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Reading like drinking: it's always 5pm somewhere

This has been a source of frustration for quite some time.


I’m an avid reader. I have always been. When I was in elementary, I was called “traga”, which means book-swallower. I’m always reading things, usually in parallel; technical books (currently re-reading Fanged Noumena by Land) where I take copious notes and for pleasure (just finished The Book of Elsewhere, by Mieville & Reeves) where I just enjoy it.


I usually never go to sleep without some reading.


But I hate the way people use reading as a substitute for practice and systematic study.

Some people lack the desire for Enlightenment. They want the idea of Enlightenment (call it Mahamudra, Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, Moksha, or your preferred term) so they can discuss it online and fight about it.


Their pleasure stems from contemplating and discussing things, rather than direct experience.


Books are obtained from each teacher and lineage. They compare, contrast, quote teachings. They discuss online what does it means. If that’s you, I have wonderful news for you: there’s the academic path!


I say this being an academic myself. If you enjoy this, academia is perfect for you! It usually pays very little (when it pays at all), but it’s there for you to engage and debate.


To truly experience the path, avoid cheating yourself by reading, comparing, or attempting multiple paths simultaneously. You need to actually go through it, and your teacher will teach it.


Yes, it is nice to have reference books, and Sutras, and everything. We’ve just had, this year, a book by book reading of Yogacaran themes. The path is not solely reading teachings, but practicing them and approaching things systematically. If you become addicted to dopamine from new concepts, that’s what you’ll do.


Let’s take an example. Let’s say that you want to learn Martial Arts. In fact, want to learn Brazilian Jiujitsu. Let’s say that you start “doing your own research”. You look at videos. You go to forums. Falling into the rabbit hole that is Carlos Gracie, someone who should rank higher on most sorcerer’s idols, is an interesting journey. You stay awake at 3am counting his accomplishments: warlock, medium, nutritionist, martial artist, outlaw-on-the-run until presidential pardon. The true Most Interesting Man in the World. Then you read about feuds with Luta Livre and when you come back to yourself, it’s been three months and your significant other is worried about your fluent Portuguese now.


Consider going to a gym for training.


You can be both a Martial Artist and a Martial Arts scholar. You know what usually isn’t worth the time we spent there, relatively speaking? Fighting in forums.


But my sincerest wish is that you do both or either seriously. Want to really do research? Researcher is a career path. It’s not about watching videos or visiting forums. Go to the university, learn about ethnographies, become a researcher. Don’t cheat yourself from the experience of being one. This, in Buddhist terms, is called a Dharmayogi, someone who’s Yoga is Study and gains wisdom that way.


And especially if you want to actually experience the Path, you need to walk through it. This is called a Jñanayogi in Buddhist terms; someone who gains wisdom through direct experience.


Both are good ways to experience wisdom; both work. You can do either or both.

We only have this precious existence for a blink; death can happen at any moment. My heartfelt advice is that you watch out for what gives you pleasure. This can become a heavier chain than anything.


So if your pleasure is just reading about things, that’s perfectly ok. Just remember, it’s no different from drinking for pleasure.


In the end, it’s more Samsara, and it doesn’t help all sentient beings.

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