Posts by JamesThomas

47

Ever been lied to by anyone on this forum?

by snarf in

jw
friends

you all know how it works...you post a few topics, comment a few times and pretty soon people get to know your name, then they p.m. you and you start talking, then suddenly you find out through their posts and comments that they were lying to you.

has this happened to you?

did it make ya mad?

JamesThomas

Gumby, the gumfibber, promised me a shine. Never got one. alt

To this day, I is a dull boy.

53

The Origin of Fear

by purplesofa in

maybe you can see how the jw religion uses fear on its people.

how it is effective.

how it works.

JamesThomas

5go:

Suck to be a cynic some days but this sounds so religious. There are no secrets to life. Stay away from people that say so.
This guy credits things to the ego which really go to the super ego and the id.
Planning for the future real or not is delutional but, nessesary.

After what most of us have been through here, it is healthy to be cynical.

Eckhart does not offer a new religion or belief system; rather he simply helps those who want help to see how the movement of the mind can create counterfeit beliefs of "self" and "other". Rather than being religious it is far more akin to radical-realism.

To imply that Eckhart suggests to not plan for the future, from what I can see, is a less than a coherent interpretation of his message. It's more about not making a delusional future into our "reality".

j

53

The Origin of Fear

by purplesofa in

maybe you can see how the jw religion uses fear on its people.

how it is effective.

how it works.

JamesThomas

Thank you, Purps, for posting this.

Eckhart Tolle has a rare and beautiful talent for clearly explaining the dynamics of the mind so that it can be seen first hand. He does not leave us with just seeing what is false, but also helps us see our underlying completeness. He speaks from this genuine completeness.

Here is a 1 1/2 hour video of him giving a talk in India several years ago in which he walks us through the mind and into the presence of actuality, I suggest using headphones.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4504936856994869317&hl=en

j

59

WOW! JW SLAMMED BIGGIE at Newspaper

by DannyHaszard in

wow this is more severe than even i would post what goes around comes around...you can't assault millions of victims without repercussions http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&tab=wn&ie=utf-8&q=jehovah+witness on the news wire the people speak: religious group changes bible text.

muskogee daily phoenix, ok - 14 minutes ago.

jehovahs witnesses go to meetings twice a week to train and learn how to manipulate people into questioning their belief and doubting their faith.

JamesThomas

Standing on the jagged and weapons strewn landscape of the Bible, Christians do battle; fortunately because of our modern laws, only verbally striking each other into oblivion.

It's madness.

j

60

Sincere?..Bible-Believers-Can Your Beliefs Be Supported Without The Bible?

by nvrgnbk in

jw
friends

does your real-life experience and what you observe in nature lead you to the same conclusions that are presented as fact in the bible?

.

or do you believe because of the power of suggestion?.

JamesThomas

I'm in the middle of preparing for making a batch of plum jam, so this will be quick.

Alpha:

meaning "Be still and know that : I am God" with " I " being me ??

Exactly. It's a universal truth, not a relative one. However, "I" is not the individual little "I" that is believed to be. It's not an ego trip.

Bernadette:

How does the cruelty and distructiveness in nature fit in with a loving reality?

Good question. There is an underlying non-duality, a wholeness and purity that you are that is untouched by the dualistic nature of phenominal expression. There has to be a first hand realisation of this for it to make sense. It has to be seen or it can sound cold and crazy. Seeing the oneness which holds all existence, actually opens deeper compassion and understanding. You are one with the bitter and the sweet.

There is a totally unconditional and nonjudgmental purity from which an infinite expression of life unfolds. It is not hindered by any judgments or concern for what we call "good" and "bad". This Purity, is what you are; what all is. When the underlying reality is clearly seen, there is a realization that you are all life, yet more importantly you are the pristine consciousness which all life exist within.

Does this make sense? Poppers could probably express it more clearly. He has a very poetic way about it.

j

60

Sincere?..Bible-Believers-Can Your Beliefs Be Supported Without The Bible?

by nvrgnbk in

jw
friends

does your real-life experience and what you observe in nature lead you to the same conclusions that are presented as fact in the bible?

.

or do you believe because of the power of suggestion?.

JamesThomas

Sad emo,

What I am referring to is what you truly are. The Bible or any objective thing, can not give you what you are. The only thing anything or anyone can do, is point back at you.

I suggest going deeper than "blackness". What sees the blackness? What exist that every thing, even blackness can exist? I suggest you saw off the limb which stopped you.

j

60

Sincere?..Bible-Believers-Can Your Beliefs Be Supported Without The Bible?

by nvrgnbk in

jw
friends

does your real-life experience and what you observe in nature lead you to the same conclusions that are presented as fact in the bible?

.

or do you believe because of the power of suggestion?.

JamesThomas

AlphaOmega:

I just find it "hard" to even want to let go of the Bible, when that is the very thing that has got me to my open mindedness.

There is an wise old Buddhist saying: One uses a boat to get to the other side of the river, then it is abandoned that we may go on our way. (or something like that...and I'm not selling Buddhism here). Who/what is this "me" who has "open mindedness"? What we want to find out is do you exist as is believed? Who/what are you, really? What is real?

You can look and see (depending on where you are in your journey)

What is seeing? Turn 180 from the Bible you hold in your hand. What is the authentic and genuine reality that is seeing these words right now? Do you see what I'm getting at? Bibles, words, thoughts, teachings, beliefs and all other objects only distract from a valid inner investigation. But don't believe me, see it clearly first hand.

You are at a very critical time as you see that there is a propensity to not let go. This is a good sign. See more. See what is not you. See that all the thoughts ever believed about "self" are not that which sees all the thoughts....and gently let go of them. New stuff and older stuff will arise to lay claim on you, gently see it for what it is (not you), and let go of it.

I have found it is a journey of subtraction. We truly already are the purity and wholeness we seek; it is all the erroneous shit that blinds us. See. Clearly see what is false, and what remains is True. It's You. That's all. It's very simple. Don't need Bibles and books to add to you. Don't need religion or gurus to give you something. Don't need to travel anywhere. Just see. Quietly and gently see. It is your sincerity and earnestness which will fuel this journey to where you already are.

j

60

Sincere?..Bible-Believers-Can Your Beliefs Be Supported Without The Bible?

by nvrgnbk in

jw
friends

does your real-life experience and what you observe in nature lead you to the same conclusions that are presented as fact in the bible?

.

or do you believe because of the power of suggestion?.

JamesThomas

Open mind:

Thank you James.

You're welcome, and I did not mean to ignore you or anyone else who may direct a little gratitude this way. However, more importantly, what is it within you that senses that there is a deeper authenticity to life and existence that may have been missed. Your own intimate wisdom is the portal to the truth sought. I'm not giving you anything.

AlphaOmega,

I can only pass on what I honestly see. In my journey it has been extremely critical to let go of everything: all gods and beliefs (religious or otherwise), all words and thoughts ever heard or memorized. It's like a death where everything believed to be self and universe is surrendered. alt

There is that, our foundational Reality which needs to hold on to nothing, and which can be realized when there is an actual and thorough holding on to nothing. As long as there is holding on, there is no freedom which only the fall provides.

Hold on to your Bible if you want to. I can only suggest throwing it away. Hold on to your Christianity and your beloved Jesus, or whatever, if you so desire. However, know that the genuine and unconditional peace and wholeness you seek will likely not be clearly and thoroughly realized and lived until there is a stepping off the cliff leaving everything behind.

This is obviously not a physical leap. It's more of a very deep mental and psychological one; which can bring up some very, very intense fear and terror. Be gentle, be kind, take your time. It can take years, but it doesn't have to; because it is simply a quantum leap to where and what you already truly are.

j

60

Sincere?..Bible-Believers-Can Your Beliefs Be Supported Without The Bible?

by nvrgnbk in

jw
friends

does your real-life experience and what you observe in nature lead you to the same conclusions that are presented as fact in the bible?

.

or do you believe because of the power of suggestion?.

JamesThomas

AlphaOmega:

... the Bible is a way of "translating" the spiritual impossibiblities and unlikeliness into something that our physical "here and now" brains can comprehend.
To me, it is both TRUE and a METHAPHOR - Almost as if God had the characters in it act-out the stories in order to make them memorable and able to be passed down to the next generation.

I understand what you are saying here, as I too once felt -- like Joesph Campbell -- that the Bible was mainly helpful metaphor and symbolism. However, most Bible readers don't have a clue and accept the Bible as the "truth". It's not. This is like having a picnic under a sign that reads "Picnic area 5 miles", foolishly thinking you are at your destination. At best, at best, the Bible is a pointer, and not a very good one. Today there are far better pointers. Generally the Bible is trap. It shrinks and places significance 180 degrees outside in some other person, place and time. Not a problem if you are wise enough to know the Bible is really pointing at you in this moment as the Christ; but how many know that?

The brain can not comprehend our ultimate truth (the Alpha and Omega) which is too infinitely vast, too close, too vibrantly alive and immediate to capture in second-hand mental imagery and commentary. So valid guidance general states right up front that there is no truth in the words of guidance...only you supply that. Ultimate truth is not knowable as things are known. Truth, is lived. It is what we foundationally and authentically are.

The Kingdom of God is within you and all about you, not in buildings of wood and stone.
When I am gone, split a piece of wood and I am there; lift a stone and you will find me.

Yes, here is a rare piece of clear guidance. Did it make it into the pages of Bible?

Luke 17:21, another rare piece which says "The kingdom of God is within you". However most Bible scholars will probably tell you "within you" is a grammatical error, and should read "among you".

"Among you" means the truth is outside of you in some other location...which diminishes and limits truth to time and space. "Among you" takes focus away from inner investigation and places it out in some god-knows-where abstract corner of the universe.

99.9% of the time, the Bible and all the religious interpritation of it, is a divisive bag over our head that blinds us to our genuine identity and that which unites us one and all. Once in a while someone like you, AlphaOmega, sees through the dense fog of words and dogma. But the wisdom to see is found were? Within you, and not in the pages of the Bible. So, I suggest now throwing your Bible away, and be still of all you believe "self" and universe to be, and clearly see what remains.

j

60

Sincere?..Bible-Believers-Can Your Beliefs Be Supported Without The Bible?

by nvrgnbk in

jw
friends

does your real-life experience and what you observe in nature lead you to the same conclusions that are presented as fact in the bible?

.

or do you believe because of the power of suggestion?.

JamesThomas

Here's a question: Say someone believes in God, but not in the Bible. How do you know there is only one God? Why not the sun-god, moon-god, etc.? The bible claims to teach us about God, but if we can't believe it, then we're left to guess all the details as well as the main concept.

Why believe in a god at all? Why drown in crazy confusion? alt

G-O-D, is a word that supposedly points to thehighest-significance. Is the belief or thought of a tree, as real and significant as an actual breathing tree? Hardly. So it follows that a construct of thoughts or beliefs in a highest-significance (God), is not significant, and so a bastardization of the foundational essence of highest-significance. Does that make sense?

The minds motor of beliefs works OK for some things, but concerning ultimate significance and foundational reality, it's not only useless, it's detrimental. In other words it's perhaps better (less harmful), to have no god, than to construct a mentally engraved false god and bastardize the whole meaning. Like I have said before: many atheist are more spiritual (for lack of a better phrase) than religious people because an atheist clearly sees the ridiculousness of definable gods and deities.

So I suggest not believing in a god, and instead investigate into what is actual and real here and now. Go deep into the pool of reality, into the most intimate sense of conscious existence and being, and see what can be found here. Perhaps ultimate-significance, is close. Closer than one would believe.

j