No, I read that.

Sure it can. Just bother to study human psychology & Darwinian evolution.

@Nunya
Those are probably the two most important areas to study, but knowledge of them, unfortunately, does not necessarily always translate to deep understanding, and certainly not to practice. Richard Dawkins comes to mind, though I don’t know how much he knows about psychology.

But I genuinely enjoy being an asshole!

That's just how I roll! lol But, thank you. I deeply value independent thought.

No, I got that message loud & clear. I simply disagree with it.

I guess I should clarify here. Yes, I value Buddhist & Hindu (or Vedantic) philosophies, & I practice many of the tenets, but I do not agree with some sects that advocate retreating rather than actively participating in efforts to actually reduce suffering for sentient beings. Yes, it is helpful to be detached while one persues such goals, but the action is still needed.

I mean, sure, I could spend my life teaching people how to chill out, meditate, become detached, count their blessings, etc - and for the record, I do teach people these things - but I still believe that concrete actions are necessary to increase access to the essential elements of satisfaction; namely a general safety from harm, general economic security, & things likes education, healthcare, & of course, clean food & water & adequate shelter & clothing. The majority of people in the world still lack at least some of these very basic things. Then take into account the displacement & destruction of all non-human animals & the increased level of suffering that they endure due to our designs & manipulations of our shared environments. Do they not deserve kindness & protection on some basic level as well? We can recognize that our fight is futile in the grand scheme as eventually our sun will become too dim to support any life & all striving will cease, while simultaneously recognizing that taking concrete actions to diminish suffering can make all the difference for the one enduring it while alive today.

@Nunya we create all these problems of which you speak. what we create we can also fail to create. sure, it's more complicated than that ... but one must always bear in mind the true direction. simplifying ones' life is just so much easier. but we each find our own path. seek truth (satyam bhaja), create order (kalpitam kuru), and avoid discord (adharmam tyaja) = this is the funnel I try to use to guide my direction. namo-stute

@Nunya we're at different stages of life you and I. I am a sannyasin, thus a renunciant. You're still likely a homeowner. So you still have other goals aside from mosha. Everything I do and think and study deals with moksha. The other things are of little concern to me anymore.