Stacy asked: “Regarding Jhana, do we must stay away from all heavy sensual activities like sex, substance, etc.?”
- When following Buddha’s teachings, one must take a step-by-step approach.
- One starts living a moral life first. Staying away from sensual activities like sex comes later with an understanding of their adverse consequences. See “Is It Necessary for a Buddhist to Eliminate Sensual Desires?“
- Cultivating jhana is not necessary. See “Samādhi, Jhāna, Magga Phala – Introduction.”
Stacy asked: “I still find myself often conflicted on whether pure materialism is correct (that consciousness is an emergent property of neuronal activities of the brain) or if there is something else going on. I don’t want to adamantly reject any possibility but I’m desperate to know how it works.”
- There is an extensive series of posts in “Origin of Life.”
- I suggest scanning them to see whether any posts interest you.