making excuses.
They should just admit it hasn't worked once before, because frankly, I'm not buying it. It's just plain shady. 👍
Don't try to tell me all those "experts" just happened to find it by luck when it's obvious we're looking at a total mess.🙂
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Jack said:Why is it so hard for people to accept the idea that some folks might just be naturally gifted when it comes to enlightenment? Like, maybe it’s an innate ability. It’s easy enough to admit someone is a math or physics genius, or a world-class athlete breaking every record, or a legendary composer—we don't even bother trying to compete once we realize we don't have that specific DNA (and if we did, we'd probably know by now). But the second "spirituality" enters the conversation, everyone insists that anyone can reach the top through sheer will. 😁
Of course that's true. But none of those elite athletes or composers got there without putting in massive amounts of work. On the flip side, you might end up being a player on a minor league team instead of making the Olympic roster, but at least you'll be in shape—unlike those guys sitting on the couch shouting at the TV during the game. 👍
Still, I honestly think grit often matters more than raw talent. I know two brothers who play guitar—well, I know one intimately and the other just by sight. One is a total prodigy at everything he touches, but he drinks too much, doesn't care about anything, and stopped practicing altogether. Even though he's still incredible, he's basically just giving professional advice from the sidelines. The other brother is pretty average; back in school, he was kicked out of the choir because he couldn't carry a tune to save his life. He practiced 14 hours a day, and now he’s the best guitarist I know, and honestly a decent singer too (well, except for that crew over at Boeing, who could give anyone a run for their money). Around here, I haven't heard anyone come close to his level. He isn't playing gigs actively right now, but he's deep into music theory, writing harmonies and orchestral soundtracks, and plans to study composition formally once he has the time and cash. He does it all by feel, without any formal training.
Bottom line: you can reach the highest levels through pure hard work, and talent alone can definitely go to waste.
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Jason Johnson4 said:And as for God—He just isn't there. 😢
Just another "enlightened" guy acting smarter than most of the other "enlightened" crowd.
Well, if He doesn't exist, fine by me. When I say God, I mean the absolute highest concept you could possibly wrap your head around.
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Jason Johnson4 said:This is a great point. We could try to mimic this through indigo channels by attempting to "embody books," but honestly? It’s a waste of time...
It’s like someone scratches their elbow and, at that exact moment, a plane flies from New York to London. And instead of paying attention, we just sit there scratching our elbows, wondering if the plane might fly over again. 😁
And let's be real—imitating enlightenment isn't done through indigo channels by mixing together a couple ounces of philosophy, three ounces of logic, two ounces of women, and an ounce of Vedanta to create what we call "knowledge." I’d go as far as to say all knowledge is completely useless unless you’re actually working to experience it firsthand.
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Jack said:If that's the case, why does "spiritual work" pull at you? Why do you spend your time on it, or at least feel like it's what you ought to be doing?
I don't really have a choice. If you take even a tiny step back and look at the big picture, everything else in life feels incredibly fleeting. We all die. Everything ever created is eventually going to vanish. Every person we meet will pass away, everything we own will disappear—religions, nations, the profound and the trivial alike, our very bodies and personalities...
So, honestly, if it isn't spirituality, what else is there in this life that actually carries meaning? What other choice do we really have?
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Jason Johnson4 said:Loki, thanks!
Now I’d love for you to weigh in on this:
Elvis Presley:The reason I bring up Albert Einstein is because back in the day, it seemed like everyone was in agreement about his genius. It isn't because I'm obsessed with him or treating him like some digital guru I need to follow. If there's any late great who truly blew my mind, it's Swami Vivekananda.
Even Albert Einstein—the guy you seem to hold in such high regard—says... hang on, let me check my notes... he says that
If you just walk away from the world, the idea of being "a musician" simply shifts into the idea of being "an ascetic." You aren't actually solving anything; the mental roadblocks are still there, they're just growing in a different setting.
Conversations from June 16, 1935
If the Ultimate Truth were conditional upon anything at all, it wouldn't be worth the effort to seek it.
I thought you might have figured that out during those pointless trips chasing after a green light in the distance.
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
The ENLIGHTENED MASTER said:Just an American:
As an American truth-seeker, MASTER John told you that the lineage of MASTERS without "roots" is infinite.
and blah blah blah etc...
Honestly, you seem way too worked up about this—why are you letting it get to you so much? 😂
I never claimed I’d become the next Francis or Mahavira just by praying or meditating; I said nothing comes from thin air. I’ll achieve whatever I can based on my own effort, my own capacity, and whatever tools I have at my disposal. My personal ceiling definitely isn't their ceiling. But if you want to hit any kind of peak performance, you actually have to put in the work.
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Jade said:Exactly. 🙂 He was just 17 when he hit this sudden, overwhelming fear of death. He dropped to the ground, asked himself, "Who am I?", and boom—enlightenment. He claims he hadn’t even touched a religious text before that moment and knew nothing about the subject. It wasn't until later, after people started recognizing him as a true teacher and master, that he actually started studying them.
That’s why I don't think his personal soul-searching applies to everyone else, even if it did spark enlightenment for him. 😉
I disagree. Following that initial experience and the push he got, he retreated into a cave, and according to him, it was after several years there that he achieved ultimate enlightenment. 😉
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Why is it such a struggle for people to accept the idea that some individuals are just naturally wired for enlightenment? It’s like they have an innate gift for it. We don't blink an eye when someone is a mathematical prodigy, a physics genius, or a world-class athlete breaking every record in the book. In those cases, we recognize their sheer brilliance and don't feel the need to chase after them because we know we don't have that same DNA—if we did, we would have figured it out by now. But the second you bring up "spirituality," everyone suddenly insists that the playing field is perfectly level and anyone can reach any height. 😁
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Balkanijan Pig said:I don't really know, honestly—just what I've heard from others. I don't even truly grasp what enlightenment actually is. I know the definitions, theoretically speaking—what Bhava is, what Samadhi is, Nirvana, Vichara, Japa, prayer... but as for what those actual moments of enlightenment feel like? I haven't a clue. You'd have to ask Kvelj. 😁
If that's the case, why does "spiritual work" pull at you? Why do you spend time on it, or at least feel like it's something you're supposed to be doing?
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Jade said:Alright, let’s play along with your idea that enlightenment is the ultimate goal. Even if we assume you can actually grab it through sheer force of will, grinding effort, or whatever else (which, honestly, doesn't sit right with me, but fine, let's say 😉), what happens once you actually get there? You just end up with a different perspective on this material life—for however much longer you have left—and that's it. There isn't anything else beyond that. 🙂
I don't know, man. I'm just repeating what I've heard from others. To be honest, I don't even know what enlightenment actually *is*. I know the theory—that things like bhava, Samadhi, nirvana, vichara, or japa are essentially nothing more than mental constructs—but as for what those "enlightened" states actually feel like? I haven't a clue. You'd have to ask Kvelj.😁
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Balkanijan Pig said:If Hakuin’s fear of death was what drove him toward such intense searching—and if that pursuit actually led him to his goal—then that fear was actually his greatest ally. It gave him way more than all our empty philosophical debates ever could.
Alright, so you're saying enlightenment is the ultimate goal. Let's play along and assume it can be reached through sheer force, grit, willpower, or whatever else (even though that doesn't sit right with me personally, but fine, let's say 😉 )—but then what? Once you get there, what happens? You just end up with a different perspective on this material life (whatever time you have left), and that's it. There's nothing else to it. 🙂
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Balkanijan Pig said:Based on everything we know about Raman, it’s not like he just sat there playing in the sand and suddenly—bam—instant enlightenment.😛
Actually, he did. 🙂 He was only 17 when this sudden, paralyzing fear of death hit him out of nowhere. He dropped to the ground, asked himself that one life-altering question, "Who am I?", and just... woke up. He even claims he hadn't touched a single religious text or known anything about spirituality before that moment. It wasn't until later, after people started sensing a great teacher and master within him, that he actually started studying the scriptures.
That's why I don't think his personal deep dive applies to everyone else, even if it acted as the perfect trigger for him in that specific moment. 😉
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Jade said:Balkanian Pig, this Hakuin guy in your story sounds like a tragic figure who was just lost, struggling with an irrational fear of death. 😢 You can see how much this martyr suffered, yet he still didn't reach enlightenment. 😢 Honestly, maybe he did eventually get there, but I’m skeptical that all that suffering was actually what led him to it. 😢
Someone once said that if there’s any shortcut in spirituality, it’s the sheer intensity of your longing for God, the Truth, or Liberation...
Prahlada prayed to God for his own sake, while the other famous child-saint, Dhruva, just wanted his parents to accept him—even though Prahlada's approach is considered "pure." In the end, both reached their destination, and for Dhruva, the original reason behind the prayer stopped mattering long ago.
Whatever the motivation, the key is that the hunger has to be intense. It works like anything else in life: the more you pour into something, the more you get out of it.
The whole trick is just finding a way to pivot our restless, flighty minds away from nonsense and redirect them toward the Highest. The "why" isn't nearly as important as the direction.
If Hakuin's fear of death was the engine that drove his intense search and ultimately led him to his goal, then that fear was actually his greatest ally. It gave him far more than any empty philosophical debating ever could.
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Balkanian Pig, this Hakuin guy in your story sounds like a lost soul who had absolutely no clue how to deal with himself or his irrational fear of death. 😢 You can really see how much that martyr suffered, yet somehow he still didn't reach enlightenment. 😢 To be honest, maybe he actually did make it in the end, but I’m skeptical that all that agony was even what led him there. 😢
Buddhism
in Spirituality ·
Are we all just kidding ourselves here? I still haven't found a single master who supposedly hit enlightenment just by jerking off while relaxing. 😁
And from what I can tell, even with Raman, it wasn't some magical moment where a guy was just playing in the sand and—boom—instant enlightenment. 😛
If you actually consider Francis's conversion or Hakuin's meditative experiences to be true enlightenment and the ultimate realization, then your understanding of moksha and your own meditation practice is seriously flawed. 🙂
And from what I can tell, even with Raman, it wasn't some magical moment where a guy was just playing in the sand and—boom—instant enlightenment. 😛
If you actually consider Francis's conversion or Hakuin's meditative experiences to be true enlightenment and the ultimate realization, then your understanding of moksha and your own meditation practice is seriously flawed. 🙂