Joseph Maynor

Why do people who criticize have to be drunk? Isn't that a kind of demonizing of people who criticize? Maybe they're criticizing because they want to. So what. We all do it. Don't try to deny it.

Enlightenment is very different than any idea of Enlightenment.

Watch this one too if you have time:

That's what enlightenment leads to. Loose clinging to beliefs and suspension of beliefs. And a greater appreciation for the reality of the present moment: sensing reality directly. You don't throw your beliefs away or try to control reality. You just watch these things and don't make them mean anything about a separate sense of self. Let your beliefs and Ego do what they do. Do not repress these things. I think a lot of people make that mistake. That's a creation of Ego because you're identifying with thoughts and value judgments about reality.

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Nice analysis. Instead of clinging to rules we just need to maintain awareness. A lot of time we go unconscious and that's where we get annoying. So, simply being aware of the egoic tendencies inside of you is what you want to do. Clinging to rules like "no criticizing" is gonna backfire because you're trying to control reality, which is the wrong approach. This is the Ego trying to control the Ego. What is happening here is the creation of the Humble Ego. That's no good. You're not really humble -- at least not all the time. Just watch reality. Try to accept and love all of reality, including the Ego. That's the paradox. This shit is tricky, and it takes a while to figure it out.

I've been addicted to music my whole life. It think it allows me to experience the full spectrum of what the emotions, fantasy, and the imagination have to offer. "Philosophy is the highest music" -- Plato https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Never_for_Ever

Awaken the Giant Within is good, but kinda kooky too I think. It's half good. His exercises are great, but some of his theory is a bit weird. All that Neuro-Linguistic Programming stuff.

If that makes your mind feel better, run with it.

You don't want to repress your conclusions. Just watch them. Be aware of them. Don't deny your preferences -- just don't take them too seriously.

Hey -- we could be addicted to being and feeling right. That's a nasty addiction that may be worse and more fundamental than addition to technology.

Neither one of those options bodes well for us.

It's not just internet, it's internet + phone addiction now.

I might have to do this next week now. I have too much awareness now. I don't want any monkeys on my back.

A lot of us do not watch TV today. We sit around on the Internet instead. You think you're really smart eh? I can tell from your tone. It's an arrogant tone.

The generation before ours sat in front of the TV all the time. Before that people were glued to the radio.

I gotta try it myself for a week and see too now.

What is it specifically that you were craving?

Watch this one by Emerald too:

Dial it back before you quit. Keep every category of thing you are doing. If you gotta cut, cut how much you are doing things. You need to keep your commitment to your resolution. Quitting is the enemy of progress. You are probably over-extending yourself, so dial back the amounts that way but keep every task on the ledger, if that makes sense. You need to get over this hump. It takes 60 days to form a habit. You need to pay that price, and then it will be much easier because you'll have a wind at your back. You're gonna have to endure a little pain for a while. Watch this video:

Technical terms are completely arbitrary. I follow Emerald's terminology here. Existential truth vs Relative truth. One might label differently, however.

Add Joe Walsh to that list too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Walsh

Do not repress your emotions and preferences. Just watch them and act authentically. You will know what to do if you tap into YOUR wisdom.

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