19 Comments
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Zakai Shirao's avatar

I think you made me think about something deeper. is it "listening" if I am still "fixing" in my listening. it's an improvement, but maybe not the ultimate goal.

my process: think about good explanation (David Deutsch). I had a non formalized version of that. its the feeling of clarity. not to be mistaken with a easy story(explanation) that allows you to feel good. if you feel clarity, not relief, you may be on to something.

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Oliver N Mark's avatar

you think i made you think...

no my friend, the credit is all yours. i just offered the door, you walked through it.

if you feel clarity, not relief, you *are* on to something.

the difference between clarify and relief is one move you forward, the other keeps you stuck.

having said that, sometimes relief is necessary. first we need relief to catch our breath, then once more stable, only then can come clarity.

so, what are you trying to fix?

and what is the ultimate goal?

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Zakai Shirao's avatar

well, truth. but I can never truly get there.

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Oliver N Mark's avatar

the only truth is your truth.

the one that you are living.

and you are already there.

here, now, this moment.

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Zakai Shirao's avatar

"the only truth is your truth" Do you see the contradiction in that statement? I meant truth, literally. As in aligns with what is real. an explanation that fails to be disproven. meant I can never get there. there isn't enough time to ever get to the whole truth of any matter.

and I didn't mean it negatively either. this is a joy for me. getting closer to truth.

I get "my truth" and "your truth" feel real. but it's not same as the truth.

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Oliver N Mark's avatar

this is like trying to measure the unmeasurable

to quantify the infinite

the endless trip on the merry go round of existential answers

weeeeeeeeeee

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Zakai Shirao's avatar

fun. we all have our defenses. you used humor. but you avoided the real conversation we could have had. that's the truth I'm seeking. that gives me joy.

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Soulinn's avatar

Omg, this was packed with so many good ideas, I found myself pausing the audio all the time just to process the thoughts you were saying. It really resonated and I am honestly so glad and relieved that somebody has the same life experience as me. Thank you for putting it so elegantly in words for all of us. :)

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Oliver N Mark's avatar

Soulinn, its truly a pleasure, happy to hear that you had that level of response. thank you very much for choosing to listen, and spend time here.

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Zakai Shirao's avatar

I've been chasing freedom.

I externalized it.

But structurally, freedom is not granted. It is alignment.

To understand necessity is to be free.

Freedom is clarity about cause.

The one thing I was chasing was the capacity to choose my response, but that capacity was always contingent on understanding.

So the chase was misdirected.

Freedom was not a place to arrive. It was, for me, the process of understanding.

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Oliver N Mark's avatar

Zakai, appreciate your comment, thanks.

"Freedom is clarity about cause." doesn't that just lead you on a chase for answers?

i like the way you are thinking, your awareness is sharp.

and yes, the capacity to create space between impulse and response is one of the wonderful benefits of mindfulness. you could say the understanding of self.

now then, what is your process of understanding?

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Alexandra Winteraven's avatar

so refreshing to come across someone who's walked the descent path and writes from the marrow of lived experience, not theory. i could feel the layers you've sloughed through, and yeah it lands.

also...🤯 that you added an audio read. didn't even know that was a thing here. subscribing, obviously.

appreciate your work, and the voice behind it. 🖤

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Oliver N Mark's avatar

beautiful comment, thank you for taking a moment to share your voice here, Alexandra. reading this made my soul smile - as if being recognised by one of its kind, so i appreciate these words deeply.

aha, yes. the audio is my authenticity stamp. i read the words because i lived them, and i want that to come across to the reader/listener.

appreciate your choice to subscribe, welcome. 🖤

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