My issues with control began with the eight fold path but expanded into the foundational story of the ideology. When I said "Nirvana creates power," I could have said it better by saying "Nirvana creates leverage."

If you claim to have achieved Nirvana but I haven't, you will have power over me as a spiritual leader (even if your claims are false), and this can dictate my behavior. Furthermore, there's little evidence of people actually achieving this state, which bothers me.

That said, I do think that mindfulness practice can do amazing things for neurochemistry, and perhaps could lead one to think they've achieved a divine state. Especially consider accounts of people have psychedelic experiences during meditation.

Thanks for replying and giving me something else to think about, I appreciate it.