At the beginning of August, I had just started living in Seattle with my friend from high school, and working with him on a daytime tour boat. The after effects of Technical 4th Path were clear: an increase in sensory clarity, a decrease in the hindrances, and a dropping of the subtle tension associated with artificial duality. While this realization was with me all the time, it was peripheral or intuitive in nature.
After Ron diagnosed me at technical 4th path in late July, I decided to try Actualism practice, as was my plan all along. This decision was based on the idea that Actual Freedom is the next “level” after technical 4th path. Furthermore, I was determined to go to the source of the method (the Actual Freedom Trust and Actualism Yahoo Group) and attempt it as the founders intended, rather than fusing it with Buddhism, as other had done. Writing this 13 months later, I can see how deeply flawed all of this reasoning was.
Although I no longer believe in, or agree with anything related to Actualism, I would like to outline some of my experiences. On the negative end, I was deeply destabilized this month. Immediately after the move, I started experiencing depression and isolation. My roommate and best friend from high school was unsupportive, and I was in a tough job that I hated. The Actualism method lacked the specificity and force that I needed.
On the positive end, the Actualism method helped me begin to investigate some issues that would lay the groundwork for my tutelage under Dhammarato. I started to prioritize happiness over all else. I tried to live in the moment. I investigated thought processes, emotions, and survival instincts. I began to ponder how I wanted to live as a newly independent, young adult.
After Ron diagnosed me at technical 4th path in late July, I decided to try Actualism practice, as was my plan all along. This decision was based on the idea that Actual Freedom is the next “level” after technical 4th path. Furthermore, I was determined to go to the source of the method (the Actual Freedom Trust and Actualism Yahoo Group) and attempt it as the founders intended, rather than fusing it with Buddhism, as other had done. Writing this 13 months later, I can see how deeply flawed all of this reasoning was.
Although I no longer believe in, or agree with anything related to Actualism, I would like to outline some of my experiences. On the negative end, I was deeply destabilized this month. Immediately after the move, I started experiencing depression and isolation. My roommate and best friend from high school was unsupportive, and I was in a tough job that I hated. The Actualism method lacked the specificity and force that I needed.
On the positive end, the Actualism method helped me begin to investigate some issues that would lay the groundwork for my tutelage under Dhammarato. I started to prioritize happiness over all else. I tried to live in the moment. I investigated thought processes, emotions, and survival instincts. I began to ponder how I wanted to live as a newly independent, young adult.
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