Thank you for replying, that means a lot. I winced after posting that, like I mostly do now when engaging online, because so much of it is subjective and changing that I struggle to consistently articulate these thoughts and the length gets out of control. One of the first rules of Zen is that there's no way to tell someone what enlightenment is, it can only be sought individually. Because letting go of attachments and giving others the dignity to find their own path is one of the first steps. I'm thrilled that you found things to disagree with, as that suggests that there is still much more for me to learn from others like yourself.
For what it's worth, I wrote that long rant for my 25 year old self going through an exceptionally painful time in his life. I hope someone finds some value in it, even if simply to forgive others and ourselves, and find gratitude for the miracle of life. Even when things feel so terribly unfair that just surviving these human trials amounts to an act of heroism.
I found myself nodding along until the very end. <- I may have misread this as disagreeing with simulation vs dream-based reality, so I should have said I'm thrilled IF you found things to disagree with, definitely plenty of room for interpretation!
For what it's worth, I wrote that long rant for my 25 year old self going through an exceptionally painful time in his life. I hope someone finds some value in it, even if simply to forgive others and ourselves, and find gratitude for the miracle of life. Even when things feel so terribly unfair that just surviving these human trials amounts to an act of heroism.