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"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.

Ian Welsh

@iwelsh

Jul 31, 2019

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.)

Ian Welsh

@iwelsh

Jul 31, 2019

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.

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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.

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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.

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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...

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

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what is the difference, as you understand it

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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!)

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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.

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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.

8:26 PM · Jul 31, 2019Twitter Web App