These days especially. It’s the only reason I still have friends!

Focussing on what matters to you matters.

Me neither really. Some say that any Neophyte can be a teacher, and most lineages are founded on that system. But having been in that position have to admit I was woefully unprepared an doubtless made mistakes. My current link has the unofficial policy of not assigning students to anyone below 5=6.

Not that I class myself as a teacher, but for those I’ve mentored I find that being clear about the standards and letting them figure it out themselves, just occasionally checking in, strikes a good balance.

Depend on the instructor. I’ve heard of some who have been positively domineering. Others by contrast as described above, creating ‘fire and forget’ aspirants. In general I try to find a middle way between these extremes.

Exactly

Hurtling through space on a rock isn’t exciting enough?

Finland in winter made me appreciate super expensive down lined jackets. Living in temperate climates it’s hard to comprehend cold that can kill you in minutes.

You’ll be waiting a long time I suspect. It’s not the 19th century anymore and then old ‘Buddhism is just nihilism’ argument isn’t generally accepted anymore.

At this point I think it’s true to say that the A.’.A.’. path opened up into a much wider field, whilst still being a sort of meta-framework or context for practice. But on a day to day basis I’m basically a Buddhist.

Similar story I’d say. After a while the rest of it drops away, an eggs left is essentially zen.

Same actually. I remember finding Zen mind beginners mind in a bookstore back in the 90’s, but while I recognized its value I was too busy exploring all the sparkly occult stuff to just sit. It took years of practice in A.’.A.’. to finally settle down a bit.