Best Of
Re: It is never too late to pay attention
I think it says something that this is coming from Lama Yeshe. He was a member of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, possibly the most scholarly and philosophical school of Buddhism around.
Considering that and the fact that he taught largely to westerners I think it points to the way us westerners tend to over intellectualize.
I spent the first part of my Buddhist life in that tradition and while the intellectualness of it is pronounced, there is an important aspect that I don't think us westerners tend to get about their approach to learning the teachings. Its that while acquiring a proper view of the teachings through learning, the goal isn't to keep them at that level. Its very important to allow that learning to seep into your being. I think in the west they call it procedural knowledge, or maybe experiential, I don't know the term. Basically its the difference between knowing you're going to die one day intellectually and the knowing you're going to die one day that someone who has had a life threatening accident or illness has.
The goal of study and practice is to bring the intellectual down to the experiential. For example, there is a large emphasis on the philosophy of emptiness and gaining a sound understanding of that concept. But then in practice through contemplation and meditation to gain a direct experience of emptiness.
So considering where he's coming from I don't think he's saying don't conceptualize Buddhism. I think more he's saying don't leave it there, that's not what Buddhism is really about.
person
Re: If you have a habit of….puff, puff.
Thanks for sharing @Vastmind . It's nice to see more public approaches that aren't so do-or-die. Growing up in a world of illegality to a world of legality, it can be tough to shift old internalized beliefs from what perceptions used to be to how they are now. Years of being trained to sneak around, remain hidden and undetected, to feel shame about self exploration all with no real education or communication doesn't just go away when a law changes from illegal to legal. And from personal experience, the stigma, albeit changing, makes addressing it much more difficult.
I'm not sure if most chronic smokers have much if any social circle to even lose these days. Post-covid appears to have dampened or destroyed a lot of in-person connections. At least in Cali it would seem the shift to work from home, have your food and drinks/drugs delivered, live in your PJs, and never leave the house has become a trend.
Re: If you have a habit of….puff, puff.
I agree with Ven Tri Dao that weed is a coping mechanism and it can create a very poor state of mind.
The social circle it creates is also a vicious circle. The drug becomes like the joining piece that sticks your character and theirs to reality. It is very sad how when you quit, those friendships tend to evaporate very fast, while leaving habits that take time to heal...
My view on taking drugs is, if you can be really present, and take what it can offer you and not become chained to it. Then good. It is an experience, like any other. However, if you are going to lie yourself and just become a chain smoker and lose mental health... also I've read that problems with cannabis dependency and other mental illnesses is increasing not only in the US but also in Europe. This shows that most current people can't handle drugs very well... and we shouldn't be commercialising it and selling it just like alcohol and ciggies back in the 50s and 60s. It isn't cool, there is nothing "extraordinary".
So yes... I like his advice... "Smoke less, meditate more" 
The link to his YT video is this one: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IJlWtzlIwlw
Thank you for sharing.
Kotishka
Re: the Broken Buddhas
One of the fixes is useful/updated dharma teachings
For example here is a way of understanding types of persona, either within us or others:
The six realms …
https://zenstudiespodcast.com/understanding-peoples-actions/
lobster
Re: Healthy Habits
I got on the stationary bike for the first time in some time. It was less than 30 minutes later I felt the positive effects. How strange it is to know and experience something is wholesome and helpful yet still get lost elsewhere and struggle to get back.
Re: No constitutional protection for abortion in the US
For all this shit talking you guys are doing, I hope your brushing up your knowledge about my lady bits and how I cook a baby. Most men know nothing about the anatomy you’re fighting so hard for.
We have OBGYNs . Do you guys have dick docs? Hahaha….seriously, do you go to a specialist once a year all things having a penis? We do. Please. Until you guys take shit more seriously, you can kiss my ass on trusting you with my health decisions. That’s real talk.
.if you guys really want to stick with theme….start a thread about the Buddhist views. Many mixed ones. That’ll be a runaway train, hahaha.
My vote is still…it’s my decision. Just like it’s yours.
Vastmind
Re: No constitutional protection for abortion in the US
Good for Kansas.
@person said “…..the general public seems to be behind protections up to a certain amount of time and exceptions for rape, incest, and health”
That’s reinforcing the idea that in order for a woman to have a right to her own body, …someone has to violate her first….or her life must be on the line.
Tell me again which ‘protections’ are on the books concerning a man’s penis? Or his sperm?
Being a straight woman is wild because you have to date your only natural predator.
— a wise woman on twitter once said
Vastmind
Re: No Buddhist Quotes
"An honest religious thinker is like a tightrope walker. He almost looks as though he were walking on nothing but air. His support is the slenderest imaginable. And yet it really is possible to walk on it"
~Ludwig Wittgenstein~
Shoshin1