UnbornTao

Sure, go ahead. You0re the conductor. Some practice will be needed, but start gradually. For example, can you meditate for five straight minutes? Or read a book for half an hour without interruption? Keep in mind that this concentration business is more about what you don't do rather than the other way around.

Chocolate cake and Elden Ring. Bear in mind, it's best not to take your experience of emotions too seriously. Give it some space - some "distance." Recognize it as an activity you're engaged in, not something that belongs to reality or life itself. Think of depression as a particular outfit you might occasionally wear, rather than confusing it with your body (or something of the sort). You can always wear something else, too.

Everytime you say "no", remember Bugs Bunny:

Actual listening is much rarer than people expect.

Just wait until he finds out he was never born in the first place.

@Optimized Life Sounds good, good luck.

@Ishanga In your example, it was after his major breakthrough, not before. He was just a normal teenager living a normal life. If one doesn't care now, then such reasons are merely excuses - "Someday, maybe, when the right conditions are met." There's no such thing as the right conditions; it's true now. Maybe you can't do an intensive monthly retreat at home, but you can always contemplate, regardless of life circumstances. And life doesn't stop, until it does.

Why separate them? It's a false dichotomy and an excuse. It's best to eliminate whatever notions and ideas we may have of enlightenment. I suspect you're holding it like a sort of ideal or fantasy. Monks still have to clean up, cook, and maintain the monastery, while pursuing enlightenment.

@Optimized Life It's okay, man. I'd recommend keeping one's word when we give it - if we want it to have power. Otherwise, it's best to admit there was no intent in the first place and move on. No need to beat yourself up. Avoid wasting energy on excuses or justifications. That's healthier and more functional. You can always create real intent, too, which requires doing whatever you set out to do. Good luck.

haha

I wonder whether they can top Red Dead 2. Apparently, Dan Houser hasn't had anything to do with this GTA.

It's best to leave it open and not confuse whatever notion we come up with with the actual realization or breakthrough. So if it's about becoming conscious of the absolute nature of something, grasp that deeply - and then you'll see for yourself and naturally lose interest in speculating about it.

Another perspective is that life isn't going anywhere, even as circumstances change.