108 sats \ 3 replies \ @cryotosensei 11 Mar \ parent \ on: Stoic Book Club: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius #5 - Book 5 BooksAndArticles
Amazing. What an incredible answer.
It made me realise that I have gotten the idea of meditation all wrong. I assumed that it is akin to attaining some kind of Nirvana. That I toughen my mind n spirit to acquire spiritual armour so that the arrows that Life throws at me will just get deflected. Your sharing made me realise that darn, these arrows still pierce one’s soul and oh boy, do they hurt. But because of your ritualised practice, you feel confident about living with the pain. Maybe it isn’t even about conquering the pain? Because the pain is transient - just like pleasure. All things shall pass.
@Oialt just awarded me a 1000 sat bounty, which I’m more than happy to share with you!
Do you know the next level you want to ascend to?
Aw, shucks Sensei... What a kind and generous response!
I assumed that it is akin to attaining some kind of Nirvana. That I toughen my mind n spirit to acquire spiritual armour so that the arrows that Life throws at me will just get deflected.
This view is familiar to me also, especially a few years ago -- and I think there is value to it. Meditation is a personal journey, and I can see how my perspective has changed a bit with time and practice.
Do you know the next level you want to ascend to?
Moreso and moreso, I feel like I'm letting go of controlling or directing where the practice takes me. Of course, there were times when I wanted to be a very powerful yogi, heal the world, or become the next Buddha -- powerful fantasies :) But I think I'm more in touch these last years with Marcus' message when he talks about accepting Fate, accepting the tasks granted to me and trying to do my best with those. The path is now more of a discovery than a self-created plan for achieving enlightenment or something.
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Ohhh interesting how meditation allows for plurality of paths haha
Wouldn’t you know? My first nym is faterider, as in riding the tides of fate. Your view agrees well with my free-spirited nature.
What do you make of Sigmund Freud’s “The Theme of the 3 Caskets”? He explains that the names of the three goddesses of fate mean “the accidental within the decrees of destiny,” “the inevitable,” and “the fateful tendencies each one of us brings into the world.”
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Welp. I'll definitely be reading "The Theme of the 3 Caskets" sometime soon, now. Thanks! Who knows, maybe it will inspire another post? :)
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