Thinking about early Buddhism and meditation. Stoicism. Practising in the midst of life, sharing what works, gaming for fun. Check out my blog.
Joined March 2016
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228 Photos and videos
Pinned Tweet
5 Nov 2022
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! mastodon.online/@markcooper | joinmastodon.org
Mark Cooper retweeted
14 Oct 2022
“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” – Epictetus
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29 Oct 2022
Another gem from Bhikkhu Anālayo. Deepening Insight. Very brief chapters drawing out teachings relevant to vedanā (hedonic tone)—a pivotal object for mindfulness.
ALT Deepening Insight by Bhikkhu Analayo
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29 Oct 2022
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.
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29 Oct 2022
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.
27 Oct 2022
Instead of telling kids not to play video games, adults should play too.
Compared to kids who don’t play, those who play 3 hrs/day have better working memory & impulse control. Experiments show cognitive benefits for adults too.
Video games are a form of exercise for the brain.
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29 Oct 2022
Decision-making, planning, co-operation. Even ethical choices *Ahem* #SeaOfThieves—I see you, gamers.
28 Oct 2022
What good Buddhist Discord groups should I join? Also, is the Mastodon social network any good?
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28 Oct 2022
@chakathemighty Hey, I think you mentioned a Buddhist Discord server that you found inspiring a while back?
28 Oct 2022
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/…
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28 Oct 2022
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.
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18 Oct 2022
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.
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16 Oct 2022
How are you thinking about autism? Have you heard of the double empathy problem? youtube.com/watch?v=A1AUdaH-…
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Mark Cooper retweeted
16 Oct 2022
My intuition too. No one has ever had a direct experience of matter. Everything we experience is mental, it arises in dependence on mind. Simplicity suggests that the objects we perceive are also mental in nature. Conversely, it’s very hard to explain how mind arises from matter.
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Mark Cooper retweeted
14 Oct 2022
7 cool @lizandmollie graphics accompanied by relevant philosophy quotes:
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"Well-being is realized by small steps, but is truly no small thing."
— Zeno of Citium
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13 Oct 2022
This is really great. Bhikkhu Anālayo compares the Pāli canon and Chinese āgamas to shed light on the early Buddhist practice of the Brahmavihārās and the gradual entry into emptiness. He arrives at some invaluable practical guidance.
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13 Oct 2022
Bhikkhu Anālayo has recorded some guided meditations that take you through this progression through the Brahmavihārās into emptiness, here: buddhistinquiry.org/resource…
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12 Oct 2022
Fascinating. I can relate to some parts of this as my interest in Buddhism has gradually became more earnest. theguardian.com/world/2022/s…
Mark Cooper retweeted
12 Oct 2022
Feel like there’s overlap with the psychedelics debate. I see where the objections come from, but jhanas are conditioned states, often conditioned by being on retreat & certain kinds of practice. If this gizmo puts the right conditions in place for wholesome mind states, why not?
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11 Oct 2022
A more apt name for the "mini-budget" might be the "massive expense".