We all want to get out of dukkha (chronic suffering, pain, dis-ease). 1 in 5 adults are on some form of antidepressants, and the the increase in the percentage of people using antidepressants seems to double every year. We can't control our mind; that is the central theory.

We have been duped by the lack of responsibility "We have a chemical imbalance," another theory that takes our choice and belief that we don't have the tools and power to eliminate the chaotic chatter or our mind; that incessant thinking is normality; but it shuts down;

I ease myself on chemicals. This is true, but it fundamentally never allows you to the very strong work of going into your mind; to look at the corrupted programs running. When you peel back the layers, and truly investigate, what you think you'll be staring at is a big demon,

dragon, or mess you could never untangle. But what you actually see is something far more interesting; there is no problem at all. The cloud of chaos, suffering (dukkha), pain, is simply not there: a creation. But when you take a ship and tell the captain it is incapacitated,

the ship will still operate, but it cannot be a strong and purposeful vessel running on auto-pilot. Our mind is the same.

It is easy to be numb. It is easy to be emotional. What is the right path? The middle way. Knowing what numbness and rage both are: but not attaching your identity to any emotion or thought. Be emotional! Be numb! But be it in a detached way! We sense; that is the purpose of our

bodies, from our 5 senses, to our rainbow of emotions.

Life is truly a game, and someone taught you over and over again that you should take this game seriously; so you stop having fun, exploring, and experiencing. Meditation is simply a reminder that breathing and observing can be as blissful as orgasm: that you need nothing to feel

complete and in total ecstasy; that this backdrop of earth and this universe is for your pleasure to enjoy: to be IN JOY.

Buddhism, something that started 2,500 years ago, is an ancient science of mind that can eliminate all pain and suffering. Not by praying to Buddha, but by adapting Buddha's unique mindset. Nothing has fundamentally (beyond my mother) has changed my mental state then diving into

buddhism (not the establishment, temples, or history), but the actual words, and adapt them.

The whole point of this thread is to remind you that you are the captain, and your mind is not so far gone, or too corrupt... that you can have an 'instant awakening,' where all your

pain and suffering vanishes and a flash. It happened to be me; granted I circle back, but when I plug in and "re-mind" (reset my mind through meditation and the sutras), pain vanishes. You can live in this state more regularly when you practice it, get close to it... just like

ANYTHING. The more attention you bring to it, the more you perspective shifts, and you mind stays here longer.

It is not sexy. But it is peaceful. And the point of life is to not stay in some state of void of blissed-outness (some people think nirvana is to separate completely

from the world) and neglect the here and now... it's to live in the here and now where nothing can take away your bliss; that is true mastery of the mind. That is Buddhism.