Posts by JamesThomas

161

What if you're missing the purpose?

by journey-on in

jw
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.

JamesThomas

Journey-on:

the answer may be to allow the experience but not be defined by it.
But, I, nevertheless, think man only goes forward because of the mystery and his desire TO KNOW! It's what drives us.

I may be wrong, but there seems to be a bit of a sense here that to know one's true being is to some how subtract from or deaden the mystery and desire to advance in the sciences and artistic expressions of life. Actually awakening to our reality, is not an end, but rather a beginning. The beginning of an evolution that is guided by acute awareness that is in harmony with the endless wisdom within the nature all existence.

It's simply the difference between living a dream or living for real. In which, are we going to get the most accomplished?

j

46

DOES FORGIVENESS MAKE ANY SENSE?

by Terry in

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!.

JamesThomas

Does it make sense to poison my mind and body day after day with the toxin of animosity and irritation because of a deed long past?

Or might cessation of resentment (forgiveness) be a healthy and rational thing? Even if we call it a "square circle", or a bag of fish, so what.

This does not address the retributions and deterrents required to sustain a healthy society; but neither does it negate a sensible and valid reason for forgiveness.

j

36

meditation: your thoughts? :)

by DeusMauzzim in

jw
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?.

JamesThomas

So what are your thoughts on meditation now?

My feelings are that meditation is simply being consciously aware. Aware of the experience of the senses, aware of thoughts as mere thoughts, aware of emotions as reactions to thoughts, etc.

In my view meditation is not some form of temporary mental manipulation, but rather should be the continuous simple and open awareness to what is.

Without this awareness, the mind takes over and weaves an imitation of reality that we -- unaware -- unquestionably accept as "reality".

j

161

What if you're missing the purpose?

by journey-on in

jw
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.

JamesThomas

Dear Cog, I too am enjoying your posts very much. You are expressing yourself eloquently. I was going to say this earlier but the thought skittered away from me.

I still often have these feelings of futility and existential angst.

It has been my experience that the universe expresses infinitely in form and rhythm; and the human psych is no different: good days, bad days, mediocre days....and sometimes long stretches of down days.

I have only found unconditional peace when I let it all be, and not identify with disturbance and disquiet as what I am.

Perhaps this is not so much about manipulating anything, as it is simply about quietly and gently discovering what we truly are...no matter how the universe, body and mind manifest.

j

161

What if you're missing the purpose?

by journey-on in

jw
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.

JamesThomas

Purps:

This is part of the problem, trying to figure it all out. you need to allow "it" to happen. You feel it and experiance it.
Thats when the fight is over, the duality, if that makes sense.

It is the nature of the wondrous mind, to want to know things. Yet, the entire universe came into being without the mind knowing, or speaking, or figuring anything out.

Yes! there is often needed an allowing. An open willingness for a naked and vulnerable exposure to the unknowable that is before the mind and all that the mind believes "self" and "other" to be. A step beyond all duality; and yes, that is when the fight is over....though we may find from time to time we wrestle a little.

j

161

What if you're missing the purpose?

by journey-on in

jw
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.

JamesThomas

Journey-on:

Now, explain to me in "plain English" what your true nature is? Is it physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, or all combined into something unexplainable?

Things can be explained; it's no thing.

What does all thing-ness happen within? What is closer than all experience of things? What can not be captured and defined by the mind into a thing? What is most real?

These questions can not be authentically answered by the mind. As nvr said: what observes the mind?

The mind may label it: conscious-awareness; and walk away thinking it knows what it is. The mind does not know what it is. The mind is too limited to ever know what it is.

When consciousness -- striped of the lenses of mental thought and interpretation -- clearly and genuinely sees itself, then you'll know what your true nature is, what you really are, and not a moment before.... and then you'll be stuck too with the impossibility of transferring it to words or thoughts.

You will know it as not different from the very same awareness which sees these words right now. You will know it for the unimaginable reality of purity, peace and wholeness you have always sought.

That's the best I can do.

j

161

What if you're missing the purpose?

by journey-on in

jw
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.

JamesThomas

understanding that one is not defined by them

161

What if you're missing the purpose?

by journey-on in

jw
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.

JamesThomas

I will add: what could be more of a valid purpose, than to live our true nature?

j

161

What if you're missing the purpose?

by journey-on in

jw
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.

JamesThomas

Perhaps some are interpreting that to awaken to ones true Identity is to become a zombie detached from the multifaceted expressions of existence. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

In line with what poppers already expressed, awakening to our real Self, dissolves the walls that make life seem as something separate and outside. We are the movement of life; all of it. Yet more than that, closer than that, we are the pristine awareness and stillness which all life moves and flows within. It seems paradoxical. It has to be experienced first hand.

I wouldn't allow anything we might imagine awakening to be, to detour us from discovering for our selves; as it is nothing the mind can imagine.

j

22

The sacrifice of Christ to redeem humankind, Why?

by VM44 in

the perfect man and woman, soon after being created, failed short of god's requirements and so sin was introduced into the world.

according to the watchtower, god's law required a "life for a life" and so a perfect human needed to be sacrificed, i.e., killed, in order for humanity to be redeemed.. my simple question concerning this doctrine is....why?.

how does the death of a human, perfect or otherwise, help matters?

JamesThomas

Leolaia,

Yes, I agree that everything has a place.

There are many here who champion the Bible as if it is more than just literature, and place a good deal of their definition of self into it. Perhaps the gist of my post was just to rattle the cage a little. No harm meant.

I must admit that the Bible it not totally worthless, in fact the many years of my reading it taught me a very important lesson: that truth/reality is not found in ink and paper, no matter how sacred and holy people may believe those pages to be.

j