Posts by Lisa Cox4

slycobra61 said:Fine!

🙂

slycobra61 said:What you just did was basically equating a high-end brand with the trash can you actually wanted to toss those posts into—you just didn't have the guts to pull the trigger.

I try to avoid doing that whenever I possibly can; honestly, I barely ever do it unless it's an absolute emergency (we talked about this quite a bit back before you were even part of the PDF crowd). See, every single thread here has its own specific vibe and purpose, which matters a lot.

The only reason I went ahead and did it this time (with a disclaimer, obviously) is because I felt bad about all the effort that went into it.

But look, when someone starts posting Offtopic stuff in a thread, I can only delete it if there isn't a dedicated thread for it. That was the only real catch here. 🙂

P.S. By the way, can I ask you to please watch out for that moving forward? Just stick to the topic. We've already had to deal with people taking things to their private messages before. 🙂

Sophia Adams63 said:Look, sorry, but if you had to wipe out half my post just because I used words like "chill" or whatever—seriously, what was even wrong with "chill"?—that’s not cool. You could've just deleted the specific word instead of nuking the whole thing.

It wasn't "half your post," it was just that one sentence where you were acting like the moderator was some kind of joke.

The moderator doesn't exist to be your punchline, that's not how we communicate on this astrology board, and honestly, it has absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand.

Sophia Adams63, you seriously need to focus and just ask a direct question already.

Alright, let's get down to business:

1) What exactly is eating at you?

2) What are you actually complaining about?

Noah Sanchez7 said:That’s completely incorrect. If that were true, you'd be denying the entire purpose of enlightenment or Budō, which wasn't just achieved by Buddha, but by many others, including Mahavira.

Of course, you don't get there by "cementing" anything; it's actually the exact opposite—it comes from persistently breaking down those deep-seated "walls" within the very core of our existence.
Those walls and limitations are what make us human—limited beings destined to experience constant cycles of falling and rising...

What part isn't true? That a person isn't Bud?

Obviously, you don't get there by "building up," but by doing the exact opposite: relentlessly tearing down those internal "walls" buried deep within the core of our existence.
Those walls, that sense of limitation, are what make us human—you know, that flawed, limited version of ourselves destined to constantly stumble and recover...

You missed my point entirely. 😉 I clearly stated that those "walls" and limitations *are* the Ego.

urbangardener35 said:Okay... I partially get it, but I think what I'm missing comes down to different definitions, perceptions, and philosophical systems.

But look, let's try this... For example, back on the "What is Enlightenment?" thread, there was this idea from Carl Jung that an enlightened person is someone who recognizes/becomes aware of their shadow side (if I translated that right), so maybe it would be a good idea if we talked here using simpler terms so we're actually on the same page about our definitions.

Can you answer these questions for me:
What does a person actually get out of becoming "One," as you put it? Is it truly a state without pain and suffering, or is it something else entirely?
Does this "Awakened" person still experience "negative emotions" (anger, rage, etc.), and if so, do they express them? Do they even have emotions at all?
Does this person have desires?
Does this person have a sense of morality, or is there no such thing as good and evil in their world?
Give me some specific differences between a whole person and a regular person who isn't on a spiritual path.

I haven't actually read that thread yet, but hey, whatever works. You did a solid job on the translation, though most people usually just call Carl Jung’s "dark side" concept the Shadow. 🙂
Quincy:

Can you answer these questions for me? So, what does a guy actually get when he finally achieves that "Simplicity" state you keep rambling about? Is it really this mythical land where pain and suffering just evaporate into thin air, or is there some other catch to the whole thing? Does this "enlightened" guy actually understand what "negative emotions" like anger or rage even feel like, and does he ever let them out? I mean, does he even have emotions at all, or is he just some hollow shell? Does this guy even have desires? Does this guy actually have a moral compass, or does he just live in a world where good and evil don't even exist?

I can. 🙂 But first, let’s get one thing straight... you don't just wake up one morning and suddenly become One. It doesn't work like that. 😉 I mean, don't even get me started... it sounds totally impossible, but hey, at least for us regular mortals, right? 😁

Brandon Hall88 was moving fast on this one, already dropping plenty of gems about how the whole point of spiritual practice is finding freedom from polarity—basically, breaking those addictive loops. He’s saying the goal isn't to just wipe everything out, but to free us from that constant need to react. You know, because every single thing you react to is just another massive drain on your energy. So, I figured I'd just add my two cents:

Here’s the deal: everything starts and ends with one simple truth—nothing in this world stays still. Everything is constantly shifting, evolving, and moving. It’s like the I Ching has been preaching for thousands of years: "change is the only constant." 🙂

Look, any effort you put toward spiritual growth definitely moves the needle, but let’s be real—that progress isn't permanent or set in stone. You shake off one burden, feel like you've finally made it, and you're riding high for a minute, but then? Boom. A new piece of your shadow crawls out of the woodwork and you're right back where you started. It's a cycle. The brutal reality is that all you're left with is the grind—just endless, exhausting work, over and over again. 😁

Look, let's be real: spiritual practices definitely give you those little windows into that state of Simplicity, even if they’re just fleeting moments. But honestly, who cares if it's short-lived? Even a split second of that clarity is enough to flip a switch in your brain. And once you've had that epiphany, what are you actually left with? You're left with the experience. It’s pretty simple math: the more of those deep insights you stack up, the freer you become. Isn't that the whole point?

Look, you can actually manage to hit a relatively steady state of higher consciousness—that whole Pleroma thing—if you try hard enough. But even then... is it really the answer? Is it? 😬

Look, I’m not trying to turn this into some deep philosophical lecture—don't get me wrong—but... 😁Everyone’s out here chasing this permanent high, trying to lock down that feeling of happiness like they can just pour concrete over it and freeze time forever. Honestly? It’s a good thing that’s impossible. If we actually managed to cement ourselves into one single state of being, we'd be totally screwed. We’re evolutionary creatures, right? Any attempt to stay stuck in one spot would basically just be a way to kill our own growth and stall any kind of progress. Why would anyone even want to stop evolving? 👍
Quincy:

So, what's the actual deal with the difference between someone who’s actually whole and just some regular person who hasn't even started a spiritual journey?

A whole person doesn't have questions. 🙂

urbangardener35 said:I actually asked this exact same thing in an earlier thread, and people basically told me that without an ego, you can't survive or get ahead in life—but then they turn around and say you have to somehow move past it if you ever want to start a spiritual journey... 😕

Now, I just need someone to explain to me why everyone talks about the ego like it's some tangible, concrete thing. Isn't "ego" just a Freudian construct? It feels like nothing more than a rough approximation of reality—just a messy blend of theory and whatever else.

Since I wrote it, I might as well answer myself, right? 🙂

Yeah, you absolutely have to bypass it. Why? Because the Ego won't let you become One—a whole, integrated being—which is basically the entire point of every spiritual technique out there. I mean, isn't it just human nature to want to be whole, complete, and free? 🙂

Can someone please just explain to me why we talk about the ego like it’s some tangible, living thing? Isn't the "ego" just a Freudian construct—basically a rough approximation of reality that's just a messy blend of theory and whatever else?

It all stems from the fact that we live in a dualistic world—a world defined by opposites (life vs. death, good vs. evil, hot vs. cold, left vs. right, joy vs. sorrow, health vs. sickness, etc.).

And since nothing in this universe exists without its opposite, people are constantly forced to compare things and "question" them. That's how they develop social and survival skills within this duality (you know, by actually living)... like distinguishing success from failure, beauty from ugliness, or what's acceptable versus what's not.

That’s exactly why human consciousness is fundamentally split into two parts—and that’s where the Ego steps in and makes itself necessary.

So, even though knowing the difference between good and evil is crucial in most life situations, living in a dualistic world is brutal; it drags us through endless emotional and mental suffering and fear (I mean, you can't have life without death, can you?)

urbangardener35 said:If anyone actually wants to give me an answer... 🙂
Is the ego inherently bad or good?
Is the ego absolutely necessary, or is it just baggage?
How are you even supposed to tell what part is your ego and what part is actually *you*?
And what even is this "true nature" everyone talks about? Isn't that just another manifestation of the ego anyway?

....so here's the copy/paste job 🙂

The ego is totally necessary for surviving day-to-day life because it handles the controlling, the comparing, the limiting, and basically steers a person toward making progress. It’s what separates reality from fiction, allows for planning and procrastination to get things done, keeps you safe from danger, and tells you what's best for you in any given moment.
But even though the ego is vital for getting through daily life, it's also the exact foundation for most people's emotional and spiritual messes. Because of it, a person ends up living in a dualistic world, and it stops them from having any direct contact with their "true self."
That's why all those self-discovery techniques are basically just designed to find a way around it. 👍

swiftseal69 said:So, should I just walk away?

Easier said than done, right? Like, if you don't want to bite off more than you can chew... 🙂

Look, I did try to keep my distance for a bit,
but honestly, it didn't change a thing.

If you're really hell-bent on poking the bear😈 , isn't there a specific reason why it has to be... her?

She’s probably just the one person I actually *can't* help.

Well... I guess waiting a beat to see how the dust settles makes sense for now.🙂

swiftseal69 said:...I honestly don't get this bolded part...

Alright, let me break it down for you: 🙂

When you're busting your ass trying to pull something off and just can't... man, that'll drain you dry.

But hey... if you could just be honest with yourself about it, where would the limit even be?

Quote: Golden drop

swiftseal69 said:It’s a rare thing, isn't it? Honestly, you almost never see it happen.
If someone really wants to drag me all the way to the border until my head starts spinning, fine—but honestly?
There’s this one person in my life right now who is just absolutely draining the soul right out of me. Seriously, how does someone even manage to be that exhausting?
It’s honestly unbelievable—I really want to step up and help her out, especially since she's dealing with some serious issues right now.
But that’s totally beside the point here, isn't it? Anyway, I can't exactly do anything to help her because...
It absolutely drains every last bit of energy out of me, but honestly? I can't bring myself to walk away.
Because then I'm just sitting here feeling like a total jerk, you know?

I pulled this specific part out because there’s actually a ton of info packed in here.

People love calling themselves "human energy bombs" or whatever, acting like they’re just absolutely bursting with positive vibes... but let's be real, isn't it just easier to label everyone else as some kind of astral vampire? It's honestly just the path of least resistance. 🤣 You know that one kid who thinks every single thing going wrong in their life is somehow the fault of the older generation? That classic "it's all the boomers' fault" attitude? 😁
Let’s be real, how many people actually want to lose their damn minds? It's not exactly a popular career choice, is it?

So you claim you want to help, but you're basically standing there with your hands tied, right? Honestly, isn't that more than enough reason to feel totally burnt out or—to use your own words—like someone just reached inside and sucked all your energy away?

Noah Myers67 said:If I remember correctly, they were talking in yesterday's The Washington Post about going back to wherever those things were bought between mid-July and mid-August. Something like that, anyway. 🤔

Thanks a ton. I'll let you know if it actually works.

Raymond Barrett12 said:🙂

Ehm, 😵 Let me set the record straight. So:

So, how exactly am I supposed to get my money back on these cards? 😁

boldeagle3 said:What, you don't read the news, watch TV, or even bother scrolling through the internet? Seriously?

Just surfing the web right now. 😉

...so, how the hell am I supposed to return these cards?

So, what’s your deal, you total vibe-killer... can't a person just read the room based on pure energy alone?😁

I reckon this is a pretty solid topic... if you actually want to think about it for a second. 😉
The reality is that non-verbal cues make up a massive chunk of how we communicate—honestly, in a lot of cases, they carry way more weight than what's actually coming out of someone's mouth. It’s how people "shout" without ever saying a word.
Now, all that playing detective stuff—trying to sniff out who’s lying, who’s faking it, or who’s just acting confused? I don't really care for it; seems kind of pointless to me.
But a whole different ballgame is whether an individual is even aware of their own "non-verbal communication"—you know, that whole body language thing...

poirot said:Alright folks, I'm sick of seeing everyone obsess over who's the greatest villain ever—it’s always some dark, edgy antagonist being hailed as the GOAT. Can we please pivot for once and talk about the good guys? Who’s your absolute favorite hero of all time?

Al Pacino in "Sea of Love"

Robert De Niro and Bill Murray (both of them, in their own unique ways) in "Mad Dog and Glory".😁

Honestly, I’d say this flick is one of our best, and frankly, it’s even more "serious" than Trainspotting.

My absolute favorite has to be "Black." 😉

I’ve actually got this thing on Blu-ray. It isn't even that bad since it's basically just a "parody of a parody," you know? And honestly, that scene where they try to do sex without actually doing any sex... 🙂

Tyler Price3 said:Can someone please explain to me how this director, who I honestly thought was a total genius after hits like Subway, Nikita, Leon, and The Fifth Element, could actually sink this low by writing stuff like The Transporter or Taxi? What happened to him after Joan of Arc? Like, what on earth possessed him to even make Joan of Arc in the first place?

Luc is such a fish in his horoscope. Remember how incredibly secretive everything was during the filming of "The Fifth Element"? The actors literally had to sign NDAs just to keep their mouths shut until the release.
Then he spiraled into this years-long depression. Probably some tragic heartbreak or something.😁