Burning Through Material Desires - Does it Work?

[Insightful27]

The other day @Carl-Richard said something that stuck with me.

Quote

Your spiritual practice is to pursue what you want to do until you give up everything. That is the only spiritual practice there is.

This made me think of Leo's Burning Through Karma video, Maslow's hierarchy of needs and also David Deida's concept of Life Purpose. I'm at a stage in my life (graduating college) where I am making a lot of major decisions, and it is important to me to clearly understand how to walk on the spiritual path. The idea that I will eventually get to a place where there is "nothing else to do" strikes me as intuitive. Right now in my life the most compelling thing I want to work on is my dating/sex and social life. It seems like if I spend 3-5 years really working on this, then I will be able to move on to "more spiritual" things. 

My main concern is that this approach will lead to me deluding myself and chasing addictions in circles. Take a cocaine addict for example, will he be able to break out of his cocaine addiction by doing more and more cocaine? 

Maybe, but how long will it take before he reaches a breaking point?  Modern psychology/neuroscience views addiction like a physical disease, on the biological level it can be essentially impossible to break away. I'm worried that this is what my pursuit of dating or even my career will turn into. Wouldn't it make more sense to take the path of renunciation, and free myself that way? I know that in that video Leo said this is an option, but that it maybe less practical.

I really want to hear other people's experiences and perspectives. What has your experience been like with this approach to spirituality? 

 

 

[Breakingthewall]

This whole "path of renunciation" thing is a misunderstanding. The only thing you need to renounce is lies, and not in five years, but always.

Spiritual work is about polishing your life every day, peeling away the sticky, disgustingly soft layer of mud made of lies until only polished metal remains.

The work must be constant; every second of your life, every breath, your underlying intention, your direction, your very vector of existence must be aimed at breaking through the layer of falsehood.

[inFlow]

On 12/28/2025 at 11:58 PM, Insightful27 said:

will he be able to break out of his cocaine addiction by doing more and more cocaine? 

Yes he will. Getting tired over a substance can really make you quit stuff. Over-consuming something is a really good way to stop that action all by itself. Over-eat junk food, feel sick and never touch it again. Over-smoke untill you get sick and never touch it again. Ofcourse over-doing cocaine can kill you.

On 12/28/2025 at 11:58 PM, Insightful27 said:

What has your experience been like with this approach to spirituality? 

You can ignore the need of sex or other stuff, but this will just become a way stronger force for you to fight against, so just be with it, don't ignore those needs, embrace them fully! There is nothing "bad" in this world. But don't ignore the needs of spirituality and growing consciousness. At least practice some pranayama every day, even for 10~20 minutes, but do it daily and develop a routine that you always do in the morning and evening.

[Someone here]

On 29/12/2025 at 1:43 AM, Breakingthewall said:

Spiritual work is about polishing your life every day, peeling away the sticky, disgustingly soft layer of mud made of lies until only polished metal remains.

The work must be constant; every second of your life, every breath, your underlying intention, your direction, your very vector of existence must be aimed at breaking through the layer of falsehood.

Such miserable life you have, I'd imagine. 

[Yimpa]

Just recognize that your entire experience is Love. For goodness sake, it’s like asking to give up God.

Rejecting Love is Wrong!