Petals

@Sugarcoat Ok. I think the teachings of the Buddha in the actual suttas are sound. But of course it will not work for people at large because it is too difficult and people are too satisfied with their lives and they have no grasp of the first noble truth. Even I don't have it deeply although I am interested in it. My point was exactly not to question something based on what you have heard because that could be false and when it comes to Buddhism it is false most of the time.

@Sugarcoat Sure, I assumed that 'am I onto something?' means that you think it is a kind of trap that lures people in but never delivers, like so many other spiritual paths. That was my assumption. And my answer was - actually look into it and find out for yourself plus giving a hint towards what you will find. And that there is no lasting happiness in the world is not an assumption, it is just the case.

@Sugarcoat Reality is the way it is. If only a few practicioners can reach it then that is how it is. Don't blame it on the Buddha. Dullness and boredom are assumptions on your part. I don't know how old you are but I assume that by now you have realized that none of what you imply as valuable - excitement and experiences - can last or be satisfactory. Just read the teachings and think about it for yourself. I am not trying to convert anybody. I am not a Buddhist but I still think the Buddha's teachings are very valuable. —— The Buddha in fact found something that is beyond sensual pleasures - the jhanas. There is debate about what they are exactly but implying that the Buddhist path is dull and boring comes from a lack of familiarity with the teachings. And these jhanas are possible way before any enlightenment.

This may sound arrogant but I think almost no one has a clue about Buddhism these days. I had a wrong view before I dove into it. Most of Buddhism we have today is later additions and when it comes to 'Western' Buddhism it is pretty much all romanticized. I recommend reading 'Noble Truths, Noble Path' by Bhikkhu Bodhi. There you can read actual suttas, the teachings of the Buddha. You have to be hardcore if you want to follow the Buddha's teachings. It is a teaching of renunciation. The Buddha was once in a forest with his disciples and he said that what he teaches is a handful of leaves but what he knows is like all the leaves in the forest. He probably knew the deepest truths of reality but he didn't teach them. What he cared about is teaching people "suffering and the end of suffering". —— Imagine a being that has zero desire or aversion towards anything, no desire towards any sensual experience, no desire for continued existence - not because you are depressed but because you have a mind that is so pure that it cannot be bothered, cannot be disturbed anymore. Imagine the ridiculous amount of development you need for this. That is what an arahant, an enlightended being is like. —— Understanding God and Reality is fine but it cannot replace the actual end of suffering which is possible according to the Buddha. I assume Leo is still suffering a lot although he has a high understanding of God and Reality.

@Leo Gura Has your view on free will changed over the last years? I think a few years back you made episodes on free will and Will. One's insights / views on this are central when judging people. PS. Can you provide links or the titles for the videos on your blog? Sometimes I cannot view them. I get a grey box which says that the video is not available. I am from Europe, so maybe I just cannot view them here but I could try and search when you provide a link or title. That would be great.

@Leo Gura yes ok, it might not be a chair in the very narrow sense but you can have a 'chair' that can be positioned in such a way that you can sit as I explained, slight tilt, feet on the ground (which makes it more comfortable for your back) - think e.g. Swopper (not sure if this is a thing in the US?) or saddle chair.

@Leo Gura I am not. You can sit so high with a slight tilt of the sitting surface that your knees will be below your pelvis, feet on the ground. If your pelvis and knees are at the same level, your lower back always has to work to keep you straight. But if it works for you, that's good!

@bazera @Leo Gura the trick is to have your knees below your pelvis so that the pelvis can rotate 'back up'. this will help you sit straight, whether you are cross-legged or not. But Leo, this chair seems way to small for your knees to get below your pelvis. maybe it is just the angle from which you photographed it? I had a knee-injury so thank you for encouraging chair-meditation.

@Leo Gura is there going to be an episode on labor in the future? that would be great.

@OBEler what I meant is the part 'since you cannot take psychedelics anymore'. I seems like you mean Leo cannot take psychedelics anymore (maybe due to health condition or whatever).

what do you mean? @OBEler did I miss sth? by the way @Leo Gura - will you resume posting on the blog?

Guru Viking Podcast - https://youtube.com/@guruviking?si=waqAYhs7HJAVMv4V - spirituality, personal experiences on the spiritual path, esoteric stuff New Thinking Allowed with Jeffrey Mishlove - https://youtube.com/@newthinkingallowed?si=11IoczJ8sxlqCJvP - wide range of spiritual topics, parapsychology, also philosophy sometimes, mostly interviews with guests Beth Upton - https://youtube.com/@beth.upton.meditation?si=YyTn5XxpuHTdP92T - short videos on Theravada Buddhism in the tradition of Pa-Auk Sayadaw - also quite esoteric stuff that require practice in meditation, meditation instructions

at first I thought this is too weird, but the more videos I watch, the more it seems like something is going on. I want to hear your opinion on this. I guess it doesn't change anything about the ultimate nature of reality. but most of us are not operating on that level of consciousness and we might find ourselves in these scenarios when we pass over after death. maybe I should issue a warning here - this is serious black pill stuff, so if you are not feeling good mentally, you can come back to it at another time. this I found the most disturbing one so far (the being pushed part). it is not an NDE but a pre-birth memory. check out his channel - NDE Research Project.

@Sugarcoat @ExploringReality guys, this has nothing to do with the topic.

@martin_malin what if they are not what you thought they are? are you open to that possibility? watch some of the NDE Research Project videos. do you think you will meet Jesus on the other side? how do you know it is not an entity masquerading as Jesus? @Natasha Tori Maru thanks, going to have a look. so you had an NDE?

@PurpleTree but this will affect you if his analysis is indeed correct. this is not like a meditative or a psychedelic experience that can rather easily be reproduced. you literally have to die for you to come into that situation. that is why there is no way around relying on other people's accounts. all that is in your hand is taking the reports seriously or not and hence being prepared when the experience comes or not being prepared. I recommend watching some of the videos on this channel. without that we are not on the same page.

@PurpleTree fair enough, but you ignore information at your own peril. how many people do you need to be in congruence on something before you consider that there might be sth to it?

@decentralized

@theleelajoker of course it's not the same for all humans. but there seem to be patterns as he shows on his channel. he certainly has a lens, a hypothesis, through which he filters the NDEs he watches. but maybe sometimes we can go a bit above or deeper than saying 'who knows?' when patterns emerge.

@Chadders found this guy on YouTube. he also sells protocols for different problems. he has some views that are maybe controversial and he is quite convinced of himself. but it seems he has a lot of experience and has made a lot of effort to study papers. themicrobiomeexpert.com

@Thetruthseeker I haven't gone through the thread, so maybe someone has recommended this. I enjoy listening to the 'Conspirituality' podcast from time to time and Aubrey Marcus is also talked about in a few episodes. Maybe you want to check it out.

if you are not serious enough about it to pay one tuition, then why do it? I don't know how much it is for one semester. apart from that, is it not allowed to visit some lectures without enrolling?

in the end, you can only know by testing it. so why not go to some seminars and lectures and see how you like it? you have a job, so there is no risk in dropping out if you don't like it.

if you do it for the sake of learning, why jump through all the hoops? there is so much stuff online and books, so you can pick and choose what really interests you. if you consider getting a job in these fields, then you probably need to do it. or if you love socializing and want the experience of community. there are also online courses from renowned universities and professors. those might also keep you on track. that's my opinion, but you probably already had some of the same thoughts. (edx.org for example)

Ok, I don't know for sure but I just want to remind you, Leo, that this is the kind of thing that played a role in someone killing himself. And the fact is, you don't know if it's true. I get that it seems so to you from the vantage point of your trips but have a look at the field of parapsychology or near-death experiences which hint at the possibility that sth of the personality is retained and therefore that ignorance remains after death. Even the greats of the 20th century when it comes to spirituality have not espoused the view of your quote, at least many of them have not. I am not here to declare the truth of the matter because I don't know. I just want you to be cautious and entertain the possibility that you are wrong. You don't need to take me seriously but please take other authorities seriously who do not agree with you on this. Maybe you are open to what I wrote, but then you need to qualify your statement.