Philosophy and Spirituality.

[Exilus]

My favorite subject and interest is life, everything about it is so magical and mysterious. I'm a struggling philosopher with a lot of questions (which most of us have, i'd hope!), questions regarding who we are, why we're here, and where we are headed. Maybe some of you could share some of your beliefs, experiences, and realizations about the bigger picture of life, as I'll share mine with you.

About 8-9 months ago, I fell upon the internet movie/documentary called Zeitgeist. Not knowing exactly what it was or what to expect, I watched it, and it started a process that has changed my life. It's generally about how the institutions we have in place are full of lies and are using various methods of fear and slavery to control the mass populace. Now a lot of people are skeptical about the details, as am I, but there's still a very profound message deep within the core of the movie, and that message is that the earth is one whole organism and we as it's inhabitants are also one with the organism. Regardless of labels, beliefs, and judgements the ego and "mind" have conditioned into our being, we are all one. During 2 key parts of this movie, I felt total surrender, as if my very soul was trying to liberate me from my mentally made sense of self or the ego and mind, and I broke down. I had not cried like that in years, so many emotions that I had kept bottled up just flowed right through me uncontrollably. This was the start of my journey.

This is what I've come across from teachings of various enlightened individuals through books, online websites, even my own interpretations and realizations. Through movies, quotes, and also just discussing various topic with friends and other people. And they all the information I've gathered over the last rough year so seems to point in the same general direction..

Regarding the mind:
"The brain and the mind are not the same. The brain is real; the mind isn't. 'Mind' is an illusory reflection... all that random, uncontrolled thoughts that bubble into awareness from the subconscious. Consciousness is not mind; awareness is not mind; attention is not mind. Mind is an obstruction, an aggravation... The brain can be a tool. It can recall phone numbers, solve math puzzles, or create poetry. In this way, it works for the rest of the body, like a tractor, But when you can't stop thinking of that math problem or phone number, or when troubling thoughts and memories arise without your intent, it's not your brain working, but your mind wandering... the tractor has run wild."

Regarding the ego:
"The ego is necessary to function efficiently in a human body. The ego helps you set boundaries with people. You do not want to become a doormat with everyone stepping on you and pushing you this way and that. Your ego allows you to say “NO” when appropriate. It also allows you to say “YES” with enthusiasm to your human desires and dreams."

"Judgment is the biggest pitfall of the ego. It is subtle and devious and can consume one before one knows what has happened."

I'll leave it at that for now, gonna write some more up later when it comes to me.

[Exilus]

Alright, let's look into the mind and time. Most of mankind's predicament is that we tend to dwell in thought, either what could be (future) or what could have been (past), also lost in thought in the now moment. Possibly because where you are currently isn't where you'd like to be, and there's happy scenarios you would like to live out or have lived out in either the future or past. The thing is, when we do this, we further strengthen the illusion that the mind is because it is impossible for time to not be now.

It is always now, the past is merely data which has been called upon, and the future is imagined. These acts are done in the now, it is impossible to not exist in it. So to live, fully and entirely in the now, without wandering thought of the past or future.. is it possible? What would the world look like through that perspective? It's a very interesting concept and one I try to apply in my life, to live each and every moment to it's fullest regardless of what's happening right now, but to make out of it what I can with a clear mind, a meditative state of action.

The ego is the smaller, mentally made sense of self, most people think they are nothing more than the little voice within their head and the body they have. The ego thrives off of labels, beliefs, and judgements. But ask yourself, what does that little voice sound like? Does it sound the same for everyone? My friend asked me that a few years back, and it still strikes me to this day. So what are we then?

more to come.

[Nevy]

Well, if you're looking for discussion.

Isn't this stuff all kind of basic? I mean, I guess people tend to go about their days without worrying about everything going on, but I'd like to at least think there are people who actually question what is going on around them and WHY.

That, and simply realizing that this is the way things are, and have always been. Connected. Religions and many different forms of spirituality all try to find ways to communicate and interpret something that is simply beyond human sense and perhaps comprehension entirely. It is what it is. Think on it, but within your own rational abilities, then work from there.

I've seen a lot of movies in the 'Zeitgeist' vein, simply out of my own curiosity. I think it's great that it is seriously making people THINK, and I sincerely hope it at least affects some people positively. Reality is too big for any one person to conceptualize on their own. That's why everybody has a little piece of the 'puzzle', as I guess some people think of it as.

[matt]

That guy who voiced that Zeitgeist movie bothers me. I don't like the way he sounds, the timbre. I noticed that movie is advertized in banner form at the top of hardcore porn sites, that Jordan Maxwell highly recommends it, and that gloriousmandestroya highly recommends it.

I don't think there's much distinction between the mind and the body, especially among less civilized people. The brain is the physical correlation of the mind, but if you have a headache you feel it in your "mind area", your head area, just as you feel your butt when sitting and your foot when it goes to sleep and any other body sensation, even when relaxed and thinking deep thoughts. So you can say that your mind is also your butt, your penis, etc., or your hands, any part of your body. People also tend to identify their immediate selves with their clothes and objects they keep next to them or sit inside, like cars or maybe their computers.

Judgement is a good thing and ought to be exercised more often. It should also be spelled with a first "e" like that. Supposedly the British drop the first "e," but Terminator 2 was subtitled "Judgment Day" and I just think that spelling is annoying. Not subtitled, but whatever you call that.

"Alright, let's look into the mind and time. Most of mankind's predicament is that we tend to dwell in thought, either what could be (future) or what could have been (past), also lost in thought in the now moment. Possibly because where you are currently isn't where you'd like to be, and there's happy scenarios you would like to live out or have lived out in either the future or past. The thing is, when we do this, we further strengthen the illusion that the mind is because it is impossible for time to not be now."

I do my best thinking when moving. Paul Erdos used to collaborate with a mathematician that was much more physical than he was and he'd do a lot of jumping jacks and athletic stuff while thinking about math problems. Of course then again I can't even remember that guy's name, so maybe he didn't solve as many problems as Erdish did.

I think a lot of physical work is just as mentally taxing as math and science and poetry. One time I worked briefly at Stanley Steemer and I hated it. I did not always feel physically exhausted though, but I was constantly worried I wasn't working fast enough and that I didn't belong with the other workers.

Michael Bay;s movies are usually written off as very dumb, but intellectual directors like Woody Allen or Steven Soderbergh or David Fincher and Stanley Kubrick could never make action fests like that. In particular with movies like Transformers and Bad Boys II, I see those as highly intelligent.

The same goes with video games. Action games are a lot harder to program than RPGs. They require more intelligence to get working right.

I don't think we'll ever develop robots or computer programs that have any life in them, that are aware, have sentience, consciousness, etc. I really think that's a stupid idea. I don't understand movies like "A.I." The robot David isn't any more intelligent or alive than this computer I'm typing on. Ghost in the Shell is the same way, and Blade Runner.

Freud's theories about "ego" and everything else should probably just be totally abandoned. I hate the psychiatric industry. All they do is sell pills. I bet his book "Moses and Monotheism," if he hadn't of written that, that there wouldn't have been any "Zeitgeist" movie.

[Riseatrance]

[matt]

[Riseatrance]

[Hanyou]

[Riseatrance]

[Seniwac]

[noodles]

I personally believe that God exists, or something close enough. At the very least, I believe there is an intangible guiding force throughout the universe. I look at something like my hand; I consider the interlocking bone structure, I think of the little muscles contracting and relaxing; I think of the bones, giving structure to the muscles and providing blood to power them, and of the white blood cells, and the intelligent ways in which they go around your body fighting invaders. I think of the proteins and molecules and atoms that arrange themselves into a human body, and think: This is beautiful. It must have been designed intelligently.

I look outward, too; I look up at the stars, into that web of worlds that fill our naked-eye universe and I think of the gravity that tugs them all along with our respective arm of the galaxy. I think of the clouds of stars in galaxies, and the clouds of galaxies in the universe. I think of the stars, those ancient factories of the elements that build you and me, and their life and death, leading to the planetary nebulae that form new suns, new planets, and in all probability, new life. I think of this grand system of creation and destruction, and think: This is beautiful. It must have been designed intelligently.

I think of what science says. You give a bunch of monkeys typewriters, and eventually one will write Shakespeare, right? It makes sense to me. It makes sense that enough generations of mutation could create a human. It makes sense to me that the right stuff in a big bang can create a functioning universe of matter, dark matter etc.

But do I want to believe that?

Edgar Allen Poe once said "Science is a vulture with wings of dull realities." Although I love science, I can understand what he is saying.

Nobody can prove that the universe is a random pile of coincidences in the right place. Nobody can prove that the universe was designed with a loving and insightful hand. Nobody can prove whether apes evolved into humans out of random chance or if it was simply meant to be. Nobody can prove whether or not God exists.

So why don't we all just believe whatever makes us happiest? We have more important things to worry about.