I'm never telling anyone what to do, or don't do what they love, so just listen easily and relax..
Just think about this. If everyone are going to do what they love, who's going to drive the bus, be the clerk at the mall, wash the floors, etc, etc.
It's a new trend in society that we should realize ourselves by changing our external environment to suit us, and that this will make us happy. Yes, it may happen, then you maybe lucky. Your father is both privileged and one who makes his own happiness materialize in a way.
However, everyone can't be this lucky. And when you're out of this job you love, you will turn to regret and misery. This is the trap of all external joy, it turns into misery when it is lost.
There are ways to find happiness within yourself, that will last. Instead of finding the job you love, if that doesn't work out, how about loving the job you do?
Be all mystical if it makes you feel better. There is no reason the brain needs to be as complex as you make out but even if it is that makes it no less a computer. A very powerful computer in many regards but still a computer. The human brain is probably the most complex machine we've yet discovered and no doubt it'll be quite a while until we've figured it all out (willingness of test subjects to have their brains experimented on being as limited as it is) but there is no evidence that there is anything as complex or mystical going on as you seem to want to believe.
I think it's pretty mystical that I'm sitting here reading your post;*) I have no idea how to create 1 kg of anything, maybe not even nothing. This world is entirely mystic to me.
Even smart people are sometimes religious. All of us have our little quirks and failures.
Funny that you see it as something negative. I see it as broadening perspectives and having more dimensions to the mind. You don't even have to become religious, just not dismiss what you have not investigated..
If it makes you feel better to believe the world has things about it that are so mystical that we cannot solve their mysteries then go right ahead. For me, religious though I am not, I am much more amazed by the power of our Creator for having created something where everything runs in an orderly fashion and can be explained and manipulated if you are smart enough and work hard enough. No the Universe isn't as simple as clockwork but it is just as orderly. We may never have enough time and mental capacity to unravel all the secrets but that doesn't mean the secrets could not be unraveled.
To stick with fixed ideas how things operate, slows down our progress in many areas. To mistake the map for the world is just silly.
A computer is any machine that calculates. The brain is a machine that calculates. Therefore by definition a brain is a computer. You can replicate that behavior in part in today's computers and maybe all in the computers of the future. You don't even have to duplicate the exact functionality - you just need to create functionality on the level that does what you need. As I pointed out emotions are not hard to replicate and can be done in a fairly low powered computer. Every living thing with any brain at all has some form of emotions so there is no reason a computerized pet can't.
Emulation is not the real thing though. Simple minds might be fooled, for a short period.
From http://vadim.www.media.mit.edu/MAS862/Project.html: The total information processing activity of the brain is hard to estimate because the current knowledge in this area is fragmentary. However, it is possible to get a general picture of the electronic pulse exchange activity within a couple of orders of magnitude. The activity of the brain is equivalent to that of 1000 kHz processor with 40 Gbits of states. The corresponding processing power (channel capacity) is C=4*10^13 bit/s.
Good luck with that!
The brain, like the world is utterly amazing to me.
So because we don't have a full understanding about a subject there must be some mystical reason to explain it?
If something explains it, it is no longer mystical is it.
It seems the more science uncovers, the more mystical the universe gets and harder to uncover "the rest of it". That there might not be an end to the complexity of the universe, and its secrets. Then what?
From everything we understand about science (and admittedly there is a great deal that we still don't) the human mind is just a chemical process. A rather advanced and complicated one compared to other ones that we have encountered but simply that.
There is a difference between observation and the potential reality. We observe chemical reactions in the brain, and these seems to be connected with sight, thoughts, inner pictures, feelings and emotions to some crude degree.
However, to draw the conclusion that that is all these are, chemical reactions, is a logical fallacy. Just because A is observed in B, does not mean B is nothing but A.
It is a wishful short-circuit, without any conclusive evidence. To stick to that hypothesis is not being open minded, but cutting off potential explanations and models of our minds.
The total information processing activity of the brain is hard to estimate because the current knowledge in this area is fragmentary. However, it is possible to get a general picture of the electronic pulse exchange activity within a couple of orders of magnitude. The activity of the brain is equivalent to that of 1000 kHz processor with 40 Gbits of states. The corresponding processing power (channel capacity) is C=4*10^13 bit/s. (Source: http://vadim.www.media.mit.edu/MAS862/Project.html, just a quick Googled link since I've pondered this before..)
The brain is amazing isn't it?
It seems to me that most of us are to arrogant or scared to admit that we simply don't have all the answers.
That's what I'm saying, except for the arrogant-thing.;*)
It ticks my buttons that everybody on here seems to "know" how the mind works. I really hope none of those saying that are really scientists, because it doesn't sound like it. It's cool to have faith in science, but to jump to conclusions this early in the game is not wise. If you think you know, never studying other material than those you believe in, then you lose out of potential findings.
Science is not reiteration of facts or observations. Science is investigating and researching, questioning everything we know. Those I see doing that, I will applaud no matter what their preliminary conclusions are.
I think science will prove otherwise with time. Physics include both relativity and quantuum physics, and there seems to be no end to the mystery in sight. String theory is dealing with what? 10-15 dimensions? How can you say it's all mechanical when science have been dealing with the mysterious the last 30-40 years?
Newton introduced the mechanical clockwork universe as a metaphor. He didn't even believe in it himself, it was just a model for calculating certain macrocosmic phenomena to him. Both Einstein and Newton respected and understood several concepts of God. Newton was christian to his death even.
This newfangled ignorance about it all, and calling it "science", is startling to me.
I'm sorry for your wife. I don't know if it will cure her, but it will definately help. Art of Living courses have been successfully given to terrorists, quake victims, flood-victims and many other types of victims. Trauma-relief is a very big priority for International Association for Human Values and Art of Living Foundation. Especially since traditional medicine is not really all that successful about it.
I recommend it fully. With an open mind and a genuine wish for healing and relief, I can almost guarantee that there will be much of that. A center should be close by, since it is a world-wide organisation.
There are people in this world that care, and there are ways to relieve any stress and trauma. I'm a volunteer for this organisation, and have seen much that have risen my faith in humanity despite everything else we see in the media.
I recommend you try it. You might just find out like me that there still are wonders in this world. Good luck, and best wishes to you and your wife!
Now = bad, after death = good (this sums up most religions, actually)
Unfortunately you are right in this. Many religious people believe something good will come out of their religious actions in the future, that they come to heaven while others, sinners, will be cast in hell and suffering. That somehow, it is not allowed to feel good, own great stuff or have a nice time on earth, because if you're fine then you should feel guilty. Basically, it's a way to control people. In extremity in these times, fanatics believe they will come to heaven by suicide-bombing people they see as the enemy, heretics.
However, you will not find one religion _based_ on unhappiness, sorrow, misery and guilt. The core of every religion is based on knowledge about life, about how to raise human consciousness, enrichen life, healing, make the impossible happen and all the great stuff and stories! This core, which is all positive, is what is called spirituality, and is in the original core and intent of every religion.
Unfortunately, human mind has had a tendency to twart things for its own ends, thus making trouble both for itself and others. This is called ignorance, because it does lead to misery, even though it might seem like a material gain in the short-term. It is all based on misinterpretation and misunderstanding of the original scriptures and lectures.
Happiness is easy. Nobody can make you happy. Nothing can make you happy. If it does, it is only for a short term, while the external event or item is present. This type of happiness, just like a drug, will make you desire more and more things and attach more and more things on your happiness. So when they leave you, so will your happiness. It is a short-lived happiness not worth anything, because when they leave you, sorrow comes. It also makes you unattractive: Who thinks a nagging 5-year old child wanting MORE presents under a heavy loaded tree is something to admire? This is the current state of affairs in the West, compared to 99% of the rest of the world..
Not being attached to happiness and sorrow, will also make you non-attached to things and external events. If something happen to come your way, you graciously accept or reject it, unattached. It doesn't mean you reject everything, because it may disturb your peace, or you should be so very pious and ascetic. That may become an attachment in itself!
This is a tiny bit of what Buddhism and other paths are about I believe. Happiness sprouting from ones self naturally, without clinging to that happiness, and using the correct knowledge to eradicate sorrow, which is just an after-effect of happiness with attachment.
Blablabla. Hope I make myself understood: That there is much more to this than meets the eye just after a few lines of reading.. That the core of at least Buddhism and other paths based on the ancient Vedas, are indeed rational and logical, when you start to sincerely study them.
I'm not well-versed in all of Buddhism, so take what I say with a grain of salt. It is just my uneducated words based from my experience, and an assumption that most schools of life are supposed to lead to 3 ends: end of suffering, acceptance of temporary suffering or lesser suffering.
This is completely wrong. The first noble truth of Buddhism:
1. All worldly life is unsatisfactory, disjointed, containing suffering.
It is the wrong idea to take one point by itself and call it a day. You don't stop there, but start to study the rest of the scriptures and lectures by Buddhism. You don't cut a tiny branch off a giant tree and call it a lifeless, sorrowful, rotting piece of organic material, when the whole living tree is there for you to investigate.
The really scary argument is: If rape isn't traumatic, what's the harm? Why shouldn't we make it legal?
The real disease is not the rapist, the person, but the mindset which is no doubt having some sort of trauma of its own. By drugging our members of society, we're sort of covering our problems with the proverbial blanket, not really dealing with the root.
When this is done in the individual, the problems are still there, it's just not showing up too often, and the person is having less of a human experience, living a drugged and cut-off reality.
Doing this on a society-basis is already on the way, with prozac being given to small kids. This is reverting humanity to animalism, because we are unable to deal with it in an intelligent and compassionate manner, a humane manner. We're treating humans like animals, thus reducing the "humanness" in us all. This is what we're teaching the coming generation.
But there are solutions that are actually working, and is actually promoting human values instead of taking easy short-cuts which leads to dead-ends. Yoga and breathing excercises are proven to reduce stress and depression, and also giving all-round health-mind benefits. It has been used for thousands of years and are safe and time-tested ways for a better life. Its roots are really the first science on earth, the Vedas, which means knowledge and was the first science to really acknowledge the scientific method. Every emotion has a corresponding rythm of the breath you see, so through the breath and changing the rythm consciously, we can have effect on the mind. While changing the mind with the mind is more difficult. Check out Art of Living courses near you.
Ever heard of Freud and repressed memories? Here is my take on it:
#1 Pretending it never happened doesn't help. #2 Going into every detail and clinging to the bad memories making them your own, incorporating them in your very personality, also doesn't help.
In #1 you are repressing the memory. But it still lingers in your mind-body system, so it will affect you in daily situations until you finally "digest" the event. Sometimes this will happen, and you will have to face the pain, shame or whatever feelings you attach to it, again, and realize it is just.. feelings, it is not really you, it is a passing sensation if you just let it go.
In #2 you never fully "digest" the event. You relive it again, and again, boring your friends with it again and again, making them take up the subject when they meet you, again and again. You undergo therapy for years and years, never feeling fully healed. It becomes part of your conscious personality, so you are never really free from it, until you let it go.
Ok, so I made to references to "digesting" the event. Whatever that means, it's just a word I came up with now. I believe only spirituality can really help. Knowing that you are not the event, what has happened is done, time to move on. It's sort of a middle path between #1 and #2, where you take on life from here and now onward, because you know you are much more than just that event, but also accepting it is part of your past.
"Digesting" the event can even make you realize something good has come out of it! Many times it takes alot of time for people to see good in a bad event, but there always is some good coming out of every event. The more spiritually aware you are, the quicker you will "look back" at the event, and the less disturbed you will be from it.
Personally, I recomment Art of Living course, which will relieve all levels of stress and give a excellent health/mind benefits for those who continue with doing yoga and breathing excercises.
Maybe suffering is a way to finally learn not to put yourself in such situation where you will suffer? If you see it in a broader perspective, there is always a reason.
There are totally safe and natural ways to ease suffering from depression to shock, which is currently being used in most catastrophe-stricken areas. There is no need to use drugs to "fix" your memory, mind or body, through breathing excercises the Art of Living is teaching, you can breathe out all the stress. Millions of people have been helped, among them thousands of people suffering from shock after catastrophes.
Yes, it may take a bit more time and effort. Valuable things usually do. However, a quick fix, does not cure the root of the problem: war and the mind clinging on negativities and calamites. If ten people give you compliments all day, and one give you a bad compliment, which will you rememember? Yes, we need to change our minds, but through time-tested and safe methods such as yoga, not through drugs. Reducing the intelligent human being into a drug-addicted animal is not going to solve our root problems, only make them worse in the long run.
How is this post insightful? Both Gnome and KDE supports the concept of a trash-can, which is pretty similar to what Windows has to offer.
What is the meaning of keeping files on the disk that you have deleted anyhow? That is what backups are for. I personally recommend: BackupPC (incremental, on-the-fly, total, compressed, remote, minimal-storage and Free backup solution for Linux)
Art of Living is promoting breathing techniques which has similar effects. The main breathing technique is called Sudarshan Kriya, and I will heartily recommend it as an all-round way to promote better health in an unique, efficient and safe way.
To pharaphrase the aolresearch-site: Independent research has shown that SK&P significantly:
* Reduce levels of stress (reduce cortisol - the "stress" hormone)
* Benefit the immune system
* Reduce cholesterol
* Relieve anxiety and depression (mild, moderate and severe)
* Increase anti-oxidant protection
* Enhance brain function (increased mental focus, calmness and recovery from stressful stimuli)
* Enhance health, well-being, and peace of mind
Best of all: Windows 95/NT is no longer supported by Microsoft, and new hardware will simply not work due to forever lack of drivers.
While with Linux you can strip everything down to your tastes from supercomputer clusters to match-box sized embedded devices. All they're accomplishing is to reveal their ignorance about the matters.
This is an example of how to advertise for your competitor by spreading uninformative FUD.
No, it's brand new for those who want to really listen. The "old" stuff is in your mind - your memory!
"Drop it" doesn't mean do not do anything. "Drop it" means to let it go in your mind. The stalkers are in your mind. Unless you really meet one, it is best to let them go and take the necessary precautions. Letting the situation make you emotionally upset will only make you do the wrong things, instead of seeing clearly what needs to be done and wether this really is oppression, or if it is a ghost of the past.
It is good to hear you are active. I wish everybody would wake up to that. By being active you learn by your mistakes so fast, it's incredible fun! However, this requires an active consciousness too, or else you will only relive the past and go on and on about it.
Interesting.. However evil is a terribly loaded word, and it implies intent. Dr. Evil knows he is evil, and is out to destroy the world, or hold it ransom, because that is evil. His intent is to do evil. However, this is fiction.
Most evil deeds in the real world however, is done by misguided people. They're not out to perfom "evilness". Those few who do, is called lunatics and need help and treatment. Evil is fiction, and doesn't exist in the real world. That is one reason most scriptures in religions all over the world state that the ultimate reality is always good. This is said in many different ways: God is always and forever good, the very definition of good. Niravana, the ultimate, is good. Etc.
However, when you live in illusion (maya), the vedic scriptures state that you will live by the rules of duality because you believe in them. When you do, you will see intent in evil, and think someone is out to get you, become all paranoid and spread fear instead of wisdom.
Really? Is it right to criticise people for being black, as long as you don't discriminate against them? I guess so, according to your logic. But that wasn't my point. See the parent of my reply for context. My point was that we still use the same associations to attack people now as we did 75 years ago. Has anything changed? No, just the people we discriminate against.
Brent
When you're looking for stalkers walking home at night, the churchyard will be full of it. Only when you take a deep breath and relax, dropping the whole idea, will you be able to walk without fear of stalkers.
In other words: You are tormenting yourself. Life may seem very unfair. Some are born rich, others born poor, some are born to die within a few years, others last over a century.
Most of the "racists" of today, as you see them, will remain so till they die. Nothing you say will instantly make them see the fault of their way. So why go on harping on the same string, which is making you sad?
Just drop it, and do your best in whatever situation you are in, and you'll be fine. Some people will never learn, others will, because they have a genuine interest in self-development and connection with other people. And good luck! You may not believe it, but some of us doesn't care what skin colour someone has. Unfortunately, people I would like to meet of a different skin colour doesn't seem to want to socialize. So it goes both ways. Of course, it may also be a bit unfamiliar to be with someone looking a bit different. However, given the chance, I will give everybody my full attention and love, and do what I can to overcome the obstacles between us.
If you can ignore some of the speakers, and make some leeway for amateurish enthusiasm, then I would say it is a fine movie. I would never want to watch it again, but it DOES include alot of interesting speakers and concepts (which already has been floated around in various books).
Just don't expect a Hollywood-production.
As for being cultist, somebody has to be behind such a movie. Nobody else is doing it, so somebody has to do it. I think they have tuned down the origin and source pretty well, and are actually covering mostly _others_ ideas and not their own curricullum.
Some of those speaking really should learn how to relate and speak to people! Yikes! It may be frustrating to be constantly misunderstood and misinterpreted, but that should not turn into frustration when speaking to millions of people!
There have been other such projects, which you have to give the creators some leeway since it may very well be their first production (judging from the quality).
For instance: Indigo It is much lighter and has some very nice scenes. But beings one of the cheapest films in history, it is also very amateurish and rough in some ways. Well worth the look though.
Now it gets interesting.. You cannot prove or disprove God either. Some people think it is possible, but as you say, then they have not understood the problem. We're not talking about a biblical God here, which might be anything from hysteria, aliens or propbably many different phenomena attributed to one "God". In the East, God is the Great Thinker, the Great Dreamer, the being which is everything that is, dreaming up all this creation. It is quite unfathomable, and of course totally unprovable by the dream-objects themselves.
So.. What is the relation to self-awareness and God? Well, Eastern mystics also claim God is consciousness, which is basically self-awareness. Atoms in a stone may- or will sometime enter the food-chain, and become a human being, everything is recycled over time. Thus, atoms in a stone has self-awareness, but little way of expressing it before it becomes a human being.
If man is God in His image, then God is self-aware and bestows this on humans and all matter. If you take an evolutionary approach to God, the process we are in is actually to materialize God more and more, as we evolve into more and more self-aware beings. The process is a continuial "making man in His image", it has not stopped yet!
I think many Slashdotters would do themselves a favour and scrap the feverish attacks against Christianity, broaden their vision and research what older scriptures like the Indian Vedas state about God. The deeper roots behind all religions are much more logical and less dogmatic than the proponents today are practicing it.
If you don't take care of your mind and body, you're not really anxious to find out anything. There needs a certain sincerity. So go ahead, see where it takes you. At least that will be an experience too.
Slashdot Mirror
If you read what I actually wrote, you will see much of your reaction coming from yourself.
That is Zen.
I'm never telling anyone what to do, or don't do what they love, so just listen easily and relax..
Just think about this. If everyone are going to do what they love, who's going to drive the bus, be the clerk at the mall, wash the floors, etc, etc.
It's a new trend in society that we should realize ourselves by changing our external environment to suit us, and that this will make us happy. Yes, it may happen, then you maybe lucky. Your father is both privileged and one who makes his own happiness materialize in a way.
However, everyone can't be this lucky. And when you're out of this job you love, you will turn to regret and misery. This is the trap of all external joy, it turns into misery when it is lost.
There are ways to find happiness within yourself, that will last. Instead of finding the job you love, if that doesn't work out,
how about loving the job you do?
Be all mystical if it makes you feel better. There is no reason the brain needs to be as complex as you make out but even if it is that makes it no less a computer. A very powerful computer in many regards but still a computer. The human brain is probably the most complex machine we've yet discovered and no doubt it'll be quite a while until we've figured it all out (willingness of test subjects to have their brains experimented on being as limited as it is) but there is no evidence that there is anything as complex or mystical going on as you seem to want to believe.
;*) I have no idea how to create 1 kg of anything, maybe not even nothing. This world is entirely mystic to me.
l :
I think it's pretty mystical that I'm sitting here reading your post
Even smart people are sometimes religious. All of us have our little quirks and failures.
Funny that you see it as something negative. I see it as broadening perspectives and having more dimensions to the mind. You don't even have to become religious, just not dismiss what you have not investigated..
If it makes you feel better to believe the world has things about it that are so mystical that we cannot solve their mysteries then go right ahead. For me, religious though I am not, I am much more amazed by the power of our Creator for having created something where everything runs in an orderly fashion and can be explained and manipulated if you are smart enough and work hard enough. No the Universe isn't as simple as clockwork but it is just as orderly. We may never have enough time and mental capacity to unravel all the secrets but that doesn't mean the secrets could not be unraveled.
To stick with fixed ideas how things operate, slows down our progress in many areas. To mistake the map for the world is just silly.
A computer is any machine that calculates. The brain is a machine that calculates. Therefore by definition a brain is a computer. You can replicate that behavior in part in today's computers and maybe all in the computers of the future. You don't even have to duplicate the exact functionality - you just need to create functionality on the level that does what you need. As I pointed out emotions are not hard to replicate and can be done in a fairly low powered computer. Every living thing with any brain at all has some form of emotions so there is no reason a computerized pet can't.
Emulation is not the real thing though. Simple minds might be fooled, for a short period.
From http://vadim.www.media.mit.edu/MAS862/Project.htm
The total information processing activity of the brain is hard to estimate because the current knowledge in this area is fragmentary. However, it is possible to get a general picture of the electronic pulse exchange activity within a couple of orders of magnitude. The activity of the brain is equivalent to that of 1000 kHz processor with 40 Gbits of states. The corresponding processing power (channel capacity) is C=4*10^13 bit/s.
Good luck with that!
The brain, like the world is utterly amazing to me.
So because we don't have a full understanding about a subject there must be some mystical reason to explain it?
l , just a quick Googled link since I've pondered this before..)
;*)
If something explains it, it is no longer mystical is it.
It seems the more science uncovers, the more mystical the universe gets and harder to uncover "the rest of it". That there might not be an end to the complexity of the universe, and its secrets. Then what?
From everything we understand about science (and admittedly there is a great deal that we still don't) the human mind is just a chemical process. A rather advanced and complicated one compared to other ones that we have encountered but simply that.
There is a difference between observation and the potential reality. We observe chemical reactions in the brain, and these seems to be connected with sight, thoughts, inner pictures, feelings and emotions to some crude degree.
However, to draw the conclusion that that is all these are, chemical reactions, is a logical fallacy. Just because A is observed in B, does not mean B is nothing but A.
It is a wishful short-circuit, without any conclusive evidence. To stick to that hypothesis is not being open minded, but cutting off potential explanations and models of our minds.
The total information processing activity of the brain is hard to estimate because the current knowledge in this area is fragmentary. However, it is possible to get a general picture of the electronic pulse exchange activity within a couple of orders of magnitude. The activity of the brain is equivalent to that of 1000 kHz processor with 40 Gbits of states. The corresponding processing power (channel capacity) is C=4*10^13 bit/s. (Source: http://vadim.www.media.mit.edu/MAS862/Project.htm
The brain is amazing isn't it?
It seems to me that most of us are to arrogant or scared to admit that we simply don't have all the answers.
That's what I'm saying, except for the arrogant-thing.
It ticks my buttons that everybody on here seems to "know" how the mind works. I really hope none of those saying that are really scientists, because it doesn't sound like it. It's cool to have faith in science, but to jump to conclusions this early in the game is not wise. If you think you know, never studying other material than those you believe in, then you lose out of potential findings.
Science is not reiteration of facts or observations.
Science is investigating and researching, questioning everything we know. Those I see doing that, I will applaud no matter what their preliminary conclusions are.
You believe the brain to be all of your mind.
I think science will prove otherwise with time. Physics include both relativity and quantuum physics, and there seems to be no end to the mystery in sight. String theory is dealing with what? 10-15 dimensions? How can you say it's all mechanical when science have been dealing with the mysterious the last 30-40 years?
Newton introduced the mechanical clockwork universe as a metaphor. He didn't even believe in it himself, it was just a model for calculating certain macrocosmic phenomena to him. Both Einstein and Newton respected and understood several concepts of God. Newton was christian to his death even.
This newfangled ignorance about it all, and calling it "science", is startling to me.
I'm sorry for your wife. I don't know if it will cure her, but it will definately help. Art of Living courses have been successfully given to terrorists, quake victims, flood-victims and many other types of victims. Trauma-relief is a very big priority for International Association for Human Values and Art of Living Foundation. Especially since traditional medicine is not really all that successful about it.
Instead of just me talking about it, you can read more about it, and here also.
I recommend it fully. With an open mind and a genuine wish for healing and relief, I can almost guarantee that there will be much of that. A center should be close by, since it is a world-wide organisation.
There are people in this world that care, and there are ways to relieve any stress and trauma. I'm a volunteer for this organisation, and have seen much that have risen my faith in humanity despite everything else we see in the media.
I recommend you try it. You might just find out like me that there still are wonders in this world. Good luck, and best wishes to you and your wife!
You get happiness, just not now.
Now = bad, after death = good (this sums up most religions, actually)
Unfortunately you are right in this. Many religious people believe something good will come out of their religious actions in the future, that they come to heaven while others, sinners, will be cast in hell and suffering. That somehow, it is not allowed to feel good, own great stuff or have a nice time on earth, because if you're fine then you should feel guilty. Basically, it's a way to control people. In extremity in these times, fanatics believe they will come to heaven by suicide-bombing people they see as the enemy, heretics.
However, you will not find one religion _based_ on unhappiness, sorrow, misery and guilt. The core of every religion is based on knowledge about life, about how to raise human consciousness, enrichen life, healing, make the impossible happen and all the great stuff and stories! This core, which is all positive, is what is called spirituality, and is in the original core and intent of every religion.
Unfortunately, human mind has had a tendency to twart things for its own ends, thus making trouble both for itself and others. This is called ignorance, because it does lead to misery, even though it might seem like a material gain in the short-term. It is all based on misinterpretation and misunderstanding of the original scriptures and lectures.
Happiness is easy. Nobody can make you happy. Nothing can make you happy. If it does, it is only for a short term, while the external event or item is present. This type of happiness, just like a drug, will make you desire more and more things and attach more and more things on your happiness. So when they leave you, so will your happiness. It is a short-lived happiness not worth anything, because when they leave you, sorrow comes. It also makes you unattractive: Who thinks a nagging 5-year old child wanting MORE presents under a heavy loaded tree is something to admire? This is the current state of affairs in the West, compared to 99% of the rest of the world..
Not being attached to happiness and sorrow, will also make you non-attached to things and external events. If something happen to come your way, you graciously accept or reject it, unattached. It doesn't mean you reject everything, because it may disturb your peace, or you should be so very pious and ascetic. That may become an attachment in itself!
This is a tiny bit of what Buddhism and other paths are about I believe. Happiness sprouting from ones self naturally, without clinging to that happiness, and using the correct knowledge to eradicate sorrow, which is just an after-effect of happiness with attachment.
Blablabla. Hope I make myself understood: That there is much more to this than meets the eye just after a few lines of reading.. That the core of at least Buddhism and other paths based on the ancient Vedas, are indeed rational and logical, when you start to sincerely study them.
I'm not well-versed in all of Buddhism, so take what I say with a grain of salt. It is just my uneducated words based from my experience, and an assumption that most schools of life are supposed to lead to 3 ends: end of suffering, acceptance of temporary suffering or lesser suffering.
This is completely wrong. The first noble truth of Buddhism:
1. All worldly life is unsatisfactory, disjointed, containing suffering.
It is the wrong idea to take one point by itself and call it a day. You don't stop there, but start to study the rest of the scriptures and lectures by Buddhism. You don't cut a tiny branch off a giant tree and call it a lifeless, sorrowful, rotting piece of organic material, when the whole living tree is there for you to investigate.
The really scary argument is: If rape isn't traumatic, what's the harm? Why shouldn't we make it legal?
The real disease is not the rapist, the person, but the mindset which is no doubt having some sort of trauma of its own. By drugging our members of society, we're sort of covering our problems with the proverbial blanket, not really dealing with the root.
When this is done in the individual, the problems are still there, it's just not showing up too often, and the person is having less of a human experience, living a drugged and cut-off reality.
Doing this on a society-basis is already on the way, with prozac being given to small kids. This is reverting humanity to animalism, because we are unable to deal with it in an intelligent and compassionate manner, a humane manner. We're treating humans like animals, thus reducing the "humanness" in us all. This is what we're teaching the coming generation.
But there are solutions that are actually working, and is actually promoting human values instead of taking easy short-cuts which leads to dead-ends. Yoga and breathing excercises are proven to reduce stress and depression, and also giving all-round health-mind benefits. It has been used for thousands of years and are safe and time-tested ways for a better life. Its roots are really the first science on earth, the Vedas, which means knowledge and was the first science to really acknowledge the scientific method. Every emotion has a corresponding rythm of the breath you see, so through the breath and changing the rythm consciously, we can have effect on the mind. While changing the mind with the mind is more difficult. Check out Art of Living courses near you.
Ever heard of Freud and repressed memories? Here is my take on it:
#1 Pretending it never happened doesn't help.
#2 Going into every detail and clinging to the bad memories making them your own, incorporating them in your very personality, also doesn't help.
In #1 you are repressing the memory. But it still lingers in your mind-body system, so it will affect you in daily situations until you finally "digest" the event. Sometimes this will happen, and you will have to face the pain, shame or whatever feelings you attach to it, again, and realize it is just.. feelings, it is not really you, it is a passing sensation if you just let it go.
In #2 you never fully "digest" the event. You relive it again, and again, boring your friends with it again and again, making them take up the subject when they meet you, again and again. You undergo therapy for years and years, never feeling fully healed. It becomes part of your conscious personality, so you are never really free from it, until you let it go.
Ok, so I made to references to "digesting" the event. Whatever that means, it's just a word I came up with now. I believe only spirituality can really help. Knowing that you are not the event, what has happened is done, time to move on. It's sort of a middle path between #1 and #2, where you take on life from here and now onward, because you know you are much more than just that event, but also accepting it is part of your past.
"Digesting" the event can even make you realize something good has come out of it! Many times it takes alot of time for people to see good in a bad event, but there always is some good coming out of every event. The more spiritually aware you are, the quicker you will "look back" at the event, and the less disturbed you will be from it.
Personally, I recomment Art of Living course, which will relieve all levels of stress and give a excellent health/mind benefits for those who continue with doing yoga and breathing excercises.
The point is to be happy now I believe, not waiting to not be reincarnated.
Look at the Dalai Lama. He is the lead spiritual figure in Buddhism, and he still incarnates and looks pretty darn happy to me!
Maybe suffering is a way to finally learn not to put yourself in such situation where you will suffer? If you see it in a broader perspective, there is always a reason.
There are totally safe and natural ways to ease suffering from depression to shock, which is currently being used in most catastrophe-stricken areas. There is no need to use drugs to "fix" your memory, mind or body, through breathing excercises the Art of Living is teaching, you can breathe out all the stress. Millions of people have been helped, among them thousands of people suffering from shock after catastrophes.
Yes, it may take a bit more time and effort. Valuable things usually do. However, a quick fix, does not cure the root of the problem: war and the mind clinging on negativities and calamites. If ten people give you compliments all day, and one give you a bad compliment, which will you rememember? Yes, we need to change our minds, but through time-tested and safe methods such as yoga, not through drugs. Reducing the intelligent human being into a drug-addicted animal is not going to solve our root problems, only make them worse in the long run.
Just do an Art of Living-course, and smile at everything. Whatever good we start doing, will not make it any worse at least.
How is this post insightful? Both Gnome and KDE supports the concept of a trash-can, which is pretty similar to what Windows has to offer.
What is the meaning of keeping files on the disk that you have deleted anyhow? That is what backups are for. I personally recommend: BackupPC (incremental, on-the-fly, total, compressed, remote, minimal-storage and Free backup solution for Linux)
Art of Living is promoting breathing techniques which has similar effects. The main breathing technique is called Sudarshan Kriya, and I will heartily recommend it as an all-round way to promote better health in an unique, efficient and safe way.
More on research for Art of Living here: http://www.aolresearch.org
To pharaphrase the aolresearch-site:
Independent research has shown that SK&P significantly:
* Reduce levels of stress (reduce cortisol - the "stress" hormone)
* Benefit the immune system
* Reduce cholesterol
* Relieve anxiety and depression (mild, moderate and severe)
* Increase anti-oxidant protection
* Enhance brain function (increased mental focus, calmness and recovery from stressful stimuli)
* Enhance health, well-being, and peace of mind
Best of all: Windows 95/NT is no longer supported by Microsoft, and new hardware will simply not work due to forever lack of drivers.
While with Linux you can strip everything down to your tastes from supercomputer clusters to match-box sized embedded devices. All they're accomplishing is to reveal their ignorance about the matters.
This is an example of how to advertise for your competitor by spreading uninformative FUD.
No, it's brand new for those who want to really listen. The "old" stuff is in your mind - your memory!
"Drop it" doesn't mean do not do anything. "Drop it" means to let it go in your mind. The stalkers are in your mind. Unless you really meet one, it is best to let them go and take the necessary precautions. Letting the situation make you emotionally upset will only make you do the wrong things, instead of seeing clearly what needs to be done and wether this really is oppression, or if it is a ghost of the past.
It is good to hear you are active. I wish everybody would wake up to that. By being active you learn by your mistakes so fast, it's incredible fun! However, this requires an active consciousness too, or else you will only relive the past and go on and on about it.
Interesting.. However evil is a terribly loaded word, and it implies intent. Dr. Evil knows he is evil, and is out to destroy the world, or hold it ransom, because that is evil. His intent is to do evil. However, this is fiction.
Most evil deeds in the real world however, is done by misguided people. They're not out to perfom "evilness". Those few who do, is called lunatics and need help and treatment. Evil is fiction, and doesn't exist in the real world. That is one reason most scriptures in religions all over the world state that the ultimate reality is always good. This is said in many different ways: God is always and forever good, the very definition of good. Niravana, the ultimate, is good. Etc.
However, when you live in illusion (maya), the vedic scriptures state that you will live by the rules of duality because you believe in them. When you do, you will see intent in evil, and think someone is out to get you, become all paranoid and spread fear instead of wisdom.
Really? Is it right to criticise people for being black, as long as you don't discriminate against them? I guess so, according to your logic. But that wasn't my point.
See the parent of my reply for context. My point was that we still use the same associations to attack people now as we did 75 years ago. Has anything changed? No, just the people we discriminate against.
Brent
When you're looking for stalkers walking home at night, the churchyard will be full of it. Only when you take a deep breath and relax, dropping the whole idea, will you be able to walk without fear of stalkers.
In other words: You are tormenting yourself. Life may seem very unfair. Some are born rich, others born poor, some are born to die within a few years, others last over a century.
Most of the "racists" of today, as you see them, will remain so till they die. Nothing you say will instantly make them see the fault of their way. So why go on harping on the same string, which is making you sad?
Just drop it, and do your best in whatever situation you are in, and you'll be fine. Some people will never learn, others will, because they have a genuine interest in self-development and connection with other people. And good luck! You may not believe it, but some of us doesn't care what skin colour someone has. Unfortunately, people I would like to meet of a different skin colour doesn't seem to want to socialize. So it goes both ways. Of course, it may also be a bit unfamiliar to be with someone looking a bit different. However, given the chance, I will give everybody my full attention and love, and do what I can to overcome the obstacles between us.
Let the past rest.
"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity"
Problem is, maliciousness is often a direct result of stupidity.
There are two levels of stupidity:
1) Being stupid, but desiring good for others.
2) Being led by desires without thinking of consequences for others.
Your statement is in category #2, but the other statement is in category #1. They are totally unrelated if you examine them further.
Nice post, but calling the second type of racism evil makes it you who really say "I don't like that!"
;-)
Try again.. You got two shots
If you can ignore some of the speakers, and make some leeway for amateurish enthusiasm, then I would say it is a fine movie. I would never want to watch it again, but it DOES include alot of interesting speakers and concepts (which already has been floated around in various books).
e n/id/48920
;-) :-)
Just don't expect a Hollywood-production.
As for being cultist, somebody has to be behind such a movie. Nobody else is doing it, so somebody has to do it. I think they have tuned down the origin and source pretty well, and are actually covering mostly _others_ ideas and not their own curricullum.
Some of those speaking really should learn how to relate and speak to people! Yikes! It may be frustrating to be constantly misunderstood and misinterpreted, but that should not turn into frustration when speaking to millions of people!
There have been other such projects, which you have to give the creators some leeway since it may very well be their first production (judging from the quality).
For instance: Indigo
It is much lighter and has some very nice scenes. But beings one of the cheapest films in history, it is also very amateurish and rough in some ways. Well worth the look though.
It has received some criticism though: http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Indigo_Childr
I never really liked the term "Indigo children" anyways, so there
Still a nice movie
A logical argument based on false premises cannot bring you closer to the truth.
;-)
Truth which is covered by dust, stones, dirt, slime, water and various gasses, is still truth.
The false premises are on the outside of truth, covering it up in the biggest cover-up job in history, not the other way around!
Now it gets interesting.. You cannot prove or disprove God either. Some people think it is possible, but as you say, then they have not understood the problem. We're not talking about a biblical God here, which might be anything from hysteria, aliens or propbably many different phenomena attributed to one "God". In the East, God is the Great Thinker, the Great Dreamer, the being which is everything that is, dreaming up all this creation. It is quite unfathomable, and of course totally unprovable by the dream-objects themselves.
So.. What is the relation to self-awareness and God? Well, Eastern mystics also claim God is consciousness, which is basically self-awareness. Atoms in a stone may- or will sometime enter the food-chain, and become a human being, everything is recycled over time. Thus, atoms in a stone has self-awareness, but little way of expressing it before it becomes a human being.
If man is God in His image, then God is self-aware and bestows this on humans and all matter. If you take an evolutionary approach to God, the process we are in is actually to materialize God more and more, as we evolve into more and more self-aware beings. The process is a continuial "making man in His image", it has not stopped yet!
I think many Slashdotters would do themselves a favour and scrap the feverish attacks against Christianity, broaden their vision and research what older scriptures like the Indian Vedas state about God. The deeper roots behind all religions are much more logical and less dogmatic than the proponents today are practicing it.
If you don't take care of your mind and body, you're not really anxious to find out anything. There needs a certain sincerity. So go ahead, see where it takes you. At least that will be an experience too.