Mark Cooper

I'm off to Mastodon. There's no attention hacking, no algorithm enraging people to drive engagement, no ads. You see posts from people you follow in chronological order. It's decentralised and you control your data. See you there! @markcooper" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">mastodon.online/@markcooper | joinmastodon.org

“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” – Epictetus

Vedanā (pleasant, neutral, or unpleasant experiences) are empty because they arise dependent on the specific condition of sense contact. Once the contact ends, the feeling disappears. After the ice cream, the pleasant feeling is gone: not worth chasing, not worth clinging to.

Another gem from Bhikkhu Anālayo. Deepening Insight. Very brief chapters drawing out teachings relevant to vedanā (hedonic tone)—a pivotal object for mindfulness.

Decision-making, planning, co-operation. Even ethical choices *Ahem* #SeaOfThieves—I see you, gamers.

I’m fairly convinced games make us smarter. Yes, some games are more worthwhile than others. But gaming offers many diverse and intricate problems to solve, like no other medium. Manipulating 3D spaces, information, time. Maybe gaming is one reason IQs have risen over the years.

@chakathemighty I’ll take a look, thank you.

What good Buddhist Discord groups should I join? Also, is the Mastodon social network any good?

@AdrianEdmondson The old Protestant work ethic.

This obsession with ‘working hard’ and ‘hard working families’ is depressingly Victorian. We live in an age of machines that can do all that stuff for us. People should be having more diverse and more fulfilled lives, not grinding away until they die.

@limnedinink Awful, isn’t it? Swimming against the algorithm. I find blogging a more open space, if you don’t care about chasing search engine rankings.

Also, if you believe that climate protestors risk alienating people with disruptive actions, consider that emissions are still rising as we say goodbye to 1.5C and tipping points kick in.

It was procrastination that got us in the end. The best time to do something was thirty years ago. The second best time is now. theguardian.com/environment/20…

@KennethFolk Thanks for everything you do.

Everybody's going through something. You're going through something. It matters, and it's not easy. I'm going through something. My wife and I have signed divorce papers. My wedding 14 years ago was the best day of my life. This is the worst. Don't pity me. Feel for me. I am you.

@cottonandcreme @SoT_Support A one-week ban seems nowhere near long enough.

MEGA Props to @SoT_Support for responding so quickly to my ticket. TY to everyone for your kind words and support these past few days. My heart goes out for anyone who has ever found themselves in this situation but unable take action. #twitchpartner #SeaOfThieves #gamergirl

@jaysonbyrne @KennethFolk I can't. Everything we can perceive depends on something else. Only nibbana is described as the unconditioned, and I can't speak about that.

@markcpr @KennethFolk Can you point out something not dependently arisen? How do you know?

Space-time is not fundamental. youtube.com/watch?v=CmieNQ…

@jaysonbyrne @KennethFolk True, true. Except that, on one level, we know that consciousness exists because we have subjective experiences. There is something it is like to be us. The caveat is our consciousness is also dependently arisen, not fundamental.

@markcpr @KennethFolk 2. If it arises at all, and isn't simply physical phenomena could be true of consciousness as well. ☯️☯️☯️

Can anyone help me understand MN 43, Mahāvedalla Sutta? In what way are these four deliverances of mind the same? I think it's saying they are four different methods of reaching an unshakeable deliverance of mind, but that they are the same to the extent that they reach it.

@EnlistedHipster That troublesome compassion, eh?

@KotaMcKloud Respect for your patience and restraint.

"You guys are the reason people don't come to this f*ckin game"👀 A story in 2 parts-- 💁‍♀️🧵 For some context- sunk a gr5 reaper Gally, as a solo.. (1/2)