to be worse, they rely on whatever is taught on tibet or china or elsewhere since that is the "source", even though traditions over there have become folkishly over-elaborate

THEY NEED TO MAKE IT INTO A PRODUCT

EXOTIC + INDIVIDUALISTIC WILL WORK

It' something like what has happened with western thought as well

they take something that is symbolic, but that simply doesn't mean "too much" if you get what I mean, and ascribe it very complex and elaborate symbolism for the symbolism's sake

I think what you are talking about is the modern western interpretation of eastern traditions, which is to say the least very biased and plebianized. I have quite limited knowledge about eastern tradition only read one book that went over them with a big brush but especially buddhism and to a smaller degree its "predecessors" were definetly not egalitarian in any sense of the word, enlightenment(Which meant different things at different times, some mean atma the realization of ones inner self, buddha something else i am not 100 % what exactly atm) was only achieved by those that were capable of freeing themselves from desires as they were seen as the origin of everything bad, so there were different masters (Buddha was just one of them) that showed or develped different methods/variations to achieve that, withdrawl from the physical world, through meditation and yoga etc., a lot of time had to be invested for this kind of stuff and most werent capable of doing that and were bound to be reborn. And only those that were of special predisposition and spent the time to achieve that state of mind achieved nirvana and thereby were freed from eternal ressurection.

@The Enlightened Shepherd Could you give a symbol as an example?

For example I was reading about Mahakala

Which is in most traditions a Dharmapala, a protector deity

But also symbolizes dissolution, the immutability of the passage of time, etc

Now he is depicted as a fierceful, wrathful, deity, all in black, adorned with skulls, weapons, ashes and fire

has three eyes (symbolizing that he is a boddhisatva)

and protruded fangs

and now these gurus and students go on and on and give every single detail of his traditional representation a meaning

"sword represents this"

"fangs represent this"

ok i get what you are talking about now

when it's obvious that all of these things are merely artistic expressions of his entire image, of a wrathful deity

trying to interpret every single detail

and most striking is the agonizing recoiling back of all of these hippies from any possibility that there exists a detached, wrathful deity

so they say "he is standing on demons" or "enemies of dharma"

when it's obvious that he is standing on two quite unremarkable humans

with nothing on them symbolizing their status of enemies or demons

it's obvious that his entire symbolism is that of an oppressor

and that these two figures are indeed just ordinary humans who got in his way, or who stood in the way of an immutable force, or challenged it even

to these types, it's completely unimaginable that mere human existences are not of great significance to these transcendent forces

the relevance to the doctrine is obvious: a wise man knows all forces, and utilizes them for his enlightenment

fools get struck by them and perish

hence why even such a wrathful deity is also a boddhisatva

today at my job, normal fucking retards sat around discussing their preferences in how to do cocaine and do drinking games

so I came home and optimized my diet and fitness routine

It seems like it should be obvious that to get ahead (barring big inheritances, jewish nepotism, etc) you have to do things in a way that other people aren't.

Like not spending all your money on alcohol and car payments, for example

I would do it even if it put me behind

There are plenty of reasons to do it, synergistically. And different measurements of "ahead."

it honestly does put me behind as I cannot bond with my peers at all

I can only network by shamelessly misrepresenting my opinions of others right ot their face

That's what I do.

I think today's dissidents are better liars than they've ever been, we have to be

Especially if your professional community or town is small, like mine. Nobody but my wife knows my political thoughtcrimes.

what industry