Do you see a contradiction in these two messages?

[Razard86]

The Spiritual Path is highly paradoxical in nature and growth can from certain perspectives be seen as a regression. What determines which is more true? The barometer is always the same, SELF-LOVE. Whichever is more SELF-LOVING, which means whatever is less biased, which is the same as whichever creates the most separation, which ever creates more aggrandizement or debasement, is the opposite of PURE LOVE. 

Pure Love is unconditional, PURE LOVE is the only objectivity, because it has housed within it all subjectivity possible which means it is the only perspective....that can see an object for what it is because it can see all permutations (expressions) possible.

Now...with that introduction out of the way.... take a look at this video transcript and the responses in the comment section.

https://www.actualized.org/articles/what-is-karma

Analyze the core message of these two paradoxical views. Look at the time stamp....this signifies growth and maturity. The 2nd video was released years later. Notice how the focus has changed. 

Now the point of this exercise is not to criticize....even though I can visualize Older Leo calling younger Leo a "Buddhist Rat" and bragging that he has wrested himself from the bullshit of humanity and has now attained a much more pure perspective. With that said....you can use this as a tool to look at yourself. Have you changed? How has your spiritual path might have made you a different expression as opposed to how you were a couple years ago?

The second video does seem more on integration/day to day, where the first video is more inquisitive. But notice in the comment section of the first video....the day to day is visited as well in discussions. So this is definitely unique. 

Me personally, I never agreed with the 2nd video completely, but it does have nuggets of truth. You have no idea how much your environment influences you. The music you listen to, the people you associate with especially have strong influence over you, the people you look up to as well. I'm not saying they are bad, I'm saying they can prevent you from expressing yourself fully the way you want to be expressed. But I'd caution cutting off socializing entirely as being appropriate for most people. The most important function that socializing plays is two parts. It exposes weaknesses/limitations in your perspective, and it exposes lack of fluidity/open-mindedness, close-mindedness, rigidity, selfishness within you. Basically socialization is a GREAT MIRROR.

I'm going to make a thread later on how important environment is on your self-expression and how maybe even MOVING from your state or country might be a possible solution if you cannot create an internal change within yourself in your environment. Anyway, what is your opinion on these two video? Do you think they can coincide or do you think they are too oppositional? I personally believe avoiding the extremes is more reasonable.

 

Edited April 5, 2024 by Razard86