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I too shall rise to the glorious @vgr opinion blasting challenge.
1 like = 1 opinion on the proper relation between the individual, the world and their goals.
(Some call this ‘the spiritual path’.)
Fuck me up
1 like = 1 opinion on the proper relation between the individual, the world and their goals.
(Some call this ‘the spiritual path’.)
Fuck me up
1/ Spirituality itself - how I hate the word! - is not woo garbage. But 'spiritual' people often broadcast & consume woo garbage.
The real deal is compatible with and probably requires stone-cold naturalism.
The real deal is compatible with and probably requires stone-cold naturalism.
2/ The first question is what to want. The answer is: 'the thing you already want, and everything that might develop into.'
But nobody knows what that means. So instead, this quote:
But nobody knows what that means. So instead, this quote:
3/ Maybe this quote is too mushy for you. That's cool. Maybe you want a fuckton of money instead. This is cool too.
Remember, I said 'want what you already want', not 'want some stupid substitute you heard about from some guy.'
It can be hard to find a real, honest desire.
Remember, I said 'want what you already want', not 'want some stupid substitute you heard about from some guy.'
It can be hard to find a real, honest desire.
4/ Esotericism shows up around spirituality for a variety of reasons:
• Gurus can maintain authority in both sketchy & nonsketchy ways
• Riddles demanding odd mental postures can yield wisdom when solved
• Indirect communication can reach people who aren't otherwise listening
• Gurus can maintain authority in both sketchy & nonsketchy ways
• Riddles demanding odd mental postures can yield wisdom when solved
• Indirect communication can reach people who aren't otherwise listening
5/ Questions about God/gods are quite important to figuring out one’s relation to the world - even for so-called atheists.
I say ‘so-called’ because nearly everyone believes in Powers, holy and unholy, deep down. Sry
A true atheist, like a true individualist, is hard to come by
I say ‘so-called’ because nearly everyone believes in Powers, holy and unholy, deep down. Sry
A true atheist, like a true individualist, is hard to come by
6/ A (and possibly *the*) major barrier to progress is dishonesty, pretense, illusion. Meditation is one way to try to drill through all that crap and get to reality. But there are many others, including things that don’t look ‘spiritual’. Best to hit it with all you’ve got.
7/ Masculinity and femininity are real and important. The yin yang diagram describes their relation and suggests useful conceptual associations. This is not a gender politics opinion.
8/ Napoleon said "the God of Fortune and the God of War are with me." He was correct.
Gods and other entities can be with you or against you. Knowing where you stand on this playing field is a practical matter.
This is a naturalistic, 'atheism'-compatible mindset.
Gods and other entities can be with you or against you. Knowing where you stand on this playing field is a practical matter.
This is a naturalistic, 'atheism'-compatible mindset.
9/ Being triggered is important. It's the outside of your bubble, saying hello. It's your sync with the world; it's your desire to expand, to not be small. It's a gift in a strange package. It's a bet that you can handle something that 'you' don't think you can handle.
10/ Being hard on yourself can be done smoothly, in a way that doesn’t fuck your mind up. But this is extremely hard - it may need to be preceded by a shitload of healing.
This is a practical, not an ideological matter.
(Curious for whether we disagree here @QiaochuYuan !)
This is a practical, not an ideological matter.
(Curious for whether we disagree here @QiaochuYuan !)
11/ Not all of these opinions have to be contrarian do they? Here’s one where I can’t tell if it’s contrarian or not 
The great spiritual teachers are completely awesome. Jesus, the Buddha, etc. We all have a lot to learn.
The great spiritual teachers are completely awesome. Jesus, the Buddha, etc. We all have a lot to learn.
12/ Everyone is addicted to something. You can even be addicted to 'good' things, like 'being nice to people' or 'reading'. These addictions morph your perception of the world, distracting from the fundamentals of your situation. This can be fixed. https://twitter.com/michaelcurzi/status/1193977717412098048
13/ I’m fairly convinced that hate & love are two sides of a coin. True enemies are way closer to each other than strangers, acquaintances, or even regular ‘friends.’
14/ Your body knows what you need to do.
(Your mind is part of your body.)
(Your mind is part of your body.)
15/ If you want to become *really* good at something, you must be willing to kneel before the master in that domain.
(Asian martial arts traditions get this right - you've seen the trope in movies. See also Western traditions like ballet & classical music.)
The art>>>your ego
(Asian martial arts traditions get this right - you've seen the trope in movies. See also Western traditions like ballet & classical music.)
The art>>>your ego
16/ You can & must find a deep love for goodness & truth. You have to love them because the path to them is too hard without pure and straightforward love.
And you must come to love them more than yourself, because in some ways you're the thing standing in their way.
And you must come to love them more than yourself, because in some ways you're the thing standing in their way.
17/ A connection to politics: every political system is flawed, but all work better with better people. So a virtuous Communist/capitalist society does better than the equivalent w/ unvirtuous citizens. Moral education can sound stodgy, evil, or outdated, but is prob necessary.
18/ You are usually above or below other people on a given topic, in terms of your/their worthiness to determine what happens in that area, or in terms of whose opinions are worth hearing. Peers are rare. This can be navigated elegantly, but takes nuance, chillness & humility.
19/ In a pinch, the sincere intent to win can cover for pretty major skill & circumstance gaps. This doesn't mean you don't need skill. The intent to win can lead you towards skill, cleverness & vision if you let it. But you'll do way better if you prepare for this in advance.
20/ Everyone totally loves Goodness, in a complete and full way - but it's quite buried. Seeing/feeling/releasing this is a transcendent experience, c.f. Emerson or the Bible on things like 'the light/breath of God'. This is the one topic on which all people are the most f'd up.
21/ We're all participating in a great cosmic battle.
This isn't just meant as a useful narrative for describing human activity! It's a stronger claim. I mean to assert something more firm about the psychological interactions & goal structure of mankind as a whole.
This isn't just meant as a useful narrative for describing human activity! It's a stronger claim. I mean to assert something more firm about the psychological interactions & goal structure of mankind as a whole.
22/ One topic of the cosmic battle is the question of 'whether we can all live well, together.'
Independence, solitude, disconnection, coldness, order on one side
Dependence, violence, connection, heat, chaos on the other
If all of humanity can live well together, we win?
Independence, solitude, disconnection, coldness, order on one side
Dependence, violence, connection, heat, chaos on the other
If all of humanity can live well together, we win?
23/ Responsibility can set you free. https://twitter.com/benlandautaylor/status/1197713305906774016
24/ For a great number of people, sitting down for a couple hours a week to talk to God/Jesus/Albus Dumbledore would be as good as or better than the same number of hours of therapy.
25/ Followup to 24 - prayer is a real, momentous mental/social technology. It maybe played a major role in upholding civilization for centuries? Not totally sure about this, bc history is complicated - but I could see it being this important. https://twitter.com/michaelcurzi/status/1195060826605883392
26/ A variety of major trends are trying to drive people away from each other (atomization). Part of the task of a conscious life is to directly oppose this trend.
27/ Similar trends are also working on destroying personal power and agency. The technocracy wants you to be 'fine', but it doesn't want you to be strong. https://twitter.com/michaelcurzi/status/1203467812238266369
28/ Major personal change can occur in an instant - if you're ready to change. It's certainly okay to 'work up to' changing, and I do this a lot myself - marginal improvements add up. But sometimes you don't need to inch forward, and can change 'in the space of one breath'.
29/ If you can come to understand, in great detail, the ways in which the Great People of the past were a) quasi-divine & supernatural, but also b) utterly normal, human, and mundane - this can do a great deal to clarify a path to skill and achievement.
30/ Planning (clarifying steps towards a future goal) is outrageously powerful & technically easy, but we mysteriously forget to do it. A big reason is that planning shows you unhandled parts of your life.
We try to dodge this test, rather than pass it. https://twitter.com/michaelcurzi/status/1205196898505609216
We try to dodge this test, rather than pass it. https://twitter.com/michaelcurzi/status/1205196898505609216
31/ Planning (& introspection) can be part of the spiritual path because a bunch of this 'living well' stuff comes from getting your *attention* in the right place. You want to be able to gaze over yourself, your life, the world, people - & foresee the achievement of your aims.
32/ Every ideology, no matter how perverse, has *something* to offer. To presume otherwise is the height of arrogance, the rejection of wisdom. The world looks different from different angles - and yeah, looking from some of those angles is going to be triggering as hell. Breathe
33/ Jesus and Socrates maybe got themselves killed on purpose, to teach us. Believe what you want about religion - it's still interesting, and instructive, to think of these people as people - 'regular', living humans with conscious plans and a love of what's good.
34/ Religious art provides phenomenological instruction to the seeker.
E.g. the ‘sacred heart’ evokes [physical] pain, suffering, hope, love, transcendence, holiness, ‘agony’ e.g. Jesus’ Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Now, padawan: find this feeling in your heart.
![34/ Religious art provides phenomenological instruction to the seeker.E.g. the ‘sacred heart’ evokes [physical] pain, suffering, hope, love, transcendence, holiness, ‘agony’ e.g. Jesus’ Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.Now, padawan: find this feeling in your heart.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EL9kOV_U0AAlkiX.jpg "34/ Religious art provides phenomenological instruction to the seeker.E.g. the ‘sacred heart’ evokes [physical] pain, suffering, hope, love, transcendence, holiness, ‘agony’ e.g. Jesus’ Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.Now, padawan: find this feeling in your heart.")
E.g. the ‘sacred heart’ evokes [physical] pain, suffering, hope, love, transcendence, holiness, ‘agony’ e.g. Jesus’ Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Now, padawan: find this feeling in your heart.
35/ This times a million. Beast mode: understanding this, while nevertheless understanding that your emotions ARE THERE AND MUST BE RECKONED WITH! This is the way.
36/ It's a lil cheesy, and we've all probably heard this quote before, but true things bear repeating.
Opinion 36 is that this quote is completely true.
Opinion 36 is that this quote is completely true.
37/ A great way to improve yourself is to become a little less defensive about 'that thing everyone hates about you'.
38/ Power's not evil, and everyone knows it, because everyone still cheers at Gandalf's coming at first light on the fifth day. (If that's not power, idk what is.)
So power is a pretty broken term. The people in the know just find other ways to talk about what needs doing.
So power is a pretty broken term. The people in the know just find other ways to talk about what needs doing.
39/ Another prompt. Take care with this one:
What good things are painful to you? (Love, beauty, care, vulnerability?) Can you feel that, process the pain, & find that goodness again at the end?
A numb limb, resensitizing, will first encounter pain. Same w/ the emotional mind.
What good things are painful to you? (Love, beauty, care, vulnerability?) Can you feel that, process the pain, & find that goodness again at the end?
A numb limb, resensitizing, will first encounter pain. Same w/ the emotional mind.
40/ There are some dimensions on which you will *never* have peace w/o seeking forgiveness first. Sometimes it’s enough to ask yourself, or the universe, or God - but sometimes you must ask other people.
(This is an area where Christian psych tech shines. See also: Yom Kippur)
(This is an area where Christian psych tech shines. See also: Yom Kippur)
41/ Cowards can’t handle opposition or disapproval, even when they’re right. So cowardice can render one unable to stand against evil; in this way it aids and abets evil.
But, few if any are above honest fear. This can be carried well.
(Attached is Matthew 5:10-12)
But, few if any are above honest fear. This can be carried well.
(Attached is Matthew 5:10-12)
42/ To the extent that you resent, distrust, or hate yourself, you will tend to undermine yourself.
Much failure results from a desperate, fearful, secret goodness inside us, trying to hold us back from harming the world.
This can be fixed with sincere effort.
Much failure results from a desperate, fearful, secret goodness inside us, trying to hold us back from harming the world.
This can be fixed with sincere effort.
43/ Ask yourself: Am I the light, or am I the darkness? What do I have to hide?
Matthew 5:14-16 attached.
(I’m not a Christian, btw. I just have a Bible open in front of me. Does this matter? Don’t be distracted! The ‘words’ of an ontology are its surface. Seek the depth!)
Matthew 5:14-16 attached.
(I’m not a Christian, btw. I just have a Bible open in front of me. Does this matter? Don’t be distracted! The ‘words’ of an ontology are its surface. Seek the depth!)
44/ Stereotypical spiritual statements (like 'all is one') are degenerate renditions of real insight. They're not 'meaningless' - rather, there's some important reality they clumsily refer to.
Still, these kinds of things are not usually helpful unless you already 'get it'.
Still, these kinds of things are not usually helpful unless you already 'get it'.
45/ People underestimate BOTH how bad they are and how good they are. The default is something like 'you're a really shit person, with the heart of an angel and the potential of a god.'
46/ No one is unsaveable in principle, but some people are really, really far away. Have to do our best.
47/ By default, the thoughts, desires, & actions of your past self completely define you. You can overcome this, w/ a truly legendary effort.
...and I'm done?! Will end (for now!) with another cheesy but perfect quote. Thx for reading, friends, & thx @vgr for making this happen!
...and I'm done?! Will end (for now!) with another cheesy but perfect quote. Thx for reading, friends, & thx @vgr for making this happen!
48/ Must beware the conflation of balance/equanimity with passivity.
Must beware the conflation of exertion/energy expenditure/activation with activity.
Must beware the conflation of exertion/energy expenditure/activation with activity.
49/ I believe in psychological determinism in the same way I believe in physical determinism - true but never matters. If you ever find yourself not trying or giving up bc of ‘determinism’, this is laziness or despair trying to be clever. Metaphysics ain’t the problem.
50/ While the ‘determinism means I can’t choose’ perspective is wrong, it’s equally wrong to say that some things are not set in stone. I think everyone knows that ‘anything is possible’ is a pep talk?
How freeing it can be to find that a course of action is leading us nowhere!
How freeing it can be to find that a course of action is leading us nowhere!
51/ For a given ideology, you want to ask: what kind of person is this trying to turn me into? A Christian saint? A world-leaving Buddhist? A Randian hero? An übermensch?
These are different aims. Idealized visions, likely only partially instantiated by the visionaries.
These are different aims. Idealized visions, likely only partially instantiated by the visionaries.
