Hi Baggins,
Baggins Oddie:
Still not a dilemma in itself - BUT - what do I do with these?? Which ones do I follow?
As for the practical nuts and bolts of the projects you come up with, I have nothing to say, because I know nothing of such things. And this forum is likely not the most adequate venue to discuss these particularities.
However, after reading your text, I suspect that here is where your dilema actually lies:
Baggins Oddie:
Now, post Dharma encounter, I am not interested in retirement but I am interested in having more supported free time to practice Dharma. On a wider level, my feeling is that the only things really worth doing in life are (a) practice Dharma personally so as to alleviate suffering of self and others (b) Relieve suffering of others by any means at disposal
Here are a few questions. I have made this sort of inquiry on myself and came to see a shady side of my own dharma practice: taking it as an end in itself. If you happen to have the same, maybe you will also benefit from this line of inquiry.
(1) Why do you want to practice the dharma? Did you know that it is possible to not only alleviate suffering, but also to completely eradicate it? Is this your actual goal or do you have another goal?
(2) What would be the point of alleviating suffering (in ourselves or others) if the only thing really worth doing in live was to alleviate suffering (in ourselves or others)?
Given that suffering can be completely eradicated, imagine the following scenario: you do it, you finish the path, you no longer suffer; now that there is no suffering to alleviate in yourself, is there nothing else worth doing in life? Or is the only option now to become a messiah/boddhisatva of some sort, given that only (b) remains among the two things (a) and (b) really worth doing in life?
Another scenario: suppose everyone is now free from suffering, maybe they discovered some pill that does the trick and everyone took it. Now (given neither (a) nor (b) apply) is there nothing really worth doing in life?
(3) Are you using the dharma as an excuse not to enjoy everyday living? What would be the point of ending suffering unless it was fun? (really, what would be the point?)