Local meetup for budo practitioners?

Hey there,
I’ve been sitting here thinking about this, and I wanted to ask everyone: how much substance do you actually find when you hang out with people who are on their own spiritual journey? I mean, when it comes to really opening up and sharing the highs and lows of life across the board—is there any actual depth there? From what I’ve seen personally, every single person I’ve run into who claims to be into spirituality seems to have already picked a specific religion or a certain niche movement to cling to, and honestly, it feels like they aren't actually looking for genuine, soul-level friendship. It feels more like they just want to recruit anyone they meet into their little group or community. So, I'm curious, what has your experience been like in your day-to-day interactions with others who are also walking this path?

Any community centered around "spirituality" is inherently flawed. Spirituality is a deeply personal pursuit—one that requires moving beyond the herd mentality. There’s no such thing as collective spirituality or any kind of mass salvation. You can't find salvation within the herd or through it; the absolute prerequisite for any spiritual journey is outgrowing the hive mind. Spirituality is strictly an individual matter...

Look, I’m talking about people here, not bison. I’ve crossed paths with so many wonderful individuals who are out there doing incredible work and building real communities, so I’m certainly not going to lump them in with animals. Honestly, I’ve picked up quite a bit of wisdom from plenty of them over the years. Having a sincere friend who isn't afraid to look you in the eye and tell you the blunt truth? That is absolutely vital if you're trying to progress spiritually. If someone insists on walking that path entirely solo, they’re just going to end up stuck clinging to a bunch of misguided delusions. My actual question is this: what are your real-world experiences with actual human beings—specifically those who aren't part of some organized religious group? Because if you ask me, spirituality without forging tangible, concrete connections with other people is nothing more than mere intellectual masturbation.

No serious relationship is going to jumpstart your self-actualization journey. Once you’ve actually grown up—once you're truly ready—a connection might happen. But it won't be because you went out looking for it; it happens in spite of that. It happens because the timing is finally right.
I’m against expecting anything from anyone else—but then again, everything of actual value I’ve ever received came from someone else, and honestly, it’s been the best thing to ever happen to me. And I’m not talking about some basic exchange of information here; I’m talking about lighting a fire under you.
In religious communities, there isn't a shred of true spirituality to be found—it's just a flock of sheep.

The real question is who stands to gain by triggering mass psychosis. This whole "global awakening" concept is just a way to induce widespread psychological breaks, leaving people stuck in deep depression because they've been convinced their mental collapse is actually some spiritual breakthrough.

Kevin Ruiz36 said:The real question is who stands to gain by triggering mass psychosis. This whole "global awakening" concept is just a way to induce widespread psychological breaks, leaving people stuck in deep depression because they've been convinced their mental collapse is actually some spiritual breakthrough.

Exactly—spirituality is just an undesirable psychosis that leaves the masses depressed. You have to stay unspiritual to survive.

Unfortunately, I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with psychosis masquerading as some kind of spiritual awakening, and once you’ve dealt with that particular brand of delusion, you learn pretty quickly how to tell it apart from the harmless crowd—you know, those people just practicing certain rituals that might lead to some personal growth, or even the actual cults out there designed to brainwash people. It really makes me wonder if any of you actually possess genuine friendships with people who will look you in the eye and tell you exactly what they think and feel, people who show up as their true selves and accept you, flaws and all, allowing you to just exist without being judged, while helping you become a better person through sheer honesty and acceptance. I’m not talking about intense romantic passions or those manic episodes triggered by a messiah complex, but rather something much more basic, humble, and sincere: a real, living friendship. I mean that pure connection you had when you were ten years old, just sharing gum and secrets and your whole self, genuinely happy just because someone was there, saying what was on your mind and getting that same honesty right back.

Paul Rogers94 said:Exactly—spirituality is just an undesirable psychosis that leaves the masses depressed. You have to stay unspiritual to survive.

After spending six years chasing spiritual enlightenment and cycling through endless practices, I've realized it’s just a bottomless pit. You fall in, and you just keep sinking. Eventually, I just walked away. I nuked Instagram, wiped YouTube off my phone, ditched Facebook—everything. Now, I just pop onto this forum once in a while to read or leave a comment. Sometimes I don't even check in for months. I stopped all those "spiritual" routines entirely. It’s actually a relief when I think about it; all that time I wasted on mysticism could have been used to finally finish my Master's degree. Honestly, I have so much free time now that my head feels clear, finally rested from all that nonsense I was wasting my life on.

silverotter592 said:Unfortunately, I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with psychosis masquerading as some kind of spiritual awakening, and once you’ve dealt with that particular brand of delusion, you learn pretty quickly how to tell it apart from the harmless crowd—you know, those people just practicing certain rituals that might lead to some personal growth, or even the actual cults out there designed to brainwash people. It really makes me wonder if any of you actually possess genuine friendships with people who will look you in the eye and tell you exactly what they think and feel, people who show up as their true selves and accept you, flaws and all, allowing you to just exist without being judged, while helping you become a better person through sheer honesty and acceptance. I’m not talking about intense romantic passions or those manic episodes triggered by a messiah complex, but rather something much more basic, humble, and sincere: a real, living friendship. I mean that pure connection you had when you were ten years old, just sharing gum and secrets and your whole self, genuinely happy just because someone was there, saying what was on your mind and getting that same honesty right back.

Ever since my first symptoms surfaced and spiraled into depression, I’ve lost almost every friend I had. All I have left is my family, and they're the only ones keeping me grounded. Most people I used to know don't even realize I'm struggling with depression triggered by this "awakening." The truth is, I just changed so much that I no longer fit in with the crowd.

Kevin Ruiz36 said:Ever since my first symptoms surfaced and spiraled into depression, I’ve lost almost every friend I had. All I have left is my family, and they're the only ones keeping me grounded. Most people I used to know don't even realize I'm struggling with depression triggered by this "awakening." The truth is, I just changed so much that I no longer fit in with the crowd.

Thanks for being so real about this. I went through something remarkably similar myself. Those old friends—who, if I'm being honest, weren't even really friends but just people I used to go out with—all vanished about twenty years ago. A few years after that, I met my husband, and while we get along incredibly well, we both ended up retreating into our own little bubble of family responsibilities and never really built any deep, meaningful connections with anyone else outside of that. When he ended up in the hospital a few years back, I was left alone with four kids and it hit me hard: I didn't have a single person I could turn to for genuine help or support, which forced me to take a long, hard look at my own life. Because what good is spirituality if you aren't building meaningful relationships? Without sincere, practical, lived love, all this stuff is just empty philosophy, basically just mental masturbation. People like to label religious communities as sheep or crazy or whatever they want, but those people actually show up for one another; at least, from everyone I’ve met, they know how to sacrifice their free time, their money, or even their pride for someone else's sake. I could never fit into those groups because of my own independent way of thinking, but I am certain that community is vital and that everyone needs an honest smile, a bit of support, some constructive criticism, or even just a hundred bucks to fix the dishwasher before payday. It’s a beautiful thing when you can receive that, and even better when you have something to give. Not to mention the sheer spiritual strength required to help someone truly change their life from the ground up. I mean, what is even the point of "awakening" or spiritual progress if the goal isn't to make your own life, and the lives of others, better, more beautiful, and more meaningful? I struggled with depression quite often too, especially after having the kids when the loneliness felt overwhelming. Now I realize the biggest driver of my depression was actually selfishness. Once I stopped obsessing over why I felt so bad and started asking what I could actually do for my family despite how I felt, that depression turned into a sort of occasional melancholy that actually motivates me to try harder. I’d love to be able to offer something to the world outside my own home, but truthfully, I have no clue where to even go to meet new people.

Real connections like this are incredibly rare; I only have two of them, and I guard those friendships fiercely 😁.

Both of them were met right here on the forums. There used to be several more people connecting both online and offline, but they all eventually drifted away.

If I’m being completely honest with you, you aren't actually searching for anything spiritual. What you are looking for is support that exists independently of any religious or spiritual affiliation.
And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. You are simply looking for people—decent, down-to-earth individuals... and those people are becoming harder to find by the day.

So, I wish you the very best of luck 🙂

At the end of the day, that kind of connection is worth far more than anything material.

It all comes down to who you’re vibing with. Honestly, having the right circle matters more than anything.
I'm kind of a loner and a creative type—I don't really need people around. I actually love my alone time.
Ever since I raised my standards for friendship—mostly from diving into spirituality and alchemy stuff—most people just ended up being acquaintances who don't really get me.
Etc.

Depression isn't some kind of side effect of an awakening. Honestly, if you're feeling that way, it’s more of a sign that the awakening hasn't actually happened yet—because real spiritual growth usually shows up as things like heightened awareness, a genuine interest in the world, more energy, joy, relaxation, focus, or just a sense of peace.

The kind of spiritual community silverotter592 is talking about is actually incredibly vital. Now, look, a community can't replace your own personal inner work, but it can provide a massive boost and some much-needed support. Of course, you run into those people in spiritual circles who are totally green or naive—they think they can just talk theory at someone and call it "help." But hopefully, you'll find the more mature folks who offer real, tangible support, whether that's looking after someone who's sick or helping out a friend who's struggling financially. That’s just what a grounded person does anyway; helping people in need comes naturally, so it makes sense to extend that same hand to your fellow travelers in a community. It's something we should all be practicing regardless, as part of our own personal growth. Setting aside time or money to help others—whether through manual labor, giving someone a ride, offering a place to stay, or helping someone study—is just part of the process.

"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me!" (Matthew 25:45)

Sure, cults are actually pretty useful if you want to keep certain myths alive in the long run. 😳

bluemason3, you could honestly be a pretty useful helping hand for your neighbors if you ever decided to join a local community group or something. You know, just a way to rack up some noble deeds to save your own soul or whatever.

What souls? 😁

Just finished my stint in the service. It was an interesting experience, sure, but I’ve lost all interest in playing along with those fake family dynamics and little "tribal" cliques. I’ll leave that nonsense to the next generation of naive kids who haven't figured out how the world works yet. 😁

silverotter592 said:Hey there,
I’ve been sitting here thinking about this, and I wanted to ask everyone: how much substance do you actually find when you hang out with people who are on their own spiritual journey? I mean, when it comes to really opening up and sharing the highs and lows of life across the board—is there any actual depth there? From what I’ve seen personally, every single person I’ve run into who claims to be into spirituality seems to have already picked a specific religion or a certain niche movement to cling to, and honestly, it feels like they aren't actually looking for genuine, soul-level friendship. It feels more like they just want to recruit anyone they meet into their little group or community. So, I'm curious, what has your experience been like in your day-to-day interactions with others who are also walking this path?

The Buddha taught that there are three essential supports for a seeker: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. That is to say, the teacher, the teachings, and the community of like-minded individuals.

I suppose I feel similarly; certain people in our circle serve as support along the way.

In fact, I think it might be better to remain alone than to surround yourself with idiots.

I have two friends who serve as my Sangha—my loves, my treasure, my spiritual brother and sister. Our bond has been cultivated over many years; we grew up together, evolved together, changed together, learned together, and read the same books. Yet, despite all that, we were never so tied to one another that we became inseparable. I don't think inseparability is a good thing. Nor do I care for excessive familiarity.

Regarding groups—I am part of a small sisterhood that meets virtually from all over the world for shared spiritual work. That feminine esoteric energy created through contact during spiritual practice is truly nourishing for the soul.

By its very nature, that energy is soft, loving, warm, gentle, relaxing, and peaceful. It is mystical. Together, we become more than just a collection of individuals.

Such experiences create synchronized souls on the same vibration. If someone among us possessed a certain masculine assertiveness—someone wanting to moderate, motivate, direct, teach, correct, or intellectually dominate—the whole thing would likely fall apart quite quickly.

So, I guess it is best to find people from your own "spiritual family," or perhaps just let a higher power bring you together.

I only advocate for this kind of connection as nourishment for the spirit, though I also support solitude. Solitude is equally beautiful. Perhaps the best approach is to balance both.

Usually, we’re talking about the three jewels of dharma. Shastra is essentially a subgenre of literature, primarily within Hinduism. You find some versions in Mahayana Buddhism too, though they aren't considered foundational texts there. And obviously, when people mention this, they aren't referring to general heresy that just leads you astray; they mean specific Buddhist BDS frameworks. 🧐 😬 🤣

As for the second point, there's two sides to it. On one hand, humans are tribal creatures. We feel good being part of a group, and those communities bond through shared myths, taboos, rituals, and the like. The tighter the connection within the group, the "stronger" we feel.

On the other hand, that same thing traps us in an ideological and social bubble. It makes us feel alienated from the rest of society, heightens our biases against outside ideas, and ultimately stunts our ability to think critically.

Ryan Wilson2 said:Real connections like this are incredibly rare; I only have two of them, and I guard those friendships fiercely 😁.

Both of them were met right here on the forums. There used to be several more people connecting both online and offline, but they all eventually drifted away.

If I’m being completely honest with you, you aren't actually searching for anything spiritual. What you are looking for is support that exists independently of any religious or spiritual affiliation.
And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. You are simply looking for people—decent, down-to-earth individuals... and those people are becoming harder to find by the day.

So, I wish you the very best of luck 🙂

At the end of the day, that kind of connection is worth far more than anything material.

That’s exactly it. Thanks for the kind words. Honestly, without some sort of spiritual perspective, it’s tough to stay grounded, though then again, I know plenty of people who have completely lost their minds because they chased after some fake spirituality, so, well...

bluemason3 said:Usually, we’re talking about the three jewels of dharma. Shastra is essentially a subgenre of literature, primarily within Hinduism. You find some versions in Mahayana Buddhism too, though they aren't considered foundational texts there. And obviously, when people mention this, they aren't referring to general heresy that just leads you astray; they mean specific Buddhist BDS frameworks. 🧐 😬 🤣

As for the second point, there's two sides to it. On one hand, humans are tribal creatures. We feel good being part of a group, and those communities bond through shared myths, taboos, rituals, and the like. The tighter the connection within the group, the "stronger" we feel.

On the other hand, that same thing traps us in an ideological and social bubble. It makes us feel alienated from the rest of society, heightens our biases against outside ideas, and ultimately stunts our ability to think critically.

We are social creatures, so I suppose avoiding society isn't really possible, nor should we attempt to act against our own nature.

But then again, if one intends to evolve, there are these two opposing forces... the natural drive to socialize and the striving toward samospoznaja, which, to achieve, requires us to shed what society has imposed upon us. ....

Society shapes us by dictating who we should be and defining our identity, whereas individuation is a departure from the comfortable coexistence of the herd toward a cave where there is no one to define us from the outside... In certain stages of spiritual growth, I imagine both paths can be painful. In the herd, it's suffocating, and in the cave, one might just go mad.

Once a certain threshold is crossed, I suppose both states become manageable. People can love others while still finding peace in solitude.