Conversation

Replying to

and

what makes pain bad is mostly caring. If you don't care, it isn't much of a problem. This isn't theoretical, I've had the state, i just can't reliably induce it, alas. There also seem to be other routes.

Replying to

and

Ironically one thing that anger helps with. I've been scared enough to run and hide, sad enough to die, and angry enough not to care. More than once. (Yes, I know, not a sensible path - just saying.)

Replying to

and

Yeah. There was a Zen warrior Japanese guy whose name I forget and he made the point that if you use another emotion to defeat, say fear, you've got nothing if that other emotion fails you. To him, as both a Zennie & warrior, that was unacceptable.

Replying to

and

That sounds like it's from the Book of Five Rings. Too long since I read it to say for sure. Speaking of, that might be due a re-reading. Especially with my recently more combative stance to life in general.

Replying to

and

Cleary's actually pretty harsh on the Book of Five Rings. A fanatic cultivator who never made the top ranks in his opinion. One thing Cleary is good on is how (later) Japanese military dictatorship for centuries warped Buddhist practice and especially Zen.

Replying to

and

I generally find, for me, that the early Japanese and especially the Chinese Chan masters are more useful.

Replying to

and

Yeah, it's probably a bit overhyped. But it's pithy, which is useful. Most of the classics have a similar quality. Seneca's letters or Meditations are probably not the best stoic works, but they're accessible.