" Do you have a psychologically healthy vision for the future of humanity?"
Hah! I don't even have a healthy future vision for myself, and I'm in full, vigorous health and am as strong as a bull! And yet, even that much these days only seems a necessary but still woefully insufficient condition.
" Do you have a psychologically healthy vision for the future of humanity?"
Hah! I don't even have a healthy future vision for myself, and I'm in full, vigorous health and am as strong as a bull! And yet, even that much these days only seems a necessary but still woefully insufficient condition.
My vision? I’ll continue to get older until I eventually die. That’s fate and I’m okay with being a fatalist.
A vision for an existence after death? I’m unsure. Maybe the collection of our life’s lessons, stories/myths and experiences creates some form of psychic energy. This energy is drawn from the earth and from the breath. The Sanskrit word for breath is prāṇa.
What happens when one takes his/her last breath and the body decays into the earth or is reduced to ashes? Is this psychic energy destroyed? I don’t believe so. It merely changes form.
So then, how ought one live? Mindfully. Improve one’s mind. Live life experientially. Create a story that you can admire.
I don't deserve it, though I do appreciate your tolerance. This is a public forum and the conversation in the comments is open, of course, but I still feel it was impolite of me to have dropped in like I did. And in any case, as for the comment I made, there was no need for me to have been a damn fool about it.
I like your vision for the future and I would like for it to turn out that way. Somewhat like you, but not as gracefully as you, alas, I disbelieve in the persistence of the individual beyond death, neither as the same nor in some manner transformed, not even by enlightenment. I don't know this, of course, nor does anyone else, nevertheless it seems to me a futile conceit to believe one should deserve more than their allotted three-score and ten (having increased to four, it's now creeping back to three after all the shots).
"Maybe the collection of our life’s lessons, stories/myths and experiences creates some form of psychic energy. This energy is drawn from the earth and from the breath. The Sanskrit word for breath is prāṇa."
That seems similar, and yet different from another example of shared ancestral knowledge from deep time. Australia's indigenous peoples could traverse thousands of miles on foot, anywhere from Yolngu to Anangu, from Wangai to Muruwari tribal lands, all by the song lines. Singing the songs called up the features of the land by which they navigated the continent. All they required for any great journey was knowledge of lore, which they had, and time, which was unlimited. Then white fella arrived...
I also believe that the whole world would benefit immeasurably if our particularly restless, murderous and at the same time suicidal species would simply redirect more time and effort from action and into contemplation.
Thanks again. I value your way of thinking, and I'll look out for you further comments and writings.
I'm going to write something here and then delete it, as I don't want it on this thread.
Gary is bright and can be thoughtful.
He's very grounded here and present.
But what he says does not necessarily line up with how he is as a human. (for many complicated reasons)
You are not undeserving. We all have to do the work of ourselves. Apologizing at times (whether we are forgiven is something else) and looking at ourselves with clarity and honesty. Which can be extremely challenging.
You’re right. How I am “as a human” is not very grounded at times. Most of the time I feel -- not that feelings reflect reality -- messed up and insecure and neurotic (and worse).
Sorry for my uninvited interjection.
" Do you have a psychologically healthy vision for the future of humanity?"
Hah! I don't even have a healthy future vision for myself, and I'm in full, vigorous health and am as strong as a bull! And yet, even that much these days only seems a necessary but still woefully insufficient condition.
No apology needed. Thanks for the reply.
My vision? I’ll continue to get older until I eventually die. That’s fate and I’m okay with being a fatalist.
A vision for an existence after death? I’m unsure. Maybe the collection of our life’s lessons, stories/myths and experiences creates some form of psychic energy. This energy is drawn from the earth and from the breath. The Sanskrit word for breath is prāṇa.
What happens when one takes his/her last breath and the body decays into the earth or is reduced to ashes? Is this psychic energy destroyed? I don’t believe so. It merely changes form.
So then, how ought one live? Mindfully. Improve one’s mind. Live life experientially. Create a story that you can admire.
I don't deserve it, though I do appreciate your tolerance. This is a public forum and the conversation in the comments is open, of course, but I still feel it was impolite of me to have dropped in like I did. And in any case, as for the comment I made, there was no need for me to have been a damn fool about it.
I like your vision for the future and I would like for it to turn out that way. Somewhat like you, but not as gracefully as you, alas, I disbelieve in the persistence of the individual beyond death, neither as the same nor in some manner transformed, not even by enlightenment. I don't know this, of course, nor does anyone else, nevertheless it seems to me a futile conceit to believe one should deserve more than their allotted three-score and ten (having increased to four, it's now creeping back to three after all the shots).
"Maybe the collection of our life’s lessons, stories/myths and experiences creates some form of psychic energy. This energy is drawn from the earth and from the breath. The Sanskrit word for breath is prāṇa."
That seems similar, and yet different from another example of shared ancestral knowledge from deep time. Australia's indigenous peoples could traverse thousands of miles on foot, anywhere from Yolngu to Anangu, from Wangai to Muruwari tribal lands, all by the song lines. Singing the songs called up the features of the land by which they navigated the continent. All they required for any great journey was knowledge of lore, which they had, and time, which was unlimited. Then white fella arrived...
I also believe that the whole world would benefit immeasurably if our particularly restless, murderous and at the same time suicidal species would simply redirect more time and effort from action and into contemplation.
Thanks again. I value your way of thinking, and I'll look out for you further comments and writings.
I'm going to write something here and then delete it, as I don't want it on this thread.
Gary is bright and can be thoughtful.
He's very grounded here and present.
But what he says does not necessarily line up with how he is as a human. (for many complicated reasons)
You are not undeserving. We all have to do the work of ourselves. Apologizing at times (whether we are forgiven is something else) and looking at ourselves with clarity and honesty. Which can be extremely challenging.
Don't raise him above yourself.
You’re right. How I am “as a human” is not very grounded at times. Most of the time I feel -- not that feelings reflect reality -- messed up and insecure and neurotic (and worse).
Hope that helps, EET