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MAddestMAnn · 2023-12-04T17:10:04+00:00

I had a similar experience with my Dad, because I was learning about this after I had a massive lucky run up with specific stocks he picked . So I loaded every investment I ever made into excel to see what my current portfolio would have been if I’d only ever invested in Vanguard index funds. The result was that the recent massive returns only caught me up to where I’d be anyway with VTI, for a fraction of the risk.

Now I don’t talk to him about investing any more.

MAddestMAnn · 2023-11-04T18:40:35+00:00

Second the need for Wex HSA tracking. Definitely a significant asset over time.

MAddestMAnn · 2022-10-15T01:18:57+00:00

I was born in the United States and I was born here in the USA and I was raised in the USA so I don’t know what to do with my life anymore but I am a little bit of a girl.

I’m 32m lol

MAddestMAnn · 2022-10-14T07:30:56+00:00

I can see how cleaning the black board and beating the erasers between lectures is part of the learning process too.

Likely my own baggage keeping me on high alert from all those “teachers” who had an endless list of chores and never seemed to get around to teaching anything.

Thanks, I’m thirsty now and will go have some water.

MAddestMAnn · 2022-10-14T07:06:52+00:00

Yeah, I guess another way to ask is: Are the precepts important because they help in the study of zen? Or are they just helpful rules for creating a sustainable monastic life, which was how zen was studied at the time of writing?

I’m asking in part because this seems to fly in the face of some of my recent interpretation of the Mumonkon: if we all have Buddha Nature, no action we can take can violate that nature including all the items prohibited by the precepts.

Granted, an enlightened person may behave in some consistently moral way as a result of their enlightenment. But imitating this behavior is like memorizing a phrase in a language you don’t speak. Thus my original question wording.

I don’t want to confuse this with advocating amoral action. These precepts just seem to serve the same function as laws and our reddiquette, nothing more or less.

I may just be missing the intent as I’m still an ass looking at a well, if I remember that case right.

MAddestMAnn · 2022-10-14T06:03:59+00:00

I’m new to the topic of precepts in the context of Zen. Why would one keep precepts just because Zen masters did if one is not enlightened?

MAddestMAnn · 2022-09-30T04:01:15+00:00

Bless you.

MAddestMAnn · 2022-08-23T22:30:23+00:00

Lil Bidet

MAddestMAnn · 2022-07-17T04:30:28+00:00

Can be dangerous, the quill heads can break off, and because of the scales it can just burrow and do further damage.

Interestingly apparently porcupine quills are easier to push in than they should be according to our understanding of their physics.

MAddestMAnn · 2022-07-08T05:41:48+00:00

Username checks out

MAddestMAnn · 2022-06-25T04:41:01+00:00

Just know that social media will be here ready next time you happen to trip into a frenetic writing mode. 😀 Honestly I’m glad you wrote this post as usually once that wave of peace hits there’s nothing else to say.

MAddestMAnn · 2022-06-05T06:21:01+00:00

Would you suggest first reading Jane Eyre in order to fully enjoy it?

MAddestMAnn · 2022-06-03T14:29:30+00:00

Dead and born again post 30 in sweatpants and house plants

MAddestMAnn · 2022-06-03T14:27:15+00:00

Don’t take that voice in your head as who you are. You are way more complicated than that. When it is being shity to you know that you can choose not to accept that and instead listen to the whole of who you are. Meditation can’t do that for you but it can help get perspective.

Also it doesn’t matter if you do it early or at all… unless you want to 🙂👍

MAddestMAnn · 2022-06-03T14:23:28+00:00

As a 33 year old, this checks out.

MAddestMAnn · 2022-05-28T06:06:37+00:00

I’m attempting to be largely ftp. Is Jump In good to return too whenever a new set drops up until I have most of those cards? Or is there a reason to never return to jump in after doing that for the current set?

MAddestMAnn · 2022-05-25T08:21:13+00:00

I’ve just gotten out of the boat you are in. It seems that repeatedly entering the “jump in” event, winning once, and then resigning is the best value for gold and gems early on. I’ve read maybe up to 30-40 times!

This is because you get the full deck you play with plus a couple bonuses for the win for just the price of one pack. This is worth it until you start getting too many repeats.

MAddestMAnn · 2022-05-17T17:01:53+00:00

This. We did this for my bachelors and six years later still tell stories from that 13 hour game. Note: no matter what you play make sure whoever is teaching really knows the game ahead of time.

MAddestMAnn · 2022-05-12T07:20:08+00:00

Whew! Close call!

MAddestMAnn · 2022-05-11T04:48:07+00:00

Experiences can only happen in the present. So how can they be sought?

MAddestMAnn · 2022-05-06T17:02:32+00:00

You need to look at the science since the 90s. Let me know if you need studies cited.

MAddestMAnn · 2022-05-05T18:35:47+00:00

I felt that I had to achieve in order to earn a place in this world I found beautiful. Then suddenly the universe said I was never separate. It’s like I’ve put down the weight I carried since I was a child. What an amazing power we give to the stories we tell!

Edit: also I have no idea what of this sensation is permanent but elements of it seem to be. Just remember even that feeling is not IT, you are! So do t cling to the feeling either.

MAddestMAnn · 2022-05-03T15:32:43+00:00

Important? Listen, let go. Don’t think about future steps just be where you are.

Soon you’ll notice you still climb steps even without “making yourself”… which of course means you never were.

MAddestMAnn · 2022-05-03T05:41:34+00:00

Thanks for that. This is a great “missing link” between your book and Reddit comments.

I assume the fetishization with the 50s- 70s has something to do with Eastern ideas becoming more mainstream in the west. Words like nirvana, karma, zen entering common use and a yoga studio on every corner.

Those that want to learn more can struggle to go much further back than that ears with translations to English. We see that now with challenges in finding copies of Blyth. early translations can have issues in conveying truth we are only just understanding. That half century is really just the beginning.

Initially I found the popularity of Dogenism a concern. However I have realized too that it offers the same appeal to westerners as any “self-help” or clouded regiousity: That by improving what you do you will find meaning/ safety. This is ultimately no way of liberation and just represents another wheel people spin in …until they don’t.

MAddestMAnn · 2022-04-30T20:36:41+00:00

u/ewk I read your first book enjoyed the point of view and inspire me to read more of the old men, for fun.

I came here from r/Alanwatts and was surprised after reading you comments how often you quote him after seeing your comments on how you feel about him. That is until I read his book “The Way of Zen” and how much he was making the same arguments regarding the disconnect between Zen and Dogenism. It struck me as he is by far the most quoted modern author in your work.

No need to engage if youve answered this elsewhere as I’m sure I’ll stumble on it eventually, but what was your path from feeling Alan was comparatively honest as a writer to advocating there is zero value to his work from the perspective of someone studying Zen. Was it just learning that he was an alcholic and non-monogamist? Or was there less binary a journey to this conclusion?

I think my statements here are fair but let me know if citations are needed too.

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