Bhoga

 Bhoga is Yoga.  The Bhogi enjoys to live while the Yogi lives to enjoy.  Ultimately both paths lead to the same end, but we must learn to combine the two.  If we have no goal, we will get nowhere.  If we do absolutely nothing to enjoy ourselves in the moment, we will also get nowhere.  To clear things up a bit, bhoga is more the lay life which in part involves more going out and having fun.  While the Yogi's goal is God-Realization before his life comes to an end or perhaps in one of his next incarnations as a human.  We must learn to combine the two paths.  If we strictly follow one or the other we may go insane.  The Buddha also taught the importance of "the middle way", which sort of applies here I suppose.  

I'm almost finished reading Thich Nhat Hanh's "The Heart of The Buddha's Teaching".  This may be the greatest and most important book I've ever read regarding Buddhism.  Yes, Thich Nhat Hanh is the closest human being you will find that is comparable to Lord Buddha.  

I got into meditation right around my 20th b-day.  I went through an inner-transformation that lasted nearly 4 months, but ultimately ended up in a disaster.  I believe I combined bhoga with yoga by spending 5 years traveling North America (2014 - 2019).  I  needed to devote a significant amount of time enjoying myself living life.  Which I did because travel is my favorite activity.  Someday I will see Europe and Asia!

We must follow the middle way.

There will be another day!

- Lizzi

Self-Help, Philosophy, School...

 I once was obsessed with getting comments and views and subscribers on my blogs and Youtube channel.  I once had someone tell me to simply write for myself!  Indeed, writing for yourself can be quite therapeutic.  

Not a whole lot going on in my life right now.  I tried holding another job, again I failed.  You hear a lot of self-help "gurus" talking about how you need to fail more.  Failure is what makes us grow.  This is true to a point but sometimes can be wayyyyyyy off, for there is such thing as setting yourself up for failure, which is what I did this past week.  I gave fast food a shot and failed miserably.  Low self-esteem, actually... NO self-esteem, it keeps me from being a productive member of society.  Thinking you are worthless can actually lead to being worthless (in some ways).  Confidence is 99% of everything. Confidence and self-esteem is the most valuable thing anyone can take away from you!

I've been reading a lot - philosophy and foreign language.... currently almost finished with a book on stoicism written by one Ward Farnsworth. Quite interesting his book is!  I picked back up my Francais studies.  I read the entire French for Dummies book last Summer.  It took a little under 3 months if I recall correctly.  I read THE ENTIRE THING - cover to cover!  I was proud of myself for having that much discipline.  Unfortunately, it didn't help a whole lot.  Those 21 chapters acted as a mild primer for the French I studied in High School 20 years ago.  I needed to be implementing what I was studying into everyday life.

I want to be a polymath - someone with a wide array of knowledge from things like mathematics, foreign languages, history, anatomy, etc...  Thought of going back to school... not sure.  I mean, I'm not so young anymore (coming up on middle-age).  College would just remind me of what school I experienced as  a kid.  I absolutely hated high school!  I have a bit of an unconventional style and mindset.  I think... a truly brilliant and clever person.. doesn't need school to be successful.  I've had people tell me to save the time and money and just buy books instead.  

I've been thinking of opening up my domain again - culturedmonk(dot)com.  I have a lot of ideas I want to share with the World, but at the same time I'm trying to be a little more anonymous/stealth on the web these days... I'm not going to reopen the domain I had under my full name... hmmm... but maybe I'll just stick to this blog here on Blogger.  I've had it for over 7 years now!

That's all for today.

- Lizzi     

9 Thoughts

Imagine as though you are meeting close friends and family members for the first time.  Would you still say hurtful things to them?  Would you not show them more respect? 

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 What did I learn from my Youtube channel?  ...my own hubris may very well be the downfall of me

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"Basically" is the most over-used word in the English language

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Stop caring if people like you or not, and you will see more people will like you as they will become aware that you are a genuine individual who feels good about themselves.  You will become more attractive!

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I don't like comedians, they're too happy... total bs!

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Extreme situations (life or death, heavenly pleasures, etc..) put us in a state where are so-called problems are no longer there 

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More money leads to more happiness through buying more experiences

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Boredom kills brain cells!

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Lizzi is still searching for his original idea!

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- Lizzi