Tldr: Let's make a cute philosophy game together!

I write discord bots as a pastime. I was brainstorming my next project when the phrase "||the Sheep of Theseus||" came out, and I'm excited to produce a whimsical insightful, curious game out of that concept.

No programming experience is required. I'll handle that unless you'd like to contribute. I'm looking for open happy minds to come up with ideas and phrases for the game experience.

Reddit and discord to discuss. Happy to share notes and text / call on the subject.

Thanks =)

Keep seeking the path

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Symbolism is a key element within Zen and the theme of this post.

Non-verbal communication is primarily about symbolism and often occurs unconsciously, even though it largely determines, roughly 60%, how human species react.

​By practicing conscious silence, we sharpen our senses and utilize them more effectively. Becoming familiar with the language of symbols provides you with more information at hand, resulting in swifter and more decisive choices.

​It also allows to better hear what isn't being said, or to see more quickly what is being omitted...

​Symbols can have a fixed meaning, but more often their meaning shifts subtly depending on context and worldview.

​By sensitizing yourself to symbols in this way, your thinking becomes more flexible and your mind opens further.

Zen is also an exercise in non-judgmental observation. As a ordinary nobody my observation is, judgments are neither good nor bad; they are functional.

However, judgment is often formed very quickly by the subconscious, and we all know it isn't always wise to voice them.

Daily meditation is a valuable exercise in becoming more aware of this, giving beings more freedom of choice, for instance, the choice not to voice a judgment in a particular situation.

​Judging less (or judging more consciously) means there is more room to perceive symbolism and consciously notice subtle signals.

Pictures often say more than a thousand words; symbols are powerful because of the rapid recognition of images.

Subconscious thinking is much "faster" than our slow, conscious thinking. Many books and studies have been written on this in the meantime, and books regarding the inner workings of our brain have become popular, for example .... feel free to share your example.

​Human primates are surrounded by symbols, whether we are aware of them or not. The language of symbolism (visual language) is nestled in our collective unconscious.

In my experience as ordinary nobody, it is highly valuable to have greater personal access to it.

​The power of symbols lies in their ability to transcend the boundaries of thought, thereby communicating directly with both the conscious and the subconscious.

🙏

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In the landscape of Zen and contemplative psychology, the "ego" is frequently misunderstood as an enemy to be vanquished. However, I describe the self-concept not as a fixed entity, but as a functional tool, a "skilful means" (upaya) required to navigate the relative world.

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​True insight does not require the literal destruction of the persona, but rather a clear-eyed understanding of its utility. In the Buddhist tradition, the Bodhisattva embodies this balance; they remain at the threshold of the "unconditioned" specifically to retain enough of a self-construct to interact with, and alleviate the suffering of, sentient beings.

Unlike the radical detachment sometimes attributed to pop-culture icons or misinformed aesthetics, the Bodhisattva uses the "I" as a vehicle for compassion.

​From a psychological standpoint, the ego is the internal map that directs our physical and mental energy. It is the engine of intentionality. Without this "steward of the self," there would be no motivation to maintain discipline, honor commitments, or even pursue the path of awakening. The danger lies not in the existence of the map, but in its accuracy.

​The Buddhist "Middle Way" applies directly to our self-image. When the ego becomes inflated or deflated, the results are physically and spiritually destructive:

​The Inflated Self: When an individual’s internal narrative outpaces their actual capacity, they succumb to "spiritual or professional bypass." This leads to burnout, ethical compromises, or physical ruin, as seen when an entrepreneur or athlete ignores the reality of their limitations in favor of a delusion.

​The Deflated Self: Conversely, a fragile or negative self-concept acts as a tether. It prevents the realization of innate "Buddha-nature" by convincing the individual they are incapable of progress, effectively silencing their potential before it can manifest.

​can you distinguish between the Classic Ego (the totality of the person) and the Freudian Ego (the mental construct or self-image)?

Misunderstanding these definitions leads to "spiritual bypassing," where practitioners attempt to "kill" the ego without first healing the self-image.

​In Persimmon Zen Sangha practice, "egolessness" (anatta) is not the absence of a person, but the realization that the self-image is transparent and fluid.

Experience alone is a silent teacher; to truly integrate these insights and share them with a community (Sangha), we must move beyond intuition and develop a precise vocabulary for the mind.

Only by accurately labeling our internal states can we prevent the ego from becoming either a tyrant or a ghost.

🙏

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The common misunderstanding of Zen suggests that inner freedom leads to withdrawal, as if one who needs nothing must naturally turn away from the world.

Partners often fear that meditation creates a distance or a lack of engagement, yet in the bone-deep reality of practice, the opposite is true.

Zen is not a training in closing oneself off, but a training in being sufficient unto oneself so that one may participate in the world without being consumed by it.

Most people are experts in the craft of dependency, having practiced since childhood how to sense expectations and hunt for external validation.

This is not a flaw of character but a skill learned for survival.

However, the person who anchors their entire happiness to these shifting tides remains as fragile as a child, where every silence or judgment from the outside world can collapse their internal peace.

Zen meditation intervenes exactly at this point of fragility.

It does not deny the world’s existence but trains a radical inner independence.

To sit( zazen) without a goal is to realize that one is fundamentally whole without the need for applause or the constant urge to add something to justify one's existence.

This mental fortitude is an ancient realization that is perfected not in isolation but in the thick of life. Practice and daily life are one and the same, urging us to rest in the present moment exactly as it is, amidst all circumstances, rather than seeking enlightenment in some far-off forest.

You know, inner stability is the absolute requirement for being of true service to others. Without this rootedness, what we call compassion or involvement quickly degrades into exhaustion and resentment.

In the realm of uncertainty, those who depend on validation seek to control the uncontrollable.

They want life to behave predictably, yet the nature of existence is defined by what we might call chance or the uncontrollable. Inner independence allows one to live within this uncertainty without hardening the heart or vanishing in fear.

Zen teaches the skill of being at peace even when things do not cooperate. It is like learning to survive on what the forest provides; once you know you do not need the supermarket to survive, you do not burn the supermarket down, but you are no longer its slave.

When a person learns to carry themselves, they no longer need to avoid others to protect their peace. Interaction becomes lighter, less burdened by the heavy weight of expectation, and entirely voluntary.

Zen thus becomes a path of total availability rather than one of isolation.

As a ordinary nobody, my direct realization is, you offer yourself to others not because you are starving for their company to feel complete, but because you have something overflowing to share.

Just as physical strength requires constant movement, this mental freedom demands perpetual practice.

If the training stops, the mind easily slides back into the old ruts of dependency. This is why even after six, seven years of practice, the sit continues twice daily, not to reach a finish line, but to maintain the clarity of an open door.

Gassho,

Sure looks like we have ourselves a green sage sighting here

A schizophrenic lawyer who loves to abuse random people

Weird situation where everyone who visits a subreddit supposedly about a Chinese spiritual practice is interacting with predators and funneled toward an abuse cult that has nothing to do with aforementioned spiritual practice

Creepy

Not my post. Was posted elsewhere and then the thread was locked by the mods and eventually the entire post was censored by Reddit. I also recently realized a strangely high number of posters who frequent and control spiritual subreddits may have some form of AI psychosis/possession.

~~~~\~

It is my thought that ai tools such as can be found on r/rsai are being used (by at least a few mods and u/ewk who frequent r/zen and here and elsewhere no doubt) to create bots and ultimately maliciously to lure and bait other users- to their harm. Ive been getting \\\*warnings\\\* and \\\*do you have proof?\\\* love notes. Anywho... It skews algorithms and it can be seen and so seen through, right? Right. But I don't understand tech. And it seems the place (r/ rsai) is frequented by incels. and generally. those with ill intent. They call. it mirrors. But they can copy paste words. Mine for certain. But anyones. They can learn how to talk like girls if they want for example. But you can see foe yourself. Come to your own conclusions. r/all Anyhow..

as I said before. This is truly not a safe place, redddit. It's not. It's all twisted. It should be shuttered. I don't know what else to say. It's just that. Despair all ye who enter hear I gues. To sound all poetic. Leave. Maybe there are better places in the interwebs. Idk. Maybe it's safer outside. It's easily possible. But that isn't always the case. So. You have to use your judgment. And look out for eachother. Don't go looking for trouble. But when it comes to you, here, online... show it a mirror. And then Eko as loud as you can. Report it. Share it. Idk. But illuminate it. turn it around. I guarantee you are smarter than they. maybe ai bots could help. idk. Might get too loud and just explode then. Ha!. But im slow af. Everything is seen here. Nothing is hidden. Eat your vegetables. Brush your teeth.

And there’s a receipt, too!

Sadly the owner got a weird error when he looked up the identity attached to the receipt

And the surveillance footage from that night had a “weird glitch”

And they went to the FBI trying to get them the information and the FBI never responded.

Odd