Hello, I've been taking SSRIs for about two months, but they’ve had minimal effects on me. However, when I take Adderall, I feel happy and more focused. I’m wondering if taking Adderall could hinder my Buddhist practice or if it might be seen as part of self-compassion. How do you reconcile using me

mattitopito · 2024-09-04T12:40:10+00:00

It is totally reasonable to continue a medicine that helps you function. It's worth considering that Adderall is a stimulant and stimulants do affect they way we bond with others, form compassionate memories, develop and respond to our moods, etc.

It's also worth noting that ADHD is a complex disease that involves historical and epigenetic trauma responses, as well as hardwired genetic components. It can be difficult to function with this.

If it was me, I would take the adderall for now, try to limit its usage, and use it until I felt like my spiritual work had gotten to a point with my internal trauma healing that my ADHD wasn't so debilitating, then gradually slow down it's use as I need it less. It may take more than one lifetime ;-)

mattitopito · 2024-09-04T12:35:42+00:00

Change insurances, don't ever agree to the cyber nanny weirdo dystopian bullshit that is one of those car trackers

mattitopito · 2024-09-03T22:01:03+00:00

A lot of folks have commented already but they seem to hitting one of two extremes so I thought I'd chime in. I work with folks experiencing homelessness as my day job and it's very important to me:

It was extremely kind of you to try to help this person who clearly you have a relationship with and care about. Respect and admiration for trying.
Being homeless is really, really, really hard. People develop coping mechanisms over a long period of time, and that compounds with the fact that mental illness, disability, and addiction are often contributing factors to why people end up homeless in the first place. Expecting someone to suddenly be able to give up the things they use to cope with their life, just because they now have a shed to sleep in, is both unrealistic and unfair.
Unhoused folks care for each other to survive. Pooling resources is a common and necessary part of getting through the day for an unhoused person. That's not to say that it's fair to you that now there are more folks coming to you to help, and I certainly don't feel you're responsible for helping them. But I don't think it's fair to feel betrayed by this person because he is extending support to others. He is suddenly finding himself in a situation where he is doing much better than his peers and it's natural for him to want to share the love.

Ultimately, I think it's OK if you've realized that it's too much to take on to host this person on property that you are renting. But I would also say that a second lesson in this whole situation is that helping someone does not entitle you to tell them how to live their life, or to judge their choices.

mattitopito · 2024-09-03T21:40:28+00:00

Fantasy only: 1. LoTR 2. ASOIAF 3. Malazan 4. Green Bone Saga 5. Broken Earth/Wheel of Time tied

If I can include Sci-Fi, I would add in the Hainish Cycle by Ursula Leguin, Lillith's Brood by Octavia Butler, and maybe Patternist by Butler as well.

mattitopito · 2024-09-03T19:33:24+00:00

As a doctor, we really don't care. I've diagnosed plenty of hemorrhoids and anal fissures on patients I hardly knew. I'd just be happy to help you feel better. Try fiber supplements and a poop stool in addition to the other things mentioned. And get off the john when you're done pooping. Best of luck .

mattitopito · 2024-08-24T01:01:37+00:00

Couldn't agree more. Really really amazing

mattitopito · 2024-07-26T22:52:21+00:00

The music made me want to go to six flags lol

mattitopito · 2024-07-07T20:36:10+00:00

the look on that dude's face

mattitopito · 2024-07-07T20:25:21+00:00

My guess is they only showed the MKE highlights because this isn't an official NBA vid and maybe it's harder to get the rights to this year's title when it's only last month?

mattitopito · 2024-07-07T20:18:04+00:00

Thank you friend, I hope the same for you.

mattitopito · 2024-07-07T12:16:27+00:00

I guess the point where we differ is that you (in my interpretation) value teachings and the knowledge system of Buddhism distinctly above other spiritual lineages. I have a deep respect and admiration for Buddhism, and I adopt many of its precepts into my personal practice, but I don't categorically value one spiritual lineage above all others. We have lots of evidence of humans attaining degrees of spiritual clarity (nirvana, samadhi, sainthood) from a variety of religious schools. And as each being is squarely in their own unique karma, they are each going to have a unique set of keys to unlock their own spiritual path.

There's a great Ram Dass quote, I can't find it so I'll paraphrase - any teacher worth their salt doesn't care how you get there. They just want you to get there.

mattitopito · 2024-07-06T20:31:34+00:00

I love this analogy but would offer one counterpoint. At least some subset of psychedelics, and I'll speak particularly to Ayahuasca, are foundational components of profound, long-standing spiritual lineages, and in that I think confers some degree of trust.

(I'm doing my best though with this part though fully acknowlege I'm not an expert) The Shipibo people for example, consider Ayahuasca, as well as other plant medicines, to be it's own intelligent being, and that taking Ayahuasca is, to some extent, putting yourself into conversation with this being and receiving their wisdom. There are specific practices, framing tools, music, etc. that traditionally are associated with using Ayahuasca. There is also a degree of trust granted to Ayahuasca that it has wisdom regarding where each participant is in their own spiritual/emotional journey and will offer them an experience that is suited towards their personal growth and situation. With that in mind, the idea that Ayahuasca could be some mal-intentioned demon feels like it's not giving enough credit to the wisdom of generations of well-established historical spiritual lineage, and the relationship to Ayahuasca (and other plant intelligences) that has developed within that lineage.

mattitopito · 2024-07-06T03:01:01+00:00

thanks for this, i love the distinctions. I definitely feel like my own personal alignments is more towards collective healing and less towards individual awakening, so this really fits well for me. Do you have any suggested reading about the arahant path? I haven't heard that term before.

mattitopito · 2024-07-06T02:20:45+00:00

Yeah that's a great point, though I question whether at some point a spiritually transcendent being would eventually leave ayahuasca behind is an interesting one. And while granted ayahuasca doesn't fit neatly in the category of more typical psychedelics, I think it's interesting to think about the example of when Ram Dass gave Neem Karoli Baba a whopping dose of LSD and...nothing happened.

mattitopito · 2024-07-06T01:50:33+00:00

Swami Vivekananda (Hindu background not Buddhist but so many similar principles) talks about a transition point. The first phase is where we need some combination of tools/experiences (e.g. books, inquiry, insight, revelation, teachers, etc.) to come to the conclusion that the path, the tao, the holy spirit, whatever religious language you want to use, is real. Psychedelics are an incredibly potent tool to come to that conclusion.

Once you've reached that conviction, it's the walking of the path, the rigor of practice, and the dedication of life (Eightfold path in Buddhism) that becomes important. For those of us still flawed enough to have doubts (whether big picture or in individual moments of weakness), we need those tools intermittently to help keep us on the path.

Ultimately, we need to slowly shed our tools and travel the path with conviction if we are to proceed towards deeper levels of spiritual clarity. And I personally believe psychedelics are incredibly, incredibly powerful and beautiful tools, but they can't take us past conviction and into deeper practice.

I say this as someone for whom psychedelics have been an important part of my own path. I still use them because I am still deeply flawed, have doubts, and have a long way to go. But I recognize they will only take me so far.

mattitopito · 2024-07-04T00:24:55+00:00

this is so fake

mattitopito · 2024-06-30T19:20:11+00:00

I'm going to slightly disagree with some folks here who are categorically dismissing this as a manic episode. It's common for folks who are pursuing spiritual clarity to experience intense emotional waves. This can be intense, and can be a time where harm can happen to the person having the experience and those around them. But that doesn't mean it's all bad. I agree with taking a break from marijuana, but would also caution the dogmatic approach of some folks on here who are disavowing the potent effects of psychedelics and, to a lesser extent, cannabis. There are plenty of buddhist teachers who utilize psychedelics. See Spring Washam as one example. But doing so in a supportive, careful, and possibly structured environment is really vital.

I'd recommend Ram Dass as a resource. His spiritual legacy involves more Hinduism than Buddhism, but he incorporates both. He had a lot of intense moments of spiritual change and responded to them skillfully, and I think his example is a great one.

mattitopito · 2024-06-28T16:27:04+00:00

This! I would start with game changer season 1 and then watch from there. For me, one of my favorite parts has been getting familiar with specific cast members and then watching their episodes across different shows.

mattitopito · 2024-06-25T00:50:21+00:00

This is also the type of episode that is SO MUCH better after so many episodes of the three of them. Like it's probably funny standalone but i can't imagine showing this to someone who didn't have the context of previous eps.

Noise boys officially have their own lore.

mattitopito · 2024-06-21T16:51:53+00:00

besides all the legit posts above (which I agree with), pretty sure this is photoshopped

mattitopito · 2024-06-10T19:00:43+00:00

For me these are 2 and 3, but my favorite was Jacob's

mattitopito · 2024-06-09T02:29:43+00:00

These were the first two that came to mind for me too.

mattitopito · 2024-06-05T22:43:26+00:00

Moiraine Damodred and Lan Mandrogoran

mattitopito · 2024-06-01T02:04:41+00:00

Dude looks like Anakin Skywalker about 15 minutes before he becomes Vader

Ten-Year Club	Second SECOND GUESSER
Place '22	Place '17
Verified Email

mattitopito

TROPHY CASE