Why is cultivation more beneficial than just being alive

[Ascetic]

I've been thinking about this a lot, it's odd to me that the body's natural behavior isn't the ideal and that we by acting ideally can somehow benefit ourselves with our own initiative.

Now I also have seen the benefits of cultivation, so I'm not a skeptic. It's just odd and sincerely one of the deepest rabbit holes that have come up for me.

Edited May 9 by Ascetic

[Sanity Check]

I would guess it mirrors identical reasons for the average person lacking the physical capabilities of an olympic athlete.

 

The highest levels that can be attained require time and energy to develop.

 

Although it should be mentioned there are many false paths of development. Even in bodybuilding there are things like steroids which can present an illusion of development on the outside. While being harmful and damaging on the inside.

 

And so even someone like myself who is known for being reckless would exercise an extreme level of caution if ever attempting any form of cultivation or spiritualism.

[idiot_stimpy]

Following the Buddhist Path, to reduce suffering. 

[Nungali]

Because , without cultivation ....  staying alive has become old fashioned and  lame  ... its just plain old 'uncultivated ' 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Neirong]

Life, in essence, is a journey from point A to point B, during which you gain experiences and develop persistent qualities (though rarely).
 

Cultivation is not separate or alien from life’s overall purpose. Instead of acquiring experiences and qualities randomly or by chance, cultivation involves pursuing them deliberately, working harder, and progressing much faster.
 

One of my former teachers used an analogy of classes and school. Everyone has a place in the class, but not everyone actively studies. Many people experience life passively, without striving to learn or achieve passing grades. Most would not even know the criteria and requirements for advancing from one grade to the next or graduating from this school.

If it takes 100 reincarnations for an average person to develop a particular quality and progress from one stage to another, a talented cultivator with proper guidance could achieve it in a single lifetime.

[Thrice Daily]

I’ve had 6 months off cultivation as a formal daily practice and just getting back into it now.

 

The work I put in last year still seems to have stuck around quite well as I’m easing back into some of the stance training.

 

Lucky right now as I’m on call working nights. Which basically means I have to do a quick check every hour and then get back to practice for one hour. 
 

Lots of reconnecting with the organs through chi self massage and abdominal deep massage. Slowly slowly. 
 

Very happy to return to some iron shirt after such a long break. And back on this forum sometimes, this helps deepen connection to practices for sure. Thanks you guys on this thread for just being there and continuing to contribute.

 

Long Live cultivation practices and of course the Dao Bums

[Ascetic]

I've been thinking of this again. I was on a long streak of learning magic and staying away from Daoism. But honestly now that I'm coming back to it it feels like I'm starting over almost.

Maybe proper cultivation is really having something that stays with you, and isn't erased by mere mental alteration... Thankfully I've found my way. It perhaps isn't flowery... It's a strange story.

I had a dream nearly a week ago, in it I was in Heaven and there was a Execution platform. I witnessed the light of Heaven, in what I call "Orders from Heaven" and imprinted with some kind of odd mark. It almost felt as if I saw the Jade Emperor himself in that light. Then without any control of my own, I began to work as if performing a duty for some odd master.

Executing lines of Immortals and Earth Gods on the Execution platforms.

The pretty faces were all covered in veils, and the faces of authority were all aged and defeated. Swinging the executioner blade again and again, without will of my own. It's oddly dark, but that bliss of not having any control it stuck with me. It's somewhat frightening to me that when I had no control I had so much release. That... and I could still somewhat see through the veils.

I've never seen people so pretty before, even the aged faces had so much brimming life and essence. It really inspired me to take up cultivation seriously. Yet It's also oddly poetic, Heaven needing an executioner to strike down all the Immortals like its own kind of tribulation.

To seriously drop everything else, and go into Daoism. Studying DDJ, Practicing Tai Chi, Meditation. I don't ever remember trying so hard, but oddly things feel better now. Maybe it was that dream but its like I suddenly had talent, or maybe it was just an awakening for hard work.

 

I should mention, that I've been having colorful dreams for months now. For some reason when I took drugs out of my life, my quality of sleep spiraled into something I can't understand. Usually the dreams are hard to remember, but that one stuck with me. Or maybe its just some imprinted memory, it's still hard for me to believe after all.

Sometimes we conjure memories for ourselves, to help pass time or bring ourselves forward.

Regardless, for once I'm fine with accepting that I'm a total beginner. I know to be a realist, but cultivation feels a lot less depressing this time. Internal strength especially seems fascinating, though I'm sure I'm nowhere near that level of buildup.

[Lairg]

On 5/9/2025 at 2:46 PM, Ascetic said:

, it's odd to me that the body's natural behavior isn't the ideal

 

Most humans I look carefully into, have adverse connections that disturb the natural behavior.

 

Last night I was speaking to a woman who told me that she did not like thinking about other planets.  When I looked there was a cage around her brain function -  but she could not see it.

 

Meanwhile some 55 nations have signed the Artemis Accords, agreeing the ethical standards for managing this solar system.