Natasha Tori Maru

The book enquires deeply into things like this. The post above by @Freshta is also a lovely anecdote illustrating it. @Sugarcoat linked a BRILLIANT youtube clip a while ago regarding pain and suffering from someone who suffers cluster headaches (one of the worst types of physical pain). Consider this example found experientially: The force of a large piece of concrete formwork pushes down onto some earth. The pushing force of the concrete down can represent pain. Physical, unavoidable pain. You want to stop this so you try to push the concrete off the soft earth. But as you push - you add a terrible shearing force laterally across the ground between the earth and concrete. Now you have 2 sources of pain. The existing pain pushing down - and the lateral force you are exerting. Heat and friction are added to the downward crushing. This lateral force is you resisting the pain, fighting the pain. This is the suffering component. You are the source of this force, which you exert with good intention - you think this force (suffering) will assist with the pain. But all it does is drain your energy. It actually makes the physical force of the concrete baring down harder to endure, because you are now wasting energy trying to push it aside. This is an example of how suffering and pain can be separate. And it is useful to interocept and self enquire to understand fully what mechanisms are at play internally, which ones we contribute to, and which are part of survival. I argue that you have not made this distinction - yet. I understand you will just repeat your assertion and resist what others are trying to touch on in this thread. And within that resistance, you are actually creating suffering (much like pushing the concrete aside) - you are suffering us all telling you that there is some suffering that is imaginary and avoidable. Ironic, isn't it? You won't get anywhere trying to argue on a forum if you won't even read that Ralston book....

What if Leo cannot have kids? Hashimoto's can fuck you up in ways you wouldn't expect. It's an autoimmune disease where your immune system tries to kill itself. The systematic issues it causes aren't a fun time (I have Hashimoto's also). Why would he disclose if he couldn't? This could be a brutal thing to project. If one cannot have kids, to be told they need to and are missing out is a kick to the guts. Just a new way to frame it, not agreeing or disagreeing 🤪

@UnbornTao Letdown after letdown.... The Simpsons had so much right

https://youtu.be/-JcMhIqBxYg?si=cWpnXzCzmVyghRLO

I agree with this, I don't understand what OP's aim or goal is. It might be helpful if there was a clear reason - as in - is the the listening pathological? Does the user avoid all life responsivities because they just want to listen to music? Are they unable to moderate volume and damaging their hearing? Sound and music are conduits for joy, emotion, feeling. And, speaking for myself, have always been a healthy form of expression. Therapeutic even.

I will add to this - if you post in a forum such as this with big claims, expect to have them pulled apart and dissected. It's not meant as an attack (although coupled with wrong tone it can be perceived as such). Why else would you post but to want to discuss it? We are all here trying to understand so deep enquiry is going to happen. There are plenty of other places on the internet to post if you want to have a belief reinforced. Having said that, it's not an excuse to be mean or derogatory. But you can't post here and expect not to be probed and questioned extensively. We want to understand so these questions attempt to find out, even if laced with doubt. I think @Hojo raised this as well

@Miguel1 That could come up, so I would take action if I did face some serious issues. I think your decision is wise, mine carries risk. And you could argue - undue risk. I am quite intentional about wanting to inspire people to be authentic and genuine. Real expression. Much of my online presence is an attempt to embody that so I can lead by example. Because real, honest, earnest truth and expression has always led me to my greatest successes and achievements. I try to be as honest with myself as I can, so I have the best chance to learn from my mistakes. See clearly what went wrong, refine my knowledge and technique - and move forward knowing what to avoid and what to move toward. I feel if I am as real as possible, this just might prompt others to be real. And there is a real chance at connection and union. Intimacy. Platonic love. And the shared experience of that is the best joy there is! The dissolving of all duality through the experience of the REAL

@Miguel1 I have thought on that. A lot. I look at it as a process of vetting: if anyone wants to judge and reject me for anything I write or post, it is almost a test I leave for them. It is telling me outright they aren't the person for me, they aren't the business for me. Family have no choice (man I feel bad for them hehe). I just wouldn't be willing to date someone who would see this and judge. I look at it as my shit-test. Honestly if someone is willing to bin or reject me for some hobby forum posting that is 100% on them and good riddance, my filter worked. The only part that makes me second guess this is professionally - career wise would I take a hit? Probably not. Construction is very results based. Meetings with clients and state officials... well I still wear beanies, casual shit, sometimes alternative styles. No one gives a shit as long as the project hits budget and time and we have a good outcome. They don't care about hardcore spirituality (maybe they would if they knew how I apply it to construction effectively....) If I changed careers it would be to go fully into the arts scene, which is even MORE open.

Fuck why did I do this - I started watching because I love the Alien films. This had so much potential... NGL though, they used that Tool song at the worst part - you'd expect a song about anal fisting to happen when there was FULL ALIEN carnage. But it was the outro... the rights alone would be $$$ Anywho, I'm onto episode 3 with nothing but hopes and dreams left...

@AION Sex =/= damage Virginity is a social construct, not a moral value. 'get a virgin girl' - implying this has some sort of high value you should just delete yourself & your integrity for....

I haven't perceived this as a social expectation. This sounds like a pathological feminine expectation - unique to an unhealthy individual and not a societal expectation. And it applies to both men and women. You are totally fine as a man to be stoic, lead, and to have boundaries. You should feel fine to assert them as such. 'These are my expectations' and mutually agree. Self sovereignty is for all. Also reads like AI AI AI - did you generate it through ChatGPT?

Fuck, this was a great read - thank you so much! Appreciate you

Creatine has had some big nootropic effects for me - let us know how you go with it! From what I gather, creatine works on the ATP system - which is the molecule your cells 'spend' to do everything. It helps recycle ATP. ATP does basically everything - movement, blood pumping, fires nerves, build proteins, thinking even Thanks YOU TOO! I am a very curious and disciplined person, so I don't mind experimenting. Also spirituality HELPS because you do not attach so much to routines or fixed ways. So experiments that would make others feel deprived, or require sacrifice, do not phase me so much. My curiosity overrides pain and sometimes even fear... so I have to be careful there haha

@Someone here Well you are doomed to suffer then, and in all the unnecessary ways we human beings cause. I recommend 'Ending Unnecessary Suffering' by Peter Ralston. Gluck

Pain is physical for sure. Suffering CAN be physical - as in it can be described as the broader experience that encapsulates pain - but you can have suffering without pain. So I would posit these are not synonymous. So are you sure suffering is totally physical? If I suffer from sadness - what is going on there? Is sadness physical in its origin?

Exactly. That book explains it. We do it. The issue is people suffer huge ego backlash at the thought they might be responsible for it. And don't get me wrong, suffering occurs because of survival - but there is A LOT of suffering generated as a result of the social domain that can be deleted.

Now you are back on track - as you are meant to ask these questions - so that IS the point! My point was that suffering isn't physical. Do you think it is physical? If it is not - what is it?

It points to the fact it is in the mind - and could, therefore, be illusory. It is prompting investigation. So combative aren't we? All this shit is a word game. It is all just pointers. Nothing said - not even a word, is what it is. Light can mean so much without context - light weight, turn on the light, light sleeper, light shade. All words are just games and pointers, so what is your point? Hmmmm?

@ExploringReality Yep my weight went up - but curiously not felt as water weight. As in, when I am approaching my monthly season I retain about 2kgs of water weight. It makes you feel blobby. Almost as if you got fatter overnight. You walk and legs shake - think homer when he gets tapped on his stomach and it ripples like a wave 'Look at the flubber fly!' Creatine, curiously, does not have this effect. But my weight went up 1kg, so I think it is intramuscular! My legs are slightly larger and shoulders also. I do a combo of approx 25kms running a week, some sprinting, and weights at the gym. I don't gas out as easily so I can push really hard with creatine. And I am a small girl 163cms, 48kg - so body changes are fun because I can see it rapidly on a little frame. I only drink coffee and tea - no other gym type drinks.

I typically fast until 11am then eat from 11-6pm. I have done some extended fasts (5 days max) and I love it for the clarity. The amount of bullshit time spend on shopping, planning, prepping, cooking, eating... not to mention THINKING about food is crazy when its removed as an option. So I use the time for real hard spiritual work as my brain is somewhat empty-er than normal I also love it for interception - It always trains me back to being able to perceive precisely when energy systems flip from glycogenic to fat burning. Similar to running - you know when you go for a run, the first 10-15 minutes is a headfuck. I always want to stop, mental fight, then after that I am home free and can go for 15kms without even noticing. It's the energy system flipping from anaerobic to cardiovascular. I can feel when the energy systems of the body change to a 'backup' during a fast, so to speak. I have also experimented with fasting every second day - I just make sure to eat back the calories. Speaking as a woman, this didn't work as well for me hormonally. Men have WAAYYYY more options

I am sorry to hear this tale - it sounds like she wasn't as mature previously and now has grown since. Bad boundaries mean we are not always as honest as we should be in the pursuit and prioritization of harmony. Which is really a fear of loss and an attachment 'If I tell the truth I do not like this, and won't allow it, how will I be perceived? Will I be rejected? I do not want to have negativity' etc. When we grow in maturity we understand the negative is just as needed as the positive when striving for a good outcome. It is ultimately coming down to: Do you pursue further self exploration through substances, or do you pursue further self exploration in romantic contrast with another? Seek clarity around your values. Young people really dislike this but - nothing lasts. What do you think you will regret with each choice? Her, or experiences with substances? I personally do not recommend compromising your integrity by lying and hiding this from her - this is the exact opposite of what you want to achieve in a mature romantic partnership. You want union, not division. And lies only serve to rend the connection.

You done?

@theoneandnone Same same I think it is a comet from what I have listened to - that is me fitting in the most likely proposition based in historical data and events. In addition, I am so weary these days due to sources being corrupt - now more than ever I do not know who to trust, or what data is actually true. High entropy is eating into everything internet and media wise...

@BlueOak So to sum this up - you are saying force is the cause, energy the result? You have inserted a lot of language - which isn't necessary bad - but I felt it did not add to the understanding for me. Do you consider a decision a force? I ask because strictly speaking - force is an phenomenon of material reality. It isn't a 'thing' so to speak, more a way to describe how material reality interacts. A decision can FEEL like a force because it sets things in motion. IE the instant we decide, we have 'applied a directional push' to our lives. Before, we were in a potential (energy waiting). After this decision we have committed to a vector - force applied. But experientially I think it is more - Decision (director, or vector), motivation or will (energy, capacity), action (force, actual push). With the reasoning above I would argue a decision isn't a force by itself. But it can act as a chooser of the direction for where our force and energy will go.... I say force never worked for me because it was the decision - the wisdom to know when to effect change - that was the mechanism responsible for my success in say, building a Dialysis Centre (a real example of a completed build I worked on). But the decision and energy movement cannot occur without the force needed to 'push'. So they work in tandem to influence reality. This is why I do not think it is any more fundamental than energy or decisions. Especially if we consider energy as 'raw potential'. In addition - forces I work (construction) with have opposing forces. A decision does not carry this equal & opposite mechanism. If I decide to take action, the decision doesn't have an opposing force - it is merely the prior form of the action taking shape. All of my work is dealing with the reality of forces! Materials and integrity are the core of building successfully. And no worries with the above - just pointing out that you shouldn't need to insert the fact you have a Y chromosome into the conversation. You shouldn't dismiss a person or their views because of their form. You only limit yourself - you have no idea in actuality what they have to say or whether it is useful to you. To act like you do know at all, is false.

Let us try to point to suffering? I can find pain in my body - my fucken elbow is angry at me after it made contact (quite ungracefully!) with the doorframe. I can point to the pain sensation. But if you try to point to suffering ....