The Way of Zero - David Deida

[BlessedLion]

 

 

[BlessedLion]

On 8/18/2026 at 2:35 AM, LordFall said:

I like the idea of moving past competition and competence and being at peace with the world. I think it can only come after actually succeeding at those things though otherwise your peace is not true and it will be disturbed by the many other entities in life that are still competing and are now more competent than you because you decided to take it easy. 

This is basically saying that you cannot be at peace in life unless you succeed materially, which is wildly untrue and unwise. Many sages and mystics renounced the material world and lived profound lives of deep satisfaction that 99% of "successful" people cannot even fathom.

 

Once you truly know what you are existentially and inherintely, the idea of striving for some pursuit or success to fulfill you is utterly ridiculous. Sure if you want to play the game of life a bit and build something you feel passionate about, go for it, but if that thing fails, or gets destroyed, you should be able to shrug it off and laugh knowing that no matter where the chips fall you are full and complete in your being. 

 

Call it spiritual bypassing, which i think has become a bit of a co opted word thrown around at anyone who meditates, but i think its actually bypassing spirituality to continue running on the same programming and conditioning that western capitalism has brainwashed into you. People just cannot fathom the idea of not working, not producing something, not being "useful" or "succesful" and simply resting in being and your nature without putting pressure on yourself to do anything. Notice how you still hold this mindset of competition, being "less than", being outwitted, and how that ultimately leads to you being a failure if you "fall behind." Maybe falling behind in an insanely miserable and unhealthy society is a good thing.

 

This natural state is actually how most humans lived for millions of years, the whole Productivity/Success and even "marketplace" is relatively new and a drop in the bucket compared to our evolved way of living. The Greeks would call anyone who slaves away working for money an idiot, whereas the true gold in life is time for leisure, intellectual pursuits, etc.

 

The game of life is to be played, and there is a great feeling in. crushing it, but to say that you cannot be at peace until you are successful or else you will fall behind and miss out on life in someway shows an utter misunderstanding of ones true nature and is ultimately coming from a place of lack and fear. 

[BlessedLion]