carnival

One of my teachers said there is always more.

It's why no one can give you a definitive answer when it comes to the spiritual trip or the nebulous idea of enlightenment.

The answer would be in terms of what do you want me to say?

Nothing is defined.

It's absurd.

I cannot describe it.

I can point you towards teachings and experiences which will allow you to see it for yourself.

That's the role of a teacher.

The student must experience it themselves.

It's the idea of the shaman as a doorman.

He or she leads you to the door.

You knock and enter because this is what you wanted.

Then the great cosmic joke is unveiled.

It's always interesting to see how you react to it.

People can't handle it, and they go crazy.

It's best to be a squirrel, gather nuts, and not worry about finding meaning in life.

It's the level of consciousness which spurs you on towards attempting to find meaning.

We are all from the same bucket of energy and every form of energy which has life has the same potential.

The only difference is unlocking the governors upon that potential.

There's what Aldous Huxley described in the "Doors of Perception" as a reducing valve which prevents our mind from knowing everything.

The more you can access, the more is revealed.

If you want to go on a spiritual trip towards enlightenment, you need a method to open the valve.

If you open it up too much at once, you will not be able to handle it, and you will suffer mental health problems.

If you open it a little bit at a time, you will eventually be able to work with the knowledge.

You don't need much.

You find the sweet spot and create a container for your exploration.

Within the container there is enough to keep you going for a long time.

Within the oval container you find the edges through ritual.

You can explore the edges of the container to get glimpses of the great beyond.

Without the discipline of a container, you will eventually get too high or too low and not be able to return.

This is my contribution to the spiritual seeker community.

What about the corporate teat?

It's very rewarding.

I can see how some people are wary of a corporate job when they have an inner calling of freedom.

Corporations are good at tying you to them, and you base your life on being available for the company.

They reward you when you do this.

The benefits are great.

They fund your retirement.

You get regular pay.

The key to happiness is knowing what they are doing, harbouring a general disdain, and soldiering on.

It's a fool.

If you start your own business, you will tie yourself to your business.

The rewards are potentially greater.

No one gets rich working for the man.

You get rich through growing your business and through profiting not by a single digit percentage, but by multiple percentages.

The average is 15% to 25% for a good business while a high growth tech company can hit 50%.

The corporation will give you a 2% yearly raise while they strive for higher returns.

The company grows and you get a little bit.

Even in the down years they are still outpacing your raise.

It's best you don't have access to the balance sheet because if you did you would be angry with them and their financial dealings with you.

They speak of family and then they lay off your friends.

It's really quite the game.

What's your advice?

Do what they ask, pretend to care, and build your own wealth.

Take your money and invest in solid businesses through the stock market.

A solid business will see their share price rise between 10-15% a year accounting for fluctuations and the volatility of the market in general.

There's nothing you can do when world events cause market turbulence.

It's best to do nothing and ride the rollercoaster.

If you can get this side hustle going early in life, it's like having a business that generates extra money with the key being that you don't have to do anything.

Then you take the profits and reinvest in the business, making profit off your profits.

All the workers who put in time at these solid businesses are making you money while you do nothing.

That's my advice to the corporate worker, well, people in general.

What about herd behaviour in the stock market?

Yes, that's why you do nothing about turbulence when you are in it for the long haul.

The financial markets will follow the emotional sensibilities of human beings and how we react to news and events.

You could trade for gain based on this behaviour.

You do the opposite of what you are feeling, which is hard to do.

It's risky, so over the long haul it's best to sit and watch, however if you want to make a living trading the secret is to buy low and sell high.

It's very simple.

The problem is you go against what you are feeling and want to do.

What you are feeling is the call of herd behaviour.

Humans are bovines in disguise.

We follow the herd.

When the market is going up, we want in.

It's a thrill and a dopamine hit.

When crypto is soaring, we want in.

When the market drops, fear and panic sets in, and we want to get out.

Cut your losses and regroup.

The market always goes up and then it comes down.

Look it up.

If you know this, what do you think is the best strategy for being a trader?

Sell when you think it can't go much higher and buy when the market takes a dump.

The biggest problem with this strategy is missing out on the rebound after the dump.

Those are the huge days where if you miss them it will fuck up your year.

Just like holding on for too long at the high point because the drop comes fast.

It's a good rollercoaster ride.

It will be a fun activity in retirement when you can pay attention to it.

What is fun about the carnival?

The rides, attractions, and eats.

Sounds like life.

Yes, life is basic.

You want wealth and power in order to get admission to the finest carnival.

That one has the best rides and the shows are amazing.

You eat the finest food.

Is there something more to life than the carnival?

Making friends.

Making love.

What do you do with friends and lovers?

You hang out at the carnival.

Most people work for the carnival.

Yes, you must put in your time at the carnival and then you get let out to enjoy the carnival.

Some people prefer to stay home because they are tired of the carnival.

They make their own food and avoid the crowds.

As you get older, you definitely tire of the carnival.

People who enjoy peace and quiet start thinking about a cabin in the woods away from it all.

I would think the optimum balance is a cabin in the woods and then travel to exciting places.

That sounds like a good retirement.