Conversation

Replying to

I also find people who think that modern materialist metaphysics obviously trump mystical views of past masters. Especially since the Newtonian clockwork universe model is collapsing towards panpsychism anyway.

1

2

"Obviously atheistic materialism is correct" is not a very smart position, it's just conformity in action. Maybe the old masters were full of shit, but most of them were seeking something that was more than just a psychological state.

1

1

As for the world/body loathing of a lot of Buddhism, that's not necessary for renunciation. Detachment is the core, and loathing is a corrective tool, not a final stance. (I think it's a dangerous tool, but that appears to have been the initial intent.)

1

3

Renunciation is useful for a large number of reasons. It simplifies the process massively. You can, yes, do the job without renunciation, but renunciation appears to be genuinely the easier path. To renounce, people get confused and then hate what they renounce.

3

2

Replying to

The renunciate paths have the virtue of showing little danger besides potentially turning you into an emotionally stunted bigot, and making you miss out on some of the finer things in life, an- I jest, but there's an element of truth to it, I think.

1

1

Replying to

the dangers of the tantra paths are far, far greater, both to yourself and other people. Remember the shit the Chinese found in Tibetan dungeons.

2

1

Replying to

I was about to say that I've only just about ended my life in a profoundly non-useful manner several times with tantric practices! All the same, it seems to be my path, and is finally working better for me. My name is rooted in old Germanic word for "cinder", after all...

1

1

Replying to

and

I think the key turning point was realizing I am more interested in liberation than cessation of suffering. That really opened some doors.

1

1

Replying to

what is the difference, as you understand it

1

2

Replying to

My whole life I spent bored and inhibited, miserable. Early brushes with Buddhism had me convinced it was a four noble truths problem. Now I believe it was conditioning problem. I had strings, but now I'm free, there are no strings on me... (Ok, still some strings on me, but!)

1

3

Replying to

and

Most suffering I experience today is like waves or current. It only has power when it sticks to traumas I haven't released yet, and I can tell when it does. Sans traumas, it's so small I can barely see it. I care very little about it anymore, except when it gets in my way.

8:23 PM · Jul 31, 2019Twitter Web App

Replying to

and

It's also becoming quite clear that it can be refined into fuel with practice (I am still bad at this). When I get the mixture right, I get wild kundalini releases and weirdly clear intuitions, plus profound emotional mastery. I can suddenly do almost anything.

1

1

Replying to

and

It's not perfect, and there is a lot there I still don't understand. But walking with fire is a lot more fun than the sense doors ever were (to me)!

1

1

Show replies

Replying to

conditioning as the problem is the standard Hindu model.

1

2

Replying to

Yup. I converted, basically. Except I have even less understanding of Hinduism. Thankfully, vamachara seems to place (much) higher demands on courage and fortitude than on theoretical rectitude per se.

1

Show replies