JamesThomas

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Posts by JamesThomas

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  36

  meditation: your thoughts? :)

  by DeusMauzzim in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the wtbts always has meditation as a topic on conventions.

  they always state that eastern meditation makes the mind "blank", so this is a no no.. of course we know that it is actually the convention that makes the mind blank :).

  so what are your thoughts on meditation now?.

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  JamesThomas

  Your suposta close your eyes. Not look in a mirror, Gumbo.

  I was just thinking about you while having lunch....and here you are. Must be magic.

  j
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  161

  What if you're missing the purpose?

  by journey-on in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for those of you who espouse the philosophy that one needs to discard who we "think" we are and embrace the "reality" of who we really are, what if, there is a divine purpose to our miniscule existence in the here and now and that purpose is to experience the pull of opposite forces (duality), and you are missing it by not allowing yourself to experience the ego self?

  what if you are missing the whole purpose of this pull of pain and joy by trying to suppress it or place yourself outside of it?

  the below is a short story sent to me by a friend and it is an example of what i'm inferring.

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  JamesThomas

  Coggy:

  I guess what I am asking is this, how much of our true self, our true nature, is really just the conditioned physical process of neurons firing in response to stimulation, including the ability to ask this question? We want our lives, ours selves to have greater meaning, greater purpose, greater levels of consciousness, other planes of consciousness, but perhaps the truth of the matter is that we are just a big tube, with three openings and we put dead plants and animals in one end and expel compost from the other. Perhaps all our senses and awareness are only to aid in this purpose and survive. When our senses deteriorate, our ability to consume and expel deteriorates until we finally die. Perhaps all the artificial constructs/beliefs of our minds are just further machinations to aid in our organisms survival. Including the belief in life after death. Our organisms drive to survive is so great that it will even imagine non-existant planes of existence where its conscious awareness will survive death in some way and then spend inordiante amounts of time trying to bring that plane into existence at all costs (ie, religiously motivated wars that kill all who do not share the vision/goal for survival). Wouldn't it be the ultimate irony if our biological organisms drive to survive, is what eventually causes us all to become extinct?

  There is a very important and compelling ache behind your questions. Isn't what you are asking, simply : "What am I; really; really; really?" I suggest taking the agony of your earnest and sincere desire to want to know -- within. I have experienced that it is just this hunger that is the vehicle that carries us to undeniable realization of what we seek.

  j
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  161

  What if you're missing the purpose?

  by journey-on in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for those of you who espouse the philosophy that one needs to discard who we "think" we are and embrace the "reality" of who we really are, what if, there is a divine purpose to our miniscule existence in the here and now and that purpose is to experience the pull of opposite forces (duality), and you are missing it by not allowing yourself to experience the ego self?

  what if you are missing the whole purpose of this pull of pain and joy by trying to suppress it or place yourself outside of it?

  the below is a short story sent to me by a friend and it is an example of what i'm inferring.

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• 

  JamesThomas

  Narkissos:

  James,

  Is the complex questions and expositions created by the mind, a valid reason to not see for oneself?

  Did I say that?

  Everyone "sees" what they have to "see," everyone then interprets it as they can. And no matter what we have "seen" we can only refer to it (on this board for instance) through interpretations.

  If I have learnt something from my religious experience, it is to be particularly wary of interpreters who claim not to interpret.

  I agree! Nothing thought or said or posted here is what is being referred to. I often say that all thoughts and words are mere interpritations; and that nothing I say is true; and we need to look for our-selves and see first-hand. Words regarding our "true-being" (or whatever interpretive label we put on it) at best are only an enticement to look and see if there is any valid reality that the words point to. Considering what we have been through with religion, wariness of interpreters is a very healthy thing, yet it does not mean that a sign pointing to Paris is useless because it's not Paris. j
• 
  161

  What if you're missing the purpose?

  by journey-on in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for those of you who espouse the philosophy that one needs to discard who we "think" we are and embrace the "reality" of who we really are, what if, there is a divine purpose to our miniscule existence in the here and now and that purpose is to experience the pull of opposite forces (duality), and you are missing it by not allowing yourself to experience the ego self?

  what if you are missing the whole purpose of this pull of pain and joy by trying to suppress it or place yourself outside of it?

  the below is a short story sent to me by a friend and it is an example of what i'm inferring.

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  JamesThomas

  Journey-on,

  To try and understand intellectually what we truly are, is futile. It's a mental exercise that can go on forever, with the only valid outcome being: having no clue.

  So, I guess my answer to you, is no answer. You have to see for yourself. Then you tell me.

  j
• 
  161

  What if you're missing the purpose?

  by journey-on in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for those of you who espouse the philosophy that one needs to discard who we "think" we are and embrace the "reality" of who we really are, what if, there is a divine purpose to our miniscule existence in the here and now and that purpose is to experience the pull of opposite forces (duality), and you are missing it by not allowing yourself to experience the ego self?

  what if you are missing the whole purpose of this pull of pain and joy by trying to suppress it or place yourself outside of it?

  the below is a short story sent to me by a friend and it is an example of what i'm inferring.

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  3. 
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  JamesThomas

  Narkissos:

  Now who/what is observing "that which observes everything" and comes back to tell about it within the constraints of language -- if not a separate, dualistic, language-based mind?

  And by calling "It" "Con-sciousness" hasn't this mind sneakingly ascribed "It" its own complex co-gnitive structure, only reversing it as a mirror image (which in this case may imply the denial of complexity, otherness, separateness, antagonism)? If slightly more subtle, is this process, in depth, any less "anthropomorphic" than the old mythmaking by which man made deities after his own image (however equally denying what he disliked in it, i.e. finitude, weakness, transience and mortality) in order to construe himself as the image of a somehow better Other?

  Is the complex questions and expositions created by the mind, a valid reason to not see for oneself?

  j
• 
  161

  What if you're missing the purpose?

  by journey-on in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for those of you who espouse the philosophy that one needs to discard who we "think" we are and embrace the "reality" of who we really are, what if, there is a divine purpose to our miniscule existence in the here and now and that purpose is to experience the pull of opposite forces (duality), and you are missing it by not allowing yourself to experience the ego self?

  what if you are missing the whole purpose of this pull of pain and joy by trying to suppress it or place yourself outside of it?

  the below is a short story sent to me by a friend and it is an example of what i'm inferring.

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  JamesThomas

  Poppers, your guidance is so clear, warm and graceful as to bring tears to my eyes.

  j
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  46

  DOES FORGIVENESS MAKE ANY SENSE?

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what you reward you tend to get more of.. what you punish tends to atrophy.. the balance between a good act and a bad one consists of the consequences.. society has found many ways to treat bad behavior.

  the worst being imprisonment and execution (if not torture) for high crimes.. but, there is a core philosophy among altruists and christians of a certain stripe who advocate forgiveness.. so, we ask the question : does forgiveness make any sense?.

  when we do harm we cause an effect.. the effect injures others or their property.. to restore what is harmed a system of justice has developed to deal with administering the pressure toward restoration (when possible).. fines, community service, reparation for damages all constitute that restoration process.. insurance companies act as brokers in the case of "accidental" causes and effects and their remedy.. but, in the realm of religion the principle of forgiveness rears its ugly head!.

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  JamesThomas

  Terry:

  I would separate forgiveness from resentment altogether.

  For one's own sake it is better to measure how much liklihood there is of taking action to bring a criminal or offender to just desserts. If it is impossible; let go of the rage and move on. However, forgiveness is not necessary to do that. You do as much as you can feasibly do to close the circle of justice. Beyond that you cannot do anything.

  To forgive is to PARDON. In other words, when you forgive you let the offender off Scot Free!

  for·give / f?r'g?v / Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation [ fer-giv ] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation verb, -gave, -giv·en, -giv·ing. –verb (used with object)

  1.	to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.

  2.	to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.).

  3.	to grant pardon to (a person).

  4.	to cease to feel resentment against: to forgive one's enemies.

  5.	to cancel an indebtedness or liability of: to forgive the interest owed on a loan.

  –verb (used without object)

  6.	to pardon an offense or an offender.

  Ceasing resentment is an essential part of forgiveness. It is an act of letting your own mind and body off "scot free". That you no-longer may pay the heavy price of the past that eats away at you.

  It is often our bitterness that reinforces a sense of separation from others that opens the door to crime and man's inhumanity to man. If we were all to cease resentment it would pretty much put an end to the vicious circle of crime and punishment. If anything this gets to the very root of the problem.

  That you want to leave this out of the equation, Terry, it's little wonder it makes no sense.

  j
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  36

  meditation: your thoughts? :)

  by DeusMauzzim in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the wtbts always has meditation as a topic on conventions.

  they always state that eastern meditation makes the mind "blank", so this is a no no.. of course we know that it is actually the convention that makes the mind blank :).

  so what are your thoughts on meditation now?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JamesThomas

  Cogy,

  Yet again you present a clear and eloquent post. I really enjoy your warmly descriptive way with words that helps to bring clarity to what can be a very confusing subject for many.

  And poppers, yet again, poetically points to the core of what it's all about.

  j
• 
  161

  What if you're missing the purpose?

  by journey-on in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for those of you who espouse the philosophy that one needs to discard who we "think" we are and embrace the "reality" of who we really are, what if, there is a divine purpose to our miniscule existence in the here and now and that purpose is to experience the pull of opposite forces (duality), and you are missing it by not allowing yourself to experience the ego self?

  what if you are missing the whole purpose of this pull of pain and joy by trying to suppress it or place yourself outside of it?

  the below is a short story sent to me by a friend and it is an example of what i'm inferring.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JamesThomas

  Journey-on:

  There's that expression again, the one that confuses me. I'm going to keep working on it. But I continue to be baffled as to how one peels away the layers of the onion to get to core of one's true self. Is the true self your spirit (who/what you are sans personality)? Is it the intelligent creative force manifesting through your individual body temple?

  I can only suggest starting with nothing. Let go of everything everyone (including me) has ever told you about true being. Forget the onion. Forget spirit. Just sit and nonjudgmentally investigate inwards and try to find what you really are. This may mainly require seeing what you are not. For example run through a mental list of everything you believe yourself to be. Is what is closer than the list, that which is seeing the list, contained in anyway within the list? Look some more. You're simple looking for what is real and authentic...right here, right now.

  I suggest reading: The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle. If you have already, it may be time to read it again. I read the damn thing seven or eight times...but then I'm a fool.

  I think it's the individuality that IS important. If you strip away this, then what is left is nothing unique.

  This would appear to make sense on the surface. But as far as what is genuine about you, it's not at all true. When the facade of individuality, of little broken entity-ness, is seen through, what remains is the precious reality of a bottomless moment which is always a mystery, always unique.....and you're it.

  Cog:

  People get much accomplished every day, but of how much benefit is it, short term or long term? How much harm do we inadvertently cause when we are not aware of reality.

  Exactly. Accomplishment within realization of what is real, is an act of holistic enrichment because the actual unity of existence is participating, rather than deeds done within a sense of isolated-self which may be harmful to both people and planet even if the original goal was meant well.

  j
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  36

  As Time Goes By - Do they all begin to look alike to you?

  by AK - Jeff in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i mean, religions.. while i am far from being anti-religious, organized religion, especially of the more 'fundamental' sort, is all beginning to blend into the same puddle for me.

  i have not given up on god, or spirituality, and in fact still consider myself christian.

  i just don't feel any desire at this point to participate in the formal nature of religious groups at all.

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  JamesThomas

  Perhaps a time comes -- for some of us -- where the words and thoughts which make up the groceries of religious teachings, reach a point of tasting bland and stale. They don't feed us the sustenance we desire. So, it's not surprising that they all pretty much fade into a kind of unappetising grey mush.

  j