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Why climb harder?

Altered Ego · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 0

Why climb harder? Because we are taught to.

Rajiv, there is no such thing as an athletic soul, athletic egoic identity perhaps. Man constantly exceeding his level does not create happiness.

Victor K · · Denver, CO · Joined Jul 2003 · Points: 170
Man constantly exceeding his level does not create happiness.

Really!? Many of my happiest experiences, climbing or otherwise, throughout my life are associated with "surpassing my level", not to mention being able to retain employment, grow professionally, excel academically, learn an instrument etc. It ain't all ego, either. In fact, it's ego that often holds one back. Building an ongoing discipline of being present seems like an awesome lifetime project. Climbing is one avenue (at least while the body can take it).
Altered Ego · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 0

"The fleeting feeling of success is quickly supplanted by the need to push further." - Will

A temporary sense of happiness is created not by success but by a lack of desire. But the desire always returns and thus fades the happiness.

I believe happiness and contentment are inherent in life and always present. Our connection to that changes throughout life. Objects and events are not a source of happiness they are a source of temporary relief from desire.

Christian RodaoBack · · Tucson, AZ · Joined Jul 2005 · Points: 1,486
MC Poopypants wrote:"The fleeting feeling of success is quickly supplanted by the need to push further." - Will A temporary sense of happiness is created not by success but by a lack of desire. But the desire always returns and thus fades the happiness. I believe happiness and contentment are inherent in life and always present. Our connection to that changes throughout life. Objects and events are not a source of happiness they are a source of temporary relief from desire.
Lest you think Poopy has turned into a genius all of a sudden, this is pretty much a word-for-word uncredited regurgitation of standard Buddhist philosophy.
Victor K · · Denver, CO · Joined Jul 2003 · Points: 170

Going back to the OP, "Why climb harder?" I call shenanigans! The question as stated is comparative and ego based, and designed to trap the egocentric into arguing for the self. Damn. It's a zen troll. Well played, MC Poopypants.

Mark Hudon · · Lives on the road · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 420

I like to challenge myself on difficult route. Ultimately, though, having fun is my main goal.

Climb harder if you are having fun doing it, don't do it if you aren't. Pure and simple.

Altered Ego · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 0

Christian,

I gave credit for the quotes I used. Certainly not trying to act like I thought of this shit myself, that would be ridiculous. Indeed, this is an ancient teaching which I believe the world needs now more than ever. We have gone so far from our source and continue to be misled.

Top Rope Hero · · Was Estes Park, now homeless · Joined Jan 2009 · Points: 1,150

"It does nothing to increase the enjoyment"

Only an idiot or an asshole presumes FOR me what does or does not increase my enjoyment. For that matter, it takes the same idiot or asshole (or both) to presume that "enjoyment" itself is the only or even primary reason why I climb...or why I do anything.

Thanks for yer own brand of philistinism, buddy. What the world needs more of...

Jake Townsend · · Flagstaff, AZ · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 985

To me it's like putting together a really big puzzle with small peices, sure it's frustrating and takes time and effort but when you finnaly do put it all together the feeling is like no other. That's why I like to climb harder and push myself anyway's. Grades are just bragging rights that sound cool but on a personal level don't mean anything.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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