Tag: Buddha
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Musings
Does the truth really set you free? A lot of the time, it obligates me to admit I’m not as awesome as I thought I was, and that I need to shift direction and get to work. I’m not sure that’s actually “free.” But over the long term, it feels really really good. Better than…
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Musings
For the most part, humans like to simplify; we like to cobble together a reliable routine of positive feedback, and let it perpetuate as long as possible. But if you look at the hero’s journey—that predictable narrative that occurs time and again throughout the eons, urging us all to venture forth, slay a dragon,…
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Musings
Like most people, I find pain and depression extremely unpleasant. But over the years, I’ve come to realize I shouldn’t begrudge them. Aside from extreme cases, I don’t view them as arbitrary punishments. I see them as clues to a deeper problem: signs I’ve ignored a crucial step on my journey (that I’ve actually set…
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Musings
Ever since I can remember, my soul has harbored a roaring fire. I’ve tried to douse it with comfort and platitudes, but that only pushed it down, where it would eat away at me, and eventually erupt as unchecked aggression or stifling depression. The only way I’ve ever made peace with it is to continually…
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Musings
I’m not sure if we have basic human rights, but I like to act as if we do. The thing is, I believe the enactment of these rights depends on being competent, in case anyone who is also competent happens to disagree, and tries to do away with my idea of basic rights. So even…
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Musings
Let’s say the mystical premises are true—that we’re all helplessly part and parcel of [God], and we can’t help but be that. What would be the use in creating an illusory divide between [Me], [You], and [God]? An illusory divide would only be useful in navigating a world that is formed from illusion. So if…
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Musings
If I can’t convince an opponent through reasoned debate, my preferred course of action is to outperform them. If their position is valid, there’s a good possibility they’ll pull ahead, and have something to teach me. If not, there’s a good chance they’ll fall behind, and their stubbornness will give way to desperation, at which…
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Musings
We all suffer trauma, and sadly, it seems that most of us react to it by withdrawing from opportunity, by digging deeper into the stifling tomb that comprises our comfort zones. But it is possible, I believe, to integrate that trauma by seeking to understand why it happened, and positioning myself to prevent or mitigate…
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Musings
Celebrating my triumphs is pretty easy, and so is dismissing my failures. Those are egoic actions; it’s much harder (and more rewarding) to parse triumph and failure for the good and bad within each occurrence, so I can integrate the knowledge each experience has gifted me with, and sink deeper into a harmonious state of…
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Musings
In the existential sense, saying one thing matters and another doesn’t is a ridiculous stance; we only have to look up at the stars to realize how small and insignificant we are. So the real question is, “what is useful and sustainable?” Thus far, that seems to be the best way to play the game…
Kent Wayne 