Posts by JamesThomas

66

Rejecting God or rejecting religion?

by kojo in

jw
friends

i have read many posts on here and on other websites from people who were brought up or became immersed in a particular religion or belief system, who later ,often because of bad experiences with their religion, went to the opposite extreme of not believing in god at all.

this often puzzles me because i wonder if people who reject a belief in god because of the hypocrisies they experienced in their former belief really are rejecting god or just a man-made organization which claims to be god's spokesman and has shown to be anything but.. i was raised in a presbyterian church which is about as traditional and conservative as you can get and my image of god was molded by that belief.

i saw the services and people there as dead basically.

JamesThomas

Realizing our true Being, is not a mental activity, like discounting and accounting for things is. Rather, it is stepping into what is before and beyond all thought. It is a peace, beyond all understanding.....and it is not something added to you, but rather what you are.

So, I am not trying to run and hide from your question, it just does not really apply.

I can not put into words the utter purity that you actually are. When it is seen, the mind realizes it has entered into a holiness (for lack of a better word), that it can not touch....even though the mind exists within it. There is no need or desire to manipulate it, and besides it is clearly seen that there is no other, to manipulate it. You are everything; but no particular thing.

So, if you are curious about "layers", then you jump in an investigate. You, tell me: are there the possibility of layers? Start by seriously investigating into who is it that is asking the questions.

j

66

Rejecting God or rejecting religion?

by kojo in

jw
friends

i have read many posts on here and on other websites from people who were brought up or became immersed in a particular religion or belief system, who later ,often because of bad experiences with their religion, went to the opposite extreme of not believing in god at all.

this often puzzles me because i wonder if people who reject a belief in god because of the hypocrisies they experienced in their former belief really are rejecting god or just a man-made organization which claims to be god's spokesman and has shown to be anything but.. i was raised in a presbyterian church which is about as traditional and conservative as you can get and my image of god was molded by that belief.

i saw the services and people there as dead basically.

JamesThomas

I have never found a bottom.

j

66

Rejecting God or rejecting religion?

by kojo in

jw
friends

i have read many posts on here and on other websites from people who were brought up or became immersed in a particular religion or belief system, who later ,often because of bad experiences with their religion, went to the opposite extreme of not believing in god at all.

this often puzzles me because i wonder if people who reject a belief in god because of the hypocrisies they experienced in their former belief really are rejecting god or just a man-made organization which claims to be god's spokesman and has shown to be anything but.. i was raised in a presbyterian church which is about as traditional and conservative as you can get and my image of god was molded by that belief.

i saw the services and people there as dead basically.

JamesThomas

Rossco:

What's to convince anyone that you're not as deluded as the next person? THough you feel you've experienced that which transcends all ego, what's to suppose that you're not one more layer short of an onion skin? We're all a bunch of firing neurons, right?

I can not say or do anything which will convince anyone. I can not give you what you already are, anymore than I can taste an apple for you.

If we can be still of thought, and place attention silently on the actual, intensely intimate and immediate sense of being and soothing warmth of aliveness -- here in this inner pool there will be sensed an unfathomable depth. Allow this silent, effervescent sweetness to convince you.

j

13

electric cars

by peacefulpete in

jw
friends

hey all you tree huggers, .

anyone by chance ever work on similar old ev?

i'm wanting to upgrade its performance while i'm at it.

JamesThomas

That, is too cool. What a great project.

j

21

The plain facts about ANY religion

by sinis in

lately, i have even been questioning my beliefs in christ.

lets face it the ransom just does not make sense.

regardless of this, religion is soley a chronological and geographical entity.

JamesThomas

Bottom line is when someone, such as myself, is truly trying to find some answers in life, a thousand more questions arise.

Dear Sinis,

There is a very simple way out of this quandary. Simple, yet it can change the way you live life.

Sit and bring up the religious beliefs you have collected throughout your life. Clearly see that they are all just thoughts. See that thoughts, are not reality. They can be useful tools, but they do not contain the actual genuineness of life; i.e. thoughts about a tree, are not a tree; thoughts about a friend, are not your friend, thoughts about eating a peach, is not eating a peach. Do you see?

What you are seeking for is substantial truth and reality, which is inherently absent in thoughts. Thoughts, which religion is. Thoughts, which all beliefs are. You need to see this clearly for yourself. Once you clearly determine the difference between thoughts, and real life, then it becomes easy to shift attention more into this present moment of existence void of mental thought and commentary. Not in thoughts and beliefs, but rather here, now, in this moment of life and being -- will be found what you seek.

j

20

The Final Truth?

by Mistah MOJO in

"the final truth is that there is no final truth.

" this statement was contained in a recent email from a close friend who is an existentialist, and by extension a nihilist.

how many here would agree with this?

JamesThomas

Looking for the final truth in the ever changing mind's beliefs and theories, is like hoping to find tits on a brick. It's crazy.

Everything thought and experienced may be a lie; but what is the reality (truth) which sees it all? It may be wise to seek deeper here.

j

22

Treatment by the JoHos this weekend

by IP_SEC in

jw
friends

i had to go home over the weekend to pick up more furniture and such.

im moving into an apartment finally in lafayette.

anywho, i had 3 run ins with johos over the weekend and they were all pleasant.

JamesThomas

Do yourself a favor and rest in the huge possibility that they are simply kind people.

alt

j

11

Is there just ONE God?

by Agent Socrates in

jw
friends

considering that the universe appears to be infinite, do you believe that there is just one god?

JamesThomas

Why would the true Source and Sustenance of an infinite universe, be less than Infinite? Why subtract or separate the Source of existence, from all existence? Infinity, incorporates everything. Only the limited gods of our mind are so tiny as to be absent.

j

31

I need some friendly support...

by LuciousJ in

jw
friends

so, we left the org.

back in december.

i went & visited my mother in february & shared with her some of the research i had found.

JamesThomas

You're getting some good advice, LuciousJ.

Your dear mom is being motivated by intense fear. Giver her some space and continue to love and respect her...she needs you.

Here is a good article that may help you understand what is going on.

http://www.csicop.org/si/2000-11/beliefs.html

j

66

Rejecting God or rejecting religion?

by kojo in

jw
friends

i have read many posts on here and on other websites from people who were brought up or became immersed in a particular religion or belief system, who later ,often because of bad experiences with their religion, went to the opposite extreme of not believing in god at all.

this often puzzles me because i wonder if people who reject a belief in god because of the hypocrisies they experienced in their former belief really are rejecting god or just a man-made organization which claims to be god's spokesman and has shown to be anything but.. i was raised in a presbyterian church which is about as traditional and conservative as you can get and my image of god was molded by that belief.

i saw the services and people there as dead basically.

JamesThomas

What makes your perspective any more right that anothers'? Your transcendant experience?

Indeed the words I use make it sound like it's my experience. It's not the case.

When Reality/Truth/God/Actuality/Self is seen, there is no individual seeing it. In this seeing there is a dissolving of all personal "me". There is no personal little self to which this seeing occurs. The seeing is the infinite actuality of all existence; and it is more real, more valid and genuine than anything ever "experienced". It is not an experience or something happening to a "me". It is rather vivid and undeniable realization of what you really are. It's not happening to you, it is you. It's as if everything experienced. is but a dream, and what is witnessing is all there is.

In this seeing there is a wordless and innate clarity of understanding and feeling that this indescribable and unmoving purity is the essence and actuality of everything and everyone. It is not a belief. The mind is absolutely still during this. It's what IS before and during all phenomenal existence, thought and experience.

It's here. It's what we all are. It looks out your eyes right now. It's all there really IS.

It can not be known as things, or objects, or phenomena are "known". It's too vast and pure for the mind to even begin to comprehend. It can be lived though, as it is what you and all existence truly IS.

When it comes to what the word G-O-D points to, no mentally created "perspective" is true. It's all just extremely limited, abstract interpretation. The only TRUTH, is what all the feeble words are attempting to point to. You are That.

j